Zanzibar Spice Tour and Stone Town Walking Tour

Walk through clove farms and narrow Stone Town streets in one morning, tasting spices as you learn their story.

A six- to seven-hour private tour of Zanzibar City combining a spice farm visit with a walking tour of Stone Town, the UNESCO-protected heart of the island's history. You'll see clove, vanilla, nutmeg and other plantations, taste young coconut and tropical fruits, watch a traditional coconut climber at work, then explore Stone Town's former slave market, old Arab fort, House of Wonders, Freddy Mercury House and Swahili-style architecture. The tour includes private transportation with a professional driver, a live guide, air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water. Lunch at a local restaurant is optional and paid separately, as are entry fees to certain sites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Spice farm and Stone Town tour

• Visit spice farms and learn about spices
• Watch traditional coconut climbing demonstration
• Optional local lunch at restaurant
• Explore Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage site
• Visit former slave market and local market
• See old Arab fort and House of Wonders
• Visit Freddy Mercury House and historic doors

The experience

The spice farms come first. Zanzibar's nickname, the Spice Island, comes from centuries of clove, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and lemongrass cultivation, and the tour walks you through working plantations to see how they're grown and harvested. You'll smell and taste the spices, learn their traditional uses and medicinal properties, and watch a coconut climber scale a tree using only rope and skill: a demonstration that draws crowds for good reason. Tropical fruits and a young coconut are included. A local lunch at a restaurant on the island is optional and costs extra.

Stone Town fills the second half of the day. The narrow streets, carved wooden doors in Swahili, Arab, Indian and British styles, and layered history make it a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the guide walks you to the former slave market, the local market, the old Arab fort, the House of Wonders and the Freddy Mercury House. Each stop carries weight, the slave market especially, and the guide provides historical context for what you're seeing. Entry fees to certain sites (the slave market and Freddy Mercury Museum) are paid on the spot, not included in the tour price.

Your guide speaks English, Italian, French or German, and the tour runs six to seven hours total with pickup and drop-off included. The vehicle is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible, as are the areas you'll visit, making the tour suitable for families with children from age one onward and for most fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with cardiovascular concerns.

What’s included

• Private transportation with a professional driver.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• live guide in your choice of English, Italian, French or German.
• bottled water.
• tropical fruits.
• young coconut tasting.
• demonstration by a traditional coconut climber.
• walking tour of Stone Town's historical sites and architecture.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 49 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Unforgettable Zanzibar

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Italian, French or German, so choose the language that matches your comfort level. The tour is private, meaning the pace and stops adjust to your interests rather than following a fixed group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): 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 do the spice farms work on Zanzibar, and what will I actually see there?

The spice farms grow cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and lemongrass in open plantations you walk through with the guide. You'll see how the plants grow, learn when and how they're harvested, taste the spices fresh, and watch a traditional coconut climber demonstrate how he scales a tree using rope: a skill passed down for generations on the island.

What historical sites are in Stone Town, and how much time do we spend there?

Stone Town holds the former slave market, the local market, the old Arab fort, the House of Wonders and the Freddy Mercury House, each with its own history tied to Zanzibar's past as a trading hub and cultural crossroads. The walking portion takes up the second half of the tour, roughly three to four hours, and the guide explains the significance of each building and street as you move through the narrow lanes.

Is lunch included, and what does it cost if I want to eat?

Lunch is optional and not included in the tour price. The guide can take you to a local restaurant on the spice island where you can sample Zanzibari dishes, and you pay the restaurant directly for your meal.

Are there entry fees I need to pay at the sites in Stone Town?

Yes. The former slave market costs ten dollars per person and the Freddy Mercury Museum costs eight dollars per person. These fees are paid on site and not included in the tour price.