UNESCO World Heritage Site · Kenya Coast

Lamu & Shela

One of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in East Africa. No cars. Ancient coral architecture. The Indian Ocean at your door.

The island

Where time
moves differently

Lamu Island sits off the northern Kenya coast. It is the oldest living town in East Africa — over 700 years of Swahili culture, Arab influence, and maritime history layered into narrow stone streets and whitewashed coral buildings.

Lamu Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. There are no cars on the island. Movement is by foot, by donkey, or by traditional wooden dhow.

Lamu Island waterfront seen from the water
"Ancient, serene, and genuinely unlike anywhere else — no cars, no rush, just the wind, the ocean, and 700 years of Swahili history."
Donkeys resting on the Lamu waterfront

Island life

No cars.
Just the island.

Lamu's streets are too narrow for cars. The donkey remains the primary mode of transport — an everyday sight that perfectly captures how little this place has been touched by the modern world.

Dhows sail the channel as they have for centuries. The call to prayer echoes from minarets at dawn. Fishermen bring in their catch as the light turns gold.

Swahili architecture detail — crescent and star motif on a Lamu doorway

Shela Village

The quiet side
of the island

A short dhow ride from Lamu Town, Shela sits at the edge of a twelve-kilometre stretch of pristine white beach. A handful of elegant private houses, boutique hotels, and almost no noise beyond the wind and ocean.

The consistent trade winds that make Shela a world-class kitesurf destination are the same winds that have filled the sails of dhows along this coast for centuries.

Traditional dhows sailing at sunset on the Lamu channel

Getting here

How to reach
Lamu Island

By air

Daily flights to Lamu/Manda Airport (LAU) from Nairobi Wilson and Mombasa (~1.5hrs). Short boat taxi to Shela or Lamu Town from the airport island.

To Shela

From Lamu Town, five-minute boat taxi to Shela jetty, or 45-minute waterfront walk. Most guesthouses arrange transfers.

Best season

December–March (NE monsoon) and June–September (SE trade winds). Rains April–May and November. Year-round sun otherwise.

The conditions

Why Shela is a
world-class spot

Wide uncrowded beach, warm shallow water deepening gradually — forgiving for beginners, excellent for advanced riders. Trade winds 20–35 knots in peak season with remarkable consistency.

28°C
Average water temperature
12km
Of uninterrupted beach
700+
Years of Swahili history

Come experience it

We're waiting for you
on Shela Beach

Book your lesson, ask about conditions, or just say hello.

Get in Touch