Zanzibar: Stone Town, Prison Island & Spice Tour Private

Walking Stone Town's slave markets, then feeding tortoises on an island 5km offshore

You walk Stone Town's UNESCO-listed alleys with a local guide, learning the history of its Swahili-Arabic architecture and former slave market; take a boat to Changuu Island to see giant tortoises and colonial ruins; and finish at a working spice farm where you taste cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon straight from the plants. Private transport, all entry fees, and water are included, and the whole day takes around eight hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Stone Town3h
2. Changuu Island3h · entry included

Stone Town, Prison Island, and Spice Tour

• Walk through Stone Town alleys
• Visit House of Wonders and Old Fort
• See former slave market
• Travel to Prison Island
• Explore colonial ruins and beaches
• See giant Aldabra tortoises
• Visit spice farm
• See, smell, and taste spices

The experience

Hands touch the weathered coral stone of a 200-year-old doorway. Eyes adjust to the narrow alleys branching off in three directions at once. A local guide points toward the House of Wonders and begins explaining the Swahili-Arabic architecture that defines Stone Town: the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of this Zanzibar City tour. You're moving through the old markets, past the former slave market, into the layers of history that shaped the island, and it hits different when someone who knows the place is telling you what each corner meant and means now.

After a few hours navigating Stone Town's tight streets, the tour shifts. You board a boat heading to Changuu Island (Prison Island, as it's still called) sitting about 5 kilometers offshore in turquoise water so clear you can see the bottom. The island's colonial history is heavy: Arab slave traders used it as a detention site in the 1800s, then the British built a prison structure that never actually held inmates. What you see now are the ruins and, more vividly, the giant Aldabra tortoises that roam the beaches. They move slowly, deliberately, and you can feed them if you want. It's one of those moments where the weight of the place and the strangeness of being this close to something so ancient kind of cancel each other out.

The spice farm comes last, and it's the part that wakes up your senses in a way you don't expect. Zanzibar earned the name "Spice Island" during the 19th century under Omani rule, when cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper became major exports. Walking through a working farm, you see the plants growing, smell the air thick with it, and taste the spices fresh, not the dried versions in your kitchen at home. A guide explains how each one is grown and used in Zanzibari cooking, and suddenly the flavors make sense. The private transportation and air-conditioned vehicle mean you're not sweating through the midday heat or waiting for a shared minibus to fill up. Bottled water is included, which matters more than it sounds when you're moving between three different environments in one day.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• guided walk through Stone Town including the House of Wonders, Old Fort, and former slave market.
• boat transport to Changuu Island.
• entry to Prison Island and access to the Aldabra tortoises.
• visit to a working spice farm with the chance to see, smell, and taste fresh cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper.
• all entrance fees.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

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

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ibramy de Zanzibar

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the three main Zanzibar experiences (history, wildlife, and the island's spice heritage) in a single day without arranging boats, tickets, or transport separately. The private guide and fixed itinerary mean you move at a pace that lets each stop sink in instead of rushing between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Under 5: they 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.

How far is Changuu Island from Stone Town?

About 5 kilometers offshore. You travel by boat as part of the tour.

What are the giant tortoises on Prison Island?

Aldabra tortoises, which live on the island today. You can feed them during your visit.

What happened on Prison Island historically?

Arab slave traders used it as a detention site in the 1800s. The British built a prison structure in 1893 that was never actually used as a prison. It became a quarantine station instead.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes. Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included throughout the day.

What spices will I see on the farm?

The tour focuses on Zanzibar's main exports: cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper. You'll see them growing and taste them fresh.

How long does the whole tour take?

Around eight hours, covering Stone Town, the boat ride to Changuu Island, time on the island, and the spice farm visit.

Is Stone Town wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well.