Winter sun just got easier to book. Specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience has teamed up with Jet2 to run charter flights from London Gatwick to Banjul, running through the winter season until April 2027.
Flights go twice weekly, departing Gatwick on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with an extra Monday service on selected peak dates around Christmas and New Year. The journey takes about six hours, and during winter there's no time difference between the UK and The Gambia — handy for anyone who hates adjusting to a new timezone.
Because it's a charter arrangement rather than part of Jet2's scheduled network, the flight comes with a few perks built in: pre-allocated seating and a complimentary hot meal as standard. Travellers who want more room can upgrade to Economy Plus, which adds extra legroom plus lounge access at both Gatwick and Banjul, the country's only international airport.
The Gambia Experience has been selling trips to the country for years, and continues to fly there from Manchester and Birmingham with TUI Airways alongside the new Gatwick route. Its holidays lean towards all-inclusive resorts, beach breaks and luxury stays, with wildlife and birdwatching excursions on the menu too. One example package: seven nights at the Kombo Beach Hotel — big pool, swim-up rooms, all-inclusive — from £799 per person including flights, luggage, in-flight catering and transfers. Flexible ticket options and longer stays are available for those who want more than a week.
Why bother with The Gambia in winter? It's one of the closest reliably hot destinations to the UK in the depths of January, with beaches, river wildlife and a strong reputation among birdwatchers. The short flight and zero time difference make it a genuinely low-effort escape when northern Europe is grey.
Separately, Jet2 has been expanding its charter business more broadly. The airline has operated private charters for over two decades, and this month unveiled its first reconfigured VIP aircraft: a Boeing 737 with just 76 business-class-style seats instead of the usual 189, giving a minimum of 43 inches of legroom. Bookable for travel until May 2027, it's aimed at corporate and private clients rather than everyday holidaymakers — but it signals the airline's growing charter ambitions alongside this new Gatwick–Banjul programme.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you want a package holiday to The Gambia from Gatwick this winter or next, Jet2 now operates the route for The Gambia Experience on set days each week, and the operator's site is where you'll book flights, hotel and transfers together.
