5 Days in Zanzibar: A Complete Itinerary

Five days covers Stone Town's history, a spice tour, and a proper stretch of beach time without rushing between them.

Day 1: Stone Town

Visit the House of Wonders and Old Fort, then the former Slave Market site, before finishing at Forodhani Gardens' night market for Zanzibar pizza and grilled seafood.

Day 2: Spice tour and Jozani Forest

Spend the morning on a spice plantation tour, then continue to Jozani Forest in the afternoon to see the island's endemic red colobus monkeys.

Day 3: Travel to the coast

Head to Nungwi or Paje depending on whether you want a livelier social beach or a kitesurfing-focused one, and settle in for the rest of the trip.

Day 4: Beach day

Spend the day at the beach — Prison Island's snorkeling and giant tortoises if you're based near Stone Town or Nungwi, or a kitesurfing lesson if you're in Paje.

Day 5: Sunset dhow cruise

Use the day for free beach time, and arrange a sunset dhow cruise for the evening — Nungwi or Kendwa are the best-set-up spots for it.

Getting around

Stone Town is walkable; a rental car, scooter, or organized transfer covers the 45-minute-to-two-hour trip out to the beach areas.

What to pack

Modest clothing for Stone Town, reef-safe sunscreen, and water shoes for the beaches — see our [[link:/blog/zanzibar-travel-guide|Zanzibar travel guide]] for the fuller packing breakdown and more on choosing where to stay.