Kenya's coast is lined with good-value beach hotels, but for something really special, head north to Lamu, an old Arab trading post with an eight-mile beach, some legendary hotels and an atmospheric old town with rooftop restaurants. There are no cars - you get about by donkey or aboard a traditional dhow. 
If you like your coastline idyllic, the pace of life super-slow, and your seafood as fresh as it comes, then you’ll love Lamu, one of our favourite winter holiday destinations. Nothing disturbs the peace here: coral-fringed, car-free and lapped by the Indian Ocean, these islands off northern Kenya are heaven for anybody looking to escape and switch off.
There are two main islands in the archipelago, Lamu and Manda, with coral atolls scattered amongst them in the turquoise sea. Most visitors base themselves on Lamu itself, where the narrow streets of the Unesco-protected Old Town are well worth exploring.
When you’ve had enough of relaxing under a palm tree with a cold beer, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Take a sundowner cruise on a traditional wooden sailing dhow, head underwater to enjoy the marine life at the reef, or explore the mangrove creeks by kayak, windsurf or waterski.
For your accommodation, we recommend a variety of beachfront retreats offering barefoot luxury and seclusion and exactly the kind of relaxed atmosphere you’d expect in this most laid-back of locations.
Lamu is a superb destination in its own right, but also perfectly complements a Kenyan safari – ask us about the best safari lodges should you wish to combine the two.
More holiday ideas for couples, and honeymoon ideas.
