Zanzibar Itinerary 7 Days
7 Days Zanzibar Itinerary: Beaches, Costs & Hidden Gems
Karibu Zanzibar! Stepping off the plane onto this island, the first thing you notice is the warm breeze carrying the faint, sweet smell of cloves and salty ocean water. My name is Laurent, Director of Tanzania Safari Experience, and our team has walked these white sandy beaches and ancient, narrow streets more times than we can count. When you are planning a trip to this beautiful island, you want to know exactly what your days will look like, where you will sleep, and what secrets the island holds.
We have crafted this specific 7 Days Zanzibar Itinerary: Beaches, Costs & Hidden Gems so you can experience the absolute best of the island. We handle all the details, so you just have to show up and enjoy. Let’s dive into your daily island adventure.
(Note from our team: While this guide focuses purely on your week in Zanzibar, many of our guests combine this exact trip with a mainland wildlife adventure. You might see us mention places like Lake Manyara, Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, or Lake Burunge Tented Camp in our broader brochures, as these are fantastic places to stay right before you fly over to the island!)
Day-by-Day Zanzibar Itinerary Overview
| Day | Experience |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival + Stone Town stay |
| Day 2 | Stone Town + Prison Island |
| Day 3 | Jozani Forest + Cultural Tour |
| Day 4 | Spice Tour + Transfer to Kendwa |
| Day 5–6 | Beach relaxation |
| Day 7 | Departure |
Zanzibar Photo Gallery – What Awaits You on the Island
These real photos from our clients showcase the beauty, rhythm, and relaxed charm of Zanzibar—moments you can look forward to on your own island getaway.
Safari Highlights
- Stone Town UNESCO experience
- Prison Island + giant tortoises
- Rare red colobus monkeys
- Real village life in Jambiani
- Experience the island’s culture and history
- Add optional excursions or nearby islands
- Travel with your own expert guide
At a glance
- 6 Nights
- Zanzibar
- Holiday
Tailormade itineraries
Every Tanzania Safari Experience Zanzibar holiday is customized just for you—no fixed packages or set dates. Speak with our Zanzibar travel experts to help you plan your perfect island itinerary.
Day-by-Day — Zanzibar Itinerary 7 Days
Your Zanzibar holiday is thoughtfully planned to balance relaxation, island experiences, and time to unwind at your own pace. Here’s what you can expect day by day.
Day 1: Arriving in the Historic Heart of Stone Town
Quick Summary: Your first day is all about arriving comfortably. Our driver meets you at the airport and takes you to the luxurious Park Hyatt, right in the center of ancient Stone Town.
After you land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), you do not have to worry about finding a taxi or getting lost. One of our local drivers will be standing right outside the gates with a warm smile, ready to help you with your bags.
You will take a short, comfortable drive straight into Stone Town. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. What does that mean? It means the world has agreed this place is so special and historical that it must be protected. Little has changed here in the last 200 years. The buildings are made of coral stone, and the streets are so narrow that cars cannot even fit down most of them!
We will check you into the stunning Park Hyatt Zanzibar. This hotel is right on the beach but still in the middle of the old town. It has a beautiful swimming pool, air conditioning (which is very nice on a hot afternoon), and free Wi-Fi so you can immediately send photos to your family back home.
Pro-Tip from our team: On your first evening, just sit by the Park Hyatt pool and watch the traditional wooden dhow boats sail past as the sun goes down. It is the best welcome to the island.
OVERNIGHT & MEAL PLAN
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Location: Stone Town — Zanzibar
- Room Type: Luxury — Premium Comfort
- Meal Plan: FB – Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch
- It's Reviews: TripAdvisor Reviews
Zanzibar Photo
Day 2: Slave Market, Palaces, and Giant Tortoises
Quick Summary: We spend the morning walking through the old slave market and historic palaces. In the afternoon, we take a wooden boat to Changuu Island to feed giant tortoises.
After a fresh breakfast, you will step out of your hotel and start a guided walking tour of Stone Town. We walk because it is the only way to truly see the winding alleys and the famous heavy, wooden doors that have sharp brass spikes on them.
First, we visit a very serious and important place: the former slave market. A beautiful Anglican Cathedral was built right on top of this site in 1873 to symbolize the end of that dark time. It is a powerful place to visit.
Next, we lighten the mood by walking to the Sultan’s Palace Museum, the House of Wonders, and the Old Arab Fort. You will have plenty of time to look around these grand, old buildings.
For lunch, your guide will take you to a fantastic local restaurant (lunch today is paid directly at the restaurant, so you can choose whatever catches your eye).
The Journey to Prison Island
In the afternoon, we walk down to the water and jump into a small local boat with an engine. We take a fun, 30-minute boat ride across the water to Changuu Island, also called Prison Island. Long ago, this was a place to keep rebellious slaves. But today? It is home to something much happier: Giant Aldabra Tortoises.
Some of these tortoises are over 100 years old! You can feed them leaves and watch beautiful peacocks walk around. Afterward, you can swim in the warm water or lay on the white sand before we boat back to the Park Hyatt for the night.
OVERNIGHT & MEAL PLAN
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Location: Stone Town — Zanzibar
- Room Type: Luxury — Premium Comfort
- Meal Plan: FB – Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch
- It's Reviews: TripAdvisor Reviews
Zanzibar Photo
Day 3: Red Monkeys and Seaweed Farms in Jambiani
Walk through the Jozani Forest to spot the rare red colobus monkeys swinging in the trees. Then, meet the amazing women of Jambiani village who farm seaweed in the ocean.
Today, we leave the city and head into the wild, green southern part of the island. Our first stop is the Jozani Forest Reserve. This forest is incredibly special because it is one of the only places in the entire world where you can see the Red Colobus Monkey.
These monkeys look like they have messy hair, and they are very playful. They will swing right over your head! We will walk through the forest for about an hour. You will also get to walk on a raised wooden bridge over a Mangrove ecosystem—a strange, beautiful forest that grows directly in the salty ocean water.
Pro-Tip from our team: Do not try to touch or feed the red colobus monkeys. They have a very specific diet of wild leaves, and human food makes them sick!
The Magic of Jambiani Village
After the monkeys, we drive to Jambiani Village. This is a chance to see how regular Swahili people live every single day. We will visit a traditional herbalist. Think of an herbalist as a local doctor who uses tree bark, leaves, and roots to make medicines instead of pills from a pharmacy.
Then, we visit a local organic farm built on hard coral stone, which is very hard work. The best part is seeing the seaweed farms. Local women go out into the shallow ocean water to plant and harvest seaweed. This seaweed is dried in the sun and sent all over the world to make soaps and lotions. It is an amazing way to learn about the island’s culture before we drive back to your hotel for the evening.
OVERNIGHT & MEAL PLAN
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Location: Stone Town — Zanzibar
- Room Type: Luxury — Premium Comfort
- Meal Plan: FB – Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch
- It's Reviews: TripAdvisor Reviews
Zanzibar Photo
Day 4: Tasting the Spice Island and Moving to the Beach
Walk through Kizimbani village to smell and taste fresh nutmeg, cinnamon, and jackfruit straight from the tree. Later, we drive up north to the beautiful Kendwa beach.
Did you know Zanzibar is famous all over the world as “The Spice Island”? Hundreds of years ago, Arab traders brought valuable spice plants here, and the island’s soil was perfect for them.
Today, we take you to Kizimbani village for a famous Spice Tour. You won’t be looking at spices in small glass jars. Instead, our expert guide will walk you through the jungle-like farms. You will see spices exactly as they grow in nature.
You will see how cinnamon comes from the bark of a tree. You will see the strange red seeds that make lipstick. You will smell fresh black pepper, nutmeg, and cloves. If fruits like giant jackfruits, starfruit (carambola), and sweet lychees are in season, you can pick them and eat them right there. It is a fantastic experience that engages all your senses.
Heading North to Paradise
After smelling all those wonderful spices, we get back in the car for a 1.5-hour drive (about 60 kilometers). We are heading straight to the top left corner of the island to Kendwa Beach.
Here, you will check into Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar. This is not a normal hotel. You will stay in your own private, white-domed pavilion hidden in 50 acres of tropical gardens. It is a magical place where you can hear the ocean from your bed.
OVERNIGHT & MEAL PLAN
- Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar
- Location: Nungwi — Zanzibar
- Room Type: Luxury — Premium Comfort
- Meal Plan: FB – Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch
- It's Reviews: TripAdvisor Reviews
Zanzibar Photo
Day 5 & 6: Pure Relaxation at Kendwa Beach
Spend two full days swimming in the warm Indian Ocean, enjoying water sports, and relaxing in your white-domed pavilion at Elewana Kilindi, surrounded by colorful birds.
For the next two days, you have no schedule. You do not have to wake up early if you do not want to. You are at Kendwa beach, which is famous for being one of the only beaches on the island where the tide doesn’t go out for miles. You can swim in deep, blue water all day long!
Elewana Kilindi is a rare luxury boutique hotel. The rooms have wide-arched windows with no glass, just wooden shutters. This means the gentle ocean breeze blows right through your room, bringing the sounds of tropical birds with it.
If you want to be active, there are plenty of water sports you can arrange on the beach (at an extra cost), like snorkeling or sailing. If you want to just read a book under a palm tree, nobody will stop you.
Comparison Box: The Two Sides of Your Trip
| Feature | Stone Town (Days 1-3) | Kendwa Beach (Days 4-6) |
| Atmosphere | Busy, historical, cultural | Quiet, private, relaxing |
| Accommodation | Park Hyatt (Grand, city-center luxury) | Elewana Kilindi (Nature-focused, private pavilions) |
| Daily Activities | Walking tours, museums, boating | Swimming, sunbathing, water sports |
| What to Wear | Modest clothing (covering knees/shoulders) | Swimwear, shorts, flip-flops |
OVERNIGHT & MEAL PLAN
- Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar
- Location: Nungwi — Zanzibar
- Room Type: Luxury — Premium Comfort
- Meal Plan: FB – Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch
- It's Reviews: TripAdvisor Reviews
Zanzibar Photo
Day 7: Saying Goodbye to Zanzibar
Enjoy one last fresh island breakfast while looking at the ocean. Our driver then takes you smoothly back to the international airport for your flight home.
On your final morning, take your time enjoying breakfast. Eat some fresh pineapple and drink some hot local coffee. When it is time to leave, our driver will pick you up from Elewana Kilindi and drive you comfortably back down the island to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ).
You will board your flight home with a camera full of pictures, clothes that smell faintly of the ocean, and memories that will last a lifetime.
QUOTATION & PRICING
Starts From $3,500 USD per person (Based on 2 Adults sharing)
Zanzibar Photo
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Our tours are top-notch but give you great value. The price we tell you upfront covers most of the costs for one person, like flights and all transfers.
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Air Ambulance Service by AMREF Flying Doctors;
- At Least 1 Pair Of Binoculars;
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips to your safari guide ($30-50 per day per car).
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
- Visas and visa fees where relevant
- Additional activities not offered as scheduled by the accommodation
- Lunch and dinner in hotel (only before and after safari);
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Zanzibar Itinerary 7 Days TripAdvisor Reviews
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Everything You Need to Know About Your Safari
Every safari adventure begins with a question. Whether it’s your first or second time, it’s natural to wonder about the best time to visit, what to pack, or how the journey works. Here, we’ve answered the most common questions travelers ask before booking their Tanzania safari, so you can plan with confidence and look forward to unforgettable memories.
Yes, it is very safe. The locals are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Like anywhere in the world, just keep an eye on your bags in busy markets, but violent crime against tourists is extremely rare.
The best weather happens during the dry seasons: from June to October, and from December to February. The skies are blue and the water is perfectly clear.
Yes, most travelers need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania (which includes Zanzibar). You can easily apply for this online before you fly, or get it upon arrival at the airport.
Zanzibar is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in Africa. Its romantic beaches, luxury resorts, private island experiences, and sunset dhow cruises make it perfect for couples. A 10-day stay gives honeymooners enough time to relax and enjoy private moments without feeling rushed.
Yes, Zanzibar is very family-friendly. Many resorts offer family rooms, kids’ activities, and safe swimming areas. Activities like beach time, boat trips, and cultural tours are suitable for children, making a 10-day itinerary comfortable and enjoyable for families of all ages.
Yes, Tanzania is considered one of the safest safari destinations in Africa. National parks are well-managed, and guides are highly trained to ensure your safety. While in cities, it’s always best to take normal precautions, such as avoiding walking alone at night. Traveling with a trusted operator ensures a smooth and safe experience.
Zanzibar is generally safe for visitors, especially in tourist areas. Basic precautions such as respecting local customs, dressing modestly in towns, and using organized transport are recommended. Most travelers feel very comfortable during their stay.
For a 7-day itinerary, it is often best to split your stay between a beach resort and Stone Town. This allows you to enjoy both relaxation and cultural exploration. Zanzibar offers everything from luxury resorts to boutique hotels and mid-range beach lodges.
Yes, many travelers combine a mainland Tanzania safari with a Zanzibar beach holiday. Ending a safari with 10 days in Zanzibar is one of the most popular travel combinations and offers the perfect contrast between wildlife adventure and beach relaxation.
If you want more than just a quick beach escape, then yes—it is absolutely worth it. Ten days allow you to experience Zanzibar properly, enjoy its culture, beaches, food, and ocean activities, and return home feeling rested rather than rushed.
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