Our 8 days Zanzibar holiday package is the perfect way to unwind after a Uganda safari, or to enjoy a complete beach holiday on its own. In one week you explore the old streets of Stone Town, swim off a white sandbank, taste spices straight from the farm, snorkel the reefs of Mnemba and relax on the island's finest beaches.

The route moves you around the island at an easy pace. You start in historic Stone Town, move north to the famous beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa, then finish on the quieter east coast at Paje and Michamvi.

Many of our guests book this 8 days Zanzibar holiday package straight after gorilla trekking in Bwindi. After days of forest trails and early starts, a week of turquoise water and fresh seafood is the ideal way to end an East Africa trip.

Why Choose This 8 Days Zanzibar Holiday Package

Zanzibar packs a remarkable amount into a small island, and eight days lets you see it properly without rushing. Here is what makes this itinerary stand out.

• Culture and history: a guided walk through Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Island excursions: Prison Island's giant tortoises, Nakupenda sandbank and Mnemba Atoll.
• Nature: red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest, Zanzibar's only national park.
• Beach time: nights on both the north and east coasts, plus a free day to do as you please.
• Food: a spice farm lunch, seafood on the sandbank, and dinner at the famous Rock Restaurant.

If you are still deciding how long to stay, our guide on how many days you need in Zanzibar compares shorter and longer options.

8 Days Zanzibar Holiday Package: Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Zanzibar

Karibu Zanzibar! Your holiday begins when you land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Our representative meets you in arrivals, helps with your bags and drives you to your hotel in or near Stone Town.

The rest of the day is yours to settle in. In the evening, many guests walk down to Forodhani Gardens, where the waterfront food market comes alive at sunset with grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizza and fresh sugarcane juice. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 2: Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank

After a relaxed breakfast, a short boat ride takes you across the turquoise water to Prison Island, known locally as Changuu. The island was once used to hold rebellious slaves, and in 1893 the British built a prison here. It was never used as one, and it later became a quarantine station.

Today the island is home to a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, some of them more than 100 years old. You can feed and photograph them, explore the old buildings, and swim or snorkel off the beach.

In the early afternoon, a 30-minute boat ride brings you to Nakupenda sandbank. Nakupenda means "I love you" in Swahili, and it is easy to see why. You relax on a strip of white sand in the middle of the ocean, swim in clear water, and enjoy a fresh seafood barbecue with tropical fruit and cold drinks.

In the evening you can join an optional sunset dhow cruise along the Stone Town waterfront. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 3: Stone Town Tour and Spice Farm

This day shows you why Zanzibar was once the centre of the Indian Ocean trade and why it is still called the Spice Island.

Your guided walk through Stone Town winds through narrow lanes and carved wooden doors to the main sights. These include the Old Fort, the former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral, the Sultan's Palace, the Old Dispensary, Dr Livingstone's House, the Freddie Mercury House and the colourful Darajani Market. You will also pass the House of Wonders, which is currently under restoration.

At around midday, you drive 20 to 30 minutes out of town to a spice farm. Your guide lets you touch, smell and taste cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, lemongrass and ginger, and you finish with spiced teas and fresh fruit. Lunch is a traditional Swahili meal cooked by a local women's group.

In the late afternoon, you drive north to Nungwi or Kendwa. Dinner and overnight at your beach hotel.

Day 4: Free Day on Nungwi and Kendwa Beaches

Today is completely yours. Nungwi and Kendwa have some of Zanzibar's best beaches, with soft sand and water you can swim in at any tide, which is rare on the island.

You might try scuba diving, kitesurfing, parasailing or deep-sea fishing. You could also just lie in a hammock under the palms with a book and a fresh coconut. Your guide is happy to suggest and arrange activities.

For more ideas, see our list of the best beaches in Zanzibar. Dinner and overnight in Nungwi or Kendwa.

Day 5: Mnemba Atoll Snorkelling and Dolphins

After breakfast, you set off by boat for Mnemba Atoll, a protected marine area just off Zanzibar's north-east coast. The coral reefs here are among the best snorkelling spots in East Africa.

Our experienced snorkel guides show you colourful reef fish, starfish and, with luck, green turtles. Dolphins are often seen in these waters, and on a good day you may swim alongside them.

Fresh tropical fruit is served on the boat. At low tide you stop at a sandbank near Mnemba for photos, before lunch and the drive back to your hotel. Enjoy a quiet evening and sunset on the beach. Dinner and overnight in Nungwi.

Day 6: Jozani Forest and the East Coast

This morning you drive south to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, the only national park in Zanzibar. A guided walk takes you among the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found nowhere else on earth, and along a boardwalk through the mangrove forest. There is an optional stop at a butterfly centre on the way.

In the afternoon, you continue to Paje or Michamvi on the east coast. This side of the island is quieter, with wide white beaches and a dramatic tide that goes far out each day.

In the evening, you can visit The Rock Restaurant, a small restaurant perched on a rock in the sea. You reach it on foot at low tide and by boat at high tide. Dinner and overnight in Paje or Michamvi.

Day 7: Seaweed Centre and Sunset in Michamvi

Today you visit the Zanzibar Seaweed Centre in Paje, a women-led project that farms seaweed and turns it into soaps, oils and skincare products. You see the whole process, from planting in the shallow lagoon to the finished product, and you can buy gifts that directly support the community.

The afternoon is free for the beach. In the evening, head to the Michamvi peninsula, the one place on the east coast where the sun sets over the sea, for a sunset with live music and acrobatic dancers. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 8: Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast and some time on the beach. Our driver then takes you to the airport or the ferry terminal for your onward journey. Safe travels, and kwaheri!

Prices depend on your travel dates, hotel choice and group size. Contact us for an exact quote.

Combine Your Zanzibar Holiday With a Uganda Safari

Zanzibar is the most popular beach add-on for our Uganda safaris. Uganda Airlines flies directly from Entebbe to Zanzibar several times a week, so you can go from the gorillas of Bwindi to the Indian Ocean in a single flight. Check the current schedule on the Uganda Airlines website.

A popular combination is 7 to 10 days in Uganda for gorilla trekking, chimpanzees and wildlife, followed by this 8 days Zanzibar holiday package. See how it works in our Uganda safari and Zanzibar holiday itinerary.

Best Time to Book an 8 Days Zanzibar Holiday Package

Zanzibar is warm all year, with sea temperatures around 26 to 29°C. The best months are June to October, which are dry, sunny and slightly cooler, and December to February, which are hot and calm, ideal for snorkelling.

The long rains run from about late March to May, when some hotels close and boat trips can be cancelled. The short rains in November usually fall as brief afternoon showers. Read more in our guide to the best time to visit Zanzibar.

Practical Tips for Your Zanzibar Holiday

• Travel insurance: Zanzibar requires all foreign visitors to buy a compulsory inbound travel insurance policy before arrival. We will send you the link when you book.
• Visas: many nationalities can get a Tanzania visa on arrival or online. Check the rules for your passport before you travel.
• Dress code: Zanzibar is mainly Muslim. Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages, and keep swimwear for the beach and hotel.
• Money: US dollars and Tanzanian shillings are both widely used. Bring small notes for markets and tips.
• Sun protection: the equatorial sun is strong, so pack reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 8 Days Zanzibar Holiday Package

Is 8 days enough for Zanzibar?

Yes. Eight days lets you see Stone Town, the spice farms, the main island excursions and both the north and east coast beaches, with a free day to relax.

Can I add this Zanzibar holiday to a Uganda safari?

Yes, and most of our guests do. Uganda Airlines flies directly from Entebbe to Zanzibar, so it is easy to end your safari with a week on the beach.

Which beaches are included in the 8 days Zanzibar holiday package?

You stay on Nungwi or Kendwa in the north and Paje or Michamvi on the east coast. You also visit Nakupenda sandbank and the beaches at Mnemba Atoll.

Is this package suitable for families and honeymooners?

Yes. We adjust the hotels and pace for families with children, and we can add special touches for couples. See our guide to a honeymoon in Zanzibar.

Do I need travel insurance for Zanzibar?

Yes. Zanzibar requires every foreign visitor to buy its compulsory inbound travel insurance before arrival, in addition to any personal travel insurance you hold.

Book Your 8 Days Zanzibar Holiday Package

Tell us your travel dates, budget and the kind of hotels you prefer, and we will tailor this 8 days Zanzibar holiday package to suit you, on its own or as the perfect end to your Uganda safari. Explore more island options on our Zanzibar tours and holidays page.

Continue Planning Your Trip

• Browse our ready-made safari and holiday itineraries
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• Ask for a quote for your dates on our contact page