Cultural & Heritage · 5 days / 4 nights · 🇰🇪 Kenya

Lamu Dhow Sailing Cultural — 5 Days

UNESCO Swahili town on a donkey-only island — dhow cruises, seafood feasts, rooftop stays.

⚡ Instant confirmation Only 8 seats left on next departure 📅 Next departure 18 Jun 2026 🏷 Save 5% early-bird ✓ Free cancellation up to 30 days
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Overview

No cars, only donkeys and dhows. Lamu Old Town (UNESCO) is Swahili Africa preserved in coral-rag architecture. Stay in a restored 17th-century house, sail a traditional dhow to empty beaches, and eat grilled fish beside the Indian Ocean at sundown.

Route: Nairobi → Manda airport → Lamu → Nairobi

Itinerary

Your day-by-day adventure

Tap into the rhythm of each day — locations, drive times, activities, and where you'll sleep.

  1. Day 1

    Fly to Lamu

    Highlight: Hot-spring soak in Lamu

    Manda airport, boat transfer to Shela.

    📍 Lamu 🚙 Scheduled Flight ⏱ 1.5 hr flight from Nairobi 🍽 D 🏨 Lamu House
    • Game drives & sundowner
    • Hot-spring soak
    • Photography stop
    • Boat cruise
  2. Day 2

    Old Town walking tour

    Highlight: Guided nature walk in Lamu

    Guided tour + Lamu Museum + Swahili House.

    📍 Lamu 🚙 Scheduled Flight ⏱ 1.5 hr flight from Nairobi 🍽 B 🏨 The Majlis Resort
    • Hot-spring soak
    • Guided nature walk
    • Game drives & sundowner
    • Photography stop
  3. Day 3

    Dhow day sail

    Highlight: Cultural visit in Lamu

    Full-day dhow to Manda Toto for snorkel + grilled-fish lunch.

    📍 Lamu 🚙 Scheduled Flight ⏱ 1.5 hr flight from Nairobi 🍽 B, L 🏨 The Majlis Resort
    • Cultural visit
    • Bush breakfast
    • Guided nature walk
    • Boat cruise
  4. Day 4

    Shela Beach + Takwa ruins

    Highlight: Bush breakfast in Lamu

    Morning at Shela Beach; afternoon boat to Takwa Ruins.

    📍 Lamu 🚙 Scheduled Flight ⏱ 1.5 hr flight from Nairobi 🍽 B 🏨 The Majlis Resort
    • Hot-spring soak
    • Photography stop
    • Bush breakfast
    • Boat cruise
  5. Day 5

    Return

    Highlight: Cultural visit in Lamu

    Fly Manda → Nairobi.

    📍 Lamu 🚙 Scheduled Flight ⏱ 1.5 hr flight from Nairobi 🍽 B 🏨 Peponi Hotel
    • Cultural visit
    • Hot-spring soak
    • Boat cruise
    • Bush breakfast
Budget options

Choose your style of safari

Same itinerary, different comfort levels. Lock in the tier that fits your budget.

Budget
Budget — Comfort basics
$1,096 / pp
Single supp. +$120

Clean mid-range lodges and tented camps with reliable hot showers.

  • Shared 4x4 game drives
  • Full-board meals
  • English-speaking driver-guide
Book Budget
Most popular
Standard
Mid-range — Most popular
$1,290 / pp
Single supp. +$180

Established safari lodges and beach resorts (3–4★).

  • Private 4x4 with pop-up roof
  • All game-park fees
  • Bottled water
  • Welcome drink on arrival
Book Standard
Premium
Premium — Upgraded lodges
$1,742 / pp
Single supp. +$250

Premium lodges and luxury tented camps (4–5★) in prime locations.

  • Private guide & vehicle
  • Sundowner setup
  • Laundry service
  • Airport meet & greet
Book Premium
Bucket list
Luxury
Luxury — Bucket-list
$2,386 / pp
Single supp. +$420

Top-tier lodges, signature suites, and exclusive concessions.

  • Private driver-guide
  • Champagne sundowners
  • Private vehicle throughout
  • Butler-style service
  • Guaranteed window seat
Book Luxury
On this safari

What's onboard

directions_walk Walking Safaris
airport_shuttle Airport Transfers
local_laundry_service Laundry Service
solar_power Solar Powered
translate English-Speaking Guide
photo_camera Photography Hide
set_meal All-Inclusive Meals
Your route
Interactive map · OpenStreetMap
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Live forecast · Lamu Old Town
28°C Overcast · 22 km/h wind
Updated 2026-05-18T17:30
  1. ☁ 31° 27°
  2. 🌦 30° 27° 💧 0.9mm
  3. 🌦 30° 27° 💧 2.4mm
  4. 🌦 30° 27° 💧 1.8mm
  5. 🌦 30° 26° 💧 3.2mm
  6. 🌦 30° 26° 💧 1.4mm
  7. 🌦 29° 26° 💧 2.3mm
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Live wildlife observations
Recently spotted near Lamu Old Town

Real observations published to GBIF by researchers, lodges, and citizen scientists — refreshed daily.

Merops nubicus
2026-01-10 · Kenya
Stigmochelys pardalis
2026-01-11 · Kenya
Equus asinus
2026-01-09 · Kenya
Abutilon grandiflorum
2025-01-01 · Kenya
Calotropis procera
2025-01-01 · Kenya
Datura metel
2025-01-01 · Kenya
Corvus splendens
2025-03-20 · Kenya
Giraffa reticulata
2025-05-30 · Kenya
Source: GBIF.org — Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Where you'll sleep

Hotels & lodges on this tour

Hand-picked properties — swap any for an upgrade at booking.

★★★★☆ 8.9/10
Peponi Hotel
Boutique · Lamu Old Town
From $285 / night · +$180 upgrade
Free Wi-FiAir-conditioningSwimming PoolGame DrivesBush Breakfast
198 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
★★★★★ 9.3/10
The Majlis Resort
Luxury · Lamu Old Town
From $495 / night · +$420 upgrade
Free Wi-FiSpa & WellnessBush BreakfastCultural VisitsHot-Air Balloon
132 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
★★★★☆ 8.6/10
Lamu House
Boutique · Lamu Old Town
From $195 / night · +$180 upgrade
Free Wi-FiBush BreakfastCultural VisitsLaundry ServiceFamily Friendly
156 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
Getting here

Flight schedules to your gateway

Indicative fares from key hubs — our team can hold seats while you decide.

AirlineRouteDepartsArrives DurationDaysFrom
Kenya Airways
KQ100		 LHR → NBO
London · Nairobi · Non-stop 		21:30 07:30 8h 30m Daily $890 Book on Kenya Airways ↗
Qatar Airways
QR1431		 DOH → NBO
Doha · Nairobi · Non-stop 		07:30 13:30 6h 00m Daily $780 Book on Qatar Airways ↗
Emirates
EK721		 DXB → NBO
Dubai · Nairobi · Non-stop 		10:25 14:35 5h 10m Daily $720 Book on Emirates ↗
KLM
KL565		 AMS → NBO
Amsterdam · Nairobi · Non-stop 		10:10 20:30 8h 20m Daily $950 Book on KLM ↗

Fares are indicative round-trip economy and shift with demand. We rebook fare drops within 24 hrs.

In the price

What's included & what's not

check_circleIncludes

  • Return flights Nairobi–Manda
  • 4 nights bed-and-breakfast in a Swahili guesthouse
  • Full-day dhow sail to Manda Toto
  • Old Town guided walk
  • Lamu Museum entry

cancelExcludes

  • Lunches and dinners
  • Tips
  • Visas
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