Lamu Island lies within Kenya’s northern archipelago, home to Lamu Town, the oldest continuously inhabited Swahili settlement in East Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Narrow, car-free streets, coral-stone buildings and intricately carved doors give the town an atmosphere that has changed little over centuries, with donkeys still serving as the main form of transport.

The island’s dhow-building tradition continues in local workshops, and sailing trips aboard these traditional wooden vessels remain one of the most popular ways to explore the surrounding channels and neighbouring islands. Quiet beaches along Lamu’s ocean-facing side offer a contrast to the dense, historic streets of the town itself.

Lamu is reached by short flight from Nairobi or Mombasa, and its car-free streets and slower pace appeal to travellers looking for a cultural and historical alternative to Kenya’s more developed coastal resorts.