During this five-day itinerary, we’ll concentrate on the main island of Unguja, which can be easily reached with a direct flight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Unguja is home to Zanzibar’s world-renowned Stone Town, where the aromas of mouth-watering spices permeate a veritable maze of twisting streets and narrow footpaths. We’ll be staying at the Dhow Palace Hotel tonight, located right in the heart of this historic community. From here, we’ll have a convenient base to explore the cafes, shops, mosques, and churches which have come to define Stone Town. After getting checked in, we’ll have the evening to enjoy at our leisure.

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As daylight breaks over the colorful rooftops of Stone Town, we’ll head just offshore to Changuu. Known colloquially as Prison Island after a British prison built here in the late 1800s, Changuu was used historically as a medical quarantine facility. Today, it’s best known as a protected reserve where you can get up close and personal with endangered giant tortoises. Late this afternoon, we’ll return to Stone Town to enjoy a walking tour of its markets and historical points of interest, such as the Palace Museum and Old Fort. You’ll learn how the city’s inimitable character has been informed over the centuries by Swahili, Middle Eastern, Indian, and European influences. This evening, you’ll have the chance to really dig into the flavor profiles of the island at one of the many great restaurants in town.

Get ready for one of Zanzibar’s premier attractions: a private sailing excursion with The Safari Blue. Your guided tour departs from Stone Town and brings you to pristine islands and mangrove lagoons on a traditional Arabian dhow. These iconic sailboats ply the sea all along Zanzibar’s coast, and today’s idyllic cruise even offers the opportunity for some guided snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. The entire experience culminates in a mouth-watering seafood buffet right on the beach. When you’ve returned to the mainland, we’ll pack our bags and head north. An hour’s drive from Stone Town will take us to the comparatively sleepy fishing town of Nungwi, where we’ll spend the next two nights. We’ll be staying at the Amaan Beach Bungalows, where you can catch a great view of the sea from your hotel room or while away the afternoon on the beach.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll strike out for Jambo Square: the best beach to start today’s scuba diving or snorkeling adventure. The waters just offshore are teeming with colorful sea life, including tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins, and you’ll have the rare opportunity to encounter them at close range beneath the waves. When you’re ready to return to the surface, we have another adventure in store for you. You’ve already seen where Zanzibar’s acclaimed spices are sold in the bustling markets of Stone Town—now it’s time to see where they’re grown. We’ll visit one of the many spice farms on the outskirts of Nungwi. You’ll get to taste aromatic and flavorful spices, such as cinnamon, lemongrass, nutmeg, turmeric, and more—and you’ll learn how these spices are cultivated, harvested, dried, and shipped to the markets of Zanzibar.

Our short-but-sweet escape to Zanzibar has reached its conclusion. This morning, we’ll pack our things and travel south in the direction of Stone Town, heading for the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport once more. As your plane rises into the sky and the entirety of Unguja spreads out beneath its wings, we trust you’ll take fond memories of the people and sights of Zanzibar with you. Whether you’re returning home or heading back to the mainland for a safari, we hope you’ll visit the Island of Spice again.