Full-day Stone Town, Prison Island & Nakupenda tour with lunch

Three islands and a UNESCO city in one day, with tortoises, snorkeling and a beach lunch

A full-day tour of Zanzibar visiting Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Prison Island to see Aldabra giant tortoises and colonial ruins, and Nakupenda Sandbank for swimming and snorkeling. The day includes private hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, a fresh buffet lunch on the beach, and air-conditioned transport between each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Changuu Island2h
2. Nakupenda Beach2h

Explore Prison Island, Nakupenda, Stone Town

• Visit Prison Island and see giant tortoises
• Explore Prison ruins and island wildlife
• Relax and swim at Nakupenda Sandbank
• Enjoy buffet lunch on the beach
• Tour historic Stone Town with guide

The experience

The tour runs seven to eight hours and moves between three distinct places, each one a different reason to come to Zanzibar. Prison Island (Changuu Island) opens with the giant tortoises (the oldest one on the island is 197 years old) plus peacocks, small antelope called dik-diks, and the prison ruins themselves, a building erected in 1893 as a quarantine station when cholera and plague threatened the main East African port. After that comes Nakupenda Sandbank, where you swim and snorkel in turquoise water, then eat a buffet lunch prepared fresh on the beach: seafood (lobster, tuna, calamari, octopus, prawns) or vegetarian, with fruit, salads and drinks included. The final stop is Stone Town, the oldest city in Africa and a former trading hub, where the guide walks you through the narrow streets and shows you the Anglican Cathedral (built on the site of the former slave market), the House of Wonders (Zanzibar's national museum), the Palace Museum, the Old Fort, Hamamni Baths, the Catholic Cathedral, Freddy Mercury House, and Darajani Market.

Private transport means hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, with water and soft drinks provided throughout. The guide is a local English speaker who knows the history of each stop: the quarantine logic behind the prison, the architecture and trade routes that shaped Stone Town, the ecology of the sandbank. All three sites are accessible to different fitness levels, and infant seats are available if needed.

What’s included

• Private hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport between all three stops.
• English-speaking local guide.
• buffet lunch on Nakupenda Sandbank with your choice of seafood or vegetarian dishes.
• fruit snacks (banana, watermelon, pineapple, coconut).
• bottled water and soft drinks (Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Novida) throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Hotel pickup from Stone Town is providedUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · 09:30Stone Town, Zanzibar: Pickup from any hotel in Stone Town is included in the tour price.

Pickup from other areas is offeredUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · 08:30Zanzibar: Pickup from any hotel in Zanzibar is included in the tour price.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 7h–8h, runs every day at 08:30 and 09:30, from US$ 136.99 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (2 to 7 years) · Infant (under 2): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by The Sultan Tours

Is this one for you?Choose pickup from Stone Town if you're staying in the city center. Choose pickup from other areas if your hotel is elsewhere on the island. The fixed route and timing fit all fitness levels, and the day moves at a pace that gives you time to swim and explore without rushing between stops.

Traveler reviews

4.59★★★★★★★★★★Excellent27 verified traveler reviews

5 ★21

4 ★2

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 7 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What are the giant tortoises at Prison Island like, and how old do they get?

Aldabra giant tortoises live at Prison Island, and the oldest one there is 197 years old. These animals can live for more than 200 years, making them among the world's longest-living species. You'll also see peacocks and small antelope called dik-diks on the island.

Can I swim and snorkel at Nakupenda Sandbank, or is it just a lunch stop?

Nakupenda Sandbank is both: you have time to swim and snorkel in the turquoise water before the buffet lunch is prepared fresh on the beach, so the beach itself is part of the experience, not just a place to eat.

What does Stone Town actually look like, and what will I see there?

Stone Town is one of Africa's oldest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for narrow streets and historic architecture. The guide takes you to the Anglican Cathedral (which stands on the former slave market site), the House of Wonders (the national museum), the Palace Museum, the Old Fort, Hamamni Baths, the Catholic Cathedral, Freddy Mercury House, and Darajani Market.

Is lunch included, and what if I'm vegetarian?

Lunch is a buffet prepared on the beach and included in the tour. You choose either seafood (lobster, tuna, calamari, octopus, prawns) or vegetarian (fries, salads, fruit). Drinks (water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and others) are also included.

Where does the tour pick me up, and is transport included?

Private hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You choose at checkout whether you're picked up from Stone Town or from other areas. The vehicle is air-conditioned and the driver provides water and soft drinks during the day.