6-Day Zanzibar Island

It all starts with your welcome at Zanzibar International Airport, followed by a 15-minute private transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle to a one-of-a-kind luxury boutique hotel in Stone Town, the metropolis and historic heart of Zanzibar, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, you could take to your suite, with en-suite, here too adorned in the traditional Swahili style with carved wooden furniture, and views over the historic district. Receive a complimentary champagne cocktail, plus a private briefing from your Cultural Historian Guide, certified in Zanzibar, with an outline of the 6-day itinerary focused on Beaches, Marine Life & Cultural Heritage. Take a half-day, private guided walking tour of Stone Town's narrow streets, stopping to explore such landmarks as the House of Wonders, Old Fort, and the old slave market, so your guide can provide expert commentary on Zanzibar's spice trade heritage and mix of Arab, Indian, and African influences. Enjoy dinner at a historical rooftop restaurant serving local Swahili dishes such as a seafood curry with coconut rice overlooking the Indian Ocean. As you prepare to leave and spend the evening in your suite, get pumped for the sights of the Zanzibar coast. The super relaxing day of the acclimatization processes offers not only rest, but also information and positive vibes for the day ahead, helping you to be excited about the weeks in this tropical part of the world – Otto

Activities: Airport transfer, welcome briefing, Stone Town walking tour, rooftop gourmet dinner
Accommodation: Exclusive Luxury Boutique Hotel in Stone Town
Meals: Dinner

Indulge in a lavish gourmet breakfast with fresh tropical fruits and Swahili pastries, after which board an air-conditioned private transfer for approx 1 hour to Zanzibar’s gorgeous east coast, known for its white-sand beaches and aqua-blue seas. Check in at a luxury beach resort for the next 3 days in Paje with your private villa with ensuite, private plunge pool, and ocean view to ensure the utmost comfort during your retreat. Pass the morning on the beach, lazing on soft sand under palm trees, or swimming through the warm Indian Ocean, with August water temps averaging 26-28°C. Dine on a gourmet beach picnic lunch in a shaded cabana, fresh grilled prawns, tropical fruit salad, cold refreshments, and more. Afternoon enables you to stroll on the beach to find shells and crabs or a private yoga on the beach, relax even more with a champion yoga instructor. The East Coast coastal ecosystem and its place in marine conservation efforts — your guide will tell you everything you need to know. Head back to the resort and return to pleasure with a clove and coconut-infused spa treatment. Experience a luxurious three-course candlelit dinner on the beach with a mix of Swahili and international cuisine, while listening to live taarab music with waves surrounding you. An entire day of just indescribable relaxation, which lays the foundation for the coastal experiences from Zanzibar.

Activities: Private transfer, beach relaxation, gourmet beach picnic, optional yoga, candlelit beach dinner
Accommodation: Exclusive Luxury Beach Resort in Paje
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Wake up for a privately-guided tour to go snorkeling in Mnemba Atoll (30 minutes by boat from your resort) where the protected waters house some of the best coral reefs and a diverse sea animal population. Join a qualified marine guide and discover the underwater realm where you'll encounter tropical fish, including the clownfish and parrotfish, sea turtles, and a plethora of colorful corals, while gaining insight into the conservation measures that the atoll is taking to safeguard its fragile ecosystem. In the middle of the morning, snack on board (fresh fruits, pastries, and drinks) overlooking the turquoise beauty of the ocean. Head back to the resort for a gourmet Asian-inspired lunch poolside, enjoying complimentary Swahili dishes such as coconut-crusted fish with mango salsa. Take the afternoon easy — hang around on the seashore, read in a hammock below palm timber, or even swim in the ocean with calm, shallow waters brilliant for lounging. For a bit of adventure, optional kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding is led by a local instructor. Indulge in an enchanting, intimate gourmet meal set in your villa with a specially composed menu capturing a blend of local Swahili and international flavours with just the gentle sound of lapping waves as a backdrop. A day for combining marine experience with the tranquility of the beach, immersing you deeper into the world of Zanzibar.

Activities: Snorkeling at Mnemba Atoll, beach relaxation, optional water sports, and private villa dinner

Accommodation: Exclusive Luxury Beach Resort in Paje

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Following a slow, elaborate breakfast with Zanzibari coffee and tropical smoothies, start a private 1-hour Guiding tour to a neighbouring spice farm around Kizimbani, and an example area of Zanzibar’s legacy as the “Spice Island”. With a local guide specializing in the spice trade practices that shaped Zanzibar as a major trade center between East Africa and the East Indies in the 19th century, and local farming methods, wander through plantations of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Experience with hands-on and taste fresh spices, get to know about their cooking and medicinal value, such as clove for digestion, and cinnamon can be used in many foods. Then head back to the resort for a sumptuous lunch on the beach, with tantalizing spice-based Swahili specialties like pilau rice and grilled octopus. Relax for the afternoon, whether that be in a private cabana, splashing in the ocean, or take a guided village walk to meet local craftsmen making baskets or jewelry, developing cultural ties! An optional private cooking class to discover some traditional Swahili recipes, such as biryani or Zanzibar mix. Enjoy a candlelit fine dining experience at the resort’s atmospheric oceanfront restaurant for fresh seafood with local flavors served with live Swahili music. A perfect combination of cultural exposure and time spent on the beach, looking forward to exploring more of Zanzibar's heritage.

Activities: Spice farm tour, beach relaxation, optional village walk or cooking class, oceanfront gourmet dinner

Accommodation: Exclusive Luxury Beach Resort in Paje

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After a sumptuous breakfast complete with fresh mangoes and Swahili breads, enjoy the short 1-hour private guided trip to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, the only such national park in Zanzibar, and located 35 km away from Paje. Discover the mangrove boardwalk and trails, and see the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkeys, bush babies, and myriad birds (including Fischer’s turaco) with a local nature guide who explains how the park is working to preserve biodiversity with the help of conservation-trained locals. Savor a picnic lunch high-end in the park, full of neighborhood specialities such as cassava fries as well as exotic fruits, in the surrounding nature. Head back to the resort and have a leisurely afternoon—lie on the beach, take to the ocean king or queen of the world style, or have a solo spa session with local ingredients, such as seaweed and coconut. A private dhow cruise on the east coast while the sun sets with some bubbly and spectacular views of the Indian Ocean during a colourful sunset. One of the best things to do in Zanzibar is to enjoy a candlelit gourmet dinner on the beach with the sounds of waves surrounding you while indulging in Swahili specialties such as grilled lobster. The day offers natural beauty and a relaxing river cruise and romance, and memories of the Zanzibar coastline.

Zanzibar: Jozani Forest tour, gourmet picnic lunch, beach relaxation, private dhow cruise, beach gourmet dinner

Accommodation: Paje Beach Resort- Exclusive Luxury Resort

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Have a leisurely last gourmet breakfast in your villa, with the ocean breeze and views over the white sands of Paje Beach. Another free day allows you to tailor your experience—relax on the shores, swim in the sea, or visit the resort gift shop for mementos such as spice baskets, artisanal trinkets, or Swahili textiles. Other optional activities include a private dolphins cruise off Kizimkazi to observe spinner and bottlenose dolphins, a kitesurfing lesson on nearby Paje Beach, known for its steady winds, and a full-day spa treatment that includes massages and facial using local ingredients. Take one last look out at the oceanfront restaurant of this resort and enjoy a gourmet farewell lunch of Swahili-influenced dishes such as coconut-crusted fish and mango sorbet before reminiscing about your adventures in Zanzibar. Your driver takes you by private air-conditioned transport (around 1 hour transfer time from Paje) to Zanzibar International Airport for your departure flight, or to a lodge nearby if you are extending your stay. An opportunity to transition back into reality as you process everything from Zanzibar’s beaches to its wildlife, to its culture, all of which will bring you fond memories of this luxury escape in the tropics.

Activities: Beach relaxation, optional dolphin tour or spa package, farewell gourmet lunch, airport transfer
Accommodation: None (departure or optional lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch