This African group of islands are home to stunning golden sand beaches and white-walled villages. (Image: Getty)
While many tourists flock to to explore its various national parks like the to catch a glimpse of lions and elephants, few realise that the East country is actually home to some stunning islands of its own.
Giving Mauritius, Seychelles and a run for their money, the Lamu Archipelago in the Indian Ocean boasts many incredible golden sand beaches lined by palm trees and white-walled villages that glimpse the islands’ varied past.
Lying close to the northern coast of Kenya, the archipelago lies between the towns of Lamu and Kiuanga and is made up of some 65 islands, the largest and most well-known of which are Pate, Manda and Lamu.
Today, the largest town is Lamu Town, on the island of the same name and stands as a well-preserved Swahili settlement which has earned it a spot on UNESCO’s .
For looking for a more tranquil beach holiday away from the crowds of mainland Kenya, the Lamu Archipelago is the perfect choice.
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Shela Beach has water perfect for swimming but lacks modern amenities, adding to the authentic feel. (Image: Getty)
Among the islands’ best are Diani Beach, where you can watch local fishermen at work from your spot on the soft golden sand, and Shela Beach with water perfect for swimming. Most beaches lack modern amenities, however, adding to the remote and authentic feel of the archipelago.
Just to add to the excitement, snorkelling and scuba diving is best between November and March when the water is clearest, as well as sea kayaking and diving with dolphins.
The archipelago also contains many important and historical sites and spectacular mosques that must be explored.
Lamu Town stands as Kenya’s oldest continually inhabited town and was one of the original Swahili settlements along coastal East Africa, believed to have been established back in 1370.
Its stone houses often have coral limestone walls, mangrove wooden beans, carved wooden doors and windows that face the streets. They are often organised around a small courtyard and have terraces on the upper floors. The centuries-old White House mansion in the old town has been carefully restored and staying here will “transport you back in time to Lamu’s rich and multicultural past”, according to .
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Lamu Town stands as Kenya’s oldest continually inhabited town. (Image: Getty)
Other must-sees in Lamu include the impressive Lamu Fort, built on the seafront to protect members of Fumo Madi ibn Abi Bakr, the sultan of Pate’s, unpopular government. It was completed in the early 1920s.
On Manda Island, now linked by to Lamu and home to its own airport (offering flights from X), is the Takwa settlement, the ruins of a town abandoned in the 18th century and rediscovered in the 1950s. The similarly abandoned Manda town boasts large sea walls built between the ninth and 13th centuries from large coral blocks.
As Lamu Island has no motorised vehicles, transportation and other work are done with the help of donkeys, some 3,000 of which are on the island. Concerned about the treatment of the animals in the 1980s, a Sanctuary was opened to provide treatment to all donkeys free of charge.
To get to Lamu, from to Lamu (LAU) with two stops in Istanbul and Nairobi (NBO) with Turkish Airlines and Jambojet for just £780 return in June. Several idyllic hotels, such as Lamu House Hotel, offer swimming pools and an included breakfast for just £154 per night.