Fly, flop & culture, Zanzibar & Stone Town

12 days from £2200pp

If the allure of the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, the perfect sandy beaches framed with swaying palm trees and a fascinating UNESCO Word Heritage site appeals then look no further, this is a fantastic itinerary that affords plenty of time to relax on the stunning beaches of Zanzibar with some time spent in Stone Town at the end to explore.

All of the itineraries that you see on our website are samples of what is possible, every holiday that we operate is completely tailor-made to your requirements, likes and dislikes. Just let us know your ideas when getting in touch and we will craft your plans around these, get your feedback, and keep working on it until everything is perfect.

Tour Highlights

  • Plenty of time to relax on the stunning tropical island of Zanzibar. 
  • Enjoy an endless choice of water and inland activities including some of the best diving in the world.
  • Explore the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site of Stone Town
  • Warm weather and crystal clear sea.

Price Includes

Slide 1
Day 1 - Overnight flight from the UK

Depart from the UK for your flight to Zanzibar. There is a huge range of airlines and routes available, please let us know your preferences when Getting in touch.

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Day 2 - Private transfer on arrival to your beach accommodation. Overnight Zanzibar

You will be met on arrival and assisted to your private vehicle and driver who will take you straight to your hotel...

...This transfer will take between 40 minutes and an hour so you will be relaxing on the perfect sandy beaches in no time!

Settle in and relax on arrival and then enjoy dinner in this fantastic setting.

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Day 3 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar.

Day at leisure. You will probably want to take it easy today and rest after your journey, sit back, kick off your shoes and take a break! The beaches here are some of the best in the Indian Ocean and...

...at high tide, snorkelling is superb. You may want to have a chat with hotel staff about some recommended activities for the rest of your time, they are always happy to share their wisdom and book these for you. If you prefer, we can pre-book activities for you, just let us know.

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Day 4 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar

Day at leisure to do as much or as little you please. There are a host of ‘inland’ activities that are well worth exploring while staying in Zanzibar. Often referred to as one of the spice islands, with a trade history dating back to the 16th century, a spice farm tour is fascinating and well worth a visit...

...Renowned for trading in clove, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, chilli, and black pepper, you will learn how these spices are grown and harvested and can even buy some to bring home.

You could also visit the nearby Jozani forest while in the area. This guided tour takes you through a nature trail of verdant forest which is a habitat for many birds and animals but is famous for the rare Red Colobus Monkey.

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Day 5 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar.

If you enjoy diving and snorkelling then the extraordinary underwater landscapes, which are alive with wonderful and strange marine creatures, will be a dream destination for you...

...The coral reefs in Zanzibar are some of the most abundant in the world with over 500 species of marine life. Here you will enjoy reef, wall, and wreck diving at over 30 dive sites and with ocean temperatures consistently around 27°C, with visibility that often exceeds 30m, this is a fantastic underwater safari, some of the absolute best in the Indian Ocean.

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Day 6 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar

The waters around Zanzibar are famous for marine life, particularly dolphins and there are a number of operators that offer excellent and responsible swimming with dolphin experiences...

...Being in the water as these incredible animals swim and play around you is absolutely magical. We can book this in advance if you would like to join one of these trips or we suggest booking with your hotel to ensure this activity is undertaken responsibly.

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Day 7 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar

If you would like to try your hand at paddle boarding, kite surfing or wind sailing there are fewer better places to try than Zanzibar. The sea nearest the beach is protected from rough surf by a reef that is located around one mile out to sea, so the water tends to be very flat...

...All of these activities are available at a good number of hotels in Zanzibar and where that isn’t the case these can be easily arranged.

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Day 8 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar

Your final full day at the beach in Zanzibar which you can spend doing as much or as little as you please. Maybe catch up on a book while topping up your tan or perhaps take a visit to the dhow boat building centre and turtle conservation project in the north of Zanzibar, or a bit of both!

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Day 9 - Private transfer to Stone Town. Overnight Stone Town

You will be picked up this morning, by private vehicle and driver, and taken to Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. While here you can explore under your own steam but, we recommend using a local guide to help you understand and explore the highlights...

...While you wander around the labyrinth of narrow streets with your guide, most too narrow for cars, you will see mosques, churches, and temples side by side as well as some very impressive intricately carved wooden doors that Stone Town is famous for.

Some of the highlights of a visit includes the old slave market and museum, Darajani marketplace, the House of Wonders, the old fort, and the Sultans palace where your guide will explain their importance and history. This is an absolutely fascinating tour and very highly recommended.

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Day 10 - Day at leisure in Stone Town. Overnight Stone Town

A guided visit to prison island comes highly recommended during your time in Stone Town. In 1893 the former British prime minister of Zanzibar purchased the island and built a prison complex on it...

...But it was never a working prison, instead it was used as a quarantine station for yellow fever cases. To get to prison island you will set off for a 30-minute boat ride and can then enjoy a tour of the prison complex as well as visit the giant tortoise reserve.

The giant tortoises were a gift from the governor of Seychelles in 1919 and the population has grown from the original four to over 80 now with the first settlers still among them. This excursion is finished with time for snorkelling around the coral reefs of the island or, if you prefer, with some time relaxing on the beach.

This evening you may want to wander around the Forodhani gardens, by the sea front. Here you will find street food stalls which pop up each evening and offer a huge range of delicious food. You can either do this under your own steam or with a guide.

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Day 11 - Private transfer to the airport. Overnight flight to the UK

Depending on your flight time you may have some more time at leisure today. You will be picked up from your hotel, by private vehicle and driver, and taken to the airport for your flights back to the UK. There are several airlines and routes which we can discuss, please let us know your preference when getting in touch.

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Day 14 - Arrive back into the UK

Arrive back into the UK and then start planning your next adventure!

Get in touch now.

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Example accommodation options for this itinerary

Pongwe Beach Hotel

3.5 Star. Stunning beach, fantastic service and great atmosphere.

Kiwengwa Beach Resort

3.5 Star. Large resort, great location and huge variety of facilities.

Jua Retreat

4 Star. Remote and only four rooms, if you like quiet this could be perfect.

Matemwe Beach Lodge

4 Star. High standard with a relaxed vibe and superb service. Excellent.

Breezes Beach Club

4 Star. The best four star medium sized hotel in Zanzibar, excellent.

Zawadi Hotel

4.5 Star. Chic, stylish and high standards throughout, very good.

Kono Kono

4.5 Star. Fantastic location and stunning beach. Modern and stylish.

The Residence

5 Star. Excellent facilities. All rooms have an impressive private pool.

Stone Town

The Seyyida Hotel & Spa

3.5 Star. Super value with a great location and rooftop terrace.

Emmerson Spice

3.5 Star. One of kind with a relaxed feel and fantastic food.

Serena Inn

4 Star. A fascinating and beautiful hotel with a great location.

Park Hyatt

5 Star. International standard luxury hotel with local touches.