Zanzibar works well for a 3–4 day trip: spend one day in Stone Town for culture, one day each exploring the North and South Coasts, and fit in spice gardens and a boat trip in between. Azam fast ferries (around 2 hours) and small planes are available between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
Start early to cover the three main sights: House of Wonders, Old Fort, and the Slave Trade Memorial. Explore the narrow winding alleys to find intricately carved teak doors. Have lunch at a local eatery like Lukmaan. In the evening, visit Forodhani Gardens night market to watch the sunset, enjoy grilled seafood skewers and sugarcane with ginger juice, and end with a cliff-diving show by local kids.
Take a morning guided tour of a suburban spice garden to learn about cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, and turmeric, then have lunch with a spicy rice dish. In the afternoon, take a 20-minute boat ride to Prison Island to see Aldabra giant tortoises and go snorkeling in the shallows. Back in town, enjoy sunset views of Stone Town’s skyline from a rooftop restaurant.
Take a roughly 1-hour drive in the morning to the northern fishing village of Nungwi. Join a dolphin-watching cruise and go snorkeling (especially around Mnemba Atoll, known for its clear waters). Spend the afternoon relaxing on the white sands. Kendwa is famous for its sunset and full moon parties—perfect for nightlife. Stay in a beach resort or an affordable guesthouse.
Get up early to explore the tidal white-sand flats and try kite surfing around Paje, or go on a boat trip from Kizimkazi to see whales and dolphins. Return to Stone Town or head to the airport in the afternoon. If your flight is in the evening, pick up some spice gift boxes or miniature carved wooden door souvenirs in Stone Town.