Services that can be included:
– Shared bus from Mombasa to Mokowe jetty (8–10 hrs via B8 coastal road) from $10/person
– Public motor ferry / dhow from Mokowe to Lamu Island (~30 min) from $1/person
– Private car transfer Mombasa to Mokowe (faster, more comfortable, ~5–6 hrs)
– Domestic flight Mombasa (MBA) or Malindi (MYD) to Manda Airport, Lamu (~40–90 min) with Safarilink or Jambojet
– Short boat crossing from Manda Airport to Lamu Old Town (included with most lodge bookings)
– Luggage assistance and hotel connection for private bookings
Price: $10 – $200 per person/vehicle (depending on transport type and route)
– Shared bus to Mokowe + public ferry: from $10–$15/person (8–10 hrs overland)
– Private car to Mokowe + boat: from $80–$140 per vehicle
– Domestic flight to Manda Airport (Lamu): from $100–$200 one-way/person
– Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
– Free consultation via WhatsApp
– Fully customizable transport combination (road + sea or flight)
– Price depends on transport mode, season, and group size
Mombasa to Lamu – Road & Sea or Flight Transfer to the Swahili Island
Travel from Mombasa to Lamu – Kenya’s UNESCO-listed Swahili island – by a combination of road transfer and boat crossing, or by domestic flight. Lamu has no cars, meaning the final leg to the island is always by water.
The overland route follows the coastal highway north through Malindi to Mokowe jetty, where ferries and dhows cross to Lamu Island. The full journey takes 8–10 hours by shared bus. A private car can complete the road section in 5–6 hours.
The fastest option is a domestic flight via Safarilink or Jambojet to Manda Airport (Lamu), with connections from both Mombasa and Nairobi in approximately 40–90 minutes.
Road, Ferry, and Flight Options Between Mombasa and Lamu
Lamu Island is only accessible by boat or air. All road transfers end at Mokowe jetty on the mainland, from where small motor ferries and traditional dhows cross the channel to Lamu Old Town in approximately 20–30 minutes. Public ferry tickets cost less than $1 per person; private speed boats can be arranged for larger groups.
The coastal highway from Mombasa to Mokowe (approx. 340 km) is patrolled by Kenyan security forces along the more remote northern sections, and is considered safe for daytime travel as of 2025. Shared buses from Mombasa’s bus park depart in the morning, arriving at Mokowe in the evening.
Jambojet, Safarilink, and Skyward Express operate daily flights from both Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and Mombasa Moi Airport to Manda Airport (LAU) in Lamu. Flights sometimes stop at Malindi en route. One-way fares range from $100–$200 depending on season and airline.
This route links Mombasa with Lamu, passing through Malindi along the way.
Starten Sie eine kostenlose Beratung mit unseren Reiseexperten in Kenia:
Start a free consultation with our travel experts in Kenya:
Claim the coupon by WhatsApp message.
Get 5.00 $ discount on your next booking with KenyaAssist. Maximum one coupon per person.
