A Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi is the best use of a long weekend. You leave on Thursday or Friday, swim by lunchtime and walk through Stone Town on Saturday.
- FromKES 89,000per person sharing, 3 star, with return flights (about USD 690)
- Duration4 days, 3 nights
- StartsNairobi (JKIA)
- Best forLong weekends, busy professionals and couples
- StylePrivate for your party
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
Authentic Adventures sells every Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi as one booking. We handle your flights, hotel, transfers and a short tour together. You pay a deposit to hold the trip and clear the balance in instalments before you fly.
Below you get a four day plan, three hotel options in KES, the best weekends to go and the rules for a Kenyan passport. Send your dates on WhatsApp for a written quote on your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi.
Highlights
- Return flights from Nairobi in about 1 hour 30 minutes each way
- 3 nights at a north coast beach hotel
- A short Stone Town tour with a guide
- Airport transfers in both directions
- Plan built around Madaraka, Mashujaa and Jamhuri long weekends
- No visa for Kenyan passport holders and we confirm the current rule
- Deposit now and instalments before you fly
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Fly and sunset
Take an early or midday flight from Nairobi. You land in Zanzibar about 1 hour 30 minutes later, with no time change. A driver takes you to your hotel on the north coast. Check in, change and walk straight onto the beach. Sunset is the first event and dinner follows.
- Day 2
Stone Town and spice shops
A guide takes you to Stone Town for a short tour of about four hours. You see the old market, the carved doors and the Forodhani gardens. You taste local street snacks and visit a spice shop. By early afternoon you return to the beach. The evening is free.
- Day 3
Beach day and sunset boat
Today is for the sea. Swim in the deep clear water of the north coast, try a kayak or relax in a hammock. In the late afternoon you can add a dhow cruise, which we quote on request. Many guests prefer a walk along the shore at sunset.
- Day 4
Last swim and fly home
Have a late breakfast and a final swim. A driver takes you to the airport about two hours before your flight. You land in Nairobi the same day, in time for dinner. Keep your yellow fever certificate with your passport.
Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi, 4 days 3 nights, guide price in KES with return flights
| Option | Per person sharing | Single traveller |
|---|---|---|
| 3 star, breakfast | KES 89,000 | KES 118,000 |
| 4 star, half board | KES 106,000 | KES 152,000 |
| 4 star, all inclusive | KES 127,000 | KES 194,000 |
- The 3 star price is about USD 690 at KES 129 to the dollar, so you can compare dollar quotes
- Prices include return flights from Nairobi, 3 nights, transfers and a short Stone Town tour
- Long weekends such as Madaraka, Mashujaa and Jamhuri Day can add 10 to 15 percent
- Zanzibar travel insurance of about USD 44 may apply and we confirm the rule when you book
- Guide prices are confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Return economy flights Nairobi to Zanzibar with taxes
- 3 nights in your chosen hotel with the meals listed
- Private airport transfers
- A short Stone Town tour with a guide
- Help with the entry paperwork
Not included
- Travel insurance, which we strongly advise, as in our guide to Kenya travel insurance
- Zanzibar mandatory insurance of about USD 44 if it applies
- Lunches and drinks outside your board plan
- Sunset dhow cruise and snorkelling, available as extras
- Spa treatments and diving
- Tips and personal shopping
How much is a Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi
A 3 star hotel with breakfast costs KES 89,000 per person sharing for 4 days and 3 nights with return flights. A 4 star half board costs KES 106,000. A 4 star all inclusive costs KES 127,000. Single travellers pay KES 118,000, KES 152,000 and KES 194,000.
Flights are the main cost. Our model return fare is USD 330. Prices rise on long weekends because seats and rooms sell out early. See longer plans and board options at Zanzibar all inclusive packages.
Best long weekends for a Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi
Kenya has three useful long weekends. Madaraka Day falls on 1 June. Mashujaa Day falls on 20 October. Jamhuri Day falls on 12 December. When the date lands on a Thursday, Friday, Monday or Tuesday, you can fly with only one or two days of leave.
Book early for these dates. Flights and rooms sell out and prices rise. Check our guide to Kenya public holidays for the exact dates each year and our long weekend getaways for plans inside Kenya.
How long is the flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar
About 1 hour 30 minutes. Tanzania time matches Kenya time, so there is no jet lag. Flights run daily and we pick one that gets you to the beach by lunch when we can.
A short flight is what makes a weekend work. Compare it with a 12 hour trip to Asia, or even five and a half hours to Dubai. For a longer stay, see our Nungwi and Kendwa packages.
How many days do you need in Zanzibar
Three nights is the minimum for a good break. You get a Stone Town morning, a beach day and a lazy day. Four or five nights give you a snorkel trip and a cruise. Seven nights suit honeymooners and families.
A Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi is not the full island experience, but it is a real rest. If you love it, come back for a longer trip.
Do Kenyans need a visa for Zanzibar
No. Kenyans are East African citizens, so you do not need a visa for Tanzania and Zanzibar. You need your passport.
Zanzibar also introduced a mandatory travel insurance charge for visitors, about USD 44. We confirm whether it applies to your passport when you book your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Zanzibar
Zanzibar has asked for a yellow fever certificate from travellers who arrive from Kenya. Carry your yellow card with your passport and show it on arrival if asked. If you do not have one, tell us before you book, because vaccination needs time to take effect.
Read our guide to vaccinations and travel health. We confirm the current rule when you book.
Hotel choices for a short stay
A 3 star hotel is clean and simple, with a small pool and a buffet breakfast. A 4 star resort sits on the sand with a bigger pool, a bar and half board or all inclusive meals. For a short trip, all inclusive is worth considering, because you will not waste time looking for meals.
We choose north coast hotels, since the sea stays deep at every tide and sunsets are famous. We name the hotel in your written quote.
Costs on the ground
A meal at a local restaurant costs USD 5 to 15. A nicer dinner costs USD 20 to 40. A dhow cruise costs about USD 30 to 50. Plan USD 20 to 40 a day on top of your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi. A Tanzanian shilling is worth about KES 0.05, but USD is widely accepted.
Cards work at hotels and bigger shops. Carry small USD notes for tips and markets.
What to pack for a weekend in Zanzibar
- Light cotton clothes and a cover up
- Modest clothes for Stone Town, with shoulders and knees covered
- Swimwear, reef safe sunscreen and a hat
- A small day bag, since you travel light
- A UK style plug adapter and a power bank
- Passport, yellow card, return ticket and hotel booking
Pay in instalments and book in one place
You pay a deposit to hold the trip. The balance can be paid in instalments before you travel, by Mpesa, bank transfer or card on our secure Pesapal checkout. See the holiday payment plan for the schedule.
To reserve your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi, open book and pay or message us on WhatsApp. All our overseas trips sit on our international holidays page.
Who this trip suits
This Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi suits busy professionals, couples and friends who want a quick reset. It suits families with older children. It is less suited to travellers who dislike flying or want to see many places.
For romance, see the Zanzibar honeymoon packages. From the coast, see Zanzibar packages from Mombasa.
Make a short trip feel long
Plan your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi with a simple rule. Choose one big event per day and keep the rest empty. Pack hand luggage only, so you walk straight past the baggage belt. Book the first morning flight, because the first day on the beach is the most valuable.
Switch off email for the weekend. Tell your office you are away. A weekend only restores you if you really stop.
Food and drink on a Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi
Zanzibar food is a mix of Swahili, Indian and Arab flavours. Try fresh grilled fish, coconut curry, octopus and Zanzibar pizza, a thin pancake with fillings. Seafood is cheap on the beach and at the Forodhani night market in Stone Town.
Hotels serve buffets with local and international dishes. Alcohol is served in resorts but not in many local places, so check before you plan a sundowner. Tell us about special diets when you book. Halal food is easy to find.
Safety and health on a short Zanzibar stay
Zanzibar is friendly and safe for visitors. Dress modestly in Stone Town and ask before photographing people. Keep valuables in your room safe and never leave bags on the beach. Beach sellers are polite and a firm no thank you is enough.
Use reef safe sunscreen and drink bottled water. Carry regular medicine in original packs. We advise travel insurance with medical cover for a Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi, even on a short trip.
When a longer Zanzibar trip makes more sense
Three nights is a fine break, but some travellers want more. If you plan to snorkel at Mnemba, visit Jozani Forest and take a spice tour, you need five nights. Honeymooners and families also enjoy the extra time.
Look at our Zanzibar honeymoon packages or our Mara and Zanzibar beach safari for a longer plan that mixes wildlife and sand.
How to book your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi
Booking your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
How much is a Zanzibar holiday package from Nairobi?
A Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi starts at KES 89,000 per person sharing, with return flights, 3 nights in a 3 star hotel, transfers and a short Stone Town tour. A 4 star half board costs KES 106,000. Long weekends cost more.
How long is the flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar?
About 1 hour 30 minutes. Zanzibar time matches Kenya time, so you lose nothing to jet lag. Flights run daily. We pick one that lets you reach the beach by lunch.
How many days do you need in Zanzibar?
Three nights is the minimum for a good break. You get a tour, a beach day and a rest day. Four or five nights give you more time to snorkel and cruise. Seven nights suit honeymooners.
Do Kenyans need a visa for Zanzibar?
No. Kenyans are East African citizens and enter Tanzania and Zanzibar with a passport. Zanzibar may charge mandatory travel insurance of about USD 44, which we confirm when you book your Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar has asked for a yellow fever certificate from travellers who arrive from Kenya. Carry your yellow card. If you do not have one, tell us before you book. We confirm the current rule.
Can I pay for a Zanzibar 3 nights package from Nairobi in instalments?
Yes. A deposit holds your flights and hotel. You then pay the balance in instalments by Mpesa, bank transfer or card before you travel. We agree the dates at booking and send each receipt on WhatsApp.
Official information: Tanzania Immigration Services Department.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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