Stone Town, Prison Island & Spice Farm Tour: Private Full Day

Giant tortoises that have lived 200 years, brought to Prison Island as a sultan's gift in 1919.

A private full-day tour of Zanzibar covers Stone Town's historical sites (the slave market, House of Wonders, Freddie Mercury House), then moves to Prison Island to walk among century-old giant tortoises and explore an 1893 prison never used. The afternoon is a 3-hour guided walk through spice plantations and villages, ending at Kidichi's Persian Baths. Your licensed local guide speaks your language and leads all three stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Stone Town2h
2. Changuu Island2h

Stone Town, Prison Island and Spice Tour

• Visit Stone Town historical sites
• Explore Prison Island and see giant tortoises
• Take guided spice plantation walking tour

The experience

The day starts in Stone Town with your guide pointing out the buildings that shaped Zanzibar's history: the Darajani Market, the Former Slave Market, the House of Wonders. You move through the old town on foot, learning how the city became the icon of East Africa. After Stone Town, a local boat takes about 25 minutes to reach Prison Island (Changuu Island), sitting just off the coast to the west.

On Prison Island, you walk the grounds to see the giant tortoises, some over 200 years old, that arrived in 1919 as a gift for the sultan and his wife. The island also holds the old prison built between 1893 and 1894, never actually used as one. If you want to swim, the island has a beach. The boat ride back to Stone Town takes the same 25 minutes.

The afternoon is a 3-hour guided walk through villages and spice plantations, starting at the Palace and heading toward Kidichi. Along the way you see how cloves, nutmeg and other spices grow, and you reach the Persian Baths: built by Seyyid Said Sultan for his wife Princess Shehrzard, a member of the Shah of Persia's family. Private transportation, bottled water and all fees are included. Your guide is a licensed local who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and three other languages.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all entrance fees and taxes.
• expert licensed local guide.

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 120 per person, with live guides in 7 languages, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 69 private ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and RussianOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

AgesAdult (26 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (11 to 25 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by kijo Viaggio

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks your language (English, Spanish, Italian, French or three others), so you follow the history and stories without translation gaps across all three stops.

Traveler reviews

4.57★★★★★★★★★★Excellent7 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 25 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

How long does the boat ride to Prison Island take from Stone Town?

The local boat ride to Prison Island takes around 25 minutes from the Stone Town beach, and the return journey is the same length.

What are the giant tortoises on Prison Island, and how old can they get?

The giant tortoises on Prison Island were brought there in 1919 as a gift for the sultan and his wife. Some of these creatures can live up to 200 years.

What is the Persian Baths at Kidichi, and who built it?

The Persian Baths at Kidichi were built by Seyyid Said Sultan for his wife Princess Shehrzard, a member of the Shah of Persia's family. You visit them during the 3-hour spice plantation walk in the afternoon.

Can I swim on Prison Island during the tour?

Yes, Prison Island has a beach where you can swim if you would like to during your visit.