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Dar Day Tours · Zanzibar in a day

Zanzibar day trip from Dar es Salaam.

Staying in Dar es Salaam but curious about Zanzibar? You can cross to the island and be back for dinner. We handle the hotel pickup, the ferry tickets both ways and a private car with an English-speaking guide on the island, so your day goes to Prison Island's giant tortoises, a spice farm lunch and the old lanes of Stone Town instead of queues and logistics.

Prices & booking · How the day works · FAQ

Traveller feeding a giant Aldabra tortoise on Prison Island, Zanzibar
Spice farm guide showing a spice, ZanzibarCarved wooden door in Stone Town, ZanzibarStone Town waterfront and harbour, Zanzibar
Island day · subject to availability

Zanzibar day trip from Dar.

from USD 199per person for 5+ guests · private solo USD 330 · inbound insurance depends on first point of entry (see FAQ)≈ TZS 537,000

Leave Dar before sunrise and you can be among the giant tortoises of Prison Island by mid-morning. We collect you from your hotel and see you onto the morning ferry; on the Zanzibar side a guide and car are waiting for a boat ride out to the island, a forest spice farm with a home-style lunch, and a stroll through the lanes of Stone Town before the late-afternoon ferry home.

DurationA full day, roughly 12–13 hours
StartEarly-morning hotel pickup (time confirmed with your booking)
GroupJoin a group or go private
Highlights
  • Return ferry across the channel
  • Private boat out to Prison Island and its giant tortoises
  • A forest spice farm with a home-cooked local lunch
  • Guided walk through Stone Town's lanes and carved doors
  • Your own car and English-speaking guide on the island
Included
  • Pickup and drop-off at your Dar es Salaam hotel
  • Return ferry tickets
  • A car and English-speaking guide for your hours on the island
  • Boat transfer to and visit of Prison Island
  • Spice farm visit
  • Local lunch among the trees at the spice farm
  • Guided Stone Town walk
Not included
  • Mandatory inbound travel insurance, if it applies to you (depends on your first point of entry — see FAQ).
How the day runs
  1. Early morning · We collect you from your Dar hotel
  2. Morning · Ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
  3. On arrival · Your Zanzibar guide meets you at the terminal
  4. Late morning · Boat trip to Prison Island
  5. Midday · Spice farm and lunch in the forest
  6. Afternoon · Stone Town on foot
  7. Afternoon/evening · Return ferry to Dar
  8. Evening · Back at your hotel

Exact pickup and ferry times are confirmed with your booking.

Good to know
  • Ferry seats and tour availability are subject to confirmation.
  • Carry your passport for the ferry.
  • Tour price excludes inbound travel insurance. Many guests who entered via Mainland Tanzania with valid NIC cover will not need another policy — see the insurance FAQ.
Book online
Adults (12+)1 to 20 · adult price per person drops as the group grows
2
Children 5–11USD 79 per child
0
Under 5Free · not charged
0
Travel dateDaily departures
USD 230 per person
TotalUSD 460

Price for exactly 2 guests.

Under 5s travel free — add their names at checkout.

Tour price excludes inbound travel insurance. Many guests who entered via Mainland Tanzania with valid NIC cover will not need another policy — see the insurance FAQ.

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Prices and card payments are in USD.

All prices
5+ guestsUSD 199
4 guestsUSD 210
3 guestsUSD 220
2 guestsUSD 230
Solo join-inUSD 240
Private soloUSD 330
Child 5–11USD 79
Under 5Free
Questions? WhatsApp
Planning notes

One island, one long day.

Morning crossing

We collect you from your hotel early and see you onto the morning ferry from Dar es Salaam. Your Zanzibar guide meets you at the terminal. Exact times are confirmed with your booking.

On the island

A boat ride out to Prison Island for the tortoises, then a spice farm with a local lunch among the trees, then an on-foot tour of Stone Town in the afternoon.

Home by evening

The return ferry crosses in the afternoon or evening and we drop you back at your Dar hotel the same evening.

Two things to remember: bring your passport for the ferry, and check whether mandatory inbound insurance still applies to you (first point of entry rules — see FAQ). It is not part of the online tour price. Only need ferry tickets, or staying on the island longer? Book tickets at zanzibarferry.com, our sister ferry booking site.

More from Dar: Mikumi safari from Dar es Salaam · all day trips · one day in Dar before your Zanzibar ferry · city tour of Dar es Salaam · Dar es Salaam food tour · city tours

FAQ

Questions before you book.

Do I need to buy Zanzibar travel insurance for this day trip?

Not automatically. Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance is based on your first point of entry into the United Republic of Tanzania. If you entered Tanzania Mainland first (for example, flying into Dar es Salaam) and hold a valid inbound policy from NIC (inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz), you should not need to buy a second policy to visit Zanzibar on the same journey, subject to the policy terms. If Zanzibar was your first point of entry, cover is obtained from ZIC (inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz). A valid, unexpired policy (up to 92 days) covers later entries to Mainland or Zanzibar. The EAC/SADC exemption applies to the Mainland requirement only and is not an automatic exemption for Zanzibar. Please carry your insurance certificate or QR code for the ferry and arrival checks. Insurance is not included in the tour price, and we cannot confirm requirements for your individual case — please check with NIC or ZIC before you travel. Source: ZIC public notice of 7 October 2026 and NIC Tanzania guidance.

Can you visit Zanzibar as a day trip from Dar es Salaam?

Yes. Our Zanzibar day trip is a full day: early-morning pickup from your Dar hotel, the morning ferry over, a guided day on the island and a return ferry in the afternoon or evening, with drop-off at your hotel the same evening. Exact times are confirmed with your booking.

How much is the Zanzibar day trip from Dar?

From USD 199 per person for 5 or more guests (≈ TZS 537,000). It is USD 210 per person for 4, USD 220 for 3 and USD 230 for 2. A solo traveller pays USD 240 to join a group or USD 330 for a private trip. Tour price excludes inbound travel insurance. Many guests who entered via Mainland Tanzania with valid NIC cover will not need another policy — see the insurance FAQ.

What is included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dar es Salaam, return ferry tickets, a car and English-speaking guide on Zanzibar, the boat to Prison Island and the visit, a spice farm visit with a local lunch, and a guided walk through Stone Town.

What is not included?

Mandatory inbound travel insurance, if it applies to you (depends on your first point of entry — see FAQ).

How long is the ferry from Dar to Zanzibar?

On this trip you take a morning ferry from Dar es Salaam and a return ferry in the afternoon or evening; exact times are confirmed with your booking.

Do I need my passport?

Yes, carry your passport for the ferry.

Can I stay overnight in Zanzibar instead?

This trip returns the same day. For a longer stay, book ferry tickets on zanzibarferry.com or ask us on WhatsApp (+255 787 558 850).

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour starts. See our Cancellation & Refund Policy.