Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO-listed old quarter shaped by Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences: carved doors, markets, the Old Fort and slave-trade history. See our Stone Town tour.
The Island at a Glance
What Can You Do on a Zanzibar Tour?
Most Zanzibar tours combine six core experiences: Stone Town's history, a spice farm, the Safari Blue boat trip, Prison Island's giant tortoises, Jozani Forest's red colobus monkeys and the northern beaches. Deciding which matter most to you makes it easier to choose a tour and a length of stay. For background on the island itself, read our Zanzibar island guide.
Spice Farms — Why Zanzibar Is the Spice Island
Walk a working plantation and taste fresh cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom. Clove farming built 19th-century Zanzibar and gave it the Spice Island name.
Safari Blue — A Full Day on Menai Bay
A full day by dhow in Menai Bay: reef snorkelling and a sandbank seafood lunch, with a chance of dolphins. See the Safari Blue day trip.
Prison Island — Giant Tortoises
A short boat ride from Stone Town to a sanctuary of Aldabra giant tortoises, some over 100 years old. See the Prison Island & Jozani tour.
Jozani Forest — Red Colobus Monkeys
Jozani is the best place to see the endangered Zanzibar red colobus, found only on Unguja. The monkeys are used to people and often feed close to the trail.
Northern Beaches — Nungwi & Kendwa
White sand and a small tidal range, so you can swim at most times of day. Compare the coasts in our Zanzibar beach guide.
Zanzibar in Numbers
How Big Is Zanzibar and How Easy Is It to Reach?
Zanzibar is a short flight from mainland Tanzania and small enough to explore well in a few days.
30min
Approximate flight time from Dar es Salaam, so the island combines easily with a mainland safari
1,666km²
Area of Unguja, the main island; most sights are within about an hour's drive of Stone Town
26°C
Approximate average temperature; the sea is warm enough for swimming in every month
18
Livingwell Zanzibar packages: four 1-day, four 2-day, four 3-day, three 4-day and three 5-day
Find the Right Package for You
Which Zanzibar Tour Suits You?
Choose by what matters most: history, wildlife, the ocean, beach time, a single free day or group value. Each option below points to the packages that fit.
Culture & History
You want to understand Zanzibar's past: Stone Town's architecture, the spice trade, the slave trade and the island's place in the Indian Ocean world.
Start with Stone Town & Spice Farm →Wildlife & Nature
You want wildlife encounters: feeding giant tortoises on Prison Island and watching red colobus monkeys at close range in Jozani Forest.
Start with Prison Island & Jozani →Ocean & Marine
You want time on the water: snorkelling coral reefs, looking for dolphins and lunching on a sandbank that appears at low tide.
Start with Safari Blue →Beach & Relaxation
You want white sand, warm water and unscheduled time. Every 2-day and 3-day package includes a free beach day at Nungwi or Kendwa, and the longer packages add more.
Browse 2-Day Packages →One Day Only
You have a single day, such as a cruise stop or a gap between your safari and your flight home. All four 1-day tours return you to your hotel the same evening.
See 1-Day Excursions →Groups & Families
Travelling as a family or group? Prices are quoted per person by group size and fall as the group grows. The Stone Town & spice farm tour, for example, costs $175 for one traveller and $85 each for five or more.
See Group Prices →
Browse by Duration
How Many Days Do You Need in Zanzibar?
One day covers Stone Town and one other highlight; two to three days add villa nights and a free beach day; four to five days allow a relaxed holiday. Our land tours are private (Safari Blue shares its dhow with up to 12 guests), and the 2- to 5-day packages include our villa with daily breakfast. For longer stays, see the 4-day and 5-day Zanzibar packages.
4 Packages
1-Day Zanzibar Excursions
From $85 per person, group of 5+
Four full-day tours covering history, the ocean and wildlife. Each returns you to your hotel the same evening, so they suit a cruise stop or a single free day.
See 1-Day Packages
4 Packages
2-Day Zanzibar Packages
From $195 per person, group of 5+
A guided excursion on Day 1, a night in our private villa with breakfast, then a free beach day at Nungwi or Kendwa on Day 2. Four combinations are available.
See 2-Day Packages
4 Packages
3-Day Zanzibar Packages
From $305 per person, group of 5+
Two excursion days and two nights in our private villa with daily breakfast. Day 2 includes swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave.
See 3-Day Packages
Longer Trips
A Week in Zanzibar or a Safari from the Island?
With more time, spend a full week exploring three corners of the island, or fly to the mainland for a short safari and come back to the beach. We arrange the flights, transfers and accommodation for both.
7 Days
7-Day Zanzibar Itinerary
Tailor-made priced on request
Two nights each in Stone Town, on the north coast and on the east coast, with a spice farm, Prison Island, snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll and a flexible day for Safari Blue or kitesurfing.
See the 7-Day Itinerary
2–5 Day Safaris
Tanzania Safaris from Zanzibar
From $750 per person, plus flights
Fly from Zanzibar for a 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or 5-day safari: Nyerere and the Rufiji River, or Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, then back to the beach.
See All Safaris from ZanzibarWant to Compare Packages Side by Side?
The Zanzibar packages page lists all 12 day-trip and villa packages (1 to 3 days) with prices by group size, highlights and a link to each full itinerary.
Prices 2026–2027
How Much Do Zanzibar Tours Cost?
Our private Zanzibar day tours cost $85–$210 per person, and multi-day packages with accommodation start at $195 per person. The price depends mainly on the activity and your group size, because transport, guiding and accommodation are shared across your group.
| Tour or package | Length | What the price covers | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town & Spice Farm | 1 day | Guide, transport, Stone Town walk, spice farm, lunch | $85–$175 |
| Stone Town & Prison Island | 1 day | Guide, transport, dhow, island entrance fee, lunch | $100–$190 |
| Prison Island & Jozani Forest | 1 day | Guide, transport, dhow, island and national park fees, lunch | $110–$200 |
| Safari Blue | 1 day | Full-day dhow trip, snorkelling stops, seafood lunch | $120–$210 |
| 2-day packages (4 options) | 2 days, 1 night | One excursion, a villa night with breakfast, a free beach day | $195–$410 |
| 3-day packages (4 options) | 3 days, 2 nights | Two excursion days, two villa nights with breakfast | $305–$610 |
| 4-day packages (3 options) | 4 days, 3 nights | Excursions, three nights' accommodation, daily breakfast | $820–$1,050 |
| 5-day packages (3 options) | 5 days, 4 nights | Excursions, four nights' accommodation, daily breakfast | $950–$1,150 |
For 1- to 3-day tours, the lower price applies to groups of four or more and the higher price to a solo traveller. The 4- and 5-day prices are listed per person; we confirm the exact figure for your group size. International flights, visas, travel insurance and tips are not included.
Booking With Confidence
How Do You Choose a Zanzibar Tour Operator?
Choose an operator that is licensed, states exactly what its prices include, tells you whether the tour is private or shared, and has independent reviews. These six checks help you compare Zanzibar tour companies fairly before you pay.
Six Things to Check Before You Book
- Licensing: tourism businesses in Zanzibar are licensed by the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism. Ask for the company's licence details.
- What the price includes: check for entrance fees, boat transfers, lunch and hotel pick-up, as these are often charged separately.
- Private or shared: shared tours cost less for solo travellers, while private tours give you control of the pace and timing.
- Independent reviews: read recent reviews on Tripadvisor or Google rather than only the company's own website.
- Written confirmation: you should receive an itinerary, pick-up time and cancellation terms before you travel.
- Local contact: make sure you can reach someone in Zanzibar on the day if plans change.
How Livingwell Tours Work
Every Livingwell Zanzibar tour is private: your group has its own guide and vehicle and is never combined with other guests. Each tour page lists the price for every group size, plus exactly what is included and excluded.
You book by WhatsApp, email or the form on any tour page. Within 24 hours we confirm personally with your itinerary and pick-up details. Cancellations made more than 7 days before the tour receive a full refund. You can read our guests' experiences on Tripadvisor.
Private or Shared Tour?
| Shared tour | Private tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower for solo travellers and couples | Falls as your group grows |
| Group | Mixed with other travellers | Your group only |
| Timing | Fixed schedule | Adjusted to your plans |
| Pick-up | Meeting point or several hotel stops | Your accommodation |
Sample Itineraries
How Should You Plan Your Days in Zanzibar?
Match the tours to the time you have: one highlight for a single day, an excursion plus a beach day for two days, and two excursions with time to relax for three days or more. These outlines show what fits.
| Time in Zanzibar | Suggested plan | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day (cruise stop or stopover) | Stone Town plus one highlight: a spice farm, Prison Island or the ocean | 1-day tours |
| 2 days | Day 1: guided excursion. Day 2: free beach day at Nungwi or Kendwa | 2-day packages |
| 3 days | Two excursion days, including Salaam Cave, with two nights in our villa | 3-day packages |
| 4–5 days | Stone Town, wildlife or ocean excursions, then unhurried beach days | 4-day and 5-day packages |
| 7 days | Two nights each in Stone Town, on the north coast and on the east coast | 7-day itinerary |
| Safari from Zanzibar | Fly to Nyerere, Arusha or the Serengeti for a 2- to 5-day safari, then back to the beach | Safaris from Zanzibar |
| After a safari | 4–7 days on safari, then 2–5 days in Zanzibar, flying home from the island | Safari and Zanzibar guide |
Every plan can be adjusted to your flight times, and excursions from different packages can be combined.
Where to Stay
Which Part of Zanzibar Should You Stay In?
Stay in Stone Town for history and short transfers to excursions, on the north coast for swimming at any tide, or on the east coast for long quiet beaches and kitesurfing. Many visitors split their stay between Stone Town and a beach.
| Area | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | History, restaurants, short transfers to Prison Island and harbour departures | Not a swimming beach; one or two nights is usually enough |
| Nungwi and Kendwa (north) | Swimming at almost any time of day, sunsets, beachfront restaurants | The busiest beach area on the island |
| Paje and Jambiani (east) | Long, wide beaches, kitesurfing, a laid-back atmosphere | The sea retreats a long way at low tide |
| Matemwe (north-east) | Quiet stays and snorkelling, with fewer visitors | Further from Stone Town |
Our 2- and 3-day packages use our private villa, which is well placed for the northern beaches. Read the Zanzibar beach guide for more detail on each coast.
Plan Your Visit
What Should You Know Before Visiting Zanzibar?
How Do You Get to Zanzibar?
Fly into Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ). Flights take about 30 minutes from Dar es Salaam and roughly 1–1.5 hours from Arusha or Kilimanjaro, and international connections run via Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dubai, Doha and Istanbul. If you are combining Zanzibar with a safari, the usual routing is: international flight to Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam, safari, domestic flight to Zanzibar, then home from Zanzibar. We can book your domestic flights.
What Practical Details Should You Know?
- Visa: Most nationalities need a Tanzania visa, available online (e-Visa) or on arrival: USD 50 single entry for most passports and USD 100 for US citizens. Zanzibar also requires mandatory visitor insurance of around USD 44.
- Currency: US dollars are widely accepted for tourism; Tanzanian shillings (TZS) are useful at markets. ATMs are available in Stone Town.
- Language: Swahili is the official language, and English is widely spoken in tourism areas.
- Health: A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from or transit through a yellow fever country. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended; ask your doctor before you travel.
- Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages. Beachwear is fine on the beach and at resorts.
- Internet: Mobile 4G coverage is good across most of the island, and Wi-Fi is available at most hotels and at our villa.
Can You Combine Zanzibar with a Tanzania Safari?
Yes. A common plan is 4–7 days on safari in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire, followed by 2–5 days in Zanzibar. You fly into Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam and home from Zanzibar, so there is no backtracking. Our guide to combining a safari with Zanzibar covers flights and timing, and any of our Tanzania safari packages can be booked together with a Zanzibar tour.
How Can You Travel Responsibly in Zanzibar?
- Dress modestly away from the beach, and ask before photographing people.
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on coral.
- Don't feed or touch wildlife, including Jozani's monkeys.
- Buy crafts and spices from local sellers, and bargain politely.
Zanzibar Travel Checklist
- Book at least 2 weeks ahead, or 4–6 weeks ahead in peak season
- Arrange your Tanzania e-Visa before you travel
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the coral
- Bring US dollar cash for tips, markets and optional extras
- Pack modest clothing for Stone Town, such as a light long-sleeved layer
- Wear closed shoes for the cave visit and forest trails
- Bring a dry bag for your phone on Safari Blue
Seasonal Guide
When Is the Best Time to Visit Zanzibar?
Zanzibar can be visited year-round, and all our packages run every month. June to September is the driest and busiest period, January to March is hot with generally calm seas, and April to May brings the long rains, fewer visitors and better value. The right month depends on whether you prioritise weather, budget or quieter beaches.
Jan – Mar
Hot & Calm
Hot weather and generally calm seas that suit Safari Blue and snorkelling. Short showers are possible.
Apr – May
Long Rains
Heavy rain is likely, especially in April. Stone Town and Jozani tours run normally, while Safari Blue depends on sea conditions. Fewer visitors and better value.
Jun – Sep
Peak Season
Dry, sunny and slightly cooler, with good snorkelling visibility. Demand is highest, so book ahead.
Oct – Nov
Short Rains
Warm, with short afternoon showers. Ocean trips usually run, and demand is moderate.
Dec
Festive Season
Good beach and ocean conditions and one of the busiest times of year. Book early; all packages operate.
Before You Book
Frequently Asked Questions About Zanzibar Tours
Answers to the questions travellers most often ask before booking a Zanzibar tour.
How much does a Zanzibar tour cost?
Our private day tours cost $85–$210 per person, depending on the tour and your group size. Packages with accommodation cost $195–$410 for 2 days, $305–$610 for 3 days, and from $820 for 4 days.
How many days do I need in Zanzibar?
Two to three days is enough for one or two guided excursions and a full beach day. One day covers Stone Town and one other highlight, while four or five days let you combine excursions with a relaxed beach stay. Travellers adding Zanzibar to a safari usually stay two to five days.
Is Zanzibar safe to visit?
Yes. Zanzibar's main tourist areas, including Stone Town and the northern beaches, are generally safe and are visited by many solo travellers and families. Take normal precautions: keep valuables secure, avoid walking alone in unfamiliar areas after dark and book excursions with licensed operators. All our tours are guided.
Can I visit Zanzibar after a Tanzania safari?
Yes, and it is the most common Tanzania itinerary: arrive at Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam, go on safari, fly to Zanzibar, then fly home from the island. Flights take about 30 minutes from Dar es Salaam and about 1–1.5 hours from Arusha. We can book the domestic flight and time it to your Zanzibar package.
What is the dress code in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island, so cover your shoulders and knees in Stone Town and in villages. Swimwear is fine on the beach and at resorts, and your guide will advise you on the day.
Are your Zanzibar tours private?
Yes. Our land tours are private: your group has its own guide and vehicle and is never combined with other guests. Safari Blue is the exception, sharing its dhow with up to 12 guests unless you book a private boat. The price per person falls as your group grows.
Are entrance fees included in the tour price?
Yes for the main sites on each itinerary, such as the Prison Island and Jozani Forest fees. Optional extras, such as snorkel hire on Prison Island or Stone Town museums, are paid on the day and listed on each tour page.
What currency should I bring?
US dollars are accepted for most tourism services, and all our prices are quoted and paid in USD. Carry some Tanzanian shillings for markets and street food; ATMs are available in Stone Town. Bring USD cash for tips and optional extras.
Do I need a visa for Tanzania and Zanzibar?
Most nationalities need a Tanzania visa to visit Zanzibar, which is part of Tanzania. The simplest option is the official e-Visa: USD 50 single entry for most passports and USD 100 for US citizens. Apply at least two weeks before you travel; citizens of some African countries are visa-exempt. Zanzibar also requires mandatory visitor insurance of around USD 44.
What is included in the villa accommodation?
Our 2-day and 3-day packages include nights in our private Zanzibar villa, which has a private pool, tropical garden, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is prepared fresh each morning. The villa is not shared with other guests and is well placed for the northern beaches and excursion departure points.
How do I book a Zanzibar tour with Livingwell?
Message us on WhatsApp (+255 760 660 414) or email info@livingwelltoursandtravel.com with your dates, group size and preferred package. We check availability and reply with your itinerary within 24 hours. You can also use the enquiry form on any package page. Every booking is confirmed personally; there is no automated checkout.
Do you pick up from any hotel in Zanzibar?
Yes. Our 1-day tours include pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation anywhere in Zanzibar, including Stone Town, Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje and Jambiani. We confirm your pick-up time when you book.
How do I choose a Zanzibar tour operator?
Check that the company is licensed, states clearly what its prices include, tells you whether tours are private or shared, has recent independent reviews and sends written confirmation with cancellation terms.
Plan Your Zanzibar Visit
Send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp and we'll recommend a package and confirm the details within 24 hours.