Nungwi Sunset Ritual
The northern tip offers one of the finest sunsets in the Indian Ocean, earned after the biggest day in the saddle.
Tanzania,
East Africa
East Africa
Cycle the Spice Island of Zanzibar
Up to ten days of extraordinary riding through ancient spice routes, white-sand coastlines and Swahili fishing villages, guided by a local team who know every track, food stall and sunset spot on the island. Choose your dates, choose your days.
1–10
Days, you choose
~290
Kilometres cycled
10
Spots available
The Adventure
Where the road ends, the real Zanzibar begins
Zanzibar is more than turquoise water and white sand. On a bicycle, you reach the heart of the island: spice farms hidden in lush forests, fishing villages where time moves to the tide, and clifftop restaurants perched over the Indian Ocean.
There are no mountains. The riding is flat to rolling on tar roads, gravel paths, and at low tide, along the beach itself. Days vary from 25km to 80km, and the heat and distance are the real challenge.
A small-group adventure limited to 10 riders, fully supported by our local expert team who know every track, food stall and sunset spot on the island.
Your Bike: Important Requirements
- Riders bring their own bike
- Helmet and cycling gloves required
- Service your bike before departure
- Full repair kit and tools
- Spare tubes, tyre levers, pump
- Bike in top working condition
- Mountain or gravel
bike recommended - Spare brake pads, cables,
chain links
Non-Riding Partners Welcome
Not everyone in your group needs to be on a bike. Non-riding partners are warmly welcome on this trip and will be transported daily by vehicle to each overnight destination, enjoying the island at their own pace while the cyclists earn their sunset drinks.
What Awaits
More than a cycling trip
Dhow Sailing
& Snorkelling
A traditional wooden dhow takes you to the reef, then sails back through the lagoon
at golden hour.
Indian Ocean Dining
Freshly caught tuna, grilled kingfish, Swahili spiced dishes, the food on this trip is
part of
the adventure.
Beach Riding at Low Tide
The ultimate Zanzibar experience: riding
the hard-packed sand as the
Indian
Ocean retreats.
Boutique Accommodation
Every night in a carefully selected beach guesthouse, chosen for character,
comfort and the sunset view.
Scuba the Reefs
Over fifty dive sites and reefs like Mnemba Atoll, with professional dive teams, full equipment and PADI courses
straight
off the beach.
Kite Surfing at Paje
Trade winds sweep across Paje every evening, making the east coast a bucket-
list kite-surfing spot, and the ideal
place to learn.
Spice Farms & Dolphins
Beyond the bike: a guided spice-plantation tour, swimming with dolphins off the south coast, and an optional Kendwa
full-moon party.
The Route
290km around one
290km around one
extraordinary island
Starting and finishing in Stone Town, we ride the full circumference of Zanzibar over eight cycling days, north through the interior,
down the east coast,
then home
via the remote southwest.
Day 1 & 10
Stone Town
Arrive & depart · Welcome and
farewell dinners
farewell dinners
Days 2–3
Nungwi
~80km via the spice farm · Rest day
at the beach
at the beach
Days 4–5
Matemwe
~35km east coast · Optional
Mnemba diving
Mnemba diving
Day 6
Machamvi
~60km via Pongwe · Kae Funk
sunset party
sunset party
Day 7
Paje
~25km · Lunch at The
Rock · Kitesurfing
Rock · Kitesurfing
Day 8
Jambiani
Scenic coast · Dhow sailing
& snorkelling
& snorkelling
Day 9
Kizimkazi
~40km · Promised Land
Lodge · Dolphins
Lodge · Dolphins
Day 10
Stone Town
~50km final ride · Farewell dinner
Map Legend
Start: Stone Town
Cycling route
Overnight (north)
Overnight (east coast)
Overnight
(south coast)
(south coast)
Day 10 return (west)
Rest & Recover
Boutique stays. Real beds.
Every night on this trip is spent in a carefully chosen boutique guesthouse or beach lodge, comfortable, characterful, and picked
for their proximity to the next day's route and the quality of their
sunset view.
Fresh seafood features at most dinners: Indian Ocean tuna, grilled kingfish and Zanzibari spiced dishes, in local restaurants and dhow-side wherever possible.
The Fuel
No gels. No sports drinks. Just coconuts.
Our water-point strategy: stop at whatever roadside stall has the best crowd outside it. Fresh coconuts, green mangoes, tiny sweet bananas, sugar-cane juice.
On the longer days these stops become the highlights, moments of genuine connection with island life you can't replicate from a
tour bus.
Beyond the ride
Moments between the miles
The trip is more than the riding. The finish-line arms, the day's catch straight off
the reef, a village kid showing off his bike. These are the in-between moments
that stay with you.
The Founder
Adriaan Hefer
Adriaan has been visiting Zanzibar regularly since 1992, long before it appeared on any adventure-travel radar. Over more than three decades of return visits, he has cycled virtually every road, track, path and beach on the island. He knows it like a native.
The route you'll ride was not designed from a map. Every overnight stop, every water point, every side detour was chosen from personal experience, filtered down to the ten-day journey that delivers the most extraordinary version of Zanzibar possible on two wheels.
1992First visit to Zanzibar
30+Years returning to the island
50+Countries explored
2011Secret Destinations founded
Selected Accolades
- 20× Cape Argus
- Kilimanjaro Summit
- Mont Blanc
- Annapurna Circuit
- El Misti Volcano · 5882m
- MCSA Member
- Mountain-Guide trained
Transparent Pricing
What does it actually cost?
The price
Trip Price · Per Person Per Day
US$300
per person per day · land only · excluding flights
Full 10-day tripUS$3,000
Your trip, your way
Choose your days
Opt for the full 10 days or choose the number of days and segments that suit you. We'll tailor-make the trip to your schedule and interests.
Travelling as a couple or group? One rider and one non-riding partner can share a room, reducing the overall cost. Reach out directly to discuss group rates for 3+ riders.
What's covered
Included
- 9 nights boutique accommodation
- Daily breakfast every morning
- Snacks & fresh fruit on
the route - Selected lunches on
riding days - Welcome dinner in Stone Town (Day 1)
- Farewell dinner in Stone Town (Day 10)
- All guided cycling days with Issa & team
- All boat & bay transfers
- Support vehicle on longer days
- Daily transport for non-
riding partners - Airport transfers (arrival
& departure)
Not Included
- International flights to
Zanzibar (ZNZ) - Travel insurance (required)
- Drinks & alcoholic beverages
- Most lunches on rest days
- Scuba diving at Mnemba Atoll
- Kiteboarding / lessons in Paje
- Swimming with dolphins
(boat trip) - Spice farm entrance (~US$15)
- Personal shopping & tips
Budget US$150–300 for optional extras. Scuba diving, kiteboarding and dolphin swims are genuinely world-class and highly recommended, all arranged locally through Issa's team at fair prices.
Want the full trip pack?
Full itinerary, what's included, per-day
pricing and practical information,
sent
straight to your inbox.
Full Itinerary
Ten days. One
Ten days. One
unforgettable island.
Pick a day to see what's in store.
Day 01
Arrive in Stone Town
Arrival
Culture
Touch down in Zanzibar and let Stone Town work its spell, one of Africa's most atmospheric UNESCO-listed cities, a labyrinth of carved wooden doors, mosques and spice markets. Explore at your own pace, then gather for a welcome dinner and mission briefing.
Day 02
Stone Town to Nungwi via the Spice Farm
Cycling
Spice Farm
The big day. We ride north through the island's green interior, stopping at a working spice farm for a tour and lunch among cinnamon, vanilla and clove trees. Then onward to Nungwi at the northern tip, famous for spectacular sunsets and traditional dhow builders.
Approx. 80 km, the longest day
Day 03
Rest Day in Nungwi
Rest
Kendwa Sunset
Rest those legs. Nungwi has one of the only beaches in Zanzibar that doesn't disappear at low tide. In the late afternoon, walk around the headland to neighbouring Kendwa for its legendary beach sunset and dinner.
Day 04
Nungwi to Matemwe
Cycling
East coast through quiet villages and coastal paths. Matemwe is a sleepy fishing village with incredible views of Mnemba Atoll just offshore, the best coral reef diving in Zanzibar.
Approx. 35 km
Day 05
Matemwe: Dive Mnemba or Beach Day
Optional Diving
Live Music
A day for the ocean. Optional scuba diving at Mnemba Atoll, one of the top dive sites in the Indian Ocean, or simply spend the day on the beach. Live music in the village at night.
Day 06
Matemwe to Chwaka & Sunset at Kae Funk
Cycling
Boat
Fresh coconuts fuel us down the east coast, stopping for lunch in Pongwe before the stretch to Chwaka. Then bikes into a dhow, crossing the bay to Kae Funk for a legendary sunset party. Overnight in Machamvi.
Approx. 60 km
Day 07
The Rock Restaurant to Paje
The Rock
Cycling
Lunch at The Rock, Zanzibar's most iconic restaurant, perched on a coral outcrop accessible only by boat at high tide. Then south to Paje, the kitesurfing capital of Zanzibar. Evening beach party.
Approx. 25 km
Day 08
Paje to Jambiani
Cycling
Dhow Sailing
Scenic coastal ride to Jambiani. Afternoon dhow sailing and snorkelling on the reef, sailing back into the lagoon at golden hour.
Day 09
Jambiani to Kizimkazi via Mtende Beach
Cycling
Southwest coast through the remote Mtende beach to Kizimkazi, home to one of the oldest mosques in East Africa and a resident
spinner-dolphin pod. Overnight at
Promised Land Lodge.
Day 10
Dolphins at Dawn to
Stone Town Farewell
Final Ride
Optional Swim
Rise at dawn for an optional boat trip to swim with wild spinner dolphins. Then saddle up for the final time: ride to Uzi Island, boat across the bay, and complete the last stretch into Stone Town. Farewell dinner in the old city.
Approx. 50 km total
Choose Your Dates
· Tailor-Made for YouRide the Spice Island
· Tailor-Made for You
Ride the Spice Island
your way
Choose your dates, pick the segments that excite you most, and we’ll tailor-make the trip around your schedule. Contact us to start
planning your Zanzibar adventure.