3D / 2NFly from Nairobi
Zanzibar · Tanzania
4-Day Zanzibar Escape
Fly from Nairobi to Zanzibar for three nights: a Stone Town walking tour, a spice farm visit, a beach day and a sunset dhow cruise, with breakfast daily.
- 4 days · 3 nights
- From Nairobi
- No visa for Kenyans
Overview
Zanzibar is close enough to Nairobi for a long weekend and different enough to feel like a proper holiday. The flight takes under an hour and a half, East African citizens need no visa, and within a day you are walking through one of the most atmospheric old towns on the Indian Ocean.
This escape balances culture and beach. You spend a morning in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow alleys, carved wooden doors and coral-stone houses where Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences sit side by side. Your guide brings it to life, from the Darajani market to the site of the old slave market and the Old Fort. Then you head inland for a spice tour, tasting cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and lemongrass straight from the plants that made the island famous.
Sand, sea and a sunset dhow
Day three is for the beach: white sand, turquoise water and nothing on the schedule until evening, when you board a traditional wooden dhow for a sunset cruise along the coast.
- Return flights Nairobi–Zanzibar
- 3 nights with daily breakfast
- Airport transfers
- Stone Town tour, spice tour and sunset dhow cruise
Zanzibar requires inbound travel insurance bought online before arrival, and East African citizens pay a reduced rate. We'll help you arrange it with your booking.
- Guided walk through Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Spice farm tour with tastings
- A free day on Zanzibar's white-sand beaches
- Sunset cruise on a traditional dhow
- No visa needed for Kenyan citizens
Day by day
- Day 1
Nairobi → Zanzibar
Fly from Nairobi to Zanzibar, a flight of roughly an hour and twenty minutes. After immigration, your driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel. Check in and take the afternoon to settle in. If you're staying in or near Stone Town, the Forodhani Gardens night food market on the seafront is an easy first evening, with grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizza and sugar-cane juice. Overnight in Zanzibar.
- Day 2
Stone Town walking tour and spice farm
After breakfast, meet your guide for a walking tour of Stone Town: the carved doors and balconies, Darajani market, the Old Fort, and the Anglican cathedral built on the site of the former slave market. In the afternoon, drive out to a spice farm to see, smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper and vanilla, often with fresh tropical fruit at the end. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Zanzibar.
- Day 3
Beach day and sunset dhow cruise
A slow morning with nothing planned. Spend the day on the beach, swim in the warm, clear water or book an optional snorkelling trip. In the late afternoon, board a traditional wooden dhow for a sunset cruise along the coast, watching the sky turn orange over the water as local fishing boats head home. Return to your hotel for dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Zanzibar.
- Day 4
Zanzibar → Nairobi
Enjoy a final breakfast and, if time allows, a last swim or a stroll for souvenirs such as spices, kanga cloth and tinga tinga paintings. Check out at the hotel's usual time. Your driver collects you for the transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in good time for your return flight, arriving in Nairobi about an hour and twenty minutes later.
What's included
Included
- Return flights Nairobi–Zanzibar
- Return airport transfers
- 3 nights' accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Guided Stone Town walking tour
- Spice farm tour
- Sunset dhow cruise
Not included
- Zanzibar mandatory inbound travel insurance
- Visas for non-East African passport holders
- Lunches and dinners
- Entrance fees to sites not listed, optional excursions, tips and personal expenses
Rates
| Option | Kenya resident (KES) | Non-resident (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Town 3-star B&B, advance fares (Nov, Jan-Mar) | 82,000 | On request |
| Typical fares / 4-star Stone Town | 95,000 | On request |
| Beach 4-star half board | 120,000 | On request |
| December | 110,000 | On request |
Per person sharing a double or twin room. Children need passports. Zanzibar inbound insurance child (3-17) USD 22. Airline child fare + 50% hotel sharing. 12+ adult.
Good to know
- Kenyan citizens need a valid passport but no visa. Other nationalities should check Tanzania visa rules before booking.
- Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance must be bought online before arrival. East African citizens pay a reduced rate, and we can help you arrange it.
- Carry your yellow fever certificate, which officials can ask for from travellers arriving from Kenya.
- Zanzibar is mainly Muslim. Swimwear is fine on the beach, but cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages, especially during Ramadan.
Questions about this trip
Do Kenyans need a visa for Zanzibar?
No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, and Kenyan citizens can visit without a visa as East African Community citizens. You do need a valid passport and Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance. Other nationalities usually need a Tanzania visa, which is applied for online. We'll confirm the requirements for every traveller in your group.
What is the Zanzibar travel insurance requirement?
Since October 2024, Zanzibar has required foreign visitors to buy a short inbound insurance policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation before arrival. It covers emergencies during your stay and is separate from any travel insurance you already hold. East African citizens pay a reduced rate. We can help you buy it when you book.
Which part of Zanzibar will I stay in?
That depends on the hotel you choose. Stone Town is best for culture and evening food markets. The north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, is popular for swimming because tides change less, while the east coast has long beaches with dramatic tides. Tell us what you like and we'll recommend hotels to match.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
The driest, most popular months are usually June to October and December to February. The long rains, roughly March to May, bring heavy showers and some hotels close for a few weeks. Ramadan changes the rhythm of Stone Town, with many restaurants closed during the day, so check the dates when planning.
4-Day Zanzibar Escape
Request to book
Tell us when and who's travelling. We check availability, then send a written quote with the total, the deposit and the due dates. Nothing to pay until you're happy with it.
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