Spice tours from Stone Town
The spice farms lie outside the old town, so a spice tour is a half-day trip by road. Tours go to the farm areas of Kizimbani and Kidichi, also written Kindichi. A local guide walks you through the farm and shows the plants. Cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and turmeric are among those that tours show.
Not every plant is in fruit or flower on your day, so do not expect to see all of them at their best. A farm visit is also not medical advice: treat what you hear about the plants as a lesson in cooking and scent.
Our picks: spice tours
The private farm tour is the straightforward choice if the plantation is all you want. The tour with a Swahili lunch adds a trader visit, and the day trip adds Prison Island and Stone Town.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Spice farm visit with Prison Island and Stone Town
- Boat to Prison Island
- Lunch
- Spice farm entry
Lunch and entry to the spice farm are part of this day with an English-speaking guide, which also takes in Prison Island and Stone Town.
Check availability →
Spice farm tour with a Swahili lunch
- Guided spice farm tour
- Main course and dessert
- Spiced tea or coffee
A guided walk through a spice farm and a visit to a spice trader, followed by a Swahili main course and dessert. Ask whether farm entry is included before you book.
Check availability →
Spice farm tour with tasting and coconut climbing
- Spice and fruit tasting
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Water
A private walk over a spice farm with a demonstration of how the plants grow and a coconut-climbing show. Farm entry is included.
Check availability →Spice tours from Stone Town
Farm visits with a guide, fruit tasting and lunch, with live prices and availability.
A Zanzibar spice farm: what to expect
A price example from 2026 and what it includes.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Area | Kizimbani and Kidichi, outside the old town |
| Length | 3 to 4 hours for the farm programme, plus the drive |
| Price example | From USD 30 per adult |
| Included in that price | Local guide, farm entry, fruit tasting and a traditional lunch |
| Hotel transfer | Optional extra |
This is one example, not a fixed tariff for all spice tours. Prices differ with the programme, the group and the transfer. For most visitors, a three-hour farm visit with lunch included is enough for one morning; add the transfer if you are staying in the old town and do not want to arrange your own ride.
Before you book
Check what the price covers: farm entry, lunch, tasting and the ride from and back to your hotel are separate items on many offers. Ask about the pick-up point, the length and the group size.
Wear light clothes and closed shoes, and bring water. You can also see spices without a trip to the farms: the Darajani market in Stone Town has a spice section.
Spice farms and the old baths
Kidichi and Kizimbani are also known for historic baths. They are a separate matter from the Hamamni baths in Stone Town, and a spice tour is not a visit to either one. Do not plan your day around entering a bath building.
Combine the morning at the farm with an afternoon in the old town, for example the Forodhani Gardens, or with a boat trip to Prison Island on another day. For more days on the island, see things to do in Zanzibar.
More from Stone Town
Other trips and places that fit a day in the old town.
How to compare spice tour offers
Five questions that sort out most of the differences.
Which farm area?
Tours go to Kizimbani or Kidichi. The farm area decides the drive from Stone Town and the programme.
How long is the farm walk?
Three to four hours is a common length. The drive comes on top.
What is included?
Look for the local guide, farm entry, fruit tasting and lunch, the four items in the price example above.
Is the hotel transfer included?
In the price example, the transfer is an optional extra. If you stay in the old town, compare the price with the transfer added.
What are the cancellation terms?
Terms differ by operator. Read them before you pay, particularly in the rainy seasons described in the weather guide.
Planning a spice morning
Most spice tours fit into a morning, which leaves the afternoon free for the old town. Decide first whether you want the farm programme alone or with the hotel transfer, then check the pick-up time. If you are short of time, a farm visit sits well beside the walking tours of Stone Town on a second day.
No tour can promise what grows or flowers on your day, so treat the plants as a lesson in how spices are grown and used. Ask your guide about the names in Swahili, and ask before you take photos of other people.
Spice tour: frequently asked questions
Where do spice tours from Stone Town go?
To spice farms outside the old town. The farm areas for visits are Kizimbani and Kidichi, also written Kindichi.
How long does a spice tour take?
A farm programme takes 3 to 4 hours. The ride to the farm and back comes on top, so plan a half day.
How much does a spice tour cost?
A farm programme starts at USD 30 per adult in 2026, including a local guide, farm entry, fruit tasting and a traditional lunch. A hotel transfer is an optional extra. It is a price example, not a tariff for all tours.
Which spices will I see?
Tours show cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and turmeric, among other plants. What is in fruit or flower depends on the day.
What should I wear to a spice farm?
Light clothes and closed shoes, and bring water.