Day 1: Stone Town
Morning: Arrive in Stone Town. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose winding streets are straight out of Aladdin. Our advice for your first few hours? Just stroll.Take photos of the famed Zanzibari doors, enjoy a traditional Zanzibari lunch at 6 Degrees South, pop into a few shops. A word of warning to ladies traveling to Zanzibar – you may want to dress conservatively while in Stone Town. While Zanzibar as a whole is predominantly Muslim, Stone Town is more conservative than the rest of the island.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, we can arrange a walking tour for you. Most walking tours will take you to sites like the Old Fort and Christ Church Cathedral.
Evening: Have dinner at the magical Tea House Restaurant, located on top of the Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel. Make sure to make reservations in advance! And arrive at 6 p.m. to watch the sun set over Stone Town and to enjoy a few sundowners.
Accommodation:The Dhow Palace Hotel is a quaint historic hotel built in the traditional Zanzibari style. We loved it; it had free breakfast, airport pickup, a pool, and most importantly, air-conditioning
Day 2: Stone Town to Jambiani Beach
Note – before you leave Stone Town, take out cash from an ATM. There are no ATMs on Zanzibar outside of Stone Town. Jambiani Beach is a small village on the Southeastern coast. It’s relaxed and laid-back, and less touristy than other parts of the island.
Accommodation: Red Monkey Lodge is a small, budget beach lodge in Jambiani Beach. It’s not a luxury resort, but it’s a great place if you’re looking to save money without staying in a hostel.
Day 3: Jambiani
There’s not a lot to do in Jambiani, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. You can take a half-day cooking class at Tangawizi Bistro, learn how to play bao at Coral Rock, or just swim to your heart’s content in the beautiful aqua waters. Basically just relax, drink a few beers, and eat seafood.
Day 4: Lunch at The Rock Restaurant
You can’t go to Zanzibar and not have lunch at The Rock Restaurant! The Rock Restaurant is a tiny restaurant perched on a rock in the Indian Ocean, and it’s only a twenty-minute drive from Jambiani..
Day 5: Jambiani to Nungwi
Next, head to Nungwi for the island’s best beaches – picture miles of white sand and turquoise waters. Nungwi is more touristy than Jambiani but it’s for a good reason – the beaches are much better, and it’s nearby the island’s best dive spots.
Accommodation: Z Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel with an infinity pool and gorgeous views of the ocean.
Small enough to feel cozy, but big enough to have several restaurants and lots of activities.
Day 6: Snorkel or Dive Mnemba Atoll
The best snorkeling and diving on Zanzibar is at Mnemba Atoll. Mnemba Atoll is a beautiful reef with strong currents, so it’s the perfect place to try drift-diving. Note to all scuba divers – make sure to give yourself more than 24 between your dive and your flight!
Day 7: Airport
Say goodbye to Z Hotel (sob) and head to the airport.
