Beach holiday
6-Day Zanzibar North Coast Retreat
Overview
Some trips are about seeing as much as possible. This one is about doing very little, very comfortably. It suits couples and friends who have had a busy year, or a busy safari, and want five quiet nights with a hammock, a good book and a reef within reach.
From the airport you go straight to an all-inclusive resort on Zanzibar’s north coast. Your spacious suite opens onto a tropical garden, with a private veranda that looks toward fine white sand and clear blue-green water. Meals are relaxed, with fresh seafood and a mix of African and European dishes, and the drinks are included, so an evening at the bar costs nothing extra.
When you feel like moving, the resort lends kayaks for paddling along the shore, and boat trips run out to Mnemba Atoll, a protected reef off the northeast coast that is one of the island’s best spots for snorkeling and diving. One full day takes you to Stone Town and Prison Island with a guide, lunch included. Tanzania Tourism Safaris looks after the transfers, and the pace of everything else is up to you.
Tour highlights
- Five nights in a garden suite with a private veranda
- All-inclusive dining with fresh seafood and local drinks
- Complimentary kayaks for exploring the shoreline
- Snorkel or dive trips to the reefs of Mnemba Atoll
- Guided Stone Town and Prison Island day with lunch
- Sunset drinks on Zanzibar’s north shore
Day by day
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Day 1 Airport to the North Coast Stay Upscale beach resort on the north coast (all-inclusive)Meals Dinner
After you clear arrivals at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, a private vehicle takes you north through the island’s farmland to your resort. Settle into your suite, try the hammock on the veranda and walk down to the beach to get your bearings. The resort’s bar and pool are close by if you would rather unwind there. Dinner tonight is a long, easy affair, with fish, meat and vegetarian dishes on the menu.
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Day 2 Hammock Hours and a Sunset Cocktail Stay Upscale beach resort on the north coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This is the day to do nothing at all. Sleep late, take breakfast slowly and move between the pool, the beach and your veranda as the sun moves round. A massage or spa treatment is a good way to let go of the journey. Lunch is usually a buffet of local and international dishes. In the evening, carry a drink down to the water and watch the sky change color over the sea.
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Day 3 Snorkeling the Reefs of Mnemba Atoll Stay Upscale beach resort on the north coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If the reef is calling, today is the day to answer. A boat trip to Mnemba Atoll can be arranged through the resort, for snorkeling over coral gardens or for a dive if you are certified. The water around the atoll is known for its clarity and its fish life, from shoals of reef fish to turtles. If you would rather stay ashore, the house reef and the pool are always there. Dinner is back at the resort.
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Day 4 Guided Day in Stone Town and Prison Island Stay Upscale beach resort on the north coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your guide collects you after breakfast for the drive south to Stone Town. Spend the morning in the old quarter, where cobbled lanes lead past mosques, merchant houses and stalls heavy with cloves and cinnamon. Next comes a short boat crossing to Prison Island to see its colony of giant tortoises and swim off the small beach. Lunch is part of the tour, and you are back on the north coast before dark.
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Day 5 Kayak the Shoreline at Your Own Pace Stay Upscale beach resort on the north coast (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Borrow one of the resort’s kayaks in the cool of the morning and paddle along the turquoise water close to the beach. Afterward, there is plenty of time for a long swim, another treatment at the spa or a final afternoon with your book. Make the most of your last evening with fresh seafood by the pool and a slow walk along the sand under the stars.
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Day 6 Goodbye to the North Shore Meals Breakfast
Enjoy a last breakfast with a sea view, and a final swim if time allows. At the agreed hour, your driver meets you at reception for the transfer back to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. If you would like more island time, extra nights here or a few days in Stone Town can be added when you book.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $1,922 | $1,281 | $1,064 | $897 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $2,023 | $1,349 | $1,120 | $994 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $2,248 | $1,499 | $1,245 | $1,105 |
Tour price includes
- Private airport and hotel transfers
- Five nights in a garden suite at an upscale north coast resort
- All-inclusive meals with local alcoholic and soft drinks
- Use of the resort’s kayaks
- Full-day guided Stone Town and Prison Island tour, with lunch
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Optional boat trips, snorkeling or diving at Mnemba Atoll
- Spa treatments, souvenirs and personal spending
Questions about this holiday
Is the Mnemba Atoll trip included in the price?
The resort can arrange snorkeling and diving trips to Mnemba Atoll, but they are booked separately. The included excursion is the full-day Stone Town and Prison Island tour. We are happy to price the Mnemba trip for you before you travel.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
Snorkeling needs no experience, only basic swimming. To scuba dive you need a recognized certification, or you can ask about an introductory dive with an instructor. Bring your dive card and logbook if you have them.
Who is this retreat best for?
It suits couples and friends who want rest more than a busy schedule, and travelers winding down after a safari on the mainland. If you are traveling with young children, our six-day family holiday on the northeast coast is a better match.
When is the cheapest time to go?
Rates are lowest from March to May, which is also when the long rains usually fall. The drier months from June to October and around Christmas cost more. Group size matters too: the more people share the trip, the lower the price per person.
Before you go
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