Zanzibar is the collective name for two islands located off the East African coast in the Indian Ocean - the southern larger Unguja and the northern untouristed Pemba.

However, the name "Zanzibar" is generally applied just after the more touristy island of Unguja, which is also covered in this guide.

If you long to stroll along white coral beaches and swim in a sea playing with a thousand shades of blue and green, look no further. Zanzibar has it all in the palm of your hand.

For many years, the island belonged to the Sultanate of Oman and the main export was spices. Another remnant of the sultanate are the magnificent sun-bleached buildings of the historic Stone Town with its ornate doors made of precious tropical wood.

All of these sensations assault the senses - the smell of spices, the buildings' shabby beauty, the tropical humidity and the local bustle - and make it feel like a Tale of a Thousand and One Nights even today.

• State: Tanzania
• Visa to Zanzibar: for most countries online or on-arrival for 50 usd + local insurance required for 45 usd
• Currency: Tanzanian shilling (US dollar is also widely used)