The 15 Best Sunset Dhow Cruises in Zanzibar

1.Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 141 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $19Our pick

Cruise from Kendwa Beach aboard a traditional wooden dhow as the sun drops over Zanzibar’s coast. You’ll get hotel pickup, fruit, snacks, water, English-speaking support, and live local music, with time to swim if conditions allow. Guides such as Rasheed, Souleymane, and Fazhil have earned praise for friendly service, while boarding may require wading through waist-deep water.

“Had to reschedule and tour guide made sure to keep my spot. Drummers 10/10, good vibes. Some drinks, fruits provided”

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2.Nungwi Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 39 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $19

Sail from Nungwi or Kendwa on the traditional dhow Kilimanjaro during a 2.5-hour sunset trip. You’ll get hotel transport in the Nungwi area, tropical fruit, sparkling drinks, Indian Ocean views, and live drumming and dancing. Swimming may be possible near the end, but boat capacity and pickup timing can vary.

“lo consiglio anche se x il pick uo dicevano che dovevo andare alla spiaggia di Nungwi ma poi hanno fatto una sosta per il pick up per altre 2 coppie che sono solite dal pezzo di spiaggia dove c'è il mio hotel e quindi un po disorganizzato in questo senso perché non era a conoscenza del fatto che qualcun altro la mattina stessa aveva venduto 2 biglietti per queste coppie che poi sono salite dall spiaggia dove ero io in pratica e saremmo potute salire anche noi quando si è fermato lì ma alla fine ho capito che neanche lui lo sapeva e quindi amen. la frutta molto buona. c'è…”

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3.Maasai village Tour with Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 32 reviews · 3 - 5.5 hours · from $52

You’ll visit Maasai World Village with an English-speaking guide, learn about Maasai customs, wear traditional clothing, and watch a cultural dance. Then board a local dhow for sunset, fruit, and a possible swim. Pickup is available from several northern Zanzibar hotels. The village visit is private, but the cruise is shared.

“Prywatna taksówka do wioski Masajów, sympatyczny masajski przewodnik, ciekawie przedstawione życie i zwyczaje Masajów. Rejs łodzią o zachodzie słońca trochę mniej mi się podobał, zbyt dużo ludzi zapakowanych na jedną łódź.”

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4.Sunset Dhow Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 22 reviews · from $39

Sail from Stone Town on a shared traditional Arabian dhow as the sun drops over the Indian Ocean. You’ll see the waterfront from the sea, pass landmarks such as the House of Wonders and Old Dispensary, and enjoy local snacks, soft drinks, and traditional music. The cruise costs $39 per person and returns to the Palace Museum meeting point.

“Really enjoyable time, but it lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes, not 2 hours as advertised”

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5.Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Stone Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $100Top rated

Set out from Stone Town at 3:30 pm on a catamaran for a three-hour sunset sail along Zanzibar’s coast. Expect snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, water, music, snorkeling gear, indoor and outdoor seating, and a crew that may include Lorne, Kiwi, Bakari, or Hussam. Private transport is not included.

“Everything was just perfect, from the communication to the welcoming and attentive crew and spotless catamaran.”

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6.Kwale Island Dhow Sailing Tour from Zanzibar with Seafood Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 18 reviews · from $98

Spend about eight hours sailing from Zanzibar to Kwale Island and the Fumba area. You’ll snorkel Menai Bay, visit a tide-shaped sandbank, swim near mangroves, climb an ancient baobab, and eat grilled lobster, crab, squid, octopus, and tuna. Hotel pickup, gear, lunch, and a soft drink are included.

“This tour was the best ever. Driver and guide were so friendly and helpful and lots fun. Dhow ride to and from Kwale Island was a beautiful experience. Only 5 of us on the Dhow, served fresh fruit, plenty of time to swim and snorkel and eat so much BBq seafood could not finish all the lobster! Hakuna Matarta :”

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7.From Nungwi: Guided Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 16 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Sail from Nungwi on a traditional wooden dhow for a three-hour sunset outing with a guide, music, water, snacks, and beach time. You will meet at Nungwi Inn Beach Restaurant near the Z Hotel. Hotel transfers cost extra. Expect a beautiful sunset setting, but confirm drinks, boarding conditions, and group size before departure.

“Fantastic energy! For all crew members, you are the best!”

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8.Zanzibar Dhow Evening Sunset Cruise Tour at Nungwi&Kendwa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $35

Join a shared traditional dhow cruise from Nungwi at 3:30 pm and follow Zanzibar’s northern coast toward Kendwa. You’ll watch the sunset from the water, enjoy tropical fruit, bottled water, and local music, with guide Charisma sometimes leading the trip. The four-hour outing ends where it begins.

“I was at the meeting Point at 15:30, like it said in the confirmation email. When I asked about the Tour and the Tour Operator, nobody knew who the Tour Operator was. I asked about 5 people. I feel scammed and just threw away 30$. Thank you very much.”

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9.Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 15 reviews · 2.5 hours - 1 day · from $30

Spend about 2.5 hours aboard a traditional wooden dhow near Nungwi Beach and Kendwa. You’ll watch the Zanzibar sunset, cruise past small islands, swim if conditions allow, and enjoy snacks, water, and traditional music. Hotel pickup is available on selected options, with English-speaking support from Amaya Tours Company Limited.

“The boattour was nice, but at the end it was very chaotic: people were dropped off, new people were boarding.”

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10.Zanzibar Dhow Cruise day adventure, sea sports at Kwale Island, very memorable

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $135

Spend about seven hours cruising Zanzibar in a traditional dhow, with stops for sandbank swimming, coral-reef snorkeling, fruit, and a Swahili seafood barbecue on Kwale Island. Pickup, bottled water, drinks, lunch, and private air-conditioned transport are included. Adam is one guide named in the tour details, and groups can reach 20 people.

“Adam and his team on the dhow ensured that the eclectic mix of passengers on his dhow including two very young little boys had a safe and enjoyable time. The sandbar was amazing, the starfish colourful but looked unworldly. The lunch of seafood on Kwale island delicious. But for me the best bit of the day after the snorkelling was sailing without engines on the dhow.”

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11.Sunset Dhow from Kendwa/Nungwi Magic Hour on the Ocean

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 10 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $14Best value

Join a traditional wooden dhow at 4:00 PM from Nungwi Beach or a selected Kendwa pickup point. Cruise the Indian Ocean for about two hours as the sky turns gold and pink, with drinks and tropical fruit described as onboard refreshments. Guides and greeters may assist in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Dutch.

“The sunset dhow cruise was absolutely magical! The pickup was on time, and the team was very friendly and professional. The view of the ocean during sunset was breathtaking, and the atmosphere on board was so peaceful. Everything was well-organized, and I felt safe and comfortable throughout. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Zanzibar — it’s truly unforgettable!”

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12.Private Sunset Dhow Cruise in Stone Town Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · from $89

Set out from Stone Town on a private traditional dhow for about two hours, with sunset views over Zanzibar’s coast and sights such as Prison Island, Bawe Island, and Nakupenda Sandbank. Pickup, private transport, snacks, fees, and taxes are included. Bring sunscreen and dress for boarding over rocky shore.

“You can sit on the upper deck and look over the city. It's beautiful and so peaceful being on the water.”

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13.Zanzibar Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · from $260

Set sail from Nungwi around 4 pm for a private four-hour cruise along Zanzibar’s north coast. You’ll watch the sun drop over the Indian Ocean, enjoy live music, wine, beer, light snacks, and a three-course dinner. The meeting details need confirming, since the tour lists both Old Fort and Nungwi.

“It was a great 2 hour sunset boat cruise with lovely staff. The boat was clean, snacks good. We really enjoyed this dhow ride.”

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14.From Nungwi; Sunset Dhow Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · from $30

Meet at Nungwi Beach for a shared traditional dhow cruise along Zanzibar’s north coast. As the sun sets, enjoy tropical fruit, local snacks, and traditional music while looking back at the beach from the Indian Ocean. The experience is offered in English, German, Italian, and French.

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15.Dolphin and Turtle Tour with Sunset Cruise at Nungwi Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $100

Meet your guide at 8:00 am for a private day from Zanzibar City to Matemwe and Mnemba for dolphin watching and reef snorkeling. Then swim with turtles at Baraka Natural Aquarium before a traditional dhow sunset cruise from Nungwi, with snacks, water, equipment, and transport included.

“Para empezar nuestro guía Nasser fué fantástico! Sabe hablar español, fué muy amable con nosotros. La recogida puntual con coche privado y aire acondicionado. Nos fuimos a ver delfines, lástima que hubiera más de 20 barcas detrás Read more”

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