Itineraries. Updated November 2026. 4 min read.
Not every Kenya trip needs a game drive. A week on the coast gives you the Indian Ocean's two best beaches, a 400-year-old fort, dolphins off Wasini, turtles in Watamu and Swahili food every night. This route does both ends of the coast without doubling back: in at Diani in the south, out at Malindi in the north, with Mombasa's Old Town in between.
In two sentences: four nights in Diani for the long beach, the Kisite dhow trip and Shimba Hills; a day in Mombasa's Old Town on the way north; three nights in Watamu for the marine park, Mida Creek and the Gedi ruins; then fly home from Malindi. It starts at about $1,900 per person sharing, and it is a sample route we tailor, not a fixed departure.
Who this suits
- Travelers who want a beach week in Kenya, perhaps after a safari in another country
- Families: calm water, short transfers, lots for children to do
- Snorkelers and divers, with two marine parks on one trip
- Kenyans in the U.S. who want the coast holiday they remember, done properly
If you want a safari as well, our 10-day route adds Amboseli and the Mara in front of Diani, and our train route adds Tsavo. If you cannot choose between the two beaches, our Diani vs Watamu guide compares them; this trip is our answer to people who want both.
Getting in and out
| Leg | How | Time | Our note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Diani | Fly to Ukunda airstrip | About 1 hour 15 | Or fly to Mombasa and drive about 1 to 1.5 hours south |
| Diani to Mombasa Old Town | By road | About 1 to 1.5 hours | Likoni ferry or the southern bypass, depending on traffic |
| Mombasa to Watamu | By road | About 2.5 to 3 hours | North via Kilifi creek bridge |
| Watamu to Malindi airport | By road | About 30 minutes | Flights to Nairobi in about 1 hour |
Diani: four nights in the south
- The Kisite-Mpunguti dhow trip from Shimoni: dolphins, snorkeling on the reef and lunch on Wasini Island
- Shimba Hills National Reserve: forest elephants, sable antelope and a walk to Sheldrick Falls, an hour inland
- The Angolan colobus monkeys of Diani's coastal forest, and the rope bridges built to keep them off the road
- Kitesurfing in the windy months, and long walks on the beach at low tide
Our Diani guide and Diani stay guide cover the beach and hotels in depth, so we keep it short here.
Mombasa Old Town on the way north
Mombasa is Kenya's oldest city and its biggest port. Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in the 1590s and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, guards the harbor entrance. Behind it, the Old Town's lanes are full of carved doors, balconies, mosques and spice shops. We spend a morning with a local guide, eat a Swahili lunch of biryani or pilau, and drive north in the afternoon. Our Mombasa page covers the city in detail.
Watamu: three nights in the north
- Watamu Marine National Park: snorkeling over coral gardens in calm, clear water at low tide
- Turtles: Watamu is a nesting beach, and a local turtle rescue centre explains the work to save them
- The Gedi ruins: a Swahili town abandoned centuries ago, now in forest, inscribed by UNESCO in 2024
- Mida Creek: a boardwalk through the mangroves and a sunset dhow with flamingos and waders in season
Eating on the coast
Coast food is Swahili food: pilau and biryani spiced with cardamom and cloves, fish and prawns in coconut sauce, mahamri, the lightly sweet fried bread, with spiced chai for breakfast, and grilled octopus and lobster at the beach restaurants. In Mombasa's Old Town, eat at a small family restaurant rather than a hotel. In Watamu, ask what came in on the boats that morning.
Adding Lamu
This week ends at Malindi, but the coast carries on north to Lamu, the best-preserved Swahili town in East Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Add two or three nights and you fly to Manda Island, cross the channel by boat and stay in Lamu Old Town or Shela, where there are no cars, the lanes belong to donkeys and the day ends on a dhow. It turns a beach week into a coast journey from the reef at Kisite to the old stone town. Before you book, check the current U.S. State Department advisory for Kenya and confirm your travel insurance covers your route. Our Lamu page explains where to stay and what to do.
When to go
| Months | Weather | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Late December to March | Hot, calm sea, very clear water | Snorkeling, diving, families |
| April to June | Long rains, heaviest in May; some hotels close | Low prices if you accept rain |
| July to October | Dry, breezy, cooler, some seaweed on the beaches | Kitesurfing and walking |
| November to mid-December | Short rains, often in bursts | Quieter beaches before the holidays |
Tides are big on this coast. At low tide the sea pulls far back, exposing rock pools and sandbanks; at high tide it fills the beach. We plan snorkeling around the tide tables, and the best swimming hours shift each day.
What is included
- The flight from Nairobi to Ukunda and from Malindi to Nairobi
- All road transfers with a private driver
- Seven nights in beach hotels on half board
- A guided morning in Mombasa Old Town and the Fort Jesus entry
- Our 24-hour support while you travel
What is not included
- International flights, the Kenya eTA, the inbound health insurance and travel insurance
- Excursions such as the Kisite dhow trip, Shimba Hills and the marine park fees, unless you add them
- Tips, drinks and personal items
How to book
Tell us your dates and what you want from a beach day. We match the hotels to your style and send a written quote with every line. Rates change by season, so these figures are a starting point. You can pay in full or monthly with no deposit.
