Choose Zanzibar if you travel between June and October (or in January and February) and want a safari, and the Maldives if you leave in January to March and dream of a villa above a lagoon. With us, Zanzibar is the beach end of Tanzania safari & Zanzibar (15 days, from ± €15,680 for the two of you) and the Maldives the beach end of Sri Lanka & Maldives (15 days, from ± €18,720 for the two of you), estimated prices for 2 travellers, excl. international flight.
Both islands give you white sand and warm water. But the mood, the season and the journey before differ a lot.
At a glance
| Zanzibar | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Tanzania safari & Zanzibar | Sri Lanka & Maldives |
| Length | 15 days | 15 days |
| Beach nights | 5 | 5 |
| Best months | June to October, January and February | January to March |
| Before the beach | safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti | rock fortresses, temples and tea hills |
| Beach stay | small beach resort, half board | villa above the lagoon, breakfast and dinner |
| Estimated price for 2 | ± €15,680 | ± €18,720 |
Zanzibar: a beach with a story
Zanzibar is more than a beach. In Stone Town, the old Swahili town, you walk with a guide past carved doors and spice markets. Then come five nights on the white sand, in a small beach resort with half board. The romantic moment: sailing a traditional dhow at sunset, and a couples' massage by the sea.
You arrive after a safari. With your own Land Cruiser and safari guide you drive through Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, sleeping in tented lodges right in the wild. Dinner in the bush under the Serengeti stars is part of it. A small plane takes you from the Serengeti straight to Zanzibar.
Suits you if: you want to combine adventure and rest, and wildlife is high on your list.
The Maldives: pure calm above the water
The Maldives are the classic honeymoon picture: a villa above a lagoon, clear blue water and a seaplane transfer. On this route you spend five nights in such a villa, with breakfast and dinner. The romantic moment: a sunset cruise and a couples' massage.
Before that you travel through Sri Lanka with your own driver: Sigiriya's Lion Rock, the cave temples of Dambulla, elephants in Minneriya by jeep, the train through the tea hills and Galle fort at sunset. A candlelit dinner by the lake near Sigiriya completes it.
Suits you if: you want to see culture first and then do absolutely nothing.
The season often decides
Weather is usually the tie-breaker. On Zanzibar the long rains fall roughly in April and May. The Maldives and the south of Sri Lanka are driest in the first months of the year; in summer the monsoon brings more rain. A summer wedding points to Zanzibar. A winter wedding makes the Maldives ideal. In January and February both work.
Why is Zanzibar more expensive?
The difference isn't the beach, it's the safari. Your own Land Cruiser with guide, full board in tented lodges, the park fees of three parks and the small plane to Zanzibar together are the biggest cost. Sri Lanka with your own driver costs less, even with the Maldives villa.
Frequently asked questions
Can we just go to the beach, without a round trip?
Our routes combine a round trip with the beach. Every route is a starting point, though: we adjust the number of days to your wishes.
How do we get to the Maldives?
You fly from Colombo to Malé, then a seaplane takes you to the resort. Both are included in the price.
Is Zanzibar good in December?
December is outside the months we recommend. January and February are good, as are June to October.
Which is more romantic?
Both, in different ways. The Maldives are calm and water; Zanzibar is beach with culture and a safari before it.
Still in doubt?
Also read safari and beach honeymoons or Sri Lanka & Maldives honeymoon.
Request your free honeymoon proposal: within 48 hours you receive a personal proposal, free and with no obligation.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. All prices are estimated total prices for the two of you, excl. international flights.
