9 Days Itinerary

Zanzibar Beach Holiday

More Than a Beach Destination

Beaches, spice, and centuries of Stone Town history

Zanzibar pairs beach time with real history. Stone Town's alleys are lined with carved wooden doors and old merchant houses, the spice farms inland still grow the cloves and vanilla the island became known for, and dhows still work the same coastal routes they always have.

This 9-day itinerary covers more than the beach: Stone Town's UNESCO-listed old town, spice farms, the coral reefs around Mnemba Atoll, and the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest.

Book Now
Days 1–3: Stone Town, History, and Spice Farms
Day 1
Arrival & Stone Town Discovery
  • Arrival at Zanzibar Airport & transfer to Stone Town hotel
  • Walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage Stone Town
  • Visit the House of Wonders, Old Fort & Sultan's Palace
  • Explore narrow alleyways, carved wooden doors & local markets
Day 2
Spice Tour & Dhow Cruise
  • Morning spice plantation tour: cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom
  • Learn about Zanzibar's role as the historic Spice Island
  • Afternoon traditional dhow sailing cruise along the coast
  • Sunset views from the water with fresh tropical fruits
Day 3
Forodhani Night Market & Local Life
  • Free morning to explore at your own pace
  • Visit the Anglican Cathedral & slave trade memorial
  • Evening at Forodhani Gardens Night Market
  • Sample Zanzibar pizza, sugarcane juice, grilled seafood & octopus
Days 4–6: East Coast Lagoons and Jozani Forest
Day 4
Safari Blue Excursion
  • Full-day Safari Blue boat trip from Fumba
  • Snorkeling in clear lagoons & sandbanks
  • Fresh seafood lunch on a secluded sandbar
  • Swimming in the mangrove channels
Day 5
Jozani Forest & The Rock
  • Morning visit to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
  • Look out for the endemic Red Colobus Monkeys
  • Walk through the mangrove boardwalk trail
  • Lunch at The Rock, the restaurant built on a rock just offshore
Day 6
Seaweed Farms & North Coast
  • Visit local seaweed farming communities at low tide
  • Learn traditional boat-building at the Nungwi dhow yard
  • Transfer to the North Coast beaches
  • Relax and watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean
Days 7–9: North Coast, Mnemba Atoll, and Departure
Day 7
Mnemba Atoll Snorkeling
  • Boat trip out to Mnemba Atoll
  • Snorkeling, with a chance of dolphins, sea turtles & reef fish
  • Coral reef snorkeling in clear water
  • Afternoon relaxation on Nungwi beach
Day 8
Prison Island & Farewell Dinner
  • Morning boat trip to Prison Island (Changuu)
  • Meet the giant Aldabra tortoises (some reportedly over 100 years old)
  • Swim in the turquoise waters around the island
  • Farewell beachfront dinner with traditional Taarab music
Day 9
Departure
  • Final morning on the beach or last-minute shopping
  • Transfer to Zanzibar Airport
  • Departure from Zanzibar
  • Optional extension: fly to Serengeti for safari combo
Zanzibar Highlights

Six things to build your days around

🏛️

Stone Town Heritage

A UNESCO World Heritage site, with Swahili, Arab, and European influence visible in the architecture across the old town.

🌿

Spice Plantations

Walk through working farms growing cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom, the crops that gave Zanzibar its old nickname, the Spice Island.

Safari Blue

A full day on the water: lagoons, sandbanks, mangrove channels, and a fresh seafood lunch.

🐒

Jozani Forest

Home to the endemic red colobus monkey, with a boardwalk trail through the mangroves.

🤿

Mnemba Atoll

Snorkeling over coral reefs with a chance of dolphins and sea turtles, in some of the clearest water around the island.

🪨

The Rock Restaurant

A restaurant built on a rock just off the beach, reachable on foot at low tide or by boat when the water's up.

Ready to Plan Your Trip?

Tell us your dates,
we'll build the plan

From Stone Town's old streets to the beaches up north, this itinerary is built to cover Zanzibar properly in nine days.

Book Now
💬