A Zanzibar holiday from the UK is from £1,449 per person for seven or ten nights, with return flights from London, private transfers and a 4★ beach hotel. That price applies in November 2026 and February 2027; January 2027 is £1,499 and December 2026, the dearest month, £1,699. February also has Zanzibar’s fewest rain days, four, and its highest average temperature, 32.8°C. Before you go, every visitor needs a visa and Zanzibar’s own compulsory travel insurance — your UK policy is not accepted in its place.
How much does a Zanzibar holiday cost?
Our Zanzibar beach holiday carries a live price for each month, per person, based on two sharing, with return flights from London included.
| Month | From (per person) | Average high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | £1,449 | 30.8°C | 13 |
| December 2026 | £1,699 | 31.4°C | 13 |
| January 2027 | £1,499 | 32.1°C | 7 |
| February 2027 | £1,449 | 32.8°C | 4 |
The holiday is sold at seven or ten nights, and the price for your chosen number of nights is confirmed when you enquire. December is £250 per person more than November or February — £500 for two — for the Christmas and New Year peak. Prices for travel from March 2027 onwards are available on request.
February 2027 is the standout: it shares the lowest price with November and has the best weather of the four months, with the fewest rain days and the highest temperatures.
What is included in a Zanzibar holiday package?
- Return flights from London. Regional UK departures can be arranged, and any difference in price is confirmed when you enquire.
- Seven or ten nights at the Sandies Baobab Beach or similar, a 4★ property, in a standard room.
- Private transfers between the airport and your hotel, so there is nothing to arrange after a long journey.
- ATOL protection under licence 10713, with a £99 per person deposit to hold the booking.
Your meal arrangement, the room and the flights are confirmed in writing before you pay. Not included, and needed by every traveller: the Tanzanian visa and Zanzibar’s compulsory inbound insurance, both covered below. Keep your own travel insurance as well.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is hot all year, so the deciding factor is rain. Official averages for Zanzibar from the World Meteorological Organization:
| Month | Average high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| January | 32.1°C | 7 |
| February | 32.8°C | 4 |
| March | 32.0°C | 12 |
| April | 30.3°C | 17 |
| May | 29.4°C | 15 |
| June | 29.0°C | 5 |
| July | 28.6°C | 5 |
| August | 29.1°C | 6 |
| September | 30.1°C | 5 |
| October | 30.9°C | 7 |
| November | 30.8°C | 13 |
| December | 31.4°C | 13 |
Three patterns stand out:
- February has the fewest rain days and the highest temperatures — four rain days and an average high of 32.8°C. January is close behind, with seven rain days.
- June to September has few rain days and is a little cooler, with five or six rain days and highs of 28.6–30.1°C.
- March to May has the most rain days, peaking in April with 17. November and December have 13 rain days each, more than January or February.
Zanzibar’s published rainfall totals do not sit consistently with its rain-day counts, so only rain days are shown.
Do you need special insurance for Zanzibar?
Yes, and it is the requirement most people miss. All visitors to Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, other than residents, must hold mandatory inbound travel insurance, and you buy it for your first port of entry:
- Arriving in Zanzibar first — the usual route on a beach holiday — you need insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for the length of your stay, up to 92 days, bought through Visit Zanzibar. Other travel insurance policies are not accepted.
- Arriving in mainland Tanzania first, for example to start with a safari, you need the equivalent policy from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) instead.
You can buy it online before you travel or at the port of entry on arrival, and you may be refused entry without it. It is an entry requirement, not a replacement for proper travel insurance covering cancellation and medical costs — keep your own policy too. This is GOV.UK’s guidance, which added the mainland rule on 1 October 2026; we checked it on 6 October 2026.
Do you need a visa for Zanzibar?
Yes. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, and British passport holders need a tourist visa. Apply for an e-visa before you travel; a single-entry tourist visa is also available on arrival at the main ports of entry, but a multiple-entry visa is not. Visas are no longer issued by the Tanzanian High Commission in London.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date you arrive and have at least one blank page, and you must be ready to show a return or onward ticket at border control. Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026; entry rules change, so check again before you travel.
How do you get to Zanzibar from the UK?
For travel up to February 2027 there are no direct flights from the UK to Zanzibar, so every routing has one stop — typically Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. You land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, where your private transfer is waiting.
Zanzibar is three hours ahead of the UK in winter and two hours ahead during British Summer Time, so jet lag is mild. The routing, connection times and departure airport are all confirmed in writing before you pay.
Seven or ten nights?
Seven nights is the classic beach week. With a connecting flight each way, the first day is usually a recovery day, so think of it as five or six full days on the island.
Ten nights is what we recommend if you can take the time. It turns the trip from a beach week into a proper look at the island — Stone Town, the spice farms and the coast beyond your hotel — without cutting into the days you came for. Your consultant prices both lengths for your dates so you can compare.
Who is a Zanzibar holiday for?
Zanzibar suits couples, families and beach lovers who want heat, beaches and an island with a culture of its own, and who do not mind a one-stop journey to reach it.
It is worth looking elsewhere if:
- You want the shortest possible journey. For winter warmth with no connection, the Canary Islands are on UK time and around 21°C in January — see where is hot in January.
- You want to compare Indian Ocean islands. Our Seychelles guide sets each month’s price against its rain.
- You are travelling in April or May and want settled weather — those months have Zanzibar’s most rain days.
Practical things worth knowing
- Money. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. Most banks in major cities have ATMs that take foreign debit cards and pay out Tanzanian shillings, but they sometimes break down or run out of money.
- Dress code. Dress modestly away from the beach, particularly in Stone Town. Zanzibari authorities can fine visitors 700 US dollars or more for clothing they consider inappropriate in public.
- Plastic bags are banned. If you arrive by air you will be asked to hand over any plastic bags; ziplock bags for airport security are allowed.
- Local laws. A high proportion of Zanzibar’s population is Muslim. GOV.UK’s local laws section covers Ramadan, public behaviour and advice for LGBT+ travellers, and is worth reading before you book.
- Travel advice. The FCDO’s only advice against travel in Tanzania covers a strip of the southern mainland along the border with Mozambique, not Zanzibar.
Can you combine Zanzibar with a safari?
Yes — a safari on the mainland followed by the beach on Zanzibar is the classic Tanzania two-centre. If your trip starts on the mainland, your compulsory insurance comes from the National Insurance Corporation rather than ZIC. Tell us which parks you have in mind and how long you have, and we will price it as one trip, confirmed in writing before you pay.
What we set with you. The hotel, room, meal arrangement, flights and transfers are all confirmed in writing before you pay anything. Prices shown are lead-in prices; your exact price depends on dates, nights, room and departure airport.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a holiday to Zanzibar from the UK?
From £1,449 per person for seven or ten nights in November 2026 or February 2027, including return flights from London, private transfers and a 4★ beach hotel. January 2027 is £1,499 and December 2026 £1,699. The price for your number of nights is confirmed when you enquire.
When is the best time to go to Zanzibar?
February, for the fewest rain days and the highest temperatures: four rain days and an average high of 32.8°C. June to September also has few rain days, five or six a month, with slightly cooler highs. April and May have the most rain days.
What is the cheapest month for a Zanzibar holiday?
Of the months on sale, November 2026 and February 2027 share the lowest price, £1,449 per person. February has the better weather of the two, with four rain days against thirteen. December is the dearest month, at £1,699.
Do you need travel insurance to enter Zanzibar?
Yes. Every visitor arriving in Zanzibar first must hold inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, covering the stay up to 92 days, and other policies are not accepted. If you arrive in mainland Tanzania first, the equivalent policy comes from the National Insurance Corporation. Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Yes. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, and British passport holders need a tourist visa — an e-visa before you travel, or a single-entry visa on arrival at a main port of entry. A multiple-entry visa is not available on arrival. Your passport needs six months’ validity from arrival and a blank page.
Are there direct flights from the UK to Zanzibar?
Not for travel up to February 2027. Every routing has one stop, typically through Dubai, Doha or Istanbul. Private transfers from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport to your hotel are included in our package.
What is included in a Zanzibar holiday package?
Return flights from London, seven or ten nights at the Sandies Baobab Beach or similar, a 4★ hotel, private transfers and ATOL protection. Your meal arrangement and room are confirmed in writing before you pay. The visa and Zanzibar’s inbound insurance are extra for every traveller.
How many nights should I spend in Zanzibar?
Ten if you can. Seven is the classic beach week, but with a connecting flight each way it leaves five or six full days. Ten nights give you time for Stone Town and the spice farms as well as the beach. Your consultant prices both lengths for your dates.
What is the time difference between the UK and Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is three hours ahead of the UK in winter and two hours ahead during British Summer Time. Tanzania does not change its clocks, so the difference shifts when the UK does.
Can I fly from a regional airport rather than London?
Yes. The published price is based on return flights from London, and regional UK departures can be arranged. Tell us your nearest airport and we will confirm the price from there before you commit.
What currency should I take to Zanzibar?
US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, and most banks in major cities have ATMs that pay out Tanzanian shillings on foreign debit cards. ATMs sometimes break down or run out of money, so carry some dollars as well.
Can you combine Zanzibar with a safari?
Yes — a mainland Tanzania safari followed by the beach on Zanzibar is the classic two-centre. We price it as one trip. If you arrive on the mainland first, your compulsory insurance comes from the National Insurance Corporation rather than ZIC.
Want Zanzibar priced for your dates?
Tell us when you want to travel and whether you want seven nights or ten. We will price the routing, the transfers and the hotel, and confirm the whole thing in writing before you pay.