Lamu and Mombasa Coast Itinerary: 7 Days
This 7-day coast itinerary takes a slow travel approach — three days immersed in Lamu’s 700-year-old Swahili culture, followed by four days split between Mombasa’s Old Town and Fort Jesus and Diani Beach on the South Coast. It’s the full spectrum of the Kenya coast experience.
Transport Overview
Nairobi → Lamu: Fly from Wilson Airport on AirKenya or Safarilink. Approximately USD 100–150 one way as of 2026. Book in advance; seats sell out during school holidays. Flight time: approximately 1.5 hours. Arrive at Manda Airport; a 5-minute motorised boat crosses the channel to Lamu Town jetty.
Lamu → Mombasa: Several options. Fly Manda Airport → Mombasa Moi International (often via Nairobi Wilson, total time 2–3 hours including layover). Or fly back to Nairobi Wilson and take the SGR train from Nairobi Terminus to Mombasa (KES 700 economy to KES 3,000 first class; journey time approximately 4.5 hours). The SGR train is comfortable, has an on-board café car, and offers coastal views in the final section.
Mombasa → Diani: Likoni Ferry (free for pedestrians) + matatu south to Diani (approximately KES 200) or Bolt (approximately KES 1,500–2,500).
Day 1–3: Lamu
Day 1: Arrive Lamu, Old Town Walk
Arrive at Manda Airport midmorning. Boat taxi to Lamu Town jetty (approximately USD 3–5 pp). Check in to accommodation.
Afternoon: Lamu Old Town walk. The UNESCO stone town is completely walkable. Start at the waterfront, walk south along Harambee Avenue to Fort Hamad (1821), then into the interior maze of lanes. Look for carved wooden doors, latticed balconies, and active neighbourhood mosques. End at the Riyadha Mosque square as the afternoon prayer call sounds.
Evening: Dinner at Al Yusra (Old Town) — the best local Swahili cooking in Lamu, approximately KES 400–800/person. Or, for a special evening, the rooftop of your guesthouse with self-catering supplies from the Old Town market (fresh fruit, mahamri, coconut rice).
Accommodation:
- Budget: Jannat House from approximately USD 40/night.
- Mid-range: Lamu House from approximately USD 120/night.
- Luxury: Peponi Hotel (Shela) from approximately USD 200/night.
Day 2: Lamu Museum, Dhow Trip
9am — Lamu Museum (waterfront) Entry: approximately USD 5 non-resident as of 2026. Allow 1.5 hours. The Siwa horns and the dhow-building exhibits are the highlights. The curator’s explanations of the trading connections between Lamu, Oman, India, and China are excellent context for understanding why this small island has such an elaborate architectural tradition.
11am — Dhow sailing trip Book at the waterfront jetty. A half-day private dhow hire costs approximately USD 60–80 for 2–4 people. The trip sails north into the mangrove channels, returning along the open side of Lamu Island. Wind-powered, so timings are approximate. Bring lunch from the Old Town market (mahamri, fruit, a thermos of chai from the tea house).
4pm — Shela Beach Take the boat taxi from Old Town jetty to Shela (USD 3–5 one way). Shela Beach stretches 14km south; the first kilometre from the village is the most easily accessible. Swim, walk south into the dunes, or find a spot to watch the sunset from the Shela headland.
Evening — Peponi Hotel bar (Shela) Even if not staying at Peponi, the bar is open to non-guests and the sundowner cocktails on the terrace overlooking the channel are exceptional. Approximately KES 1,200–1,500 per cocktail.
Day 3: Manda Island and Takwa Ruins
8am — Manda Island Arrange a boat to Manda Island at the Old Town jetty the evening before. A return trip costs approximately USD 20–30 for a private charter.
Takwa Ruins: The deserted Swahili town abandoned in the 17th century, set in coastal forest. Entry approximately KES 500. A guide (approximately KES 1,000 per group, available at the landing) is strongly recommended — without one, the ruins are difficult to interpret. The large mosque, pillar tomb, and domestic compound layouts are clear with explanation. Allow 2 hours.
Afternoon: Return to Lamu. Final walk through Old Town, shopping for Lamu crafts (carved chests, silver jewellery, hand-woven kanga fabric).
Evening packing for early departure.
Day 4–5: Mombasa
Day 4: Fly Lamu to Mombasa, Fort Jesus
Morning flight from Manda Airport to Mombasa Moi International (often via Nairobi Wilson; total 2–3 hours). Transfer to Old Town accommodation or city hotel.
Afternoon — Fort Jesus (waterfront, Old Town) Entry: approximately USD 12 non-resident as of 2026. Allow 2 hours. The Portuguese fort (1593) and its on-site museum are one of East Africa’s great historical sites. The exhibit on the 33-month siege of 1696–1698 — when an Omani fleet blockaded and starved the Portuguese garrison — is particularly compelling.
Evening dinner — Tamarind Mombasa (Cement Silos Road) Mombasa’s finest restaurant, specialising in fresh seafood. Approximately KES 2,500–5,500/person. Book in advance.
Accommodation (Mombasa):
- Budget: Simple guesthouses in Nyali from approximately KES 4,000/night.
- Mid-range: Mombasa Beach Hotel from approximately KES 9,000/night.
- Luxury: English Point Marina from approximately KES 22,000/night.
Day 5: Old Town Walk, Haller Park
Morning — Mombasa Old Town walk The Swahili street layout, carved doors, and working commercial activity of Old Town Mombasa is a different experience from Lamu’s more tourist-polished version. The Old Town here is still very much a working neighbourhood. Walk from Fort Jesus north along the waterfront, then into the interior lanes. The covered bazaar area and spice market near the main mosque are particularly active in the morning.
Afternoon — Haller Park (Bamburi, 12km north) Entry: approximately KES 1,000 as of 2026. The reclaimed limestone quarry with hippos, giraffes, and giant tortoises makes a good half-day. Combine with a late lunch at a North Coast beach restaurant — Sails Beach Bar (Bamburi) has reliable fresh seafood at approximately KES 1,200–2,500/person.
Day 6–7: Diani Beach
Day 6: Transfer from Mombasa to Diani. Cross the Likoni Ferry (free for pedestrians) and continue to Diani by matatu (KES 200) or Bolt (KES 1,500–2,500). Check in. Afternoon on the beach.
Evening: dinner at Forty Thieves Beach Bar (Diani) — a Diani institution, directly on the beach. Food is casual bar food but the setting is excellent. Approximately KES 1,200–2,200/person.
Day 7: Final morning on Diani Beach. Optional activity: Colobus Conservation Centre (USD 10) for the morning, or a last snorkel in the reef lagoon. Transfer to Mombasa airport by 2pm for afternoon departure. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the Likoni Ferry crossing and airport check-in.
Budget Summary (per person, 7 nights)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights (Nairobi-Lamu, Lamu-Mombasa) | USD 200 | USD 250 | USD 350 |
| Lamu 3 nights | USD 150 | USD 380 | USD 700 |
| Mombasa 2 nights | USD 70 | USD 200 | USD 500 |
| Diani 2 nights | USD 100 | USD 400 | USD 900 |
| Food (7 days) | USD 100 | USD 250 | USD 600 |
| Activities | USD 120 | USD 200 | USD 400 |
| Local transport | USD 50 | USD 80 | USD 150 |
| Total | ~USD 790 | ~USD 1,760 | ~USD 3,600 |
Prices as of 2026. Exchange rate: approximately USD 1 = KES 130.
For accommodation details, see our Lamu hotels guide, Mombasa hotels guide, and Diani Beach hotels guide.
Book an experience
Itineraries in the area
Instant confirmation · Free cancellation on most bookings
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you get from Nairobi to Lamu?
- Fly from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Manda Airport (Lamu) with AirKenya or Safarilink. Flight time approximately 1.5 hours. One-way fares from approximately USD 100–150 as of 2026. From Manda Airport, a boat taxi crosses the channel to Lamu Town in 5 minutes.
- How do you get from Lamu to Mombasa?
- Fly from Manda Airport to Mombasa Moi International, often via Nairobi. Alternatively fly back to Nairobi and take the SGR train to Mombasa (KES 700–3,000, approximately 4.5 hours).
- Is 3 days enough in Lamu?
- Three days covers Old Town, Lamu Museum, Shela Beach, and a dhow trip. A fourth day would allow Manda Island or Takwa Ruins. A week on Lamu is easy to fill for those who enjoy its slow pace.