Full day trip in Zanzibar to Spice farm, Stone Town and Prison Island

Stone Town Tour with Spice Farm & Prison Island trip is a full-day trip that brings together three of Zanzibar’s most-loved experiences in one easy itinerary: a fragrant walk through a working spice farm, a guided tour of historic Stone Town, and a boat trip out to Prison Island to meet its famous giant tortoises. It’s one of the best-rounded Zanzibar tours we run, combining taste, culture, and wildlife without needing to book three separate days.

What to Expect on this Tour

• Guided walk through a working clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon plantation
• Fresh tropical fruit tasting straight from the spice farm
• Historic walking tour of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visits to the House of Wonders, Old Slave Market, and Freddie Mercury’s birthplace
• Boat transfer to Prison Island (Changuu) to see century-old Aldabra giant tortoises
• Snorkeling opportunity in the calm reef waters off Prison Island
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

Spice Farm Tour

We start the day at a working spice plantation, where the scent of cloves and cinnamon fills the air before you’ve even stepped off the path. A local farmer walks you through rows of nutmeg, black pepper, cardamom, and vanilla, explaining how each spice is grown, harvested, and used in Zanzibari cooking and traditional medicine.

It’s easy to see why the island is nicknamed the Spice Island of the Indian Ocean. The visit usually ends with a fresh tropical fruit tasting, and if you’d like a slower, standalone version of this stop on a different day, our dedicated Spice Farm Walking Tour covers it in more depth.

Stone Town Tour

From the spice farm, we head into Stone Town, Zanzibar’s historic capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped by centuries of Arab, African, Indian, and European influence. Walking its narrow, labyrinthine streets, you’ll pass the House of Wonders, the Old Slave Market memorial, and the building where Freddie Mercury was born, while your guide shares the real history behind Stone Town’s carved wooden doors and coral stone architecture.

Travelers who want to explore the town’s alleys and markets at a slower pace on their own day can book our full Stone Town Walking City Tour separately.

Prison Island (Changuu Island)

We close the day with a short boat ride from Stone Town out to Prison Island, known locally as Changuu, once used as a quarantine station and now home to Aldabra giant tortoises over a hundred years old. You’ll walk through the tortoise sanctuary, feed and photograph these gentle giants up close, then have time to snorkel the surrounding reef, where sea turtles and colorful reef fish are commonly spotted. This half-day stop is also available as its own trip through our Prison Island Tour, for anyone who’d rather spend a full morning there.

For more background on the island’s history and culture behind everything you’ll see on this tour, Wikipedia’s Zanzibar overview is a useful reference.