Urban Jay Exclusive: Mid-Range
Eight days on Zanzibar Island provides a thorough and deeply satisfying experience of the archipelago's most celebrated attractions, moving from the historic richness of Stone Town through the island's natural and marine environments to the pure leisure of the north coast beaches. The itinerary balances cultural discovery with outdoor adventure: guided tours of the UNESCO-listed old town and spice farms, a traditional dhow excursion to Prison Island and Nakupenda sandbar, swimming with dolphins at Mnemba Atoll, turtle watching, a sunset cruise, forest walks in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, and multiple days of unstructured beach relaxation. This mid-range tier combines comfortable three-star accommodation in Stone Town with direct oceanfront lodging at Nungwi, one of Zanzibar's finest northern beaches.
Day 1
Arrival in Zanzibar and Forodhani Night Food Market
You arrive at Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport or step from the fast ferry at the port, where a representative from the operations team meets you and transfers you to your Stone Town hotel. After checking in and taking time to freshen up, an evening walk through the narrow coral-stone alleyways of the UNESCO World Heritage quarter leads to Forodhani Gardens on the waterfront. As darkness falls, the open-air night food market comes alive: stalls line the old fort walls offering freshly grilled lobster, octopus, Zanzibar pizza, sugarcane juice, and an extraordinary variety of local sweet and savoury preparations. The atmosphere of the market, with its open fires, animated vendors, and crowds of locals and visitors mixing freely, is one of the most memorable first evenings in Africa.
Spice Palace Hotel
Dinner
Day 2
Stone Town Heritage Walking Tour and Traditional Spice Farm Visit
After breakfast, a local guide leads a comprehensive walking tour through the lanes of Stone Town, interpreting its remarkable historical layers with knowledge drawn from generations of local scholarship. The route passes the ornately carved doorways that identified the wealth and origin of each merchant family, the Persian-influenced Hamamni Baths, the former palace of the Omani sultans, and the site of the Indian Ocean's most significant slave market, now occupied by the Anglican cathedral built over the underground holding chambers as a deliberate act of remembrance. The afternoon journey to Kizimbani in the island's fertile interior introduces you to the spice plantation culture that gave these islands their medieval name: the smell of cloves in the warm air is encountered long before the farm itself comes into view.
Spice Palace Hotel
Breakfast,Dinner
Day 3
Lloyd Mathews Island Dhow Excursion and Nakupenda Sandbar Picnic then Transfer to Beach Hotel
A beautifully crafted Swahili outrigger vessel departs from the Stone Town waterfront and crosses the bright channel to Lloyd Mathews Island, the quarantine station of the colonial era now home to a community of giant Aldabra tortoises, several of which have been resident since the 19th century. After time with the tortoises and a snorkelling session over the coral gardens surrounding the island, the dhow continues to Nakupenda, a seasonal sandbar of extraordinary beauty where a seafood picnic lunch is served alongside fresh tropical fruits and cold drinks. The return sail to Stone Town in the late afternoon allows a gradual appreciation of the old town skyline before the transfer north to the beach hotel at Nungwi.
Double A Hotel
Breakfast,Dinner
Day 4
Mnemba Atoll Dolphin Swimming, Turtle Aquarium, Kendwa Beach and Sunset Dhow Cruise
An early morning boat ride to the waters of the Mnemba Atoll conservation area offers the encounter that many visitors rate as the highlight of their Zanzibar stay: swimming alongside wild spinner dolphins that approach freely in the warm, clear water. The snorkelling over the outer coral reef reveals an underwater world of extraordinary colour and diversity. After returning to shore, a visit to the natural turtle breeding facility introduces the rehabilitation programme for endangered sea turtles found in Zanzibar's marine environment. The afternoon at Kendwa Beach provides pure relaxation in the sun and surf, and as the day closes a traditional dhow sunset cruise with cold drinks and tropical fruit provides the perfect ending.
Double A Hotel
Breakfast,Dinner
Day 5
North Coast Beach and Ocean Leisure Day
A completely free day belonging entirely to the rhythms of the Indian Ocean and your own preferences. The water at Nungwi is warm, clear, and calm at all states of the tide, with the reef accessible directly from the beach for snorkelling. The hotel activity desk can arrange kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, deep-sea fishing excursions, and scuba diving certification or guided dives for those who wish to explore further.
Double A Hotel
Breakfast,Dinner
Day 6
Jozani Forest, Salaam Cave, The Rock Restaurant and East Coast Beach
After breakfast, the excursion travels south to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, the only gazetted national park on Zanzibar Island and the last significant remnant of the ancient indigenous forest that once covered the archipelago. Guided trails lead through the dense interior forest to the resident troops of Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkeys, a species found nowhere else on earth and listed as endangered due to the loss of their forest habitat. The boardwalk through the adjacent mangrove ecosystem reveals a separate and equally remarkable world of mudskippers, kingfishers, and the complex root systems of the mangrove trees. Lunch at The Rock Restaurant, a local landmark perched on a wave-washed rock in the middle of the Indian Ocean at low tide and encircled by warm turquoise water at high tide, is an experience in itself. The afternoon visit to the Michamvi Peninsula on the east coast completes a remarkable day.
Double A Hotel
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 7
Final Beach and Pool Leisure Day
A second complete day of unstructured beach and ocean leisure. The morning offers a particularly fine time for snorkelling while the tide is at its most favourable, and the afternoon is ideal for relaxing on the beach as the trade wind moderates the equatorial heat. Optional water activities through the hotel activity desk remain available throughout the day.
Double A Hotel
Breakfast,Dinner
Day 8
Departure from Zanzibar to Airport or Ferry Terminal
After a final breakfast at the oceanside dining terrace, the transfer to Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport or the ferry terminal for the journey home. Optional extension connections to Pemba Island to the north or the remote Mafia Island Marine Park to the south can be arranged for travellers who wish to extend their time on the Tanzanian coast.
Breakfast
Safari Pricing Guide
Prices are per person depending on group size.
| Group Size | Price Per Person (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person (Solo Traveler) | $1,857 |
| 2 People (Per Person) | $1,445 |
| 4 People (Per Person) | $1,345 |
| 5 People (Per Person) | $1,295 |
| 6+ People (Per Person) | $1,245 |
Included
- Return airport and ferry terminal transfers
- All accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Meals as specified per day
- All guided tours and excursions listed in the itinerary
- Entry fees and snacks during all tours
- Escort and guiding services throughout
- 24 hour telephone support from the operations team
- All applicable tourism development levies
Excluded
- International airfares and ferry tickets
- Mandatory travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Gratuities for drivers and guides
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature
