Zanzibar Excursions
Discover Zanzibar beyond your hotel with excursions that take you into the island’s historic streets, beaches, forests, spice farms and surrounding waters.
Find Things to Do in Zanzibar That Fit Your Holiday
Zanzibar offers much more than beach time.
You can explore the historic streets of Stone Town, visit Changuu Island, walk through Jozani Forest, discover the island’s spices, snorkel in its marine areas, spend a day around Menai Bay or watch the sunset from a traditional dhow.
And you do not have to book a complete Zanzibar holiday to enjoy them.
You can book an individual excursion with us whether you are planning your trip or already staying in Zanzibar.
We can also help you choose activities based on your hotel location, available time, weather, tides and the type of experience you want.
Explore Zanzibar Excursions
Spend a full day around Menai Bay with a traditional boat, sandbanks, snorkelling, island stops and a seafood lunch.
Head towards the Mnemba marine area to look for wild dolphins and explore the clear waters and snorkelling.
Visit this quieter south Eastern beach to enjoy dramatic coastal scenery, natural rock formations and time beside the sea.
Take a boat from Stone Town to Changuu Island to see giant tortoises, explore historic ruins and enjoy time around the island.
Explore the historic streets of Stone Town with a local guide and discover the places, stories and cultural influences that shaped Zanzibar.
Discover the plants and spices that have made Zanzibar famous while learning about their uses, cultivation and place in local life.
Watch the evening light from a traditional dhow with music, drinks and tropical fruit, available as either a shared or private experience.
Visit a natural cave in southern Zanzibar and experience its distinctive setting, including the cave pool and surrounding coastal landscape.
Paddle along the clear waters of Nungwi Beach on a simple water activity that fits easily around your time in Nungwi.
Walk through Zanzibar’s forest landscape with a guide and look for the famous red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and plants.
Not Sure Which Zanzibar Excursion
to Choose?
The right excursion depends on more than what looks interesting in a photo.
Your hotel location, available time, tides, weather and preferred type of experience can all affect which activity makes sense.
For example, an excursion that works well from Nungwi may involve a long road transfer from Paje. A marine activity may also need to be planned around the tide or sea conditions.
Tell us:
- Where you are staying
- Your travel dates
- How many people are travelling
- How much time you have
- What you enjoy
We can then help you put together a practical selection of excursions.
Zanzibar Excursions by Experience
Sometimes it is easier to choose by the type of experience you want.
Beaches & Marine Experiences
For swimming, snorkelling, sandbanks, boats and time on the water:
- Safari Blue
- Blue Lagoon Snorkelling
- Mnemba Dolphin Tour
- Prison Island
- Sunset Dhow
- Mtende Beach
Culture & History
For understanding Zanzibar’s history, culture and local way of life:
- Stone Town Tour
- Prison Island
- Spice Farm Tour
- Jozani Forest
Nature & Wildlife
For forests, marine life and wildlife experiences:
- Jozani Forest
- Mnemba Dolphin Tour
- Blue Lagoon Snorkelling
- Prison Island
Evening Experiences
For something to do after your daytime activities:
- Sunset Dhow Tour
- Stone Town late afternoon walking tour
Zanzibar Excursions by Location
Where you stay in Zanzibar can make a real difference to your excursion planning.
We arrange excursions for guests staying in different parts of the island, including:
Stone Town
Convenient for Stone Town tours, Prison Island, sunset dhow experiences and other west coast activities.
Nungwi & Kendwa
Well placed for northern marine activities, Mnemba area excursions, kayaking and sunset dhow experiences.
Matemwe & Kiwengwa
Useful locations for northern and northeast coast marine activities, with other excursions available with transfers.
Paje & Jambiani
Good bases for southern and southeast coast experiences, with access to Jozani, Kizimkazi and other parts of Zanzibar.
Michamvi
Well placed for southeast coast experiences, while longer excursions require some consideration of road travel.
Kizimkazi
A practical base for southern Zanzibar experiences and combinations involving Jozani and other nearby attractions.
Fumba & southwest Zanzibar
Useful for selected west and southwest coast experiences, with the practical excursion depending on the activity and your accommodation.
The exact travel time depends on your hotel, road conditions, traffic and the location of the activity.
How to Combine Zanzibar Excursions
You do not always have to choose just one excursion for the day. Some Zanzibar experiences work well together, allowing you to see more of the island without spending your holiday moving back and forth unnecessarily.
The important thing is how the excursions fit together. We look at the distance between the starting points, the time each experience takes, the location of your hotel and the conditions on the day before suggesting a combination.
For example, Stone Town and Prison Island can work well together because the boat for Prison Island leaves from the Stone Town area. Depending on the day’s boat schedule, weather, sea conditions and other practical factors, your guide may start with Prison Island and visit Stone Town afterwards. On another day, it may make more sense to explore Stone Town first and take the boat to Prison Island later.
The same principle applies to other combinations. Marine activities may need to follow the tide or sea conditions, while land based experiences may be easier to arrange around fixed opening times or the hottest part of the day.
Flexibility matters when combining excursions. The order shown in an itinerary is not always the exact order you will follow on the day. We may adjust the schedule to make the day work better based on local conditions.
Examples of Excursion Combinations
| Combination | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Stone Town + Prison Island | Both start around Stone Town, making this one of the most practical combinations. |
| Stone Town + Spice Farm | Combines Zanzibar's history and culture with a visit to the countryside and spice farms. |
| Jozani Forest + Spice Farm | Two inland experiences that can fit naturally into the same day with appropriate timing. |
| Jozani Forest + Dolphin Tour | Combines a morning marine experience with a forest visit, but enough time should be allowed between activities. |
| Salam Cave + Mtende Beach | Two southern Zanzibar experiences that can be arranged together without treating them as separate long trips. |
| Salam Cave + The Rock + Kae Funk Beach | A southern Zanzibar combination that brings together a cave experience, dining and beach time. |
| Safari Blue + Stone Town | Possible in a wider itinerary, but the timing needs to be checked carefully because Safari Blue is a full day experience. |
| Blue Lagoon + Other Southeast Coast Activities | Works well when you are already staying around the southeast coast and can reduce unnecessary cross island travel. |
Half Day or Full Day?
Not every Zanzibar excursion needs an entire day.
Shorter experiences
Good when you want to leave time for your beach or hotel:
- Stone Town Tour
- Jozani Forest
- Spice Farm
- Kayaking at Nungwi
- Salam Cave
- Sunset Dhow
Half Day experiences
Useful when you want one main activity without filling the whole day:
- Prison Island
- Blue Lagoon Snorkelling
- Mnemba Dolphin Tour
- Mtende Beach
Full Day experiences
Better when the experience itself involves longer travel, several stops or extended time on the water:
- Safari Blue
- Some combined excursion days
The exact duration can vary depending on your starting location, transport, weather, sea conditions and whether you choose a private or shared arrangement.
You Can Book Just One Zanzibar Excursion
You do not need to book a complete Zanzibar holiday with Summer Vacation Tours to use our excursion services.
You can book with us:
- One excursion
- Several excursions
- Airport or hotel transfers
- Accommodation
- Private transport
- A combination of activities
This is particularly useful if you have already booked your hotel and flights but want local help arranging what to do while you are on the island.
Already in Zanzibar? You can still book with us.
What Does a Zanzibar Excursion Usually Cost?
Prices vary considerably depending on the activity, group size, transport, whether the experience is private or shared and what is included.
Our current planning ranges include examples such as:
| Excursion | Typical Planning Range |
|---|---|
| Stone Town Tour | $30–50 pp |
| Prison Island | $50–90 pp |
| Safari Blue | $90–190 pp |
| Mnemba Snorkelling / Marine Experience | $70–1200 pp |
| Jozani Forest | $30–50 pp |
| Spice Farm | $20t |
| Blue Lagoon Snorkelling | $40–80 pp |
| Sunset Dhow | $30–150 pp |
| Mtende Beach | $15 |
| Salam Cave | $25 |
| Kayaking at Nungwi | $60 |
Why Book Your Zanzibar Excursions With Us?
Local Zanzibar Knowledge
Excursions That Fit
Simple, Flexible Booking
Frequently asked questions
What are the best excursions in Zanzibar?
Popular Zanzibar excursions include Stone Town, Prison Island, Safari Blue, Mnemba marine experiences, Jozani Forest, spice farms, Blue Lagoon, sunset dhow cruises and southern Zanzibar experiences such as Mtende Beach and Salam Cave.
The most suitable excursion depends on where you are staying, your available time and the type of experience you want.
How many excursions should I do in Zanzibar?
That depends on the length of your stay and how much time you want to spend at your hotel or beach. A longer stay allows you to combine several experiences without making every day an excursion day.
Are Zanzibar excursions private or shared?
Both options are available for selected experiences. Availability depends on the excursion and supplier.
Can you arrange excursions from my hotel?
Yes. We can arrange the practical pickup and transfer details based on your accommodation and the selected excursion.
Are Zanzibar excursions affected by tides?
Some are. Tides can affect marine activities, beaches, boat departures and the conditions experienced during an excursion. We check the practical conditions when planning relevant activities.
Can I book an excursion after arriving in Zanzibar?
Yes. You can contact us while you are already on the island and ask about available excursions and services.