Prison Island & Stone Town tour: Food market, rooftop bars

Prison Island sits a motorized boat ride away, and Stone Town's evening comes alive after dark.

A private half-day tour of Zanzibar combines Prison Island and Stone Town in one afternoon and evening. You travel by motorized wooden boat to Changuu Island to see the 1893 prison ruins, a sanctuary of Aldabra giant tortoises, and peacocks on the beach, then return to Stone Town for an evening guided walk through carved wooden doors and historical buildings, ending at the Forodhani Open Night Food Market, a rooftop bar, or a shisha lounge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Prison Island and Stone Town

• Boat ride to Prison Island
• Visit Prison Ruins
• See Aldabra giant tortoises sanctuary
• Observe colorful peacocks
• Swim at Prison Island beach
• Return to Stone Town
• Explore Stone Town historical buildings
• Visit Forodhani Open Night Food Market
• Watch Flipping Swimmers show
• Enjoy sunset viewing point
• Relax at rooftop bar or shisha lounge
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with a motorized wooden boat ride across the Indian Ocean: about 25 to 30 minutes from Stone Town to Prison Island, also called Changuu Island. Once there, you walk through the prison ruins built by General Lloyd Mathews in 1893, visit the sanctuary where Aldabra giant tortoises roam (brought as a gift to the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1919), and spot peacocks displaying their tails around the island. You get time to swim in the ocean before the boat returns you to Stone Town.

The evening half takes you through Zanzibar's ancient city on foot with a private guide. Stone Town is a World Heritage Site where Persian, Indian, Arab, European and African influences shape the architecture: carved wooden doors, balconies, loggias and verandas frame the narrow streets. Your guide leads you to key evening spots: the Forodhani Open Night Food Market where locals gather to eat, a viewing point for the sunset, and the Flipping Swimmers show. You then choose between a rooftop bar or a shisha lounge before heading back to your hotel.

A private guide speaks your language (English, Spanish, Italian, French or two others), and the tour includes all transportation, bottled water, and fees. Pickup from your hotel is part of the booking, so you don't arrange your own way to Stone Town.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel and to Prison Island by motorized wooden boat.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a private guide in your chosen language.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 95 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Polish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Zanzibar Crystal Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon and evening and want to see both Prison Island and Stone Town without arranging separate trips. The private guide and pickup mean you don't coordinate transport yourself, and the evening timing lets you experience Stone Town's food market and rooftop scene when locals are out.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Polish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does it take to get to Prison Island by boat?

Prison Island lies about 25 to 30 minutes by motorized wooden boat from Stone Town, so the crossing is short enough to leave most of the tour time for the island itself and Stone Town.

What are the Aldabra giant tortoises, and why are they on Prison Island?

Aldabra giant tortoises are a species brought to Prison Island in 1919 as a gift from the British Governor of Seychelles to the Sultan of Zanzibar. They live in a sanctuary on the island and are one of the main reasons visitors stop there.

What happens in Stone Town during the evening part of the tour?

Stone Town's evening tour includes a guided walk through historical buildings with carved wooden doors and balconies, a stop at the Forodhani Open Night Food Market where locals eat, a sunset viewing point, and the Flipping Swimmers show. You then pick a rooftop bar or shisha lounge to end the evening.

Can I swim at Prison Island?

Yes, the tour includes time to swim on the beach at Prison Island in the Indian Ocean before you return to Stone Town by boat.