Luxury Travel to Stone Town

Stone Town possesses a richness like no other really. The visible lines and layers of the many cultures and centuries etched into the profile of this port town, once the Indian Ocean’s most important trading post, mixed with the heady scent of cloves and its bustling labyrinth of streets make it such an incredibly intoxicating place to be.

On the western side of the island facing mainland Tanzania, Stone Town was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000 and once you lay eyes on its faded grandeur, you’ll understand why. Once the crossroads of Indian and Arab traders, Moorish explorers, Persian travellers European settlers, and Swahili residents, each has left their mark on the intricate winding alleys, busy bazaars, mosques, minarets, cathedrals and grand Arab mansions fronted by finely decorated doors (once a sign of the occupiers wealth).

And really the best ways to explore the town is by foot with one of our expert, local guides leading you through the maze of streets and alleys to the best bazaars for food and clothing, through doorways often shut to the public to meet local residents and take in the views from their rooftop terraces. Then of course onto the more main attractions of: the Sultan of Oman’s residence now called the Palace of Wonders, the Old Fort, the cathedrals, the Hamamni Persian baths, the Malindi Mosque, markets, gardens and perhaps even the house of David Livingstone.

We can also organise you excursions and private tours around the rest of the island.