Zanzibar spice tour, Stone Town & Prison Island: Small groups

Walk through clove plantations, then stand in front of centuries-old tortoises on an island that was once a prison.

A 7- to 8-hour guided tour of Zanzibar combining three distinct stops: spice farm plantations where you taste and touch cloves, cinnamon and vanilla; Stone Town's landmarks including the House of Wonders and Old Slave Market; and Changuu Island (Prison Island) to see giant Aldabra tortoises and explore the ruins of the former prison. Small groups and a local guide in your language ensure you move at your own pace and get individual attention, with lunch and hotel pickup included around Stone Town.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Old Fort15m · entry included
2. House of Wonders10m
3. Changuu Island2h · entry included

Explore Stone Town, Spice Farm, Prison Island

• Visit Old Fort and handcrafts
• See House of Wonders exterior
• Tour Old Slave Market and cathedral
• Pass by Freddie Mercury House
• Explore People's Palace museum
• Tour spice plantations and taste spices
• Visit Prison Island and see tortoises

The experience

The tour opens at a working spice plantation where you walk through rows of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla plants. A guide explains the history and uses of each one, and you taste fresh tropical fruits grown on the island. Lunch is served here, flavored with the spices you've just seen, not a restaurant meal but something tied to what you came to understand. You can buy spices to take home if you want them.

Stone Town fills the middle of the day. You'll see the Old Fort, a structure that once held prisoners and now stands as a reminder of the island's layered past. The House of Wonders, originally built as a ceremonial palace for Sultan Barghash in the 19th century, is currently under renovation, but your guide shares its story from outside: how it was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and an elevator, and what its Omani and European architecture says about Zanzibar's role as a trading hub. You also visit the Old Slave Market and the Anglican Cathedral built over it, a powerful and sobering part of the island's history. A quick pass by the Freddie Mercury House adds a lighter note, and the People's Palace (Beit al-Sahel) shows you the former residence of Zanzibar's Sultan, now a museum with original furnishings and royal artifacts.

The afternoon moves to Changuu Island, also called Prison Island. It was built as a prison but now holds giant Aldabra tortoises, some over a century old, that you can walk among and photograph. The island's paths are lush and the water around it is blue. You can snorkel if you want to, or simply walk the grounds and see the remains of the old prison structure. Your guide is there to explain what you're looking at and answer questions as you move.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for accommodations around Stone Town. The group stays small, which means your guide can adjust the pace and answer questions without rushing. Guides speak English, Spanish, Italian, French and several other languages. You'll know which one when you book. Children from age 1 are welcome, though infants sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your chosen language.
• entry fees to all sites.
• spice farm tour with tropical fruit tasting.
• lunch and drinks at the plantation.
• snorkeling opportunity on Prison Island.
• hotel pickup and drop-off around Stone Town.
• shopping time in Stone Town.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:30 and 12:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Polish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 44 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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Zan Archipelago Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Move through Zanzibar's spice farms, Stone Town's layered history, and Prison Island's giant tortoises in one day: your guide adjusts the pace to your questions instead of rushing through a fixed itinerary, and handles all transport between stops.

Traveler reviews

4.62★★★★★★★★★★

135 verified traveler reviews

5 ★104

4 ★19

3 ★6

2 ★4

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (1 to 3 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.

What exactly do you do at the spice farms on this Zanzibar tour?

You walk through working plantations where cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla grow, see the plants up close, touch and smell them, and taste fresh tropical fruits. Your guide explains the history and uses of each spice, and lunch is served at the farm using spices from the island.

Is the House of Wonders open to go inside on this tour?

The House of Wonders is currently under renovation, so you won't enter the building itself. Your guide provides the history and stories from outside, explaining its significance as the first structure in East Africa with electricity and an elevator, and its role in Zanzibar's trading past.

What can you do on Prison Island during this tour?

Prison Island (Changuu Island) is home to giant Aldabra tortoises over a century old that you can walk among and photograph. You can explore the remains of the old prison, walk the lush paths, snorkel in the surrounding water, or simply relax and take in the island. Your guide shares the island's history as you move around.

Does this Zanzibar tour include lunch and drinks?

Yes, lunch and drinks are included. Lunch is served at the spice farm and features local dishes flavored with the spices you've just seen on the plantation.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours from pickup at your hotel to drop-off, covering the spice farms, Stone Town's main sites, and Prison Island.