The quick answer: how to fly from London to Zanzibar
There are currently no direct flights from London to Zanzibar (ZNZ) — every itinerary has at least one stop. The cheapest tracked returns start from £678 with Ethiopian via Addis Ababa and RwandAir via Kigali (fares checked 12 October 2026). TUI launches twice-weekly nonstop Gatwick–Zanzibar flights on 3 November 2027 — the island's first direct UK link.
Direct flights London–Zanzibar: two 2027 launches to know
Until 2027, every London–Zanzibar itinerary connects through one hub. That changes twice next year. First, British Airways' new London Gatwick → Kilimanjaro → Zanzibar → Gatwick triangle service runs Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 29 May to 31 October 2027 — outbound stops in Kilimanjaro, but the return leg from Zanzibar to Gatwick is non-stop, with return fares from £849 including taxes, fees and hand baggage announced at launch (airline announcement reported September 2026). Then, TUI Airways starts twice-weekly nonstop Gatwick–Zanzibar flights on 3 November 2027 (Wednesdays and Sundays) through 22 March 2028 — TUI describes itself as the only UK package-holiday provider offering direct flights to the island (TUI Group announcement, June 2026).
Travelling in 2027? Ask for a quote on the direct services the moment your dates are firm — the triangle routing also lets you fly into Kilimanjaro for safari and home from Zanzibar beach on one BA ticket, with no backtracking. For 2026 travel, the 1-stop market below is where the value sits.
London to Zanzibar: airline-by-airline fare comparison
Real tracked benchmarks for London–Zanzibar returns (KAYAK route data; fares checked 12 October 2026). All prices are benchmarks, not guarantees — compare live fares for your exact dates.
| Airline | Routing from London | Journey time (outbound) | Indicative return | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Airlines | 1 stop, Addis Ababa (ADD) — from Heathrow | ~11h 40m (fastest tracked 1-stop) | From £678 return (3–10 Nov dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Fastest tracked routing; strong onward links across East Africa |
| RwandAir | 1 stop, Kigali (KGL) — from Heathrow | ~13h 40m | From £678 return (8–22 Nov dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Matches Ethiopian on price; pairs well with a Rwanda stopover |
| Etihad Airways | 1 stop, Abu Dhabi (AUH) — from Heathrow | ~15h 15m | From £683 return (19–26 Nov dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Clean single-hub routing through the Gulf |
| Egyptair | 1 stop, Cairo (CAI) — from Heathrow | ~16h 40m | From £681 return (Nov dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Star Alliance alternative through Cairo |
| Turkish Airlines | 1 stop, Istanbul (IST) — from Stansted | ~12h 55m | From £693 return (18–23 Nov dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Generous baggage on many fares — useful for dive and safari gear |
| Emirates | 1 stop, Dubai (DXB) — from Gatwick | ~15h 15m | From £810 return (Nov dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Premium full-service option with frequent onward connections |
| Multiple airlines | 2 stops, mixed hubs — from Stansted/Southend | ~19h–31h | From £677 return (Nov–Jan dates; fares checked 12 Oct 2026) | Cheapest headline fares — but check the itinerary length before trading a 1-stop for a saving of a pound or two |
What flights to Zanzibar from London cost right now
KAYAK's London–Zanzibar route data (fares checked 12 October 2026):
- Tracked return band: £677–£686 return on the cheapest recent itineraries — an unusually tight band, meaning the cheapest 1-stop options cluster within about £10 of each other.
- Cheapest clean 1-stop fares: £678 — Ethiopian via Addis Ababa and RwandAir via Kigali.
- Premium 1-stop: £810 with Emirates via Dubai.
- When to book: fare analysis points to booking around 59 days before departure for the lowest average price on this route — roughly two months out, not the last-minute window.
- Seasonality: recent deal feeds show November and January dates clustering at the low end (£677–£690); one booking-data analysis names August as the historically cheapest month. December is the festive peak — book early for Christmas and New Year travel.
The roughly 7,360 km journey from London means most of the fare is distance, not demand — so routing choice matters more than timing tricks. A 1-stop ticket at £678 beats a 2-stop at £677 on every measure except the receipt.
Zanzibar and safari in one trip
Zanzibar earns the "Spice Island" name — and its visitor numbers: the island set a record 917,167 international visitors in 2025 (reported by travel publication Wanderlust). Stone Town, the old trading quarter beside Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the rest of the island is white-sand beaches with year-round temperatures of 23–32°C (TUI Group destination briefing, June 2026).
The classic Tanzania itinerary pairs a northern-circuit safari — Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire — with a Zanzibar beach finish. Fly into Kilimanjaro for the parks, then take a short domestic hop or the Azam Marine fast ferry from Dar es Salaam (~1h 45m, from $35) to the island. Or ask about BA's 2027 triangle: in via Kilimanjaro, out via Zanzibar on one ticket. See our Dar es Salaam from London guide for the ferry-side routing.
Why book your Zanzibar flights with AdventureFlight
- WhatsApp booking: message us your dates and get a real fare quote fast — no card details needed upfront.
- Extra baggage: dive gear, safari kit and honeymoon wardrobes all run heavy. We arrange extra baggage allowances that most comparison sites cannot add.
- Group bookings: wedding parties, family reunions, church groups, corporate teams — 10 or more seats on one negotiated fare, seated together.
- Deposit scheme: secure your seats with a £50–£80 deposit, balance due a week before departure.
- Contracted fares: we work directly with Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, RwandAir, Egyptair and Emirates, so we see fare options the aggregators miss.
Tanzania entry requirements for UK travellers
UK passport holders need a tourist or business visa for Tanzania: apply for an e-visa before you travel, or get a single-entry visa on arrival at the main ports of entry. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date with at least one blank page (GOV.UK Tanzania travel advice, checked 9 October 2026). You may be asked to show proof of your return journey at the border.
You may also like
- Flights to Dar es Salaam from London: Cheapest 1-Stop Airlines & Fares (2026) — the mainland gateway, with the fast-ferry link to Zanzibar
- Flights to Kilimanjaro from London: Cheapest 1-Stop Airlines & Fares (2026) — the safari gateway for a Zanzibar beach finish
- Flights to Kigali from London: RwandAir Direct vs 1-Stop Deals (2026) — RwandAir flies London–Zanzibar via Kigali from £678
- Cheap Flights to Entebbe from London: Uganda Airlines Direct vs 1-Stop Deals — East Africa's other lake-and-safari hub
- Cheap Flights to Nairobi from Manchester: Best 1-Stop Airlines & When to Book (2026) — Nairobi connects onward to Zanzibar on Kenya Airways
Compare live fares on KAYAK's London–Zanzibar route page, or read TUI's official announcement of its direct Winter 2027 Zanzibar flights — then message AdventureFlight on WhatsApp for a real quote on your dates.