Lamu Festival Season 2025 brings two gatherings to one island. The Lamu Yoga and Wellbeing Festival, which runs from Friday 31st October to Tueday 4th November. The Lamu Cultural Festival runs from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th November. Sunrise mats meet sunset dhows while dhow races, donkey sprints, bao boards, henna poetry and craft fill the lanes.
This guide shows you where to stay in Shela Old Town and Manda, how to get there and move around, and the simple etiquette that keeps the experience respectful. Use it to plan calm mornings and lively evenings across Lamu Festival Season 2025.
At a Glance
Cultural Festival Fri to Sun
Yoga & Wellbeing Five days of sunrise classes workshops and sunset sails (Oct 31–Nov 4, 2025)
Where Lamu Old Town Shela and Manda Island on Kenya’s coast
Choose your week Yoga for gentle rhythm or Cultural for lively tradition
Best bases Shela for classes and dhow views. Old Town for parades and bao. Manda for quiet with easy boat hops
Getting there Nairobi Wilson (WIL) → Lamu Manda (LAU) then a short hotel boat transfer
Etiquette Dress modestly in town ask before photos follow steward guidance on race days
Why we love this experience
Two festivals one rhythm Sunrise mats and sunset dhows meet donkey sprints, dhow sails and Swahili craft
Small stays big soul Characterful houses and heritage hotels place a short stroll or boat hop from the action
Walkable and boatable Car free islands encourage slow travel by foot donkey and boat
Culture with care From bao to henna it is possible to participate respectfully without intruding
Quiet beyond the peak Outside festival weeks the same lanes and channels offer deep calm and sea air
Etiquette and best vantage
Ask first Always request permission before photographing people
Dress with respect Cover shoulders and knees in town and at mosques
Festival viewing Arrive early follow stewards and keep clear of donkey lanes
Top spots Shela seawall for dhow action Lamu Fort square for parades Matondoni boatyard on days without races
How to choose your week
If sunrise movement and a gentle community rhythm sound like you, choose The Yoga Festival weekend. If you want drums, donkey hooves and the crack of canvas in a racing wind, choose Lamu Cultural Festival weekend.
Pick your base by how your days will unfold. Shela is for classes and dhow vantage. Old Town is for parades, bao and carved doors. Manda is for space and quiet with easy boat hops.
Yoga & Wellbeing: Five days of gentle rhythm
Daily schedule
Friday opening day Oct 31 2025
- 10:00–onwards: Arrival & registration — Kashbah Art & Culture Space
- 11:30–14:30: Lunch*, Meet & Greet & Relax — Kashbah
- 15:00–16:00: Warm-up yoga sessions — Various venues
- 17:00–19:00: Opening ceremony & fire ritual — Shela Beach
- 19:00–21:00: Dinner & drinks* — Kashbah
Saturday Nov 01 2025
- 06:30–07:30: Early bird yoga — Shela Beach
- 06:45–07:30: Pranayama & meditation — Various
- 08:00–08:45: Meet your tribe — Various
- 09:00–12:00: Yoga & workshops — Various
- 12:00–14:30: Lunch*, Meet & Greet & Relax — Kashbah
- 14:30–18:00: Yoga workshops — Various
- 15:00–16:30: Mangrove dhow & swim** — Bahari Jetty
- 17:00–18:30: Dune walk & meditation — Shela Dunes
- 19:30–21:30: Swahili dinner (Ticket A)*** — Kashbah
Sunday Nov 02 2025
- 06:30–07:30: Early bird yoga — Shela Beach
- 06:45–07:30: Pranayama & meditation — Various
- 08:15–11:30: Yoga & workshops — Various
- 11:45–12:30: Meet your tribe — Various
- 12:30–14:30: Lunch*, Meet & Greet & Relax — Kashbah
- 14:30–18:00: Yoga & workshops — Various
- 15:00–17:00: Mangrove dhow & swim** — Bahari Jetty
- 20:00–21:30: Exploration evening — Manda Beach
Monday 03 2025
- 06:30–07:30: Early bird yoga — Shela Beach
- 06:45–07:30: Pranayama & meditation — Various
- 08:00–08:45: Meet your tribe — Various
- 09:00–12:00: Yoga & workshops — Various
- 12:00–14:30: Lunch* — Kashbah
- 14:30–17:00: Yoga & workshops — Various
- 17:15–19:00: Sunset dhow trip (Ticket A)*** — Bahari Jetty
- 19:00–20:30: Celebration cacao ceremony & dance — Manda Beach
Tuesday 04 2025
- 06:30–07:30: Early bird yoga — Shela Beach
- 06:45–07:30: Pranayama & meditation — Various
- 09:00–11:30: Closing ceremony — Mkunguni Gardens
- 11:30–13:00: Lunch* — Kashbah Art & Culture Space
*Meals marked with * are at own cost unless included in your pass.
**Limited spots so book early.
**“Ticket A” activities are included for All-Access Pass holders.
Tickets & Passes (Yoga & Wellbeing Festival)
Ticket A — All-Access Pass (5 days, Oct 31–Nov 4, 2025)
Valid for October 31: November 4, 2025
Pricing:
- International — Early bird: KSh 39,000 / USD 315 · Regular: KSh 45,000 / USD 375
- Kenyan residents & citizens — Early bird: KSh 34,000 / USD 275 · Regular: KSh 40,000 / USD 315
Includes:
- Access to all workshops & classes
- Swahili Dinner and Sunsail Meditation (included with this pass)
- 2 pre-registered special classes
- Final celebration
Ticket B — 5 Day Festival Pass (Oct 31–Nov 4, 2025)
Valid for October 31 – November 4, 2025
Pricing
- International — Early bird: KSh 34,000 / USD 275 · Regular: KSh 40,000 / USD 325
- Kenyan residents & citizens — Early bird: KSh 29,500 / USD 245 · Regular: KSh 35,000 / USD 275
Includes:
- Access to all workshops & classes
- Community project donation
- Final celebration
Weekend Pass — Fri/Sat/Sun classes(Oct 31–Nov 2, 2025)
Valid for October 31 – November 2, 2025
Pricing:
- KSh 25,000 / USD 194
Includes:
One special class (see official page for choices)
Access to all weekend classes
Combined Ticket — LYFe + Deepdive (Save $200)
LYFe — Lamu (Valid for October 31 – November 4, 2025)
Deepdive — Nairobi ( Valid for November 07 – November 10, 2025)
Pricing
- Deepdive Retreat — Regular $850 → $700 after $150 discount
- LYFe Ticket A: International — KSh 45,000 – USD 50 = KSh 38,500 / USD 275
- LYFe Ticket A: Residents — KSh 40,000 – USD 50 = KSh 33,500
Notes
Prices and inclusions are subject to change. Always check the official pages before booking.
Meals marked with * are at own cost unless included in your pass.
Yoga styles & workshops
- Vinyasa Flow
- Hatha Vinyasa
- Dharma Yoga
- Brahma Yoga
- Animal Flow
- Slow Flow Motion
- Qigong / Yoga Flow
- SUP Yoga
- Trapeze Yoga
- Partner Yoga
- Yin Yoga (Yinnergy)
- Dru Yoga
- Chakra Meditation Workshop
- Pranayama & Meditation
- Kriya / Kundalini
- Sound Healing / Gong Bath
- Ayurvedic Yoga & Mind-Heart Alignment
- Thai Massage
- Transformation / Quantum Healing
- Relating Authentically / Self Leadership
Story & Mission
Founded by Monika (Banana House & Wellness Centre), yoga took root in Lamu in the late 1990s. The first festival launched in 2014 with 108 participants. Highlights include 350 guests from 27 countries (2017) and 400+ at the 2020 beach closing. In 2023, LYFe was named one of the top 11 yoga festivals worldwide by Yoga Journal. The team champions community initiatives, from free local classes to reusable sanitary pads, under the motto “Celebrate Diversity.”
Shela wakes early. Mats appear on rooftops, the tide draws back from the beach, and teachers gather small circles facing the channel. A good day is simple. Move at sunrise, cool off in the sea, take a mid-day workshop under a thatch, and sail at sunset when the light goes honey-gold. The island is car-free, so you drift between venues on foot or by boat. The stillness between sessions is half the magic.
Accommodation for LYFe is easy to sort. The festival’s concierge, Karibu Kenya, matches travelers to whole houses, rooms in shared homes, resorts or guesthouses and can also book flights if you need them. In the form you choose your base. Shela, Old Town or Manda and your dates, group size and budget (affordable → treat → luxury). They reply with options for the traveller to confirm and pay the property directly. If you’re unsure, think Shela for class-to-class ease, Manda for quiet, Old Town for character and culture.
Practical note: bring a mat towel, reef-safe sunscreen, and modest cover for Old Town lanes. Popular rooftops fill quickly. Book the sessions you care about.
Cultural Festival dhow sails donkey races and Swahili craft
Late November raises the volume. Donkey races gather crowds along the seafront, and riders bounce past carved doors to a roar you feel in your ribs. Out on the water, dhow skippers tack hard around buoys while white triangles snap against a blue channel and spectators line the Shela seawall. Between those set-piece moments, you wander into bao boards under a fig tree, henna artists tracing steady hands, a cooking demo at the Fort and a poem that hangs in the warm evening air.
Quick facts
When: Fri–Sun, Nov 28–30, 2025
Where: Lamu Old Town seafront, Shela seawall, Matondoni boatyard
Vibe: Parades, dhow races, donkey sprints, bao boards, henna, poetry & craft
Day feel: Family-friendly and lively, evenings mellow with taarab and poetry
Note: See “Etiquette & best vantage” above for town dress and photo tips
Best vantage points
Shela seawall: Dhow action and afternoon light; arrive 30–45 min early
Lamu seafront/Mkunguni:Parades, music and crowds. Great energy
Lamu Fort square: Cultural demos and performances
Matondoni boatyard: Dhow building on non-race days (bring a hat & water)
Rooftops (with permission): Beautiful overview shots at sunset
Photo credit: Felixie Kipng’etich, Karibu Kenya.
What to bring
Sun protection: Hat, reef-safe sunscreen, light long sleeves
Hydration & cash: Water and small notes for boats/snacks
Modesty layer: Scarf/shawl for town and mosques
Footwear: Comfy sandals for stone lanes and docks
Phone/camera: Ask before close-ups of people
Getting between spots
Car-free islands: Walk the lanes, or hop local boats between Shela & Lamu
Shela ↔ Old Town: 20–25 min on foot along the seafront, 5–10 min by boat
Matondoni: Best by boat from Lamu/Shela (check tides & daylight)
Practical: Carry small cash, boats run more often in daylight and fair weather
Dont Miss Moments
Donkey sprints along the seafront lanes
Dhow parade and sprint on the channel
Henna artists at work and bao boards under the fig tree
Cooking demo at the Fort
Poetry & taarab as the evening cools
Where to stay during the Lamu festivals
Shela
Forodhani House: Seafront Swahili villa set directly on Shela Beach with sweeping 270° sea views. Five en-suite bedrooms sleep 10–13; whitewashed arches, shaded verandas, roof terraces and a pool courtyard. Fully staffed, including an excellent cook; ideal for elegant, easygoing house-party stays.
Best for: front-row festival vantage, families and friends, small weddings and celebrations, slow beach days with dhow sunsets.
Booking: forodhanihouse.com
Peponi Hotel: Waterfront classic in Shela, family-run since 1966. Twenty-nine ocean-view rooms in Swahili style; superior rooms add larger layouts and private terraces with swing beds. Lively bar-terrace for dhow watching, easy stroll to lanes and seafront.
Best for: walkers, long lunches, easy dhow views, couples and families (superior & standard family options).
Booking: peponihotel.com
Kijani Hotel: Breezy Swahili-style hideaway in Shela, a short stroll from the jetty and steps from the beach. Eleven airy rooms with makuti roofs and private terraces sit in leafy gardens with bonsai and roaming tortoises; freshwater pool and a relaxed rooftop restaurant.
Best for: couples, easygoing days between sessions, garden lovers.
Booking: kijani-lamu.com
Chuchungi House: Three bedroom family beach house on west Lamu Island with wide verandas, a deep lap pool and views to both the Indian Ocean and Lamu Creek; fully staffed with chef and private speedboat for watersports and dhow days.
Best for: Families and small groups seeking privacy, kids-friendly setup and easy day hops to Shela and Lamu Town.
Booking: The Safari Series
Banana House & Wellness Centre: Owner run Swahili boutique in a quiet corner of Shela with leafy gardens, pool and breezy roof terraces. Simple tasteful rooms through to penthouse suites; on site yoga and wellness, friendly team and easy access to the seafront.
Best for: Wellness weeks, families and small groups, value stays close to Shela Beach.
Booking: bananahouse-lamu.com
Syngué Sabour Cottage: Plantation-style beachfront hideaway on Manda Island opposite Peponi. The cottage and separate guest suite sleep four with shaded verandas, a saline plunge pool and 180-degree ocean views. A dedicated team handles menus and daily rhythms. The house canoe with captain is on hand for sandbars and sunset sails.
Best for: Couples and design lovers seeking privacy, service and slow days on the water.
Booking: synguesabour.com
Fatuma’s Tower: Historic Swahili house named for Fatuma Ali Abu Bakar, quietly restored in 2020 and set in a shaded garden under a great acacia and the Shela dune. Three bookable units: the Tamarind Apartment (4 adults + 2 children), plus two spacious double rooms with private verandas or terraces. Rooftop views across the village, a small plunge pool, and simple lunches and dinners served for guests only. Owned and managed by longtime resident Angelika Schuetz.
Best for: Heritage lovers, writers, photographers, slow Shela stays.
Booking: fatumastower.com
Beach House: Large airy five bedroom seafront house at the southern tip of Lamu with panoramic channel and ocean views. Infinity pool on the lower level, lunches under a broad acacia tortilis, all rooms with sea view and a rooftop terrace with bar. Fully staffed with resident cook and boat transfers included.
Best for: Two families or a small group that wants true beachfront living and easy access to Shela.
Booking: shelahouses.com/house/beach-house
Shela House: Historic Swahili home a short stroll from the beach with five ensuite bedrooms arranged around an open courtyard. Two rooftop verandas for sunbathing and cocktails, partial sea views, and a dedicated team with in-house cook. Ideal for shared family stays.
Best for: Two family groups, slow days between village lanes and the seafront.
Booking: shelahouses.com/house/shela-house
Palm House: Swahili-style house centered on a tall Pemba palm with a ground-floor baraza lounge, three ensuite bedrooms plus a triple, and swinging beds on the upper level. Dining on the balustraded rooftop veranda with village and partial sea views; staffed with resident cook.
Best for: A family or friends who want character, rooftop dining and quick beach access.
Booking: shelahouses.com/house/palm-house
Garden House: Quiet edge-of-village hideaway with two doubles and a children’s twin. Walled garden with shaded courtyard dining, rooftop terrace with bar and easy two-minute walk to the beach, staffed with resident cook and airport boat transfers included.
Best for: A small family seeking privacy, shade and simple beach days.
Booking: shelahouses.com/house/garden-house
Lamu Old Town
Subira House: Grade I listed Swahili mansion in Lamu Old Town, set just behind the historic Lamu Fort. Built in the late 19th century by Omani governor Said bin Hamid al Busaidi, it features carved doors, a distinctive domed entrance, airy rooftop galleries, zidaka niches, and two leafy courtyards and gardens. Lovingly restored since 1990 by Christina & Paul Aarts with strong ecological care (Silver rated by Ecotourism Kenya). A central Old Town base, with the team able to easily arrange boat transport to Shela.
Best for: Heritage lovers, culture seekers, slow stays with character.
Booking: subirahouse.com
Mandala island
Nyumba ya Mwezi: Five bedroom beachfront main house on Manda Island with a private pool and wide ocean view terraces. Fully staffed house only rental with chef and boat captain, air conditioned bedrooms, fast WiFi and direct access to white sand and calm channels for swimming and snorkelling.
Best for: Families and friends who want privacy and service, long pool days, easy boat hops to Lamu Old Town.
Booking: nyumbayamweziltd.com
The Majlis: Beachfront boutique resort on Manda Island opposite Shela with wide views across Ras Kitau and Lamu Island. Thirty nine air conditioned rooms and suites in Swahili style, two pools a spa gym and yoga shala, three restaurants and four bars. Ten minutes by boat from Lamu airport.
Best for: Beach and culture weeks weddings and honeymoons groups and families who want resort comfort close to Lamu Town.
Booking: themajlisresort.com
Kizingoni Beach
Pepo Villa: A classic Kizingoni Beach hideaway reached via a private sand path, where a 12-metre pool sits between shade trees with five swinging beds and a makuti-thatched dining pavilion. Inside, a generous veranda opens to a cool baraza living area and an additional dining space with concealed fridge and drinks cupboard. A panoramic roof terrace sets the scene for breezy meals and stargazing. Bedrooms are set for groups: five en-suite doubles plus one cool ground-floor twin; the gracious master opens to a private terrace with sea and palm views. A separate guesthouse adds two en-suite doubles and a poolroom/massage room. Lush mature gardens and full Kizingoni service complete the picture.
Best for: Multi-gen families and groups, long pool days, slow beach weeks with easy hosting.
Booking: Pepo-villa
The Cabanas : Off grid coastal cabanas set on Kizingoni’s sand dunes with ocean and channel views. Natural Swahili build with makuti roofs and roof decks, created by Anna and Shawn with a light barefoot style. A set of distinct spaces including honeymoon friendly Lōkahi and family ready Mahalo, with yoga and wellness on site and easy dhow days and watersports from the beach.
Best for: Couples and creatives, kite and watersport fans, slow stays with a wellness thread.
Booking: thecabanaslamu.com
Getting there, moving around
Fly Nairobi–Wilson to Manda (LAU), then take a short hotel boat to your base. Lamu runs on footpaths, donkeys and boats. Plan transfers with your stay and book boats for peak festival times. If you’re pairing both weeks, consider a layover in Nairobi between Oct 31–Nov 4 and Nov 28–30; Deepdive and other retreats run in that window.
Pack light, travel well
Sun protection, flats or sandals, a light scarf or cover-up for town, a small dry bag for boats, and cash for little things. Respect the place and its rhythm. Lamu rewards unhurried days and early nights.
Lamu Festival FAQs
When is Lamu Festival Season 2025?
Yoga and Wellbeing runs Oct 31–Nov 4, 2025. The Cultural Festival is Nov 28–30, 2025. Plan for warm weather, light layers and boat transfers between islands.
Where should I stay for the festivals?
Shela for classes and dhow views, Old Town for parades and bao, Manda for quiet with quick boat hops, and Kizingoni for deep seclusion.
How do I get to Lamu?
Fly Nairobi Wilson (WIL) → Lamu Manda (LAU). Your hotel will arrange the short boat transfer to Shela, Old Town or Manda.
What’s respectful etiquette?
Dress modestly in town, ask before photographing people, remove shoes when invited into homes and follow steward guidance on race days.
Is Lamu car-free?
Yes. Expect to walk in town, use donkeys for goods and move by boat between islands—slow travel suits Lamu’s rhythm.