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A UNESCO World Heritage Site whose rich architectural, historical and cultural heritage make this the most characterful and absorbing town anywhere along the coast of East Africa.
The urban heart of the remote and sleepy Lamu Archipelago is the town of Lamu, which was founded as an Islamic mercantile trade port before or during the 14th century. Changed little in shape in recent centuries, the old town is a knot of cobbled alleys that rises in isolation from the surrounding coastal scrub and lends itself to casual exploration on foot (there are no cars). Lamu is notable for its many traditionally constructed multi-story houses, with their shady inner courtyards and elaborately carved wooden doors, and for the rare and thoroughly satisfying sense of integration that exists between tourists and residents. Key buildings include the Lamu Museum, the 18th-century Swahili House Museum and the 19th-century Lamu Fort.
