Zanzibar Full Day Tour: Stone Town, Spices & Changuu Island

Stone Town's markets, working spice farms, and tortoises on an island in a single day.

A full-day walking tour of Zanzibar covers Stone Town's Old Fort and Slave Museum, working spice farms where you learn cultivation and medicinal uses, and Changuu Island where you see tortoises and swim or snorkel. Private transportation, snorkeling equipment and a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language are included. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zanzibar Stone Town and Nature

• Walk tour around Stone Town
• Visit Old Fort
• Visit House of Wonder
• Visit Slave Market Museum
• Explore Darajani Market
• Tour Spice Farms and learn uses
• Visit Tortoises at sanctuary
• Swim or snorkel

The experience

Start in Stone Town, where the walking tour moves through the Old Fort and the Slave Museum, then into Darajani Market: the working heart of the city where vendors sell spices, produce and everyday goods. A guide walks you through the history of Zanzibar's diverse communities and the trade routes that shaped the island. The pace is steady but not rushed, and the guide explains what you're standing in front of as you move through the streets.

After Stone Town, the tour heads to working spice farms where you see how cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and other crops are grown and harvested. The guide shows how the same plants are used for cooking, medicine and trade. The practical knowledge that made Zanzibar a center of the spice trade. This is not a museum display. You're walking through active farms and learning from someone who knows the work.

The final stop is Changuu Island, where you spend time at a tortoise sanctuary before the option to swim or snorkel in the surrounding water. Snorkeling equipment is provided. The boat ride back to Stone Town closes the day, and private transportation handles the pickups and transfers throughout.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• snorkeling equipment at Changuu Island.
• parking fees.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.

Information

Lasts 7h–8h, runs every day, 10 start times, from US$ 155.77 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: 05:00, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00 and 16:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 60 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (5 to 15 years) · Child (3 to 4 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by ZAFRICA TOURS AND SAFARIS

Is this one for you?The 7 to 8 hour commitment means you can fit Stone Town, spice farms and island time into a single day without rushing between stops: useful if you have one afternoon free or want to see the main sights without splitting the experience across multiple days.

Traveler reviews

4.60★★★★★★★★★★Excellent5 verified traveler reviews

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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 (5 to 15 years); Child (3 to 4 years): free; Infant (under 3): 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.

What exactly is inside the Slave Museum in Stone Town?

The Oldest Slave Museum documents Zanzibar's history as a slave trade hub, with exhibits on the lives and routes of enslaved people. The guide provides context on how this history shaped the island's culture and economy.

Do I need my own snorkeling gear, or is it provided?

Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour, so you don't need to bring your own or rent it separately.

How much time do we actually spend on Changuu Island?

The itinerary includes time at the tortoise sanctuary and the option to swim or snorkel, though the exact duration depends on the day's pace and tides. The full tour runs 7 to 8 hours from start to finish.

Is this tour walkable for someone who is not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Stone Town's walking sections are at a steady pace through markets and streets, and the spice farm visit involves walking through cultivated areas without steep terrain.

Does the price include everything, or are there extra costs?

Private transportation, snorkeling equipment and parking fees are included. Gratuities for the guide are not included and are left to your discretion.