(4 reviews)
English, Swahili (optional)
Solo, Family, Couple, Group
What?
A traditional dhow sailing experience through the waters of Lamu, offering a peaceful and scenic way to take in the islands and coastline.
Where?
Lamu’s coastal waters, weaving between islands and open sea, with views that just keep getting better..
When?
Available throughout the year, with evening sails recommended for the best sunset views.
Why?
This experience allows you to see Lamu from a completely different perspective. As the sun sets, the sky shifts in colour, birds move across the horizon and dhows sail alongside you. It is a quiet, beautiful moment to slow down, unwind and take in the rhythm of the coast.
How?
Board a handmade wooden dhow led by local captains who guide the journey. Sit back and relax as you sail through the waters, with light snacks and fresh madafu available on request.
By joining this experience, you directly support local dhow captains and crew, helping sustain traditional skills and providing a steady source of income within the community.
Traditional dhows are an important part of coastal history. This experience helps keep these handcrafted boats and sailing practices alive for future generations.
This is a low-impact, nature-based experience that promotes mindful travel. It allows you to connect with the environment without disrupting it.
By choosing locally run experiences, you contribute to tourism that benefits communities directly and helps create more inclusive and sustainable opportunities.
Head to your nearest harbour based on your accommodation, where your captain will be waiting to welcome you aboard. Step onto your dhow, get comfy and ease into the calm surroundings.
Sail through the waters of Lamu as the sun begins to set. Watch the sky change colours, spot birds flying in flocks and see other dhows passing by, creating a truly coastal atmosphere.
This is your moment to just be. No rush. No noise. Just the gentle sway of the dhow, the breeze on your skin and the peaceful rhythm of the dhow as you relax and unwind.
As the light fades, sail back to your starting point, ending the experience with a sense of calm and a new perspective of Lamu.
Both private and shared dhow experiences may be available depending on your booking preference and group size.
Not at all. The dhow is fully operated by experienced local captains and crew, so you can simply sit back and enjoy the experience.
This particular experience is focused on relaxing and enjoying the sunset sail, so swimming stops are not usually included unless specially arranged in advance.
Departure points depend on where you are staying in Lamu. We will arrange the most convenient nearby harbour for boarding.
Honestly one of the most peaceful two hours I’ve had in a while. Lamu from the water hits completely different — especially as the sky starts turning.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a dhow sail, but this completely won me over. You board this beautiful hand-built wooden boat, and a local captain takes you out through the channels between the islands just as the sun starts to drop. No itinerary pressure, no noise — just the sound of water and the occasional bird cutting across the horizon. What I didn’t fully realise until after is that by doing this, you’re directly supporting the livelihood of the crew and helping keep a craft tradition alive that’s been part of this coast for centuries. That added something to the experience I didn’t anticipate feeling.
If you’re in Lamu and haven’t done this, you’re missing it. The dhow sail is basically an hour or two on a traditional wooden boat with a local crew, sailing the coastal waters while the sun sets — and it’s as beautiful as that sounds. The sky does this whole colour thing that I genuinely couldn’t photograph well enough. It’s slow, quiet travel at its best, and the kind of experience you’ll actually remember rather than scroll past. Go.
There’s something special about experiences that don’t try too hard, and this is one of them. The dhow sail gave us a completely different view of Lamu — quieter, slower, more intimate than wandering the streets. Our captain knew these waters like it was second nature, and being on a boat that was built by hand, run by someone from the community, felt meaningful in a way that a resort-organised tour never quite does. I loved knowing the money goes directly where it should. Travelled with my partner and we both agreed — highlight of the trip.
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