Luxury Zanzibar Holidays
Zanzibar may be an easy finale to a Tanzanian safari, but it deserves far more than a few days on the beach. On Unguja, the archipelago’s main island, white sand and turquoise water frame a landscape shaped by centuries of trade between Africa, Arabia and India. In UNESCO-listed Stone Town, carved wooden doors, coral-stone buildings and winding alleyways reveal this rich Swahili heritage, while spice plantations fill the interior with cloves, cinnamon and tropical fruit.
Along the coast, small hotels and barefoot beach retreats sit beside fishing villages and brilliant reefs, with dhow trips, snorkelling and diving adding plenty of adventure between slower days. Further north, Pemba feels greener, quieter and altogether more remote, rewarding those who venture beyond Zanzibar’s better-known shores. Whether paired with the Serengeti or enjoyed in its own right, Zanzibar combines beach, history, culture and island life in a way that feels distinctly its own.
Suggested itineraries for Zanzibar
These example journeys will give you a starting point from which to plan your holiday to Zanzibar. This collection of ideas includes our favourite combinations of hotels, regions and destinations. Every Turquoise itinerary is unique, so please treat these as inspiration and get in touch with our destination experts to create your bespoke journey and quote.
Ultimate Safari Beach – Kenya & Zanzibar
10 nights from £6,099 per person
Prices start from £5,780 per person. A 10 night journey twinning Kenya's iconic Masai Mara with the powdery beaches and…
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Family Safari Beach - Kenya & Zanzibar
7 nights
Price starts from £22,895 per family of four. A 7 night Classic East African family safari adventure, combining the…
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Classic Safari Beach – Kenya & Zanzibar
10 nights from £6,099 per person
A 12 night journey to Kenya’s most famous savannah, the Masai Mara combined with pure relaxation on Zanzibar, the Spice…
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Family Fun in the Western & Eastern Cape
11 nights from £25,500 per family
Perfect for families with little ones, this itinerary showcases the very best of South Africa with the ideal balance of…
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Family Safari & Beach in Kenya
10 nights from £26,450 per family
Combine the thrill of a family safari in Kenya with the magic of Lamu, a unique coastal escape perfect for families…
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South Africa & Mauritius: Safari Beach Adventure
11 nights from £36,500 per family
Combine a malaria-free safari with a week long stay on the beach with this fabulous itinerary.
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South Africa & Victoria Falls In Style
7 nights from £9,950 per person
Explore South Africa & Victoria Falls in Style - from the Cape to 'The Falls'.
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South Africa & Mozambique: Chic Safari and Stunning Island
1 nights
Combine the stunning island of Mozambique with Sabi Sands Reserve in South Africa for this incredible safari beach…
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South Africa: Family Winelands & Safari Holiday
7 nights
7 nights from £11,445 per family South Africa Enjoy an exhilarating adventure which will take you from the Winelands to…
View ItineraryBest time to visit Zanzibar
Zanzibar is warm year-round, with two particularly good windows for travel. June to October is generally dry, sunny and pleasantly warm, making it ideal for beaches, snorkelling, diving and exploring Stone Town. January and February bring another hot, drier spell and work brilliantly with Tanzania’s southern Serengeti calving season.
The main rains usually arrive from March to May, while November and December bring shorter, less predictable showers. For a classic safari-and-beach journey, June to October is particularly appealing, while January and February offer an excellent alternative.
Tanzania special offers
Zawadi Honeymoon Heaven
- Stay 7 nights, pay 5
- All-Inclusive
- International flights and transfers
- Book by 30 June 2027
Enjoy 7 nights in a Villam, All Inclusive, from £5,970 per couple, including all-inclusive, flights with Ethiopian Airways and private road transfers. Indicative price is based on travel in June 2027. Get in touch today for your bespoke quote. (excludes blackout dates).
7 nights from £5,970 per couple
Pemba Island Blizz - Zanzibar
- Stay 7 nights, pay 5
- All-Inclusive
- International flights and transfers
- Book by 20 February 2007
Enjoy 7 nights in a Hillside Room, All Inclusive, from £6,140 per couple, including all-inclusive, flights from London to Zanzibar, Auric Air domestic from Zanzibar to Pemba Island and speedboat transfersinters. Indicative price is based on travel in Febuary 2027. Get in touch today for your bespoke quote. (excludes blackout dates).
7 nights from £6,140 per couple
Serengeti to Spice Island
Pair Tanzania’s great safari landscapes with Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches, spice-scented Stone Town and warm Indian Ocean. Easy flight connections make it wonderfully simple to swap game drives for dhow sails, reef swims and barefoot days by the sea.
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an archipelago where you can really get away from it all, with its charming history and secluded tropical beaches. When it comes to where to stay in Zanzibar, there's something for everyone. If you like castaway cool with driftwood vibes, then you've come to the right place. But if you'd prefer all-out luxury beachfront resorts, then you can also find that in Zanzibar.
Mnemba Island
A mere 20 minute boat ride off Zanzibar’s north-east coast, Mnemba offers one of those rare and elusive holy grail of travel experiences!
Kilindi
Wonderfully positioned on the north-west coast of Zanzibar, in a sweeping bay with power white sand beachfront, Kilindi is one of the best examples of authentic luxury eco-chic to hit Zanzibar’s shores in recent years. -
Fundu Lagoon, Pemba Island
This island hideaway off the coast of Zanzibar is the epitome of twenty-first century Robinson Crusoe shabby chic! Its laid-back charm is perfect for a post-safari chill-out.
Breezes Beach Club & Spa
Set on a pristine, untouched beach on the south east coast of Zanzibar – Breezes offers complete escapism. This relaxing retreat is renowned for its ‘softest of soft’ white sand and crystal clear water.
Baraza Resort & Spa
This stunning, all-villa boutique resort sits on Zanzibar’s south-east coast on the dazzling powder white sands of Bwejuu Beach – voted one of the top 30 island beaches in the world.
Zanzibar highlights
Centuries-old spice heritage
The UNESCO-listed historic quarter of Zanzibar City, the Zanzibar archipelago’s capital, was once a key post for spice traders making their way to Africa to Arabia. The result of this centuries-old resting point is a mazy web of lanes and alleys throbbing with a fusion of cultures, with Arab, Indian, European and African styles influencing everything from the architecture to the cuisine. Around each corner lies something different: a crumbling ruin, an ornate palace or a Persian bathhouse. It’s changed little since the 19th century and you’ll realise that just by wandering this labyrinth of a town, it’s arguably one of Africa’s most fascinating.
Tanzania travel inspiration
Safari and Beach Holidays
Have you ever dreamed of going on safari? There is something incredibly powerful about that heart-stopping moment you first step foot in the awe-inspiring African wilderness. The colours, the scents, the far-reaching views across the vast savannah, the palpable serenity …
Lizzie Heeley
13 Feb 20256 mins read
Great Summer Holiday Destinations 2025
The summer is for relaxing in luxury and enjoying the best weather available, so we’ve assembled our favourite picks for this sunny season. From the beautiful beaches of the Maldives to picturesque sunsets in Thailand, summer is the perfect time …
Lizzie Heeley
05 Feb 20253 mins read
Turquoise Honeymoon Destinations 2025
With over 22 years of experience planning honeymoons, our travel specialists know the perfect destinations for a romantic honeymoon. We have put together a selection of amazing places perfect for a romantic escape to celebrate your love– from New Zealand …
Lizzie Heeley
03 Dec 20244 mins read
Island & Beach Holidays 2024 | Travel by Month
There’s something wonderfully romantic about palm-fringed islands and untouched beaches. The magical images conjured at the thought of escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life, that invigorating sense of remoteness, of being anchored away from the mainland – these …
Lizzie Heeley
20 Dec 20237 mins read
Best Safari & Beach holidays
Many people dream of a Safari & Beach holiday at some point in their life, but few know where to start when planning this holiday of a lifetime. From honeymoons to family holidays, a mix of adventure with relaxation is …
Lizzie Heeley
06 Dec 202312 mins read
Our Top 40th Birthday Holiday Ideas
Do you or your loved one have a very special birthday coming up, and you are looking for 40th birthday ideas? Our team of specialists would love to help. We have a number of ideas up our sleeves for the …
James Bell
07 Dec 20217 mins read
Where to Go for Your 25th Wedding Anniversary
Twenty five years is a milestone that deserves to be marked in any marriage. For most of us, the journey is one of many ups and downs, with plenty of good times and our fair share of challenges. But hey, …
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17 Nov 20215 mins read
Best Safari & Beach Holidays
Africa. The very word sends tingles down our spine. An African safari is, by any measure, the most aspirational holiday of all, an adventure like no other, but it stays on our bucket list for far too long. We read …
Sue Leitch
08 Apr 20217 mins read
Honeymoons that combine adventure and relaxation
There's no denying that mixing both adventure and relaxation is a fantastic combination for a honeymoon. You have the thrills of exploring a country and getting under its skin, as well as unwinding on a beach to recharge your batteries …
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09 Jul 20203 mins read
Why Choose Turquoise?
Family Owned & Run
We are one of the few remaining family owned and run operators of our size. We have direct relationships with every single destination, island, resort and hotel we work with, in order to deliver exceptional and truly personalised service.
Our Passion Runs Deep
We are - and always have been - mad about travel. For almost 25 years we've been scouring the globe for the best places to stay, the newest routes to take, the perfect people to meet. No-one will care more about your holiday.
Definition of Luxury
Luxury means something different to everyone. Whether you are seeking the silence of vast spaces, the isolation of a private island, the buzz of a new city, the adrenaline of a safari or anything in between, we listen, we learn, we advise.
Fun & Refreshing
We endeavour that every Turquoise experience is unique, fun and refreshing. Travel is all about experiences, about serendipitous moments and endless smiles. It is a joy and an honour to plan each and every Turquoise holiday.
Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar
Answers to the questions we’re asked most often about Zanzibar. If you have a more specific question, please get in touch with our destination experts.
British passport holders need to visa to enter Zanzibar, Tanzania. This is typically issued on arrival but you can apply for a visa beforehand via post or through an appointment at the Tanzania High Commission in London. The price of a standard visa is £40.
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling.
The flight time from London to Zanzibar, including a stopover along the way, is from around 13 hours.
The time difference is GMT +3 hours.
Typhoid, Polio, Tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccinations are recommended. You’ll need a Yellow Fever certificate if you’re travelling from an endemic country, such as Kenya. Consult your GP at least four to six weeks before travelling for vaccination advice and information regarding anti-malarial medication.
Speak to our Zanzibar specialists
Nick Prentice
Senior Travel Specialist
Martha McHugh
Senior Travel Specialist
Lyndsey Newton
Senior Travel Specialist
Lottie Supple
Travel Specialist
Lara Cowtan
Head of Sales
Chris Gardner
Senior Travel Specialist
Bethany Preston
Senior Travel Specialist & Team Leader
Alessandra Guarneri
Senior Travel Specialist & Africa Product
Get in Touch With Us Today
Ready to start planning your holiday to Zanzibar? Contact our team of experts for first-hand knowledge, expert advice and your bespoke holiday quote.