Itineraries. Updated November 2026. 4 min read.
Ten days gets you both Kenyas: the one with lions and the one with coconut palms. The trick is a single scheduled flight from a Maasai Mara airstrip straight to Ukunda, the airstrip for Diani Beach, so you go from a dawn game drive to a swim in the Indian Ocean on the same day, without a second passport stamp.
The shape is simple: one night in Nairobi, two nights in Amboseli for elephants and Kilimanjaro (or Ol Pejeta for rhinos and chimps), three nights in the Mara, and three nights on Diani's white sand. It starts at about $3,900 per person sharing in mid-range camps and hotels. It is a sample route we tailor to you, not a fixed departure: we change the parks, the beach and the pace to fit you.
Who ten days suits
- Couples and honeymooners who want a safari and a proper rest at the end
- Families: three beach days after six days of early starts keeps everyone cheerful
- Travelers who were about to book Zanzibar for the beach and want to compare the Kenya option first
- Anyone who wants three nights in the Mara, the number guides recommend for a real chance of seeing cats hunt
The three-flight logic
Ten days works because three flights replace three long road days. The first is optional: Amboseli to the Mara by road is a long day through Nairobi, so many people fly it, or fly from Wilson to the Mara. The second is the one that makes the trip: Safarilink and Airkenya run scheduled light-aircraft flights from the Mara airstrips to Ukunda, about 2 to 2.5 hours with a stop on the way. The third takes you from Ukunda back to Wilson or JKIA in about 1 hour 15 minutes, in time for the evening flight to the U.S. Budget about $600 to $800 per person for these flights; they are the biggest single add to the price, and they are worth it. Schedules change by season, so we confirm the days the Mara to Ukunda flight runs before we fix your dates.
| Leg | By air | By road | Our note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Amboseli | About 40 minutes from Wilson | 4 to 5 hours | We usually drive this one |
| Amboseli to the Maasai Mara | Via Wilson, most of a morning | A long day via Nairobi | Fly if you can; the road is 8 hours or more |
| Mara to Ukunda (Diani) | About 2 to 2.5 hours with a stop | Not practical | The flight that makes this trip |
| Ukunda to Nairobi | About 1 hour 15 minutes | Train or long road via Mombasa | Allow 4 hours before your international flight |
The beach choice: Diani, Watamu or Lamu
| Beach | Feel | Highlights | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diani | Long white beach, the most choice of hotels | Colobus monkeys, Kisite-Mpunguti dolphins, Shimba Hills | You want easy flights and lots to do |
| Watamu | Quieter, smaller, marine park on the doorstep | Turtles, Gedi ruins, snorkeling | You want calm and nature |
| Lamu | No cars, a Swahili stone town | Dhows, old town walks, Swahili culture | Culture matters more than beach time; check the travel advisory first |
| Mombasa Old Town stop | One night of history | Fort Jesus, the old town | You want to add history to any of the above |
Our Diani vs Watamu guide compares the two main beaches in more depth, and the Lamu page covers the advisory note that applies to parts of Lamu County. Diani is our default because it has the direct flight from the Mara and the widest choice of stays.
Other swaps
- Ol Pejeta instead of Amboseli: rhinos, chimpanzees and night drives, about 3.5 hours north of Nairobi
- A conservancy in the Mara instead of the main reserve: fewer vehicles, walking and night drives
- Take the train to the coast: the Madaraka Express from Nairobi to Mombasa takes about 5 to 6 hours, with economy at about KSh 1,000 and first class about KSh 3,000 at the time of writing; it is a fun budget choice, but it means going back to Nairobi from the Mara first
- Add a Mombasa Old Town night between the Mara and the beach
When to go
The best months for both halves are late June to October and late December to March. The Mara has the migration from about late July into October; the coast is dry and breezy then. January to March is hotter on the coast and lovely in the water. April to June brings the long rains, heaviest on the coast in May, when some beach hotels close for refurbishment. November has short rains, usually in afternoon bursts.
What is included
- Airport and airstrip transfers throughout
- Nine nights: Nairobi hotel, safari camps on full board, beach hotel on half board or better
- Private safari vehicle and Kenyan driver-guide on the road legs
- Internal flights on the plan, including the Mara to Ukunda and Ukunda to Nairobi flights
- Park and conservancy fees for the safari days
- Game drives in Amboseli and the Mara
- Our 24-hour support in Kenya
What is not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA, vaccinations and travel insurance
- Beach excursions such as the Kisite dhow trip or a Shimba Hills day, unless you add them
- The Mara balloon flight (about $450 to $550 per person)
- Tips, premium drinks and personal items
How to book
Send us your dates and tell us how you like to spend a beach day. We check the Mara to Ukunda flight days, tailor the parks and the hotel, and send a written quote that shows the flights, fees and what is excluded. Fares and fees change, so we price on the day. You can pay in full or monthly with no deposit. For what moves the cost up or down, see our safari cost guide.
