Zanzibar holiday packages from Sense of Adventure range from a five-day stay in Stone Town and on the beach to a 14-day journey that starts with big cats in the Masai Mara and ends on the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar is the spice island off the coast of Tanzania, with white sand, warm turquoise water and an old trading town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are a licensed Nairobi safari operator, so we can plan the island on its own or as the beach finish to a Kenya or Tanzania safari.
Why Choose Zanzibar Holiday Packages?
Zanzibar rewards guests who want more than a sun lounger. The main island, Unguja, mixes beaches with history, food and the sea, and most visitors spend their days between all four. Our Zanzibar holiday packages are built around that mix, so you have time to rest and still see the places that make the island different.
- Beaches: long stretches of white sand on the north and east coasts, with calm, warm water.
- Stone Town: a maze of narrow alleys, carved doors and old merchant houses, shaped by centuries of Indian Ocean trade.
- Spice farms: the island is famous for cloves, and you can smell and taste spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla where they grow.
- Sea life: snorkelling trips, dhow cruises and visits to a turtle sanctuary.
- An easy safari finish: Zanzibar is a short flight from Nairobi, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro highlands, so it pairs naturally with a safari.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, and Swahili is the everyday language. Most residents are Muslim, so dress modestly in Stone Town and ask before photographing people.
Our Zanzibar Holiday Packages: 3 Trips
These are the Zanzibar holiday packages in our catalogue, meaning the trips that include the island. Prices are the starting price per adult sharing, taken from each trip page, and we tailor every one to your dates and hotel preferences.
| Trip | Best for | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar Beach & Stone Town | The island on its own | 5 days | USD 1,200 |
| Kenya & Zanzibar Honeymoon: Masai Mara & Spice Island | Couples | 10 days | USD 3,650 |
| Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar Family Holiday | Families | 14 days | USD 4,300 |
Zanzibar Beach and Stone Town, 5 Days
The Zanzibar Beach and Stone Town trip is the simplest of our Zanzibar holiday packages. It combines the historic town, a tour of the fragrant spice farms and the island’s white-sand beaches, from USD 1,200. It works as a stand-alone break or as a coastal extension after a Tanzania safari.
Kenya and Zanzibar Honeymoon, 10 Days
The Kenya and Zanzibar Honeymoon gives couples four nights in a tented camp in the Masai Mara, with private game drives and a bush dinner for two, then four nights at a Zanzibar beach hotel on half board. A guided Stone Town walk and a spice farm tour are included, and a sunset dhow cruise or snorkelling trip is an optional extra. It starts from USD 3,650, and the balloon flight over the Mara is optional.
Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar Family Holiday, 14 Days
The Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar Family Holiday links the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, then finishes with five nights on Zanzibar. Children can snorkel, visit a turtle sanctuary and smell the spices at a farm. It starts from USD 4,300 and suits families with a full summer holiday to spend.
Stone Town: History on Foot
Stone Town is the historic heart of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its alleys are lined with old merchant houses, carved wooden doors and busy markets, and a guided walk explains how trade across the Indian Ocean shaped the island. Allow a half day, wear comfortable shoes and cover your shoulders and knees. Most of our Zanzibar holiday packages include a guided Stone Town walk because the town makes more sense with a local guide.
Prison Island, known locally as Changuu, is a short boat ride from Stone Town and is home to giant tortoises. It is an easy half-day add-on and works well with children.
Zanzibar Beaches: Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje and Matemwe
The coast you choose changes the holiday more than the hotel does, so it is worth understanding the difference before you book Zanzibar holiday packages.
- Nungwi and Kendwa (north): the main swimming beaches, where the water stays deep enough to swim at any tide. They are lively in the evening, with sunset bars, and suit guests who like company and variety.
- Paje (south-east): a wide, shallow beach known for kitesurfing. The tide goes out a long way here, so swimming depends on the time of day. It suits active and relaxed travellers alike.
- Matemwe (east): a quieter, palm-lined stretch with traditional sailing boats on the sand, popular with couples and with snorkellers heading to the reef offshore.
Which Zanzibar Holiday Packages Suit Honeymooners?
The east coast has quiet, palm-lined beaches, and the north has beaches where you can swim at any tide. Couples who want peace usually prefer the east, and couples who want a livelier evening usually prefer the north. Tell us your style and we will suggest a hotel to match your Zanzibar holiday packages. See our Kenya honeymoon safari page for more bush and beach ideas.
Things to Do in Zanzibar Beyond the Beach
- Spice tour: a half-day walk through a spice farm, where guides show you how cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla grow, and you taste fruit and spices as you go.
- Jozani Forest: Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is the home of the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found nowhere else, and a shaded walk is a cool break from the beach.
- Prison Island: giant tortoises and clear water a short boat ride from Stone Town.
- Dhow cruise: a sunset sail on a traditional wooden dhow, one of the classic images of the Indian Ocean.
- Snorkelling: boat trips to coral reefs, with the east coast and the offshore reefs among the favourites.
- Turtle sanctuary: a gentle visit that children enjoy, included as an option on our family holiday.
You do not need to do everything on your Zanzibar holiday packages. Most guests choose one cultural day, one boat day and keep the rest for the beach.
Best Time for Zanzibar Holiday Packages
Zanzibar sits close to the equator and can be visited all year, but the weather varies, so choose your dates with care.
- June to October: the main dry season, with sunny days and lower humidity.
- December to February: warm, dry weather and calm sea, and a popular choice for the Christmas holidays.
- March to May: the long rains, with April and May usually the wettest months. We suggest avoiding them for a beach holiday.
- November: short rains, green scenery and fewer visitors, though the weather is less predictable.
If you combine Zanzibar holiday packages with a safari, match both halves of the trip: June to October is also the best safari season, and the Great Migration reaches the Masai Mara from July to October. For other countries, read our best time for safari in Africa guide.
How to Combine Zanzibar Holiday Packages With a Safari
A safari followed by a beach is the classic East African holiday, and Zanzibar is the most popular beach for it. The trips in our catalogue show three ways to do it.
- Kenya first, then Zanzibar: our honeymoon spends four nights in the Masai Mara, then flies to Zanzibar via Nairobi. The flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar takes about 1.5 hours.
- Kenya, Tanzania, then Zanzibar: our family holiday visits the Mara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, then flies from Lake Manyara or Arusha to the island.
- Tanzania first, then Zanzibar: if you book a Tanzania safari, adding five beach nights is a simple extension. See our Tanzania safari packages and Kenya and Tanzania safari packages.
Kenya has beaches of its own, including Diani and Lamu, so Zanzibar holiday packages are a choice rather than a necessity. If you would rather stay in one country, our beach experience page lists the Kenyan coast options, and our Kenya safari page shows the parks. Many travellers like Zanzibar because the sea is warm and shallow and the island feels very different from the mainland.
Flying from Nairobi? Read our Nairobi to Zanzibar layover guide for connection times, baggage and the Tanzania visa. It also covers Zanzibar’s mandatory travel insurance requirement, so we link to it rather than repeat the detail here.
How Much Do Zanzibar Holiday Packages Cost?
Our Zanzibar holiday packages start from USD 1,200 per adult sharing for the five-day beach and Stone Town trip, from USD 3,650 for the ten-day Kenya and Zanzibar honeymoon and from USD 4,300 for the 14-day family holiday. The final price depends on the season, the hotel and the length of your stay, and the safari combinations cost more because they add flights and park fees.
The honeymoon and family Zanzibar holiday packages include the flights between the Mara, Nairobi and Zanzibar as listed. They do not include international flights, the Kenya eTA and Tanzania visa, the Zanzibar infrastructure tax, travel insurance, tips, drinks or optional activities such as the balloon flight. For a wider budget view, see Kenya vs Tanzania safari cost and how much an African safari costs.
Zanzibar Travel Facts
- Visas: Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so most visitors need a Tanzania visa or eVisa. If you also visit Kenya, you will usually need a Kenya eTA too. Check the current rules for your nationality close to departure.
- Insurance: Zanzibar requires travel insurance, so arrange it before you book Zanzibar holiday packages. Our layover guide, linked above, explains it.
- Health: malaria is present in parts of Kenya and Tanzania, so speak to your doctor about prevention and ask about yellow fever certificate rules for your route.
- Dress: beachwear is fine at your hotel and on the beach, but cover your shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages.
- Language: Swahili and English are widely spoken in tourist areas.
- Packing: light clothes, reef-safe sun cream, a hat, sandals and water shoes for rocky shores. Soft bags are best if you are taking small aircraft.
How to Book Zanzibar Holiday Packages
- Step 1: send us your dates, group size and whether you want the beach alone or with a safari.
- Step 2: we reply with a written, itemised quote and a suggested coast and hotel.
- Step 3: a deposit secures your hotel, flights and transfers.
- Step 4: we send final documents and packing advice and arrange your transfers.
Browse all our trips on the East Africa safari packages page, or compare countries on the East Africa safari destinations hub.
Plan Your Zanzibar Holiday
Tell us your dates and whether you want a safari first, and we reply with a written quote.
Explore Safaris in This Destination WhatsApp +254 799 160 081 Email UsHow much do Zanzibar holiday packages cost?
Our Zanzibar holiday packages start from USD 1,200 per adult sharing for 5 days, USD 3,650 for the 10-day Kenya and Zanzibar honeymoon and USD 4,300 for the 14-day family holiday.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October and December to February are the best months. April and May bring the heaviest rain, so we suggest avoiding them for a beach holiday.
Which side of Zanzibar is best?
The north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, has beaches you can swim from at any tide. The east, around Matemwe and Paje, is quieter, with tides that change the beach through the day.
Can I combine Zanzibar with a safari?
Yes. Our honeymoon combines the Masai Mara with Zanzibar, and our family holiday adds the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar takes about 1.5 hours.
Do I need a visa and insurance for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so most visitors need a Tanzania visa or eVisa, and Zanzibar requires travel insurance. Check the current rules for your nationality before you travel.
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Official resources: Kenya Wildlife Service and Magical Kenya.