zanzibar
Zanzibar Beach & Spice — 7 Days
Stone Town's alleys, a spice plantation, and four nights on the north-east coast.
Duration
7 days
Difficulty
Easy
Group size
1 – 10
From
USD 1,690
per person
What to expect
This 7-day zanzibar journey — Stone Town's alleys, a spice plantation, and four nights on the north-east coast. — is graded Easy and runs in small groups of 1 – 10 travellers.
You will spend 7 days on the ground, covering moving through changing landscapes with a KINAPA-licensed lead guide, a full support team, and meals prepared fresh in camp. Accommodation alternates between comfortable lodges before and after the trek and well-equipped camps or huts during it.
The best window to travel is Jun – Oct · Dec – Feb. Departures run year-round on request, with private and small-group options. Every booking includes pre-trip planning calls, gear advice, and 24/7 in-country support.
Trip highlights
- UNESCO Stone Town
- Spice plantation tour
- Mnemba reef snorkelling
- Sunset dhow cruise
Day-by-day itinerary
A detailed, day-by-day breakdown of where you sleep, how far you walk, what you eat, and the moments to look forward to.
01
Day
Arrival → Stone Town
Met at Zanzibar Airport, transfer to a boutique hotel in the heart of Stone Town. Free afternoon to wander.
- Stay
- Emerson Spice
- Meals
- —
- UNESCO arrival
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Stay at Emerson Spice
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
02
Day
Stone Town walking tour & spice plantation
Morning guided walk through the labyrinth — the slave market memorial, Freddie Mercury's house, the carved doors. Afternoon spice plantation tour with tasting lunch.
- Stay
- Emerson Spice
- Meals
- B / L
- Old Fort
- Spice tasting
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Stay at Emerson Spice · Meals: B / L
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
03
Day
Transfer to north-east coast
1 hour transfer to your beachfront hotel in Matemwe.
- Stay
- Matemwe Lodge
- Meals
- B / D
- First swim
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Stay at Matemwe Lodge · Meals: B / D
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
04
Day
Mnemba Atoll snorkelling
Boat trip to the Mnemba Atoll for some of the best snorkelling in East Africa.
- Stay
- Matemwe Lodge
- Meals
- B / L / D
- Coral gardens
- Reef fish
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Stay at Matemwe Lodge · Meals: B / L / D
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
05
Day
Beach day
Relax. Kite-surf lesson optional.
- Stay
- Matemwe Lodge
- Meals
- B
- Kite-surfing (optional)
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Stay at Matemwe Lodge · Meals: B
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
06
Day
Dhow sunset cruise
Sail aboard a traditional wooden dhow into the sunset with seafood and cocktails.
- Stay
- Matemwe Lodge
- Meals
- B / D
- Dhow sunset
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Stay at Matemwe Lodge · Meals: B / D
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
07
Day
Departure
Transfer to the airport.
- Stay
- —
- Meals
- B
- Departure
What you'll do
Guided exploration, transfers, and free time to swim, eat and unwind.
What's included today
Meals: B
Good to know
Respect Stone Town's modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach.
Important information
Practical details every traveller should read before confirming. We'll cover everything again in your pre-departure pack.
Visa & entry
Most nationalities need a Tanzanian tourist visa (USD 50, or USD 100 for US passports). You can apply online via eservices.immigration.go.tz or get a visa on arrival at JRO. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is mandatory. For Kilimanjaro and high-altitude treks the policy must explicitly cover trekking above 4,000 m and helicopter rescue.
Health & vaccinations
Yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a yellow fever country. Anti-malaria prophylaxis is recommended. Consult a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure.
Payment & deposits
A 30% deposit confirms your booking; the balance is due 45 days before arrival. We accept bank transfer and card (3% fee). Free rescheduling up to 30 days before departure.
Tipping
Tipping is customary and an important part of crew income. Guidelines are shared in your pre-trip pack — typically USD 25–35 per day for safari guides and USD 300–350 total per climber for a Kilimanjaro crew.
Group size & privacy
This trip runs in groups of 1 – 10. Private departures with your own guide and vehicle are available year-round on request — ask us for a custom quote.
Local customs
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island. Dress modestly outside resort beaches, ask before photographing people, and avoid public displays of affection in Stone Town.
What's included
- ✓7 nights accommodation
- ✓Daily breakfast + 2 dinners
- ✓Stone Town & spice tour
- ✓Snorkel trip
- ✓Airport transfers
Not included
- —Flights to ZNZ
- —Visa (covered if entering via JRO)
- —Insurance
- —Most lunches
Packing list
A category-by-category checklist tailored to this journey. Items marked essential should not be skipped — rentals are available in Moshi and Arusha.
Clothing
- •Light cotton/linen clothing for hot, humid weather
- •Modest cover-up for Stone Town (shoulders + knees)
- •Swimwear + rash vest for snorkelling
- •Light cardigan for air-conditioned restaurants
Footwear
- •Flip-flops or sandals
- •Reef shoes for rocky beaches at low tide
Daypack & gear
- •20–30 L daypack with rain cover
- •2–3 L water bladder or two 1 L bottles
- •Sunscreen SPF 50, lip balm with SPF
- •Sunglasses (UV 400)
- •Personal first aid: blister kit, paracetamol, ibuprofen, rehydration salts
- •Quick-dry towel, hand sanitiser, wet wipes
- •Camera + spare batteries, power bank
- •Snorkel + mask (or rent on the boat)
- •Dry-bag for boat trips
Documents & money
- •Passport (6+ months validity) and visa
- •Travel insurance documents (printed + digital)
- •Vaccination certificate if applicable
- •Credit card + USD cash in small notes (post-2009, no rips)
- •Emergency contacts and trip voucher
Best season: Jun – Oct · Dec – Feb
What travellers say
Honest words from people who have walked, driven, sailed and summited with us. We publish every review unedited.
Stone Town + beaches — perfect mix
"Loved the spice farm tour and the dhow sunset cruise. Our guide in Stone Town brought the history alive. The beach hotel they chose for us in Paje was exactly the vibe we wanted."
Easy, smooth, beautiful
"Everything was organised — airport pickup, transfers, snorkelling at Mnemba. We barely had to think. Highly recommend for couples."
Wonderful trip, small hiccup with timing
"The trip itself was gorgeous and the team responsive when our boat ran late. Would book again."
Plan your journey
Plan your Tanzania journey
Tell us a little about your trip and one of our local guides will draft a tailored itinerary within 24 hours.