Stone Town Spice Tour, Cooking Class & History: Full Day Private

Smell, taste and cook with Zanzibar's spices, then walk Stone Town's history

A full-day private class and tour in Stone Town combines hands-on cooking instruction in local dishes with visits to spice plantations, the Fred Mercury Museum, the former slave market, the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. You learn how islanders prepare traditional food using handmade tools, taste and touch vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg grown on the island, and hear the history of Zanzibar across multiple sites. Private transportation and lunch are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Spice tour, cooking class, and Stone Town

• Explore spices by smell and taste
• Attend local cooking class
• Visit Fred Mercury Museum and local market
• See former slave market and Old Fort
• Walk through Forodhani Gardens

The experience

The day opens at a spice plantation where you smell, touch and taste the vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg that grow on the island. The foundation for what you'll cook later. From there you move into the cooking class itself, learning how local people prepare traditional dishes like pilau and plantain using handmade tools and techniques passed down through generations. Lunch is part of the experience, so you eat what you've made.

The afternoon shifts to Stone Town's history. Your guide takes you through the Fred Mercury Museum, the local market, and the former slave market, then to the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. Each stop adds layers to how Zanzibar became what it is. The private vehicle means no waiting for other groups and no rushing between sites: the guide sets the pace to match what you want to absorb.

Seven to eight hours covers the whole arc without cramming. You leave time for the rest of your day in the city or on the island, and the air-conditioned transport keeps you comfortable between stops.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• lunch.
• pickup from your hotel or location in Stone Town.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Adam Travel Zanzibar

Is this one for you?The seven to eight hour commitment means you can pair this with another half-day activity or simply have breathing room in your schedule. Children from age 3 are welcome, and the private vehicle makes it manageable for families with young kids.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (3 to 7 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

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.

What spices will I learn to identify and taste on the plantation?

Vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg are the main ones you'll encounter by smell, touch and taste on the island's plantations. These are the spices that flavor the dishes you'll cook in the class.

What dishes do I actually cook during the cooking class?

You prepare traditional local dishes including pilau and plantain using handmade tools, learning the techniques islanders use in their own kitchens. Lunch is the meal you've cooked.

Does the tour include the Fred Mercury Museum and the former slave market?

Yes, both are part of the afternoon history section in Stone Town. You also visit the local market, the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens to build a fuller picture of the island's past and present.

How long is the full day, and does it leave time for other activities?

The tour runs seven to eight hours, so you have the morning or evening free depending on your start time, and can fit other plans around it.

Is this tour private, or will I be in a group?

It's a private tour, so your guide and driver work only for your group. You set the pace at each stop without waiting for other travelers.