Nkhata Bay is the obvious day trip from Chintheche — about 40 km north along the lakeshore road. It is a more developed backpacker town with a natural harbour, a busy market, diving operations, and a lively café scene. The boat trip from Nkhata Bay on the Ilala ferry, a slow lake steamer that calls at ports along both shores, is a classic experience worth considering for a longer excursion. See Nkhata Bay for details.
The Viphya Plateau, rising steeply inland from the lakeshore, offers a dramatic contrast to the heat of the beach. The plateau sits at around 1,800 m and is covered by Malawi's largest pine plantation as well as patches of indigenous montane forest. Day hikes are possible from the Luwawa Forest Lodge area. The drive up from the lakeshore road takes about an hour and passes through spectacular scenery.
Local fishing villages along the shore north and south of Chintheche reward an early morning visit. Dugout canoes (ngalawa) return before sunrise and the catch is sorted on the beach. This is a good chance to buy fresh fish directly from fishermen and to watch a part of lake life that has changed little over generations. Ask at your lodge for the nearest active landing beach.