6-Day Zanzibar West Coast Escape

Overview

Tour highlights

• Five nights in an oceanfront villa at a boutique lodge
• Swahili cooking and fresh seafood, all-inclusive
• Sunsets over the sea from a west-facing beach
• Short drive to Stone Town for the included day tour
• Infinity pool, tropical gardens and beachside massages
• Optional diving, jet skiing and kitesurfing

1. Day 1 Arrival and a Short Ride to the West Coast Stay Boutique beach lodge on the west coast (all-inclusive)Meals Dinner

   Your driver meets you at Zanzibar’s international airport. The transfer to the lodge is one of the shortest on the island: you skirt the edge of Stone Town and follow the coast road north. Check in to your oceanfront villa, take a swim in the infinity pool and find a seat facing the water for the first of five sunsets. Dinner in the open-air restaurant introduces you to Swahili flavors such as coconut curries and grilled fish.

2. Day 2 Stone Town Lanes and Prison Island by Boat Stay Boutique beach lodge on the west coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   With town so close, the guided day out comes early in the trip. Explore Stone Town on foot, from the old Arab Fort to the busy Darajani Market and the quiet lanes behind it, where carved doors hint at the wealth of past traders. Then take a boat to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises and its old buildings. Lunch is included. Back at the lodge, the evening is free.

3. Day 3 Snorkeling and Slow Hours in the Garden Stay Boutique beach lodge on the west coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Spend the morning in the water with a mask and snorkel, looking for reef fish among the coral. The afternoon is for the lodge itself: a lounger in the tropical garden, a dip in the infinity pool and a cold drink from the bar. If you want to understand the island better, ask the staff about Swahili customs, food and village life. Many of them grew up nearby and are happy to share.

4. Day 4 Water Sports or a Massage by the Waves Stay Boutique beach lodge on the west coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Pick your speed for the day. Diving, jet skiing and kitesurfing can all be arranged at extra cost for those who want some adrenaline. For a gentler day, book a massage on the beach and let the sound of the waves do the rest. Either way, the evening brings another sunset over the ocean and a dinner of fresh seafood, cooked the Swahili way with coconut, lime and spices.

5. Day 5 An Evening at Forodhani Gardens Stay Boutique beach lodge on the west coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Keep the day loose: a long swim, a read in the shade, a nap. As the light fades, consider a short trip back into Stone Town for the evening food market at Forodhani Gardens, where stalls grill seafood on the waterfront and sell Zanzibar pizza and fresh sugarcane juice. The transfer can be arranged for you. Food at the market is paid for on the spot, so bring some small cash.

6. Day 6 Breakfast by the Sea and Flight Home Meals Breakfast

   Take your time over a final breakfast in the open-air restaurant. Depending on your flight, there may be time for one more swim before you check out. Your driver then takes you back along the coast road to Zanzibar’s international airport. If you are not ready to leave the islands yet, ask us about adding a few nights on the east coast, where the beaches are wider and the sunrises are the main event.

Questions about this holiday