8-Day Trip · 4 comfort levels
From
$3,192
per person
Indicative prices per person for 2 adults sharing a room. Your written quote confirms the final price.
Three nights in historic Stone Town with the island's best excursions, then four nights on the beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa in the north.
This holiday shows you far more of Zanzibar than the beach. You begin in Stone Town, the old trading port whose narrow lanes, carved doors and coral-stone houses tell the story of centuries of African, Arab, Indian and European influence.
From there, you sail Menai Bay on the Safari Blue excursion, look for red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest, meet the seaweed farmers of Jambiani and learn to cook with Zanzibar's spices.
The second half is for slowing down. You move to the north coast, where Nungwi and Kendwa have some of the island's best swimming beaches and its finest sunsets, with free days to relax or add a snorkelling trip or a sunset dhow cruise.
Best months to travel: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Dec · Jan · Feb
The route stays the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, how you travel and how much is arranged for you.
From $3,192per person
$399–$550 per day · $3,192–$4,400 for 8 days
Comfortable, well-rated hotels and the island's best-known excursions at a sensible price, with plenty of free time on the beach.
From $4,792per person
$599–$799 per day · $4,792–$6,392 for 8 days
Upgraded hotels and beach resorts with better rooms, attractive beach access and more refined dining.
From $6,800per person
$850–$1,200 per day · $6,800–$9,600 for 8 days
Premium beachfront resorts and boutique hotels, a higher room category and a more personal approach to every day.
From $20,480per person
$2,560–$5,550 per day · $20,480–$44,400 for 8 days
Exceptional villas and suites for special celebrations. The price depends heavily on the property and dates, so we quote it individually.
These are indicative planning prices per person, based on 2 adults sharing a room. They are not confirmed quotations.
Your final cost depends on your travel dates, the hotels and room types you choose, the meal plan and whether excursions are shared or private. We confirm your price and hotels in writing before you pay a deposit.
To request a price for one traveller or a group of three to six, select your group size in the booking box and Ombeni will quote you directly.
Your private vehicle and guide are shared only by your own party, so the more of you there are, the less each person pays.
Day 1
Your guide meets you at Zanzibar International Airport and drives you to your hotel in Stone Town, about 20 minutes away. After checking in, you set out on a guided walk through the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You wander lanes lined with carved wooden doors and coral-stone houses, and pass the Old Fort, the House of Wonders (under restoration) and Forodhani Gardens on the waterfront. Your guide also shows you the house where Freddie Mercury was born, now a small museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant serving Swahili dishes.
Your first taste of the old town's history, food and atmosphere.
Day 2
Today is a full day at sea. You drive to Fumba on the south-west coast and board a traditional dhow to explore the Menai Bay Conservation Area. The day usually includes snorkelling over the reefs, swimming in a lagoon and time on a sandbank, followed by a seafood barbecue lunch with tropical fruit.
The exact route depends on the tides and the sea. You return to Stone Town in the late afternoon, with the evening free to watch the sunset from the waterfront.
Day 3
You head south-east to Jozani Forest, the island's only national park. With a guide, you look for the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found nowhere else in the world, and walk a boardwalk through the mangroves.
You continue to Jambiani on the east coast, where the women of the village farm seaweed in the shallow lagoon, and then to Makunduchi, a traditional village known for its Mwaka Kogwa new-year festival each July. Your guide introduces you to everyday village life before you return to Stone Town.
Day 4
After breakfast, you visit a spice farm outside Stone Town, where you see, smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and tropical fruit, and learn how spices shaped the island's history. Afterwards, a local cook shows you how to prepare traditional Swahili dishes, which you then eat for lunch.
You then drive north to Nungwi, near the tip of the island. On arrival, a short village tour shows you the yards where dhows are still built by hand, before you settle into your beach hotel.
Day 5
Today is yours to enjoy the beach. The north coast is good for swimming at most tides, so you can spend the day in the water, by the pool or under a palm tree.
If you'd like to be more active, you can try kayaking, paddleboarding or diving, or add a sunset dhow cruise in the evening.
Day 6
Spend the day on Kendwa beach, a short way down the coast, known for its soft sand and calm water. Alternatively, you can add a boat trip to the reefs around Mnemba Atoll, one of the island's best places to snorkel, with a chance of seeing dolphins on the way.
Day 7
Enjoy a final day at your own pace: a spa treatment, a long walk along the shore or a last swim. In the evening, watch the sun set over the sea from the beach, or celebrate with a candlelit dinner or a sunset cruise.
Day 8
After breakfast, you have some free time for a final walk on the beach or some shopping in Nungwi. Your driver then takes you to Zanzibar International Airport, about an hour and a half away, for your flight home or onward.
Pick your comfort level, then choose a stay for each part of the route. Your choices go with your booking request. Ombeni confirms availability and your final price, and suggests a similar stay if one is full.
Your nights on this trip
Nights 1–3
Heritage hotel on the seafront
Shangani, Stone Town
A restored seafront building in the Shangani quarter, on the small town beach facing the harbour. Rooms keep a traditional Zanzibari style, and the historic streets, Forodhani Gardens and the Old Fort are a short walk away.
What you can do here
Boutique town hotel
Gizenga Street, Stone Town
A boutique hotel in the heart of Stone Town, just behind the House of Wonders and the Old Fort. Its rooftop terrace has wide views over the old town's roofs and out to the Indian Ocean.
What you can do here
Boutique town house
Behind the Old Fort, Stone Town
A former family home in the heart of Stone Town turned into a small boutique hotel, with individually decorated suites full of African fabrics and antiques. Its rooftop looks out over the old town's roofs and minarets.
What you can do here
Luxury seafront hotel
Shangani seafront, Stone Town
A luxury hotel on the Stone Town seafront that includes the restored Mambo Msiige, one of the town's historic houses. Many rooms look out over the Indian Ocean and the dhows passing the harbour.
What you can do here
Restored merchant's house
Central Stone Town
A restored 19th-century merchant's house in the old town, with individually decorated rooms full of carved wood, stained glass and antiques. Its rooftop restaurant is one of the best places in Stone Town to watch the sunset.
What you can do here
Heritage hotel on the seafront
Shangani seafront, Stone Town
A seafront hotel in Shangani made from restored historic buildings, decorated with Zanzibari chests, carved doors and Persian rugs. Its terraces face the ocean, and the old town begins at the back door.
What you can do here
Nights 4–7
Boutique beach hotel
Nungwi, northern Zanzibar
A boutique hotel of around 40 rooms on the beach at Nungwi, near the northern tip of the island. It is a lively, friendly base, with sea views from many rooms and the beach right below.
What you can do here
Beach bungalows
Nungwi, northern Zanzibar
A good-value, 3-star stay in Nungwi village, a few minutes' walk from the beach. Rooms are simple and comfortable, and the village's restaurants and dhow builders are close by.
What you can do here
Beach hotel
Kendwa, northern Zanzibar
A lively beach hotel on Kendwa beach, with rooms ranging from simple bungalows to beach houses. It is known for its monthly full-moon beach party, so ask for a quieter room if you'd rather sleep early on those nights.
What you can do here
Luxury resort
Nungwi peninsula, northern Zanzibar
A luxury resort on the quieter, sheltered side of the Nungwi peninsula, with suites and villas set in tropical gardens above the sea. It suits couples who want space and calm close to the north coast's beaches.
What you can do here
Luxury beach resort
Kendwa, northern Zanzibar
A luxury resort on Kendwa beach, where the sand stays good for swimming at most tides. Bungalows, suites and villas sit among tropical gardens and a working spice garden, and the beach faces west for sunsets.
What you can do here
Adults-only all-inclusive resort
Nungwi, northern Zanzibar
An adults-only, all-inclusive beach resort at Nungwi. Meals and drinks are included, which makes it an easy choice for couples who want to relax without planning each day.
What you can do here
All-inclusive beach resort
Nungwi, northern Zanzibar
A large all-inclusive resort at Nungwi on the island's northern tip, with several pools and restaurants. With meals, snacks and drinks included, it is an easy choice for families and couples alike.
What you can do here
Stone Town is the best base for the island's history and the southern excursions, so you see the old town, Menai Bay, Jozani and the villages without long daily drives from the beach. Moving north for the second half means you finish with four unhurried days on the coast.
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| June to October | Generally dry, sunny and comfortably warm. The most popular time for beach holidays and boat trips. |
| December to February | Hot and mostly dry, with calm seas that suit swimming and snorkelling. |
| March and November | More changeable, with some showers. Plans may need a little flexibility. |
| April and May | The long rains. Some excursions can be affected, but the island is quieter and some hotels offer better rates. |
Tell us your travel dates, the number of travellers, your preferred comfort level and whether you are arriving from abroad or after a safari or climb. We confirm your hotels, excursions and final price in writing before you pay.
Still have questions? Ask Ombeni directly on WhatsApp.
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Indicative prices per person for 2 adults sharing a room. Your written quote confirms the final price.
From
$3,192
per person
