The Kenyan coast has something for everyone, either as the extension on a safari in the Masai Mara or a stand-alone beach holiday. From lively family-friendly resorts to romantic barefoot luxury, there is something to suit every taste and budget.

Most of this coastline is protected by coral reefs offering good diving and protects the beaches for swimming and watersports. A number of the hotels we feature have on-site watersport and diving centres. Dhows cruises are a great way to watch the sunset.

All along this coast there are reminders of the long history of mingling between Arab and Asian traders and the indigenous Swahili culture. Against the backdrop of Kenya’s second city and one of the largest ports in Africa, Mombasa’s old town remains a delightful catacomb of winding alleyways and intricately carved doors. The entrance to the port is presided over by the imposing Fort Jesus, commissioned by King Philip I of Portugal in 1653. Ruined trading settlements are found up and down this coast, most prominently in Lamu, which has over a thousand years of history. Lamu Town has been gazetted as a World Heritage Site as “the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa”.

For information about places to stay, see Kenya Coast accommodation.