Lamu Island Rest Retreat

Lamu, Kenya
24th - 30th January 2027

The Lamu Archipelago is situated just off the shore of northern Kenya in the Indian Ocean. With its centuries-old Swahili settlements and peaceful coastline, it is best characterised by its distinctive culture and traditional Swahili stone architecture.

Join the Zami Collective for our Island Rest Retreat by the Indian Ocean. Unwind in a beautiful Swahili villa, connect and dream with your Zami family in community dreaming workshops. Spend your afternoons watching the Dhows of Lamu ebb and flow across the Indian Ocean and your evenings under the moon and stars listening to the nostalgic soundscapes of the region.

A backyard with a rectangular swimming pool surrounded by pink flowers and green tropical plants, including banana and other broad-leafed foliage. There are two white lounge chairs on the grass and a small set of steps leading down to the pool area.
Tropical beach scene with palm trees, small boats near the shore, and a calm body of water under a clear blue sky.
Two women sitting on a bed in a well-lit room, engaged in conversation.
A group of women sitting on the floor in a circle in a well-lit room, engaging in a discussion or meditation session, with some women sitting on cushions and an open notebook on the floor.
Four women sitting at a dining table, smiling and chatting, with plates of fruit, mugs, and a centerpiece with fruit on the table. The room has light-colored walls with African-style wall decor and a large window with natural light.
Overlooking a rectangular swimming pool surrounded by tropical plants including banana trees, with a decorative wall feature and a water fountain at the far end.
Interior of a tropical open-air lounge with white built-in sofas and a view of a river and green trees outside.
Two women sitting at a table, one reading a blue card and the other with a notebook, surrounded by personal items, with plants in the background.
Three people relaxing on a small boat on the water under a yellow canopy, one lying down, another sitting, and one standing near an engine.
Woman with braided hair, wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, and jewelry, lounging on a boat with a view of water and trees in the background.
A woman resting on a boat, wearing a checkered dress and a yellow headscarf, with water and a sailboat in the background.
People relaxing on a wooden boat with cushions, overlooking a body of water with a sailboat in the distance at sunset.
A woman with curly hair tied in a bun, wearing hoop earrings and a sleeveless beige top, sitting on a boat during sunset, looking towards the ocean.
A woman dressed in traditional South Asian attire walking down a concrete staircase, looking at the dark bottom of the stairs.
A woman with dreadlocks sitting on a wooden boat, smiling while dressed in traditional African attire, sailing on a calm body of water during daytime.
An elderly man wearing a striped shirt, gray pants, sandals, and a white Islamic cap sitting on concrete stairs near the water, holding a rope.

The Lamu Island Rest Retreat is a 6-night, 7-day regenerative retreat. You will be hosted in luxury accommodation on the island on a shared or private room occupancy basis. Each suite is equipped with a king-sized bed, a generous ensuite bathroom, and a lounge area. The entire property is reserved solely for Zami Collective, with a chef and friendly staff member to support you during your stay. The swimming pool can be enjoyed along with the communal gardens and the stargazing rooftop where morning yoga classes will take place. Our retreat is full board, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served communally and prepared by wonderful local chefs based on the island with locally sourced produce.

Please note our retreats are priced per person, and flights are not included in the retreat package. It is your responsibility to book the appropriate international and domestic flights, and we will be on hand to assist in this process once bookings are confirmed. Information will be shared with participants through a curated Lamu travel guide that includes flight routes and details on local customs, as well as a packing list. If you intend to travel with a friend, please do let us know at the time of booking, and we will do our very best to pair you in a shared room.

A lush outdoor garden with palm trees and large cacti, featuring a white building with arches and a decorative roof, visible through an open space. There are steps leading up to the building and a small portion of a swimming pool in the foreground.
A painting of four women sitting around a dinner table with plates of food, some women are eating and one appears to be waiting. The room has warm, dim lighting with a decorative cabinet on the wall behind them.
Sunset view over buildings, trees, and water with cloudy sky and distant horizon.
Inside a tropical open-air living room with white built-in couches, patterned cushions, and wooden furniture, overlooking a body of water and lush greenery outside.
Curtains partially open to a sunny outdoor area with trees, casting patterned shadows inside.
A person with long dreadlocks wearing traditional Indian clothing walking down a concrete staircase in a dimly lit indoor space.
A rectangular swimming pool surrounded by lush banana trees, with a decorative wall featuring a geometric star design and a small fountain at the far end.
A woman with braided hair is sitting on the edge of a wooden boat with a sail, smiling and looking away from the camera, on a body of water with a distant shoreline in the background.
Lighting filters through patterned window screens, illuminating sheer curtains in a room with partially open door leading to a balcony.
A tropical pool area surrounded by green banana and palm trees, with pink and white flowering plants and white poolside lounge chairs.
Two people relaxing on a boat with a view of the water and a small sailboat in the distance during sunset.

What We Love

“The Villa gardens are a slice of solitude. Hear the birds singing each morning, the fountain trickling water and the call to prayer echoes from Lamu Old Town. Peep closely, that’s where we share breakfast each morning, under the twirling ceiling fans keeping us cool on a balmy Lamu morning. The wall display stand tall behind the dining table, filled with hundreds of trinkets from the owner's travels to different corners of the world.”

What Our Guests Love

“Such a wonderful, refreshing experience, I have come back home feeling ready to take on the world. Kulani is an incredible host who is attentive and made sure we had all we needed for the most relaxing experience in Lamu. Lamu is such a beautiful island. We saw the old town, Shela and sailed to Manda Toto through the Indian Ocean. I really felt like I got a sense of what life is like in Lamu as well as enjoying it as a holiday destination. The food was out of this world with a carefully curated set menu. We stayed in Kinooni House; the staff were friendly, sprayed our beds each night with repellant and washed my clothes. I will never forget the sunset dhow on the last day of the trip! I wish I could float at sea forever. Overall an amazing experience; I didn't lift a finger— everything was taken care of.”

— Emma Prempeh, Artist, Lamu Retreat (2023) and Lamu Rest Residency (2025)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What Our Guests Love

“It was one of the most beautiful and grounding experiences. To reconnect with yourself in the most incredible place, with the best people. I feel like we are so disconnected from natural cycles and rhythms, we don’t allow ourselves to rest or fully appreciate things. So grateful for this experience and for the memories shared. At night we would sit on the roof and listen to the Adhan and the sounds of children singing and look up at the moon and stars.”

— Jameela Elfaki, Director & Photographer, Lamu Rest Residency (2025)

Copyright © 2025 Jameela Elfaki

Itinerary

  • Karibu Sana! Welcome to Lamu Island! You will be met by the boat captain at Lamu airport who will transfer you to our villa. Relax, sit back and enjoy the waves of the Indian Ocean; it will take no more than 15 minutes to reach your destination. Guests will have the chance to settle into their rooms and freshen up before lunch is served. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring your new home for the week and enjoy some free time relaxing by the pool or in the gardens. Join us for sundowners and our first island circle time to introduce ourselves. Enjoy a Zami family dinner prepared by the Chef.

  • Start your day with a morning yoga flow at 9 am with yoga instructor, Joy Beldine! Enjoy a post-yoga Kenyan breakfast spread before exploring Lamu Old Town with our Zami Collective guide and Lamu resident, Sofia Ally, followed by afternoon tea and coffee. Lunch will be served back at the villa where you can spend the rest of your afternoon swimming and resting in the villa’s gardens. Join us for sundowners on the rooftop before family dinner is served.

  • Enjoy an early light breakfast spread before embarking on a Dhow sailing trip to Manda Toto. Sail through the Lamu archipelago and the mangroves before arriving at a beautiful, private white sand beach. There will be time to swim, snorkel and walk along the shoreline before lunch is served on board! Return to the villa to relax and unwind before Zami dinner served family style.

  • Start your day with a morning yoga class with Joy Beldine followed by a breakfast spread in the gardens. Today we dream together! Zami is a Carriacou name for women who work together as friends and lovers. The workshop will explore how we can activate our dreams and support one another through a communal resource exchange. A nourishing lunch will be served - family style. Take the afternoon off to explore the boutiques and people-watch in Lamu town or perhaps cosy up with a read under the tropical trees in the villa grounds. This is the perfect time to book in any massage treatments with one of the many bodywork practitioners based on the island. Join us for some reflections at sunset before Zami family dinner.

  • Join us for breakfast by the serene gardens and a morning circle time to reflect on your journey so far in Lamu. We’ll set sail down the shoreline to explore island life in Shela village. Pop into boutiques dotted along the labyrinth of winding sandy paths before we have a spot of lunch overlooking the ocean. We’ll take a post-lunch stroll down the coast and a dip in the Indian Ocean before sailing back to the villa as the sun starts to set. Freshen up and join us for a traditional Swahili dinner.

  • Start your day with a delicious Kenyan breakfast spread. Today the day is yours! Feel free to take some downtime in the morning and after lunch before regrouping for afternoon tea in the villa. Embark on a sunset dhow cruise through the Lamu archipelago and reflect on the past week in shared company as we sail the still waters of the Indian Ocean at sunset. Join us for one last special Zami family dinner!

  • Enjoy an early breakfast spread before heading to Manda Airport. Thank you for sharing your love and presence with Zami; you have left a collective dream print in the sand dunes of Lamu!

*Example of a tentative itinerary. May be subject to changes.

How to Book

We are excited you want to join us in Lamu! Please register your interest through the application portal and confirm your chosen retreat dates for January 2027. Once your application has been reviewed we will be in touch to process your booking.

REGISTER

To hold your spot a £750 non-refundable deposit must be made through a booking link provided to you in your confirmation. The remainder of your reservation will be due by a date stipulated in your booking confirmation. We do offer a limited number of payment plans; if you’d like to request one please email: info@zamicollective.com

Please look out for a confirmation email and welcome note with information on how to make your remaining payments and the Lamu Welcome Guide. Carefully read our Terms and Conditions including our cancellation policy before booking.

Available Packages

£1850 shared room
£2350 private room (limited availability)
Non-refundable Deposit £750

Early Bird Discount
A £100 discount will applied to all early bird bookings before 4th July! The discount code will be shared with you via email.

Early bird packages
£1750 shared room
£2250 private room (limited availability)
Non-refundable Deposit £750

What’s Included

  • Luxury Accommodation

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

  • Communal dreaming workshops

  • Yoga session

  • Airport boat transfer

  • WIFI

  • Sailing excursion

Not included
*Flights, alcohol, insurance, visa, additional services

Photo Memories from past
Lamu Island Rest Retreats

2023 Lamu Island Film Archives
2025 Lamu Island Film Archives

Lamu Island Travel Resource Hub - Participant Access