Zanzibar 7 Day Itinerary
A week is the sweet spot for Zanzibar — long enough to see Stone Town, laze on the north-coast beaches, snorkel Mnemba, and still add a two-day mainland safari. Here’s the exact day-by-day plan, with real costs, travel times, and where to stay, from a local operator since 2014.
Quick Answer
A perfect 7-day Zanzibar itinerary splits the week into three parts: two days in Stone Town for culture, Prison Island and the Nakupenda sandbank; two days on the north coast at Nungwi or Kendwa for Mnemba snorkelling, turtles and beaches; and a two-day mainland safari to Mikumi National Park — before a final beach day and departure. Prefer to stay on the island? Swap the safari for Jozani Forest and the southeast coast. Budget for two fixed fees every visitor pays — $44 mandatory insurance and a $50 visa — plus tours from $10–$60 each and the safari from about $410.
Length7 days / 6 nights
BasesStone Town · North coast · Safari
Best forFirst-timers wanting it all
Fixed fees$44 insurance + $50 visa
Island tours from$10–$60 each
Safari from$410 (2-day Mikumi)
The plan at a glance
Your 7-Day Zanzibar Week
Three bases, minimal backtracking. You move once from Stone Town to the north coast, take a short flight for the safari, and finish near the airport for an easy departure.
| Day | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Stone Town | Arrive, settle in, Forodhani night market & sunset |
| Day 2 | Stone Town | Guided Stone Town tour + Spice Farm |
| Day 3 | Stone Town to North | Prison Island & Nakupenda sandbank, transfer north |
| Day 4 | North coast | Mnemba snorkel, turtles & beaches; sunset dhow |
| Day 5 | Safari | Fly to mainland, afternoon Mikumi game drive |
| Day 6 | Safari to Zanzibar | Morning game drive, fly back, beach evening |
| Day 7 | Departure | Free morning (Safari Blue optional), fly home |
Doing a shorter trip? See our 3-day Zanzibar itinerary and 5-day Zanzibar itinerary for tighter island-only plans.
Day by day
Base: Stone Town
Base: Stone Town
Base: Stone Town to North coast
Base: North coast
Base: Safari (mainland)
Base: Safari to Zanzibar
Base: Departure
The Full 7-Day Itinerary
Day1
Arrival & Stone Town Evening
Arrival
Land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, about 8 km from Stone Town. We meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the old town — the ideal first base, walkable and full of character.
Evening
Ease in with a stroll through Stone Town’s lanes to the seafront, then graze the grilled seafood and Zanzibari street food at the Forodhani night market as the sun sets over the water.
Today’s cost: airport transfer quoted by distance, plus dinner. A relaxed arrival day — no tour needed.
Day2
Stone Town Culture & the Spice Farm
Morning
Take a guided Stone Town tour through the UNESCO old city — the former slave market, the House of Wonders quarter, carved doors, spice markets, and Freddie Mercury’s birthplace, with the history a map can’t give you.
Afternoon
Head just inland for a Spice Farm tour — touch, smell and taste cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and nutmeg straight from the plants. It’s the island’s best-value half day and explains why Zanzibar is called the Spice Island.
Evening
Watch the sunset from a Stone Town rooftop over dinner.
Today’s tours from: Stone Town $17 · Spice Farm $10 per person.
Day3
Prison Island, Nakupenda Sandbank & North Transfer
Morning
Boat out to Prison Island to meet the giant Aldabra tortoises, then snorkel the reef and relax on the Nakupenda sandbank with a fresh seafood lunch on the sand.
Afternoon
Return to Stone Town, collect your bags, and transfer roughly 1–1.5 hours north to Nungwi or Kendwa — Zanzibar’s beach capital, where the tide stays swimmable all day.
Evening
Settle into your beach base and watch your first north-coast sunset.
Today’s tour from: Prison Island & Nakupenda $60 per person, plus the north-coast transfer (quoted by distance).
Day4
Mnemba Atoll, Turtles & North Beaches
Morning
Snorkel the coral gardens around Mnemba Atoll, Zanzibar’s best reef, then meet rescued sea turtles at the Nungwi natural aquarium.
Afternoon
Unwind on the powder-white sands of Kendwa and Nungwi — this is your pure beach day, with warm, calm water for swimming.
Evening
Sail into the sunset on a traditional dhow cruise — an easy highlight and a favourite for couples.
Today’s tours from: Mnemba, turtles & beaches $60 · Sunset dhow $27 per person.
Day5
Fly to the Mainland — Mikumi Safari Begins
Morning
Transfer to the airport for a short flight to the Tanzanian mainland. This is the day your trip changes gear — from ocean to open savannah.
Afternoon
Begin your safari from Zanzibar with an afternoon game drive in Mikumi National Park — elephants, giraffes, zebra, buffalo and, with luck, lions across the Mkata plains.
Evening
Overnight at a safari camp or lodge, full board, with the sounds of the bush after dark.
Two-day Mikumi safari from $410 per person — flights, park fees, game drives and lodging quoted together. Keep your personal travel insurance for the mainland portion.
Day6
Morning Game Drive & Return to the Coast
Morning
Head out at first light for the best wildlife viewing of the trip, when the animals are active and the light is gold. Breakfast in the park before you leave.
Afternoon
Fly back to Zanzibar and transfer to a hotel near Stone Town or the airport for your last night, so the morning departure is stress-free.
Evening
A final Swahili dinner by the water to round off the week.
Included in the two-day safari price above. Return transfer to your final hotel quoted by distance.
Day7
Free Morning & Departure
Morning
If your flight is later in the day, squeeze in one last experience — a half-day Safari Blue dhow trip if there’s time, or a slow morning of last-minute shopping in Stone Town.
Departure
We collect you and transfer you to the airport in good time for your flight home — full of stories and a bag of spices.
Optional: Safari Blue from $50 per person, subject to your flight time.
Two things every visitor must sort before arrival: the mandatory ZIC travel insurance ($44 per adult, valid up to 92 days) and a Tanzania visa ($50 standard, $100 for US citizens). Buy the insurance at visitzanzibar.go.tz and apply for the e-visa via the official Tanzania e-Visa portal, ideally a couple of weeks ahead. Keep your own private travel insurance too — the ZIC policy is for entry compliance, not a full replacement.
Prefer to stay on the island?
The All-Island Week (No Safari)
Not everyone wants to leave the beach for the bush. Keep Days 1–4 as above, then swap the safari for the wildlife, forest and quieter coast of southern Zanzibar for a slower, all-island week.
| Day | Base | Instead of safari… |
|---|---|---|
| Day 5 | North to Southeast | Transfer south via Jozani Forest & cave swimming (red colobus monkeys); settle at Paje or Jambiani |
| Day 6 | Southeast coast | Kizimkazi dolphin tour at dawn, then kite-surfing, low-tide walks and lagoon swimming at Paje |
| Day 7 | Departure | Slow morning on the southeast coast, transfer to the airport |
Tours from: Jozani & cave $45 · Dolphins $27 per person. This version keeps your whole trip on the island and is often the cheaper of the two.
What it costs
How Much Does 7 Days in Zanzibar Cost?
Your week breaks into three cost blocks: two fixed government fees everyone pays, the tours and safari you choose, and accommodation to your taste. Tour prices below are per-person starting rates and exclude hotel transfers.
| Cost component | Per person (from) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ZIC travel insurance | $44 | Mandatory, all visitors; $22 per child 3–17 |
| Tanzania e-visa | $50 | $100 for US citizens (multiple entry) |
| Core island tours (Days 2–4) | ~$147 | Stone Town $17 + Spice $10 + Prison Island $60 + Mnemba $60 |
| Optional add-ons | +$27–$77 | Sunset dhow $27, Safari Blue $50 |
| 2-day Mikumi safari | $410 | Flights, park fees, drives & lodging; quoted individually |
| Accommodation & meals | ~$35–$50+/day | Budget to comfortable; rises with beachfront & resorts |
Rough guide: the island-plus-safari week works out from roughly $650 per person for fees, core tours and the safari, before accommodation — with the all-island version usually coming in lower. Exact figures depend on your group size (per-person prices drop as the group grows), season, and hotel choice. Message us for an all-in quote.
See full per-tour pricing on our Zanzibar tour prices guide.
Where to base yourself
Where to Stay Each Night
Nights 1–2: Stone Town
Stay in the heart of the old town so you can walk to Forodhani, the markets, and the seafront. Boutique guesthouses in restored merchant houses give the most atmosphere.
Nights 3–4: North coast
Nungwi and Kendwa have the widest choice of beach hotels and the island’s most swimmable tide. Pick beachfront if you want to step straight onto the sand.
Nights 5–6: Safari & last night
Night five is a full-board safari camp or lodge near Mikumi. Night six, stay near Stone Town or the airport so your final-morning departure is easy.
We can bundle accommodation, tours, transfers and the safari into one holiday package, or keep everything private to your party — just tell us your budget and travel style. Timing matters too: check the best time to visit Zanzibar before you lock your dates.
Want This Week Booked For You?
Send us your dates and group size and we’ll turn this 7-day plan into a done-for-you itinerary — tours, transfers, safari and hotels arranged, with one clear per-person price and no obligation.
Before you go
7 Days in Zanzibar — FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Zanzibar and a safari?
Yes — a week is the ideal length to combine the island with a short mainland safari without feeling rushed. Four days cover Stone Town’s culture and the north-coast beaches, and a two-day Mikumi safari fits comfortably in the middle, leaving a final day for departure. If you’d rather not leave the island, the same week works beautifully as an all-island trip.
How much does a 7-day Zanzibar trip cost?
Budget from around $650 per person for the fixed fees ($44 insurance and $50 visa), the core island tours, and a two-day Mikumi safari, before accommodation. Hotels are the main variable — from budget guesthouses to beachfront resorts. Because tours are priced per person on a sliding scale, larger groups pay noticeably less each. Message us for an exact all-in quote.
Do I need the mandatory insurance and a visa?
Yes. Since October 2024, all visitors must buy Zanzibar’s ZIC inbound travel insurance ($44 per adult, valid up to 92 days) before arrival, in addition to any private policy you hold. Most nationalities also need a Tanzania visa ($50 standard, $100 for US citizens). Buy the insurance at visitzanzibar.go.tz and apply for the e-visa through the official Tanzania portal a couple of weeks ahead.
Should I stay in one place or move around?
Moving bases makes a week far richer. Two nights in Stone Town put you at the heart of the culture and the day-trip departure points, then two nights on the north coast give you the best beaches and swimmable tide. If you add the safari, your fifth night is on the mainland. It’s one island move plus a short flight — easy to manage and worth it.
Can I do this as a private tour?
Absolutely. The whole week can run as a private tour for your party only, with your own guide and a pace you set. Private is ideal for families, couples, and groups, and the per-person price drops as your group grows. Tell us your dates and we’ll build it around you.
What’s the best time of year for this itinerary?
The long dry season from June to October and the shorter dry spell from late December to February are the most reliable for both beaches and safari. The long rains around April and May are quieter and cheaper but wetter. See our best time to visit guide for a month-by-month breakdown before you book.
How do I get from Zanzibar to the safari?
The quickest way is a short flight from Zanzibar to an airstrip near Mikumi National Park, which we arrange as part of the safari package along with park fees, game drives, and full-board lodging. You fly back to Zanzibar for your final night, so you finish the trip on the coast rather than the mainland.
Can you customise the 7-day plan?
Yes — this is a template, not a fixed package. Swap the safari for more beach time, add Safari Blue or a spice-and-village day, extend to ten days, or upgrade the accommodation tier. Tell us what you love and your budget, and we’ll tailor the week and send one clear per-person quote.
Start Planning Your Week
Reach us any of these ways — WhatsApp is fastest for a same-day reply.
Plan your 7-day trip
Tell us your dates and group size and we’ll send a tailored week with an all-in price.