What You Need to Know: The 8-day Zanzibar holiday costs from US$2,290 per person for two travelers at mid-range hotels, or US$2,520 with a luxury hotel in Stone Town. It includes seven nights with breakfast (two in Stone Town, five at Pongwe on the east coast), all transfers, and three guided days: Stone Town with Prison Island, a spice farm tour and Jozani Forest.
Who Is the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday For?
It suits a first visit where you want to understand the island as well as relax on it. Stone Town gets two nights rather than one, so the guided walk and the Prison Island boat fit without rushing. The spice farm is visited on the drive east, and the beach is Pongwe, a small, palm-lined bay that is much quieter than the north. Jozani Forest, the home of Zanzibar's red colobus monkeys, is about 45 minutes away, so it makes an easy morning out in the middle of your beach week.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want culture and nature as well as the beach | You want sunsets over the sea and swimming at every tide: the 5-day north coast holiday |
| You prefer a quiet beach to a lively one | You want to see two coasts: the 10-day north and south coast holiday |
| You have a week and like a slower pace | It's your honeymoon: the 7-day Zanzibar honeymoon |
8-Day Zanzibar Holiday Itinerary
Three guided days spread through the week, with free days between them:
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Day 1: Arrival in Stone Town
Pickup at the airport and the short drive to your hotel in Stone Town. If you arrive in time, watch the sunset from a rooftop or the seafront.
Airport pickupStone TownDinner on your own -
Day 2: Stone Town and Prison Island
A guided walk through the lanes of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by the boat to Prison Island and its giant tortoises. The evening is free in town.
Stone Town, Prison IslandStone TownBreakfast -
Day 3: A spice farm on the way to Pongwe
After breakfast we drive out to a spice farm in the countryside north of Stone Town, where you see, smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and pepper on the plant. Then we continue east to Pongwe, about an hour and a half in all, arriving in time for an afternoon on the beach.
Spice farmPongweBreakfast -
Day 4: Beach day at Pongwe
Pongwe's bay is small and sheltered by reef; the water goes out at low tide, so plan swims around high water and walk the sand flats when it is out.
BeachPongweBreakfast -
Day 5: Jozani Forest
A morning in Jozani Forest, the national park that protects the Zanzibar red colobus, found only on the island. A guide walks you through the forest and along the mangrove boardwalk, and you are back at the beach for lunch.
Jozani ForestPongweBreakfast -
Day 6: Free day
Rest, or book an extra such as a dolphin and sandbank trip or Mnemba snorkeling.
BeachPongweBreakfast -
Day 7: Free day
A last full day at Pongwe.
BeachPongweBreakfast -
Day 8: Departure
The drive of about an hour to the airport for your flight.
TransferZanzibarBreakfast
Hotels on the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday
Where you sleep at each level. The east coast beach hotel is the same at both levels, so the luxury price reflects the Stone Town upgrade:
| Nights | Area | Mid-range (or similar) | Luxury (or similar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Stone Town | The Neela Boutique Hotel, Maru Maru Hotel, Shaharazad Boutique Hotel | Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Zanzibar Serena Hotel, Hotel Verde |
| 5 | Pongwe, east coast | TOA Beach Hotel & Spa | TOA Beach Hotel & Spa (a sea-view room) |
How Much Does the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday Cost?
Per person, by group size, including hotels, breakfast, transfers and the three guided days:
| Level | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range hotels | US$2,995 | US$2,290 | US$2,290 | US$2,290 |
| Luxury Stone Town hotel | US$3,250 | US$2,520 | US$2,520 | US$2,520 |
Guided excursion days cost US$105 per person (children half) and include your guide, transport and pickup at your hotel. If you want a different beach, we can price Kiwengwa or the north coast instead.
What the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday Includes
The price includes:
- All transfers: airport to Stone Town, Stone Town to Pongwe via the spice farm, and Pongwe to the airport
- Two nights in Stone Town and five at Pongwe, with breakfast
- Three guided days: Stone Town with the boat to Prison Island, a spice farm tour and Jozani Forest
- Our team's support on WhatsApp throughout
Not included in the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday price
Plan to pay for these yourself:
- International flights, and a visa for Tanzania (US$50; US$100 for US citizens)
- Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult (we can help you buy it)
- Your own travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Boat trips and diving beyond the itinerary
- Tips
Adding a Safari from Zanzibar
A short flight puts the Serengeti within reach of the island, so a safari fits before or after the beach:
- The 2-day Serengeti fly-in from Zanzibar, one night and two game drives
- The 3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari from Zanzibar
- The 4-day safari from Zanzibar with flights
How to Book the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday
Tell us your dates, how many of you are traveling and your preferred hotel level, through the form, WhatsApp (+255 678 992 599) or email (jaynevytours@gmail.com). Our written quote lists each hotel by name. To hold the dates you pay 30% up front, then the rest when you land, by card or mobile money through Pesapal or by US-dollar bank transfer; our booking terms cover cancellations.
Common Questions About the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
How much does an 8-day Zanzibar holiday cost?
From US$2,290 per person for two travelers at mid-range hotels and US$2,520 with a luxury Stone Town hotel, including seven nights, transfers and three guided days.
Is Pongwe a good beach?
Yes, for a quiet stay: a small palm-fringed bay with few hotels. Like the rest of the east coast, the tide goes far out, so swimming depends on the time of day.
Can we stay on the north coast instead?
Yes. We can switch the beach nights to Kendwa or Nungwi, where the tide matters less; see Nungwi, Kendwa or Paje.
Do we see the red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest?
Almost always. The monkeys live in groups near the forest paths and are used to visitors, though they are wild animals.
Is the spice farm worth it?
Most guests enjoy it: you learn how cloves, vanilla and nutmeg grow, taste fresh fruit, and it fits on the drive to the east coast.
Should You Book the 8-Day Zanzibar Holiday?
Book it if this is your first time on Zanzibar and you want Stone Town, the spice farms and Jozani Forest as well as five quiet beach nights, from US$2,290 per person for two. For a shorter break, see the 5-day beach holiday; to compare costs first, read how much a Zanzibar holiday costs.