Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Mozambique - Maputo - Xai-Xai - Inhambane - Tofo - Vilankulo
100% customisable for you
Head to the airport, speed through security and settle in for pre-flight nibbles in the lounge: your getaway to Mozambique begins today. Once you’ve grabbed a holiday read, board your overnight flight to Maputo, Mozambique’s capital. With a quick stopover in a Middle Eastern or European hub, the journey will take around 16 hours, touching down the next morning.
When you arrive in Maputo, you’ll be met and privately transferred to your hotel. Check in and spend a few hours freshening up before meeting your expert guide and heading out to explore the city.
There’s no set route this afternoon, so simply tell your guide your interests and wander along Maputo’s storied streets together. Along the way, your guide will fill you in on the city’s history, culture and traditions, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet friendly locals and hear about life in the capital.
Come evening, head out for your first taste of the local cuisine – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend some stellar restaurants.
This morning, meet your private driver and wave goodbye to the capital as you embark on the journey to your next hotel, set on the edge of Lagoa Inhampavala, a coastal lake just north of Xai-Xai. With a short boat crossing, the journey will take around five hours, so sit back, relax and watch the Mozambican landscapes roll by.
When you arrive, indulge in a late lunch and spend the afternoon however you please, whether you’d rather stroll through the lush forest, lounge by the pool or try your hand at watersports by the lake. Come evening, enjoy an ice-cold drink as the sun sets over the lake – it doesn’t come much more peaceful than this.
We’ve left today free for you to soak up the peace and quiet of your surroundings. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, you’re in luck: separated from the sparkling sea by only a thin strip of coastal dunes, Lagoa Inhampavala is the perfect place to spot both sea creatures and land animals.
On the ocean side, don a mask and dive down to marvel at kaleidoscopic reefs, tropical reef fish and sleek manta rays. If you happen to be visiting between June and October, you might also be able to spot right whales and humpback whales gliding along as they migrate to warmer waters.
Back at the lake, keep your eyes peeled for local birdlife, including kingfishers, herons and the occasional flamingo. If you fancy a relaxed stroll, head out into the dunes for a serene walk overlooking the African coast, then amble back to your hotel for a sundowner and some fresh seafood.
Another day, another lake. This morning, grab your bags and begin the private transfer to Dongane Lake, set south of Inhambane. The journey takes around two and a half hours, including a boat and car ride, and you’ll settle down for two nights just south of the lake.
After a tasty lunch (lobster, anyone?), the rest of the day is yours for the taking, whether you’d rather take a gentle stroll through the lush forest or relax with a good book on your terrace.
Cameras at the ready. If you thought the birdlife at Lagoa Inhampavala was impressive, prepare to be wowed by the colourful creatures that call Dongane Lake home, from Livingstone’s turacos and jacanas to yellow-rumped tinkerbirds and four-coloured bushshrikes.
If you’d like to learn more about the area’s amazing avifauna, head out on a hike with a naturalist guide, or simply head out by yourself and stroll along the 16 miles of marked trails around your lodge.
Prefer beaches to birds? Grab your sunnies and wander just five minutes to Manhame Beach, where you can try your hand at boogie boarding on the rolling waves or simply soak up the sun on the golden sands. Those tans won’t start themselves…
After one last tasty breakfast, meet your private driver for the two-hour-and-15-minute transfer to Tofo, another of Mozambique’s charming coastal cities. When you arrive, check in for two nights overlooking Tofo Beach.
The rest of the day is yours for the taking, so go for a stroll in the lush gardens, watch surfers riding the waves on the beach or sit back and soak up the views. Come evening, head back down the shore to a local restaurant for some freshly-caught seafood and relaxed vibes.
Enjoy a fuelling breakfast at your hotel this morning before heading out on a snorkelling adventure in search of some of Mozambique’s marvellous marine life. The star of the show here is the magnificent whale shark, but you’ll also have the chance to spot manta rays, swordfish, dolphins and turtles.
Alongside an expert biologist guide, don a mask and snorkel and dive in. Whale sharks are known for being elusive, but don’t worry: your guide will lead you to underwater hotspots, where you can glide through the crystal-clear water alongside these gentle giants. That’s another thing ticked off the travel bucket list.
Later, spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach before an evening sundowner or two – you are on holiday, after all.
It’s time for the final leg of your Mozambican holiday to begin. This morning, swap one beach for another as you’re privately transferred four and a half hours to Vilankulo, where you’ll lay your hat for two nights.
After a delicious lunch, spend a lazy afternoon on the beach or by the pool before treating yourself to a relaxing massage. Come evening, enjoy a traditional Mozambican dinner at the hotel – think cockle risotto and green papaya salad followed by a slice of baobab cream pie for dessert.
If you’re still dreaming about last night’s dinner (we don’t blame you), you’re in for a treat. This morning, meet a local chef for a Mozambican cooking class, beginning at a nearby market, where you’ll pick up ultra-fresh produce and seafood from the rows of bustling stalls.
Once you’ve stocked up on ingredients, head to a nearby kitchen to prepare your own coconut milk and another traditional dish – think creamy coconut crab, curried chicken or bolo polana, a Mozambican cake made with cashew nuts. Your guide will fill you in on local cooking techniques as you work, and once you’ve finished your culinary masterpiece, you’ll be treated to a sit-down tasting.
Suitably stuffed, spend your final afternoon soaking up the last of the Mozambican sun on the beach, toasting to your African adventure.
It’s sadly time for your Mozambican getaway to come to an end. This morning, bid a fond farewell to the beach as you’re privately transferred 15 minutes to the airport, where you’ll catch a speedy one-hour-and-15-minute flight back to Maputo.
After a quick stop to grab any last-minute souvenirs, board your overnight flight home. With another connection in a Middle Eastern hub airport, the journey will take between 15 and 18 hours, and you’ll arrive back in the UK the next day, armed with a newfound appreciation for this captivating country.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
