5-Day Zanzibar Culture & Beach Holiday — 4 Nights Villa
From $950 / person
Culture First, Then Two Days to Unwind
Stone Town Walking Tour
A guided walk through Zanzibar's World Heritage old town
Spice Farm Visit
Smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla
Beach Day at Nungwi or Kendwa
A free day on the north coast, with transfers
A Free Day
Rest at the villa or add an optional extra
4 Nights Private Villa
Our Swahili-style villa with a pool and garden
Daily Breakfast
Breakfast cooked fresh at the villa each morning
5-Day Package Price — 4 Nights Villa & Breakfast
Price Per Person
4 nights villa accommodation · daily breakfast · flexible start based on your arrival
From $950 per person
The price includes the excursions listed, all transfers, 4 nights in our private villa and daily breakfast. Send us your group size and travel dates for an exact quote.
Everything Included in Your 5-Day Zanzibar Culture & Beach Holiday
This 5-day package is a relaxed Zanzibar holiday built around the island's history. On Day 1 a licensed guide leads you around Stone Town, the UNESCO-listed old town. Day 2 is a visit to a working spice farm, with the afternoon free. Day 3 is a beach day at Nungwi or Kendwa, Day 4 is free, and Day 5 is a slow morning before your departure. You spend four nights in our private villa with breakfast. The package costs from $950 per person.
In Stone Town you walk past the Old Fort and the Forodhani waterfront, visit Christ Church Cathedral on the site of the former slave market, and explore Darajani Market and the carved doors of the narrow lanes. At the spice farm you see how cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and pepper grow, and taste them fresh.
It suits honeymooners, families and travellers recovering from a safari or a Kilimanjaro climb. For a faster pace with the same sights, see our 4-day or 3-day Stone Town and spice farm packages.
| Departure Point | Zanzibar Airport or your hotel |
| Departure Time | Flexible — based on arrival time |
| Accommodation | 4 nights in our private villa in Shakani |
| Languages | English & Swahili — expert local guides |
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Your 5-Day Zanzibar Itinerary — Day by Day
Two excursion days, a beach day and a free day. Times are approximate and are planned around your arrival and departure.
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Day 1Arrival · Pick-Up and Stone Town Walking Tour
We collect you from Zanzibar Airport or your hotel. Your guide then leads a walk through Stone Town: the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens, Christ Church Cathedral and the former slave market, Darajani Market and Kenyatta Road, past the house linked to Freddie Mercury. Afterwards you check in at the villa.
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Day 2Morning · Spice Farm Tour
After breakfast, visit a working spice farm. Your guide shows you cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper and cardamom growing, and you taste them fresh with seasonal tropical fruit. The afternoon is free at the villa.
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Day 3Full Day · Free Beach Day at Nungwi or Kendwa
After breakfast your driver takes you to the north coast. The day is yours: swim, snorkel (equipment can be hired locally), walk the beach or book a sunset dhow cruise (extra cost). You return to the villa in the late afternoon.
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Day 4Full Day · Free Day
A day to rest at the villa or add an optional activity, such as snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll, a sunset dhow cruise or swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave (extra cost, arranged when you book).
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Day 5Morning · Free Time and Departure
Enjoy a final breakfast and a slow morning by the villa pool. We then drive you to Zanzibar Airport or your next hotel, timed to your flight.
Modern Luxury Zanzibar Villa — Where You'll Stay
Modern Luxury Zanzibar Villa | Private Pool & Spacious Living
Stay in our exclusive private Zanzibar villa — a beautifully designed Swahili-modern retreat set within lush tropical gardens. Your stay includes daily breakfast, fully air-conditioned living spaces, private pool access, and all the comfort you need to recharge between excursions. The villa is private, secure, and designed to feel like your own home on the island. It is in Shakani, a quiet coastal village in Zanzibar's West (Magharibi) district.
What Will You See in Stone Town and on the Spice Farm?
Stone Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, and the spice farm explains why Zanzibar is called the Spice Island.
| Stop | What it is |
|---|---|
| Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens | A coral-stone fort built by the Omani Arabs around 1700, beside the seafront gardens |
| Christ Church Cathedral | Built on the site of the last open slave market, which closed in 1873; the memorial and museum are optional (about $5) |
| Darajani Market | Stone Town's busy main market for spices, fish, fruit and everyday goods |
| Carved doors | Arab and Indian-style wooden doors throughout the old town |
| Spice farm | Cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, cardamom, turmeric and lemongrass, shown growing and tasted fresh |
Read more about each landmark and spice on our Stone Town and spice farm tour page.
Nungwi or Kendwa: Where Will You Spend Your Beach Day?
Day 3 is a free day on the north coast at Nungwi or Kendwa. Both beaches are on the north-west tip of the island, about an hour's drive from Stone Town, and both have a small tidal range, so the sea stays close enough to swim at almost any time of day.
| Nungwi | Kendwa | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Livelier, with a fishing village, dhow builders, restaurants and beach bars | Quieter and more spread out, with a long, wide beach |
| Swimming | Good at most tides; some sections are rocky | Some of the best tide-independent swimming on the island |
| Optional extras | Snorkelling trips, the Mnarani turtle aquarium, sunset dhow cruises | Snorkelling, diving and sunset dhow cruises |
Your driver takes you to the beach after breakfast and collects you in the afternoon. Water sports, boat trips and meals on the beach are paid locally. Our Zanzibar beach guide compares every coast.
What Can You Do on Your Free Day?
Day 4 is yours. Many guests simply rest at the villa after the excursions and the beach day. If you would like to do more, these optional extras can be added at extra cost:
- Swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave in Kizimkazi, included in our 3-day packages
- Snorkelling or diving at Mnemba Atoll
- A sunset dhow cruise
- A day tour such as Safari Blue or Prison Island and Jozani
- A short fly-in safari: see our 2-day safari from Zanzibar
Tell us what interests you when you book, and we will plan it around your excursion days.
What Should You Pack for Five Days?
Your luggage stays at the villa for all four nights, so you unpack once and only need a day bag on excursion and beach days.
- Light clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for Stone Town
- Comfortable walking shoes or sandals with good grip
- Swimwear, a towel and reef-safe sunscreen for the beach
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Insect repellent for the spice farm
- Some cash in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings for optional museum entry, meals and tips
Good to Know
- Ask before photographing people, especially in Stone Town and in villages
- Swimwear is for the beach and the villa; cover up when you walk through villages or towns
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street during daylight hours
When Is the Best Time for This 5-Day Package?
The package runs all year. June to October is the most comfortable time for walking in Stone Town and the most reliable for beach weather. December to February is hot, with calm seas on the north coast. In the long rains of April and May showers are common, but they rarely last all day.
| Months | Weather | What it means for this package |
|---|---|---|
| June – October | Dry, sunny and cooler | Ideal for excursions and beach days; the busiest season, so book early |
| November | Short rains, usually brief showers | Fine for touring; quieter and greener |
| December – February | Hot, humid and mostly dry | Excellent beach and swimming weather; busy over the holidays |
| March – May | Long rains, heaviest in April and May | Lower prices and fewer visitors; expect showers |
Our Zanzibar travel guide covers the seasons month by month.
How Does This Package Compare with Our Other Zanzibar Packages?
All three 5-day packages include four nights in our private villa with breakfast, two guided excursion days, a beach day and a free day.
| 5-day package | Guided excursions | Free time | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town, Spice Farm & Beach (this package) | Day 1: Stone Town walking tour Day 2: spice farm | Day 3 beach day; Day 4 free; Day 5 departure | From $950 |
| Prison Island, Jozani & Beach | Day 1: Prison Island giant tortoises Day 2: Jozani Forest red colobus | Day 3 beach day; Day 4 free; Day 5 departure | From $1,050 |
| Safari Blue & Kendwa | Day 1: arrival and a free afternoon Day 2: full-day Safari Blue | Day 3 beach day; Day 4 free; Day 5 departure | From $1,150 |
For a shorter stay, see our 4-day and 3-day packages, which include swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave. For a full week across three coasts, see our 7-day Zanzibar itinerary, or compare everything on the 5-day Zanzibar packages page.
Questions About the 5-Day Stone Town, Spice Farm & Beach Holiday
Pick-up from the airport or your hotel, a guided Stone Town walking tour, a spice farm visit with tasting, a beach day with transfers, four nights in our private villa with daily breakfast, a licensed guide and bottled water on excursion days.
The package costs from $950 per person. Send us your group size and travel dates for an exact quote.
It adds a free day and a fourth villa night, so the pace is even more relaxed. The excursions are the same as on our 4-day package.
Relax at the villa, or add an optional extra such as swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave, snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll, a sunset dhow cruise or one of our day tours. Tell us when you book and we will arrange it.
Wear light clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, and comfortable shoes for uneven streets. Stone Town is a conservative, mainly Muslim community, and modest dress is expected in the old town.
The Stone Town walk and the spice farm visit are included. Optional paid sites, such as the slave market museum, cost about $3–5 and are paid on the day.
We plan around your arrival time. If you land late, Day 1 is simply arrival and villa check-in, and the Stone Town walk moves to Day 2 together with the spice farm.
All four nights are in our private villa in Shakani, a quiet coastal village in Zanzibar's West district. It has a pool, a tropical garden, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and daily breakfast, and it is used only by your group.
Yes. Many guests combine a Zanzibar stay with a short fly-in safari. See our safaris from Zanzibar, from two to five days.
Cancellations made more than 7 days before the start date receive a full refund. Cancellations within 7 days may incur a partial fee, depending on bookings already made on your behalf. We recommend travel insurance.