Zanzibar Holidays from the UK

• Little jet lag, lots of sun. Two or three hours of time difference means a week feels like a week, not five days plus recovery.
• Two holidays in one. Pair Zanzibar with a Serengeti safari (a short flight away) or with the Maasai Mara via Nairobi.
• Culture as well as beach. Stone Town's carved doors, markets and rooftop cafés, the memorial on the site of the former slave market and spice-farm tours give a depth that a pure beach resort can't.
• Water for every age. Calm lagoons for children, snorkeling and diving around Mnemba Atoll, and kitesurfing on the east coast in the windy months (roughly June to September and December to February).
• Christmas sun. The dry season from about December to February makes Zanzibar a warm alternative to the Canaries or the Caribbean over the festive break.
• Family-friendly beaches. The north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa has swimmable water at most tides, which makes life easier with younger children.

One stop from the UK

At the time of writing there's no nonstop between the UK and Zanzibar. Well-used routings connect via Amsterdam (KLM), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines, which flies from Heathrow and Gatwick), Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways) or Dubai (flydubai). The fastest flying times are around 10 hours plus the connection, so allow roughly 12–17 hours in total.

Announced for 2027: British Airways from Gatwick

British Airways has announced a seasonal Gatwick service from 29 May to 31 October 2027, flying out via Kilimanjaro and returning nonstop from Zanzibar. We'll factor it into 2027 plans as schedules firm up.

After a safari

From Arusha, Kilimanjaro or Serengeti airstrips, flights to Zanzibar take roughly one to three hours depending on stops; from Nairobi, about an hour and a half.

From regional airports

Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow all have one-stop options via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Amsterdam, which avoids a trip to London.

Summer holidays (late July–early September). Zanzibar's main dry season: sunny, breezy and comfortable, and the ideal finish to a migration safari. Book early for family rooms.

October half-term. Usually dry and warm, with fewer crowds than the summer and good value before the Christmas peak.

Christmas and New Year. Hot, mostly dry and very popular. The festive weeks are the island's busiest, so plan 9–12 months ahead.

February half-term. Hot, humid and mostly dry, with calm, clear water for snorkeling and diving. It pairs beautifully with calving season in the Serengeti.

Easter holidays. The long rains usually arrive in late March or April and last into May. Some hotels close and seas can be rough, so choose another destination unless Easter is early.

Ramadan. It falls about 11 days earlier each year. Many Stone Town restaurants close during daylight hours and the island feels quieter, while resorts generally run as normal.

What shapes the cost of Zanzibar from the UK:

• Flights. With no nonstop at the time of writing, your choice of routing matters: shorter connections usually cost more, and school-holiday fares rise. If Zanzibar follows a safari, you only add a short regional flight.
• Where you stay. From simple guesthouses to boutique hotels and private-pool villas, accommodation drives the budget.
• Board basis. Half-board and all-inclusive plans suit families and quieter coasts; in Stone Town, eating out is part of the experience and usually good value.
• Season. The Christmas weeks and summer holidays carry the highest hotel rates, while June and early December are often better value.

As a rough guide only, good boutique hotels often start around US$200–400 per room per night (shown on our site as approximate pound conversions), and top-end resorts can exceed US$1,000. Final pricing depends on dates, hotels, group size and itinerary.

• Time difference: 2 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 3 hours in winter.
• Plugs: mostly the UK-style Type G at 230 volts, so your chargers should fit; a universal adapter covers the occasional older round-pin socket.
• Money: US dollars are widely accepted for tips, taxis and excursions, alongside Tanzanian shillings, so bring clean, recent notes. Most hotels accept cards, and some add a surcharge.
• Dress: Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages.
• Tides: on the east coast the sea goes out a long way at low tide; the north is better if you want to swim at any hour.
• Sun and reef: the equatorial sun is fierce, and reef shoes help at low tide.
• Plastic bags: banned in Tanzania, duty-free bags included.
• Entry requirements: Zanzibar can have arrival formalities of its own in addition to Tanzania's. See the Entry requirements section for verified guidance for British passport holders, with official sources and last-checked dates.