8 Days Zanzibar Beach Holiday

Upon arrival at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport just south of Zanzibar City, you’ll receive a warm coastal welcome before being transferred to the historic Tembo House Hotel, one of Zanzibar’s finest hospitality gems located right on the seashore in Stone Town. Spend the rest of your first day relaxing after a long trip: take a swim in the hotel’s big pool and treat yourself to a luxurious spa treatment to get into holiday mode, or explore the city, with the Old Fort and House of Wonders a three-minute walk away.

End the day with a culinary adventure at the Forodhani Market in Forodhani Gardens, where you will feast on grilled seafood, sizzling Zanzibar pizzas, freshly pressed sugarcane juice, falafel as big as your face, enormous samosas, coconut bread, and crepes dripping with ribbons of chocolate syrup amidst the bustling evening market. Or enjoy sundowners on the hotel terrace and dine in the hotel restaurant which serves both local and international cuisines.

After a delightful breakfast, dive into Zanzibar’s rich history with a guided walking tour of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its winding alleys, vibrant markets and diverse architectural styles, from mosques and cathedrals to ornately carved doors reflecting its Swahili, Arab, and European influences.

Next, visit the slave market, where the East African slave trade flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries until being shut down by the British. Other highlights include the Sultan’s Palace built in the 19th century, now a museum, and the Arab Fort, the oldest building on Zanzibar Island. After an absorbing day exploring Stone Town, you’ll return to the hotel and freshen up before dinner.

After a tasty breakfast you’ll be transferred to your first beach resort on the northeastern coast of Zanzibar. Along the way, stop at a nearby spice farm for a fun and sensory journey through lush tropical plantations where you’ll see, smell, and taste the island’s famous spices, including cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, vanilla, nutmeg, and turmeric root, as well as unusual fruits grown here too, such as jack fruit, custard apple, rambutan, and carambola.

Leaving the aromatic spice plantation behind, it’s time to continue to your accommodation at the Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa in the northeast of Zanzibar Island. Sit back, relax and enjoy the tropical beaches and warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Spend the next two days of your Zanzibar holiday package at the island beach resort, lazing on the beaches and enjoying activities at your leisure. If watersports are your thing, you can take advantage of the beach resort’s professional PADI-accredited dive centre on-site that can help organize and supervise your snorkelling and scuba diving trips. These marine adventures add excitement and exploration to your Zanzibar beach vacation, offering unforgettable views beneath the waves.

Other watersports include swimming, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing, as well as dolphin cruises and exploring Zanzibar’s colorful coral reefs and marine life. If none of those are your thing, you can visit the spa or chill by the pool, soaking up some rays. Relax in the evening, toast the sunset with a sundowner, and dine to the sounds of a resident resort band bringing your day to an end.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred south to your next beach resort with an en-route detour to Jozani Forest—the only national park in Zanzibar. This rainforest harbours astonishing wildlife, including the red colobus monkey (endemic to Zanzibar), the Sykes’s monkey, bushbabies, wild pigs, and many species of birds and butterflies.

You will have wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of the rare creatures living in the forest, which are usually easy to view on the pathways. At Jozani, you will also discover the secrets of the mangrove swamp and forest as you cross the boardwalk above the murky waters which are an important feeding ground for numerous tropical fish and crabs.

After exploring Jozani Forest, you’ll continue to Michamvi Sunset Bay Resort where you’ll spend the last two nights of your exotic Zanzibar holiday. This laid-back beach resort is tucked away in picturesque Chwaka Bay, on the southeastern shores of Zanzibar Island. Settle in at your intimate resort set right on a white-sand beach overlooking the turquoise waters. Kick off your shoes and head to the idyllic beach for a dip, enjoy a cocktail at the beach bar, or lounge by the sparkling pool in lush gardens.

Spend the day relaxing and soaking up the warm atmosphere of the beach resort—the ideal place to chill before ending your Zanzibar holiday. With a number of activities available to enjoy, you can laze on the resort’s quiet beach, swim in the tropical waters, and indulge in pampering treatments at the seaside spa.

This is your last day in Zanzibar. Enjoy a final beachside breakfast and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.