I’m Zahara Dsouza, a Travel Designer who believes travel should feel personal from the very beginning. I work mainly with families, as well as anyone looking to plan a holiday, helping turn ideas into well-thought-out trips that actually work in real life. I have a strong specialism in African destinations, while also designing journeys across the world.
In addition to leisure travel, I also design incentive travel, group trips, solo journeys, special occasions, adventure travel, as well as school and sports trips, tailoring each experience to suit exactly what’s needed.
I know most people don’t have the time or patience to plan every detail, and that’s where I come in. I create tailor-made itineraries based on your budget and wish list, making sure everything runs smoothly from our first conversation to the moment you return home.
My role is to take away the stress. With my experience, I guide you towards the best options, help you avoid costly mistakes and make the whole process feel easy and organised. Much of my business comes from repeat clients and personal referrals, which I’m incredibly proud of as it reflects the trust built over time.
Over the past nine years, I’ve worked with more than 1,000 clients worldwide and am approaching AED 13 million in sales. My work has been recognised through company awards, media features, podcast appearances and speaking at travel shows.
At the heart of it, I simply love what I do. That passion is what keeps my clients coming back and trusting me with their holidays time and time again.
My customer stories
Sent by Jeanette Jensen
Dubai 15/09/2026
Zahara D'souza did an amazing job as she planned our multi-generation holiday during Half Term to Mauritius. It was not a straight forward task given the age gap between my 3 year old and my 84 year old mum. On top of that, the school changed the half turn by moving it one week earlier so Zahara had to redo all the thinking... she manage quickly an alternative but still keeping the hotels we really wanted... Zahara came highly rated from a family in our community and I really echo that now that I have worked with her. I will for sure use her going forward. thx Jeanette
Sent by Abdul J
Dubai 28/08/2026
Zahra has always given very professional advice on travel plans, booking the appropriate flights and providing the required assistance when we are abroad and need to change flights and flight timings. A pleasant and helpful person to deal with.
Sent by Rishi Kaul
Dubai 15/07/2026
thanks for your support
Sent by Abir Fawaz
Dubai 02/07/2026
Zahara is an amazing advisor, she found the right holiday package which fit perfectly for our family and made sure all the questions we have are answered and every concern is addressed. Also advised us based on her travel experience what would work best for our family given the kids ages. Highly recommended!
Sent by Taherabanu Rashid
Dubai 25/05/2026
Zahara is very helpful and always available.
Sent by Deborah Morrison
Dubai 07/05/2026
Zahara is like a breath of fresh air. She just gets it. She absolutely understands what we need and is so easy to deal with. 5 stars from us!
Sent by Zara Awan
Dubai 23/03/2026
Zahara is the most organised and calm presence curating your holiday experience. Not only does she have the right network and wide knowledge, she also understands her clients' travel type and can match you with the kinds of experiences that you may not be able to find easily on your own.
Her presence was god-sent in spring of March, 2026 when war broke out. She was able to rearrange all our travel plans and provide up-to-date realistic advice. In a very stressful and trying time, her taking on the task of organising our travel was extremely helpful.
Sent by Karen Kershaw
Dubai 23/03/2026
She always tries to understand what we want and always so patient!
Sent by Ray & Emma Hogan
Dubai 05/03/2026
We recently celebrated our 25th Silver Wedding Anniversary at LUX* South Ari Atoll in the Maldives, and the entire experience was nothing short of extraordinary — all thanks to Zahara D'Souza. From the very beginning, Zahara went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our celebration was thoughtfully curated and flawlessly executed. What truly set this experience apart was the incredible level of personal care and attention that Emma and I received throughout our stay. Zahara didn’t just organise an event — she created moments that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. The way the hotel team embraced us, anticipated our needs, and delivered surprise after surprise was clearly a reflection of Zahara’s dedication and meticulous planning. Every setting was beautifully arranged, every interaction felt warm and genuine, and every detail reflected the significance of our milestone. It’s rare to find someone who combines professionalism, creativity, and heartfelt care so effortlessly. Zahara made our 25th anniversary not just a celebration, but an unforgettable experience that exceeded every expectation. If you are planning a special occasion and want it delivered on another level entirely, Zahara is the person you need. With sincere gratitude, Ray & Emma
Sent by Shweta Brambhatt
Nairobi 20/11/2025
All the holiday itineraries have been exceptional. Zahara makes herself available to truly understand what my family and I would like from our holiday and she goes above and beyond to achieve that. She understands the importance of making a bespoke experience rather than handing over a pre-set itinerary. She's always open to feedback and I value her honest input as we build the itinerary together ! I would and have already recommended her to many friends.
Sent by Louise Rowe
Dubai 06/11/2025
Zahara is wonderful. Really understands the needs and wants of young families and goes out of her way to collaborate with the properties to deliver the best possible experience.
Sent by Shadi Masadeh
Dubai 04/11/2025
Very well organized, tour guide was very good. All bookings and reservations were arranged nicely. Recommendations for sites to visit were spot on.
Sent by Dima Bitar
Dubai 03/11/2025
So prompt on answering any questions and always super helpful
Sent by Deborah Morrison
Dubai 04/10/2025
Zahara is hands-down the best travel agent I have ever had the pleasure to work with!
Sent by Robert Letts
Dubai 01/10/2025
Zahara is so responsive, I wouldn’t work with anyone else.
Sent by Rajeev Kakar
Dubai 28/07/2025
Zahara was very courteous, and she has a good knowledge of destinations we can chose from for selecting our holiday destination.
Sent by Kathryn Sutcliffe
Dubai 30/05/2025
Very responsive always delivers great options
Sent by Farr Wallace
Dubai 27/05/2025
I’ve been booking all my travel through Zahara for years now, and I can’t recommend her highly enough. She is incredibly reliable, friendly, and genuinely takes the time to understand and care for my family’s needs. Zahara carefully considers all our requirements, always provides us with well thought out options within our budget, and seems to instinctively know the best places for us to go. Whether it’s a relaxing family holiday or a quick getaway, she makes the entire process smooth and stress free. I absolutely love booking through Zahara and would highly recommend her to anyone planning their next trip. She’s a gem in the world of travel!
Sent by Nathalie Michael
Cyprus 03/04/2025
So helpful, always available and flexible! Thank you always
Sent by Abdulaziz Jesani
Dubai 04/12/2024
We found Zahara Very professional travel advisor. Always ready to help and find alternative solutions if needed.
Sent by Louise Heatley
Dubai 28/11/2024
I dont tend to provide a list of requirements but a short brief of what Im looking for and Zahara has hit the nail on the head in regards to great hotel options and excursions to have amazing holiday. Its convenient and hassle free service and makes like easier than trying to review own options.
Sent by Carol Donoso
Abu Dhabi 24/11/2024
She was amazing to supporting our requirement.
Sent by Niamh Moore
Dubai 15/11/2024
"Zahara is always great - super helpful in finding the best options and offering suggestions for our family. Thanks for all your help!"
Sent by Tahera Rashid
Mombasa 15/11/2024
Zahara has been very helpful and she is always ready to make any changes . Very good service Thank you Zahara.
Sent by Graeme Taylor
Dubai 14/10/2024
Zahara is 5 Star.....Always helpful, efficient and accommodating.
Sent by Kasia Poleszak
Dubai 21/09/2024
Thank you for always helping me find the best deal possible, you are simply the best :)
Sent by Deborah Morrison
Dubai 10/09/2024
Zahara was brilliant! So good in fact that we are about to plan our next trip with her!
Sent by Derek Paul
Dubai 31/07/2024
The vacationing planning provided the best experience for my family, all we had to do was focus on was the fun. Zahara removed the travel pressure, and we followed the plan as much as we wanted with the flexibility to tweak depending on the mood. It was the only way to travel
Sent by Ahmad Jaber
Dubai 15/07/2024
Zahara has been extremely helpful in booking our family trip. She has given a lot of effort to understand our needs and then suggest best options
Sent by Nadine Zein
Dubai 14/06/2024
Zahara is amazing. Very friendly and helpful, the whole process from start to finish was easy and stress free. Zahara was always flexible to accomodate my specific requests and amend the itinerary accordingly, providing useful guidance and recommendations. Thank you so much for your help!
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My Videos
Zaya Nurai
11/10/2020
Oasis in the desert!
My Blog
I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.
Bhutan had been on my bucket list for years, and now that I’ve experienced it firsthand, I can say with certainty: it is every bit as magical as you imagine, and more.
From the moment our Drukair flight descended into Paro, I knew this trip would be special. The landing, framed by towering Himalayan peaks, is one of the most beautiful and unforgettable approaches in the world. Add to that the
Over the Eid holiday, we set off on a family adventure to Penang, Malaysia — my first time visiting the country, despite being fairly well-travelled across Asia. What awaited us was a delightful mix of culture, history, and family-friendly fun that quickly made Penang one of our new favorite destinations.
First Impressions of Penang
Penang, and in particular George Town, surprised me in the best
Summit Night: The Longest Night of My Life
The night before the summit attempt, we woke up at 11pm, donned every layer we had, and set off on the final leg of our journey. The cold was bone-chilling, and the path was a relentless ascent. With each step, I felt my muscles protesting, but I kept my focus on the peak. I wasn’t just climbing for myself anymore – I was climbing for everyone who had sup
It’s one thing to dream of standing on top of the world, and quite another to actually get there. The moment I stood at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, on December 19th 2024, I felt like I had crossed an invisible line between who I was before and who I’d become after that climb. Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, is often called the “Roof of Africa,” and in that moment, it felt like I had
So, what’s it been like for me as a Travelcounsellor during this Pandemic?
It has been almost a year since we have been living with the virus now and i have to say i have been through my worst and my best!
In March to May 2020 as a travel advisor/booker it was initially all about cancelling bookings and postponing holidays for my customers. Over the summer months as people began to gain more con
There has been so much interest this season on Christmas Markets, it has motivated me to write a blog. This should give you an overview of the most popular Christmas Markets in Europe. When I was studying in Switzerland, I took the opportunity to visit these markets and this is something that has stayed with me forever. I hope this will give you a little bit of an insight on each of the destinatio
If you’re planning a July getaway, here’s my pick of some top holiday destinations that you should definitely consider.
Canada
With a wealth of world-class attractions and sensational sights to discover, Canada has so much to offer whatever the season. However, perhaps the perfect time to visit is the summer months when this vast country is hot and lush.
Nature lovers will be in their element
I am passionate about the restorative benefits of all holidays, but a growth in wellness-break bookings this year has encouraged us to showcase some of our hotels and resorts boosting mind, body and soul through activities, meditation, outstanding spa treatments or simply offering the opportunity to get away from it all.
The Landings Resort & Spa by Elegant Hotels, Saint Lucia
The one-, two- an
Having lived in Nairobi, Kenya for most of my life, albeit just a stone throw away I had never been to Zanzibar. So, when Ray and I got married in Mombasa, Kenya we thought there was no better place to have our honeymoon than in Zanzibar and this decision we never ever regretted. We fell head-over-heels in love with this otherworldly island. The beaches are right up there with the best we had eve
Giraffe Centre Nairobi
The Giraffe Centre was founded in 1979 by Jock Leslie- Melville, a Kenya citizen of British decent. Jock and his wife began the giraffe Centre after discovering the Rothschild giraffe were drastically depleting in numbers.
The Giraffe Centre is the only wildlife sanctuary in the world within a capital city that enables you to come into very close contact with the world’s ta
Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:
