5-Day Zanzibar Tour
This 5-day Zanzibar escape is the ideal way to experience everything the Spice Island has to offer — with enough time to truly slow down. Begin in Stone Town, the UNESCO World Heritage quarter of coral-stone alleyways, carved wooden doors, and centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian, and Indian cultural fusion. A full guided walking tour and a hands-on spice farm visit introduce you to the island's layered history and legendary botanical wealth. You then move to the east coast beaches for three unhurried days of swimming, snorkelling, and long lunches under the palm trees.
The highlight of Day 4 is an excursion to Kizimkazi on the island's southern tip — a morning boat trip to swim with wild spinner dolphins in their natural habitat, followed by a visit to one of Zanzibar's oldest mosques. An optional sunset dhow cruise and Mnemba Atoll snorkelling day can be added at any point. Your private guide and driver handle everything, leaving you free to immerse yourself completely in island life.
Wander a UNESCO World Heritage labyrinth of coral-stone alleys, carved doors, spice markets, and centuries of layered Swahili Coast history.
Walk through a working plantation and taste cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, and turmeric fresh from the source — the trade that gave Zanzibar its legendary name.
Swim alongside wild spinner and bottlenose dolphins in the warm waters off Zanzibar's southern coast — one of the Indian Ocean's most memorable wildlife encounters.
Three full days on the east coast beaches: turquoise water, powder-white sand, reef snorkelling, paddleboards, and the unhurried Zanzibar pace that makes the island unforgettable.
Is this tour right for me?
Tour Seasons & Pricing
| Season | 1 Person | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season Apr–May (long rains) | $1,340 | $1,090 | $1,030 | $990 | $965 | On Request |
| Shoulder Season Mar / Nov | $1,540 | $1,260 | $1,190 | $1,145 | $1,115 | On Request |
| Peak Season Jun–Oct / Dec–Feb | $1,840 | $1,510 | $1,425 | $1,370 | $1,335 | On Request |
* Prices per person in USD. Included: accommodation, Stone Town & spice farm tour, Kizimkazi dolphin excursion, breakfast daily, airport transfers.
| Season | 1 Person | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $2,090 | $1,710 | $1,620 | $1,560 | $1,520 | On Request |
| Shoulder Season | $2,390 | $1,970 | $1,860 | $1,790 | $1,745 | On Request |
| Peak Season | $2,890 | $2,380 | $2,250 | $2,170 | $2,115 | On Request |
| Season | 1 Person | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $3,690 | $3,090 | $2,920 | $2,810 | $2,740 | On Request |
| Shoulder Season | $4,190 | $3,510 | $3,320 | $3,200 | $3,115 | On Request |
| Peak Season | $5,190 | $4,340 | $4,110 | $3,960 | $3,860 | On Request |
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your Zanzibar escape begins the moment you land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ). A Africa Endless Cruising representative will be waiting just beyond customs for a short, private transfer into Stone Town — the historic heart of the island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
After checking in, spend the afternoon exploring Stone Town's remarkable streetscape on foot. The dense maze of narrow coral-stone alleyways, ornately carved wooden doors studded with brass, and centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian, and Indian influence layered into every corner rewards slow, unhurried wandering. Head toward the waterfront and watch dhows drift past as the sun drops over the Indian Ocean.
As evening falls, head to the Forodhani Gardens night market along the seafront, where grills sizzle with Zanzibari pizza, skewered seafood, and freshly pressed sugarcane juice — a lively, informal introduction to the island's food culture and a perfect first evening in Zanzibar.
A knowledgeable local guide leads you through Stone Town's most significant sites: the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, the Anglican Cathedral built on the site of the former slave market, and the bustling Darajani Market. Your guide weaves in the layered history of the Omani sultanate, the East African slave trade, and the island's legendary role as the hub of the spice trade.
After lunch, you visit a working spice farm just outside town — walking through groves of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and cardamom and tasting each spice at the source. Then your driver transfers you across the island to the east coast, where the turquoise Indian Ocean comes into view and the island's unhurried rhythm takes over completely.
Today is entirely yours. The east coast's defining feature is its tide: at low water, the reef flats are exposed for kilometres, dotted with seaweed farmers and fishermen working the shallows; at high tide, warm turquoise water rolls in right up to the palm-lined shore. Your guide can advise on the day's tides so you make the most of both.
For those who want to get in the water, a half-day snorkelling excursion to the nearby reef is easily arranged — calm, clear conditions with reef fish, sea turtles, and soft coral. Or simply spend the day with a book, a paddleboard, and a long lunch at a beachside restaurant. As the sun sets, an optional sunset dhow cruise is one of the most popular ways to close out the day.
This morning your driver picks you up early for the drive to Kizimkazi, a small fishing village on Zanzibar's southern tip and one of the best places in the Indian Ocean to encounter wild dolphins. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are resident in the warm, sheltered waters here year-round, and a wooden fishing boat takes you out to find them. Swimming alongside wild dolphins in their own habitat — no tanks, no trainers — is one of the most memorable experiences the island offers.
Before or after the dolphin trip, visit the Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque, one of Zanzibar's oldest surviving structures, with beautifully carved coral inscription panels dating back to the 12th century.
Return to your east coast resort in time for a late lunch, then the afternoon and evening are entirely yours — a last swim, a spa treatment, a final sunset dhow cruise, or simply the beach at its most golden hour.
Your last morning in Zanzibar deserves to be savoured. Take one final swim in the Indian Ocean, walk the beach at low tide, or sit with a coffee on your terrace as the fishing boats set out. Five days of spice markets, historic alleyways, dolphin swims, and turquoise water deserve a slow, unhurried goodbye.
Your private transfer to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) departs timed exactly to your flight. Our team coordinates every detail — from bags collected at your room to boarding confirmation — ensuring a seamless, stress-free close to a perfect island holiday.
History, spices, dolphins, and three days of pure Indian Ocean bliss.
What's Included & Excluded
Included in Your Tour
Each Africa Endless Cruising safari uses a dedicated 4×4 Land Cruiser customized for Tanzania's terrain.
- Pop-up roof for 360° viewing
- Ergonomic cushioned seats (max 6 guests)
- Built-in mini fridge stocked with water and soft drinks
- USB and 12V charging ports
- High-quality binoculars (one pair per guest)
- In-vehicle Wi-Fi (available in ~70% of coverage areas)
All hotels listed in your chosen tier (Explorer, Signature, or Premium) are fully included. Zanzibar accommodation includes breakfast daily.
Your guide is a certified Tanzanian professional with a minimum of 8 years of guiding experience, fluent in English and expert in local history, culture, and marine life.
The morning dolphin boat trip from Kizimkazi, including the boat, guide, and snorkelling equipment, is fully included. Dolphin sightings are extremely consistent in these waters, though as with all wildlife, encounters are never guaranteed.
All site entrance fees for the Stone Town walking tour, spice farm visit, and Kizimkazi Mosque are pre-paid and included in your tour price.
Round-trip private transfers between Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) and your accommodation are fully included throughout the tour.
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, all Africa Endless Cruising tours include emergency air evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility throughout Tanzania.
