10 days in the blue paradise of Zanzibar

Freshly arrived in Zanzibar's capital, drop your bags at the hotel and relax for a few hours by the pool.

After recharging your batteries, set off to explore the old town. Get lost in the maze of narrow streets and surprising architecture. You'll discover a delightful cultural mix of East and West. This is where the journey begins and the spicy charm of Zanzibar unfolds. The old town is packed with sumptuous buildings steeped in history and diverse influences. There are mosques, palaces from the Omani period, colonial buildings and Hindu temples. But Stone Town is best known for its majestic wooden doors. Here's a little hint on how to recognise their origin: doors with a square pediment and a chain motif frieze are of Arab origin, while those with a flowery frieze and rounded pediment are of Indian origin.

In the evening, head to the Forodhani Garden night market. Here you can discover Zanzibar street food. A lovely stroll along the seafront awaits those with a taste for spicy food. Naans, kebabs, seafood, fresh cane juice. There's something for everyone.

From Stone Town, it takes less than 20 minutes by boat to reach the enigmatic Prison Island. Home to almost 200 giant tortoises, some of which are almost two hundred years old, the island can be visited in an afternoon. The excursion is usually combined with a stroll along the beach and snorkelling on the coral reef. One of the most beautiful in the archipelago.

Expect to pay between $10 and $80 for the day, depending on your requirements and negotiating skills.

The picturesque villages of Jambiani and Paje are about 1 hour's drive from the capital. The atmosphere here is that of a fishing village, with outrigger canoes and mending nets. This dreamy landscape is a succession of tropical postcards set against a blue lagoon fringed with languid coconut palms. The entire east coast of the island of Zanzibar is in fact one long beach of sparkling white sand, superb.

From Jambiani, it's a 30-minute bus ride, or 15 minutes if you hire your own car, to Paje. This village, too, has a wonderful atmosphere where it's good to switch off and bask in the shade of the coconut palms. The east of the island is still relatively untouched by mass tourism and has a very peaceful atmosphere.

A little further north of Jambiani, you'll find the magnificent Pingwe hotels, where you can treat yourself. This is also where you'll find the iconic "The Rock" restaurant, perched on a rock in the Indian Ocean. Mythical.

Opposite Pingwe is the small "star fish" atoll. Set off to discover this sublime coral reef, where, as its name suggests, you'll find hundreds of starfish, each more colourful than the last. Enjoy a cocktail at sunset.

Take the road and in 1? hours you'll arrive in the charming little village of Matemwe. A haven of peace, with little tourism, you can enjoy Zanzibar's longest beach. Nestling in the hollow of this white expanse of almost 10 kilometres, Matemwe reveals its charm through its calm and tranquillity.

Local life here is more traditional and authentic, with few bars or restaurants - there aren't even any vending machines in the village.

Sail a little further north to land at Nungwi, Zanzibar's iconic seaside resort. Some will say it's the most beautiful beach on the island, others will find it too noisy and festive. Whatever the case, this is the starting point for some of the best scuba diving on the island. Offshore, the sublime atoll of Mnemba.

A small triangular island bordering Zanzibar's majestic coral reef, Mnemba is renowned for its incredibly beautiful seabed. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful diving spots in Africa. The site is untouched by mass tourism and offers some great sea outings. It's not unusual to come across turtles, manta rays, dolphins and, depending on the season (and if you're lucky), humpback whales and whale sharks.

Before heading back to the capital, take advantage of this last day in the north of the island to relax on the beach. Despite its popularity, this magnificent stretch of sand is still splendid.

Importantly, you can swim at any time of day on Nungwi. In fact, the north of the island is spared the phenomenon of Zanzibar's high tides. And why not admire the sunset on a romantic cruise at sea? You can contemplate the spectacle at sea, while enjoying the traditional songs and drums. A change of scenery guaranteed.

Back in Stone Town, take the opportunity to do some souvenir shopping. Handicrafts, fabrics, paintings, small sculptures - this is undoubtedly the place where you will find the most beautiful treasures brought back from Zanzibar.