The itinerary at a glance
| Day | Programme | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stone Town on foot: seafront, old fort, markets, sunset | Stone Town |
| 2 | Boat excursion: Prison Island and the Nakupenda sandbank | Stone Town |
| 3 | East coast: Jozani forest, Paje beach, lunch at The Rock | Paje or Jambiani |
| 4 | Dolphins at Kizimkazi in the morning or a beach day, then departure | East coast |
Day 1: Stone Town on foot
Start with the old town, a UNESCO site: alleys, carved wooden doors and coral-stone houses. The Old Fort and the outside of the House of Wonders are on the seafront, a few minutes apart. In the evening, Forodhani gardens host the night market. For a detailed route, see Stone Town in one day and the Stone Town page. From the airport, allow about 10 to 30 minutes by taxi: see from the airport to your hotel.
Day 2: Prison Island and Nakupenda
The simplest boat trip from Stone Town: Prison Island for the giant tortoises, then the Nakupenda sandbank for swimming and a seafood lunch. Packages often combine the two over a day. A more land-based alternative: a spice farm for half a day. Compare two or three established agencies rather than following a tout at the harbour. If you have time and want to snorkel, Chumbe island is another option near the city, but it needs booking in advance.
Day 3: the east coast between forest and tide
Leave the city in the morning for Jozani forest, for the red colobus monkeys, then continue to Paje beach. The tide decides whether you can swim: at low tide the sea draws back very far. Book a lunch at The Rock according to the tide time. If the wind is good, a kitesurfing in Paje lesson is possible. Allow about an hour by road between Stone Town and Paje.
Day 4: dolphins or beach, then departure
From the east coast, an early-morning Kizimkazi dolphin trip takes half a day; choose an operator that respects the animals. If you prefer a quiet beach, stay in Paje or Jambiani. For an evening flight, plan the road to the airport about an hour ahead, plus the usual margin.
Variant: the north instead of the east
To swim at any hour, replace days 3 and 4 with the north: transfer to Nungwi (about 1 hour 30 from Stone Town), then Nungwi beach and a snorkelling trip to Mnemba. Compare the areas in where to stay in Zanzibar.
How many times to change hotel
Two hotels are enough over four days: Stone Town for nights 1 and 2, the coast for nights 3 and 4 (or a single beach hotel for nights 2 to 4, with day excursions). Each change costs half a day on the road. Boat excursions are cancelled in rough seas: keep half a day of margin in the rainy season, see when to go to Zanzibar.
Going further
With more time, move on to Zanzibar in 7 days. For travel between areas, read getting around Zanzibar, and for the budget, travel budget for Zanzibar.
