Lamu Island

Explore more of Kenya

If you are looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy a unique cultural experience, then a luxury island holiday to Lamu Island in Kenya is for you. Lamu Island is truly away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In fact, there are no roads, and the only car on the island belongs to the mayor. It is not overrun with tourists because there are no really great attractions, fancy restaurants or nightlife. This is simply a place to get away from it all.

Just because it is not a tourist hotspot - that does not mean it has nothing to offer. Kenya's oldest living town, Lamu, has managed to retain much of the cultural influences from several hundred years of European, Arabic and Indian occupancy. Lamu Old Town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001 for keeping much of its original architecture, its historically and economically important seaports and its role in education for Islamic and Swahili culture.

Lamu Island is part of the Lamu Archipelago, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of Kenya. The culture is mostly Islamic, though it is a significant centre for Swahili culture as well. Every year it attracts many scholars and teachers who wish to gain a better understanding of the Islamic and Swahili cultures and how they coincide and co-exist to produce a distinct culture.

A luxury holiday to Lamu Island will most likely include a guided walking tour of Lamu Old Town. You can visit the Old Fort and museum in the town's southern corner. The fort once served as a garrison for Baluchi soldiers, protection for Lamu merchants and a prison. It has always been and still is a cornerstone for the community.

As you stroll through Lamu, you will notice that most people use donkeys for transportation or otherwise just walk. This is truly a place where the people are never in a hurry.

Lamu Island does have some nice beaches and plenty of water-related activities such as kayaking in the mangroves to keep you entertained on your visit. Between November and March there are excellent snorkeling opportunities. During this time you may also swim with dolphins near Kizingo.

Another option is to take a sailing trip on a dhow (Arabic sailing vessel). This is the main mode of transportation here. If you are up for it, consider taking a dhow to the Takwa ruins on nearby Manda Island.

The Takwa ruins are pretty overgrown, but worth a trip. You can still see the ruins of homes and the city wall. Archaeologists believe it was a holy city as all the doors face Mecca and because of the existence of the mosque and pillar tomb.

Lamu Island is the destination for a completely laidback add on to your luxury East Africa safari. It can serve as the sole destination for the relaxing trip you so desperately need or be combined with an exclusive safari.