Holidays
  • HOLIDAYS
    • View Holidays Homepage
    • Beach Holidays
      • Adults Only Holidays
      • All Inclusive
      • Beach
      • Family Holidays
      • Long-Haul Holidays
      • Luxury Holidays
      • Nightlife
      • Spa Holidays
      • Sports and Activity
      • View all beach holidays
    • Multi Destination
    • Tours
    • City Breaks
    • Ski
    • Lakes and Mountains
    • Lapland
    • Villas
    • Weddings
    • Accessible Holidays
  • Cruises
  • CRUISES
    • Marella Cruises
      • View Marella Cruises Homepage
      • Cruise Deals
      • Cruise Ships
      • Cruise Types
        • Cruise From the UK
        • Cruise Only
        • Cruise and Stay
        • Themed Cruises
        • Repositional and Transatlantic
      • Destinations
        • Caribbean
        • Western Mediterranean
        • Canary Islands and Atlantic
        • Eastern Mediterranean
        • North Africa And Middle East
        • Northern Europe and UK
        • Asia
        • Central America
        • View All Cruise Destinations
      • Useful Information
        • Cruise Calendar
        • Top Ports Of Call
        • On Board Experience
        • Why cruise with Marella Cruises?
    • TUI River Cruises
      • View TUI River Cruises Homepage
      • European River Cruises
      • River Cruise Ships
      • River Cruise Only
      • Rivers
        • Danube
        • Dutch & Belgian Waterways
        • Main
        • Moselle
        • Rhine
      • Destinations
        • Austria
        • Belgium
        • Croatia
        • Germany
        • Hungary
        • Netherlands
        • Serbia
        • Slovakia
        • Switzerland
      • Useful Information
        • Why cruise with TUI River Cruises?
  • Flights
  • FLIGHTS
    • View Flights Homepage
    • Cheap Flights
    • Our Destinations
      • Where we fly
      • Popular routes
    • Flight Timetable
    • Arrivals and Departures
    • Useful Information
      • Flying with us
      • Before you fly
      • Our fleet
      • Frequently Asked Questions
  • hotel only
  • HOTEL ONLY
  • Deals
  • DEALS
    • View Deals Homepage
    • Summer Holiday Deals
      • Summer Holidays 2021
      • Summer Holidays 2022
      • School Holiday Deals
      • View All Summer Holiday Deals
    • Winter Holiday Deals
      • Winter Holidays 2020
      • Winter Holidays 2021
      • Christmas Holiday Deals
      • Easter Holiday Deals
      • View All Winter Holiday Deals
    • Last Minute Deals
    • Free Kids Place Finder
    • Destination Deals
      • Spain Holiday Deals
      • Greece Holiday Deals
      • Mexico Holiday Deals
      • View All Destination Deals
    • Holiday Type Deals
      • All Inclusive Holiday Deals
      • Luxury Holiday Deals
      • Family Holiday Deals
      • View All Holiday Deals
    • Discount Codes
  • Destinations
  • DESTINATIONS
    • View Destinations Homepage
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Austria
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czech Republic
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Lapland
      • Malta
      • Montenegro
      • Portugal
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • View All Europe Destinations
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • View All Central America Destinations
    • Africa
      • Cape Verde
      • Egypt
      • Gambia
      • Kenya
      • Mauritius
      • Morocco
      • Seychelles
      • Tanzania
      • Tunisia
      • View All Africa Destinations
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Aruba
      • Barbados
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Jamaica
      • St Lucia
      • Trinidad And Tobago
      • View All Caribbean Destinations
    • North America
      • Canada
      • United States Of America
      • View All North America Destinations
    • Asia
      • China
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Malaysia
      • Maldives
      • Oman
      • Sri Lanka
      • Thailand
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vietnam
      • View All Asia Destinations
    • Where’s hot when?
    • Quarantine Free Holidays
    • Popular Destinations
      • Algarve
      • Benidorm
      • Cancun
      • Crete
      • Dubai
      • Florida
      • Fuertaventura
      • Gran Canaria
      • Lanzarote
      • Madeira
      • Majorca
      • Tenerife
  • Extras
  • EXTRAS
  • TravelInformation
  • Travel Information
  • AccountAndBooking
logo
Shortlisted holidays
  • Shortlist( )
  • Travel Information
  • Account & Booking
  • HOLIDAYS
  • CRUISES
  • FLIGHTS
  • HOTEL ONLY
  • DEALS
  • DESTINATIONS
  • EXTRAS

HOLIDAY SEARCH

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. To find out more, please read our Cookie Notice. Close

List
    See all destinations
    See departure airports for
    See what dates we fly to this route
    see what dates this destination is available
    Flexible by +/-3 days
    7 nights
    Clear search
    Child ages (on return date) Edit ages
    • Home
    • Destinations
    • Tanzania
    • Zanzibar
    Share

    Zanzibar Holidays

    from £ 984 pp

    View All Deals
    • Overview
    • Things To Do
    • Travel Advice
    • Show Gallery

    Thanks to its flawless white-sand beaches, Zanzibar holidays give Caribbean breaks a run for their money. The lack of crowds is the cherry on top.

    Ideal for island hopping

    The Zanzibar Archipelago’s sat off the eastern coast of Africa, 20 miles into the Indian Ocean from mainland Tanzania. A lot of people think Zanzibar’s one big tropical island, but there are actually more than 40 spread throughout the entire archipelago. Here, island hopping’s not just a holiday pastime, it’s a way of life. You can get out and explore what each island has to offer, before returning to your hotel on the main island, Unguja, which is where all our holidays are based.

    Catalogue of landscapes

    Zanzibar’s landscapes are like a colouring book. White-sand beaches, thick green forests, sapphire mangrove swamps and flat grasslands are all within an hour’s drive of each other. Whatever way you look, there’ll be something to catch your eye. So bringing a fully charged camera is a must.

    Stone Town sightseeing

    Stone Town’s the old quarter of Zanzibar City, the island’s capital. It dates back to the 1st century, and over the years African, Arabian, Indian and European influences have blended to create the way of life here. It’s ripe with things to see and do, from big catholic cathedrals and colonial-style houses, to authentic Hamamni Persian baths. And thanks to all this, the entire district’s been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    The Spice Islands

    Before tourists got a sniff of what Zanzibar had to offer, the farming of spices was the largest industry on the islands. So many different types are grown here that the entire archipelago’s nicknamed ‘The Spice Islands’. Today, spices are still a big part of the culture, and there are tours where you can wander around vanilla, nutmeg and black pepper plantations and learn all about how they’re produced.

    Show more Show less

    At a glance

    • Swim in bath-warm water at Nungwi Beach
    • Spot rare monkeys in Jozani Forest
    • Wander around the historical sights of Stone Town

    Destinations in Zanzibar

    Top Destinations

    • Kiwengwa

      Sunbathing, animal encounters and sunsets over the sea – when it comes to exotic island adventures, Kiwengwa holidays tick all the right boxes.

    • Nungwi

      Holidays to Nungwi revolve entirely around the seafront. Traditional Tanzanian fishing boats, palm trees and smart hotels line up along one of Zanzibar's standout beaches.

    • Marumbi

      Holidays to Marumbi take you to a sleepy spot on Zanzibar's east coast, with a national park and a picturesque bay on either side.

    Top things to See and Do in Zanzibar

    • BEACHES
    • SHOPPING
    • NIGHTLIFE
    • FOOD & DRINK
    • Picture-perfect beachfronts

      It doesn’t matter where you are on Zanzibar, every beach is a winner. The entire main island’s surrounded by a shallow shelf, so the water’s at paddling depth for hundreds of metres before turning a darker shade of blue. And with water temperatures hovering around 30 degrees, it’s like floating in a giant bath. If you’d prefer to lounge in the shade, a palm tree’s never too far away, either.

    • The big beach

      All of Zanzibar’s full of Instagram-worthy beaches. But our favourite is found on the northern coast of the main island. Nungwi Beach is a hit with the locals, who moor their fishing boats a few metres out to sea. The sands here have a vanilla-white shine, which softly blends into the line of palm trees, restaurants and bars behind it.

    • The secret beach

      The remote Mnemba Island’s two miles off the eastern coast of Zanzibar’s main island. And aside from a small wooded area, the island’s made up almost entirely of sand. When the tide’s out, you can wade to even smaller sandbars that look like they’ve been taken straight out of a Pirates of the Caribbean film.

    • Bargain Buys

      In the centre of Stone Town, you’ll find plenty of souvenir shops selling locally made keepsakes. Expect the likes of wooden carvings, thatched baskets, bags and hats made out of palm leaves. Moto & Dada, on Hurumzi Street, is a great place to start. The shop’s part of a project that helps to support the local women who make the souvenirs sold there.

    • Mid-Range Buys

      Lots of women in Zanzibar wear a long colourful sheet called a kanga. They’re traditionally worn around the shoulders, and help to keep you out of the sun when you’re out and about – ideal if you’re prone to sunburn. Throughout the main island shopping areas, like Stone Town and Kiwengwa, you’ll find different handmade versions of these up for grabs. Head over to Darajani Market for a particularly good deal.

    • Designer Buys

      Spices, oils and beauty products are all grown and made locally in Zanzibar. Pineapple and banana bath oils are bestsellers, and pick ‘n’ mix-style spice racks are commonplace in shops all over the main island. Red chilli flakes, black pepper and cloves are favourites with the locals. Take some home and spice up your next cooking session.

    • Laid-back evenings

      Zanzibar’s beaches are on a whole other level when the sun starts to go down. And an ideal place to watch the sky turn from blue to orange is the Peace of Mind Restaurant in Jambiani, a small village on the east coast. You can enjoy a large platter of hour-old seafood here, before sitting out on the sand with a cut-open coconut.

    • Lively evenings

      On every Saturday that’s closest to the full moon, the locals head down to Kendwa Beach for a full night of music, dancing and drinks. These gatherings are among the bigger events in the island’s calendar, and you’ll often see fire-eaters, acrobats and DJs take to a stage that’s been set up right on the sand.

    • Biryani

      Zanzibar’s culture is a melting pot of influences, and one of the best ways you can experience this is with a helping of biryani. Wherever you go on the island it’s always different, because the ingredients and spices used change depending on the town or village you’re in. Spiced rice and a meat or fish curry are cooked separately, then combined together in a bowl to make one giant meal.

    • African Ugali

      Ugali’s a popular side dish, often served alongside a bowl of soup, a curry or a plate of grilled meats. Texture-wise, it’s somewhere between porridge and mashed potato, and makes an interesting alternative to rice.

    • Mandazi

      Most English seaside towns offer up plenty of places to grab freshly cooked doughnuts. And on Zanzibar, you can tuck in to an African version of this, too, at the restaurants and street stalls all over the place. Mandazis are just like doughnuts – the dough’s fried in oil and then sweetened with sugar. Cardamom’s often added to give the treats a herby, spicy taste.

    • Octopus curry

      As an island surrounded by water that’s full of marine life, Zanzibar’s seafood scene is right up there. And the most popular seafood option by far is octopus. Don’t be surprised to see locals out on the rock pools looking for them when the tide goes out. In most seaside towns and villages, you’ll find it cooked with coriander and turmeric, and then simmered in coconut milk.

    • Zanzibar pizza

      Zanzibar pizzas are a lot different to the cheese and tomato varieties dished up at your local Italian. But the locals can’t get enough of them. Instead of being cooked in an oven, raw dough’s spread thinly across a hot pan, where it’s topped with a blend of minced meat, onions, chilli, garlic and mayonnaise. Next, an egg’s cracked right in the middle of it. The whole thing’s then flipped and cooked all the way through, before being eaten whole instead of in slices.

    SIMILAR DESTINATIONS

    • Agadir and Taghazout

    • Marrakech

    • Boa Vista

    • Sal

    Our destinations in Zanzibar

    • Kiwengwa

    • Marumbi

    • Nungwi

    Popular holidays

    • Family holidays in Zanzibar
    • Luxury holidays in Zanzibar
    • All inclusive holidays in Zanzibar
    • Last minute holidays in Zanzibar
     
     
    To top

    Our top deals tailored to you, straight to your inbox Sign up for offers

    Shop Finder Ask a question? Contact us

    We're part of TUI Group - one of the world's leading travel companies. And all of our holidays are designed to help you Discover Your Smile.

    Registered address: Wigmore House, Wigmore Lane, Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, LU2 9TN

    . .
    • Holiday Types
    • Popular Destinations
    • Mid/Long haul
    • Short haul
    • Flights To
    • Cruise
    • Hotels

    Holiday Types

    Summer Holidays 2020 Summer Holidays 2021 Winter Holidays 2020 Winter Sun Holidays Cheap Holidays Luxury Holidays Family Holidays All inclusive holidays Package Holidays Beach holidays Discount Codes City Breaks Last minute Holidays Villa Holidays Short Breaks Multi-Destination Holidays Escorted Tours Accessible Holidays

    Popular Destinations

    Algarve holidays Benidorm holidays Canary Islands holidays Crete holidays Cyprus holidays Gran Canaria holidays Ibiza holidays Lanzarote holidays Las Vegas Holidays Majorca holidays Menorca holidays Mexico Holidays New York Holidays Tenerife holidays

    Mid/Long haul

    Aruba holidays Bali Holidays Vietnam holidays Cape Verde holidays Caribbean Holidays Costa Rica Holidays Cuba Holidays Dubai Holidays Egypt holidays Florida holidays Jamaica Holidays Mauritius holidays Sri Lanka Holidays Thailand holidays Sharm El Sheikh Holidays Los Cabos Holidays

    Short Haul

    Benidorm Holidays Portugal holidays Spain holidays Turkey Holidays Zante holidays Morocco holidays Croatia holidays Greece holidays Malta holidays Bulgaria holidays Italy holidays Lapland holidays

    Flights To

    Cheap Flights Tenerife Flights Montego Bay Flights Mauritius Flights Thailand Flights Alicante Flights Lanzarote Flights Ibiza Flights Florida Flights Orlando Flights Spain Flights Cyprus Flights Malta Flights Portugal Flights Turkey Flights Goa Flights Cancun Flights Barbados Flights Popular Flight Routes

    Cruise

    Puerto Limon Caribbean Cruises Fjords Cruise Italian Cruises Mediterranean Cruises Canary Islands and Atlantic Central America Dubrovnik Barcelona All Inclusive Family Cruises Last Minute Cruises Cruises Cruise Deals Cruises from the UK Croatia Cruises from Southampton Summer Cruises 2020 River Cruise Deals

    Hotels

    Hotels in Tenerife Hotels in Gran Canaria Hotels in Lanzarote Hotels in Fuerteventura Hotels in Majorca Hotels in Menorca Hotels in Ibiza Hotels in Cancun Hotels in Riviera Maya Hotels in Playacar Hotels in Playa Del Carmen Hotels in Paphos Hotels in Protaras Hotels in Marmaris Hotels in Bodrum Hotels in Alanya Hotels in Kusadasi

    More from TUI

    About TUI MyTUI app Cookies Notice Manage Cookie Preferences Privacy Notice Terms & conditions Ways to Pay Media Centre Travel Jobs Affiliates Discover Google Play Store App Store for Ios Travel Money Holiday Budget Calculator TUI Group First Choice Holiday Brochures Travel After Brexit Holiday Weather

    Travel Aware
    Travel Aware - Staying Safe and Healthy Abroad

    The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and National Travel Health Network and Centre have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad.

    See gov.uk/travelaware and follow @FCDOtravelGovUK on Twitter and Facebook.com/FCDOtravel - for the latest general FCDO travel advice, including coronavirus travel guidance, security and local laws, and passport and visa information.

    See gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice - for FCDO travel advice about individual destinations.

    See Travel Aware page - for travel advice from TUI.

    See travelhealthpro.org.uk - for current travel health news.

    The advice can change so check regularly for updates.

    All the flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Some of the flights on this website are also financially protected by the ATOL scheme, but ATOL protection does not apply to all flights. This website will provide you with information on the protection that applies in the case of each flight before you make your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk. ATOL protection does not apply to the other holiday and travel services listed on this website.

    DESTINATIONS IN Zanzibary