Activities | Prices | Includes/Not included | Teacher Information
Unspoilt beautiful beaches and ancient Swahili culture
Lamu Island
(a world that time forgot)
This little known Kenyan island is a natural paradise, ten miles long and five miles wide, with vast white empty sandy beaches, pristine waters and a fascinating and enduring ancient culture
Gillies and Fiammetta have been living in Kenya for many years and moved to Shela in 1998 where they set about carefully restoring the ruins of Fatuma's Tower.
When they arrived in Shela, the Tower had been abandoned for almost 100 years. Gillies’ lifelong work with antiques led to a detailed restoration of the building, successfully retaining the original feel of this historic house. Now used as a yoga retreat / boutique hotel, it is situated on the edge of the small fishing village of Shela where there are sandy lanes, local shops, mosques and gardens.
Gillies and Fiammetta live on the first floor of the Sand castle and welcome you personally to their home. Also a qualified yoga teacher Gillies teaches daily yoga classes both for visitors and the local community.
The twelve staff who are all from coastal Kenya have been working at Fatuma's Tower for many years and take pride in making you feel you are now in their home. They can also reliably tell you ‘who’s who’ in Shella..
The delicious meals here are a mixture of a light combination of Italian and Swahili cooking
Lamu Island has always attracted artists and has very little mainstream tourism - there are no cars on the island, only sand roads.
There has been a peaceful culture here for a 1000 years and their very traditional way of life endures.
Lamu Town itself is a UNESCO heritage site.
Your day: The beach here is eight miles of soft white sand, called crowded by the locals if more than eight people are visible!
Besides yoga and relaxation, you can sail, dive, fish and visit neighbouring islands. We will help choose your boat captain and suggest where to go and what to do including looking for dolphins and visiting some of the other islands.
Half of the venue backs onto sand dunes, and a ten minute walk leads to eight miles of uninhabited sand beach.
The Peponi Bar, not far from us, is where you'll get the news and find out who's in town.
Yoga classes:
we frequently host visiting yoga teachers and private yoga groups.
One long yoga class each morning is included in the cost of these group holidays (two and a half hours or more).
Should you require extra yoga there is a public class each afternoon which you may join, held in the yoga studio, or we can arrange private classes for you as below.
We are able to arrange individual sessions and workshops with our resident yoga teacher, these can be organised in advance if you wish; this is the perfect option for those people seeking a hotel based holiday with optional yoga.
Treatments: massage £14, pedicure £7, manicure £5, waxing £3
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Dates |
Nights |
Details |
Teacher |
Shared |
Single |
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TEACHER LED GROUP YOGA WEEKS |
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Nov 20th |
Nov 30th |
10 |
Vinyasa Flow Yoga |
£840 |
£1040 |
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Nov 20th |
Nov 27th |
7 |
Vinyasa Flow Yoga |
£590 |
£728 |
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2011 |
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Jan 16th |
Jan 26th |
10 |
Dynamic Flowing Yoga |
£840 |
£1040 |
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Jan 16th |
Jan 22nd |
7 |
Dynamic Flowing Yoga |
£590 |
£728 |
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NON GROUP WEEKS - 1 YOGA CLASS PER DAY WITH LOCAL TEACHER price on application |
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Where you will be staying:
accommodation is beautiful,
every room is different
please ask us for a brochure.
As well as being close to the beach there is lots of garden space for relaxation.
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Getting There: |
You need a flight to
Nairobi or Mombassa and an onward flight to Lamu Island. |
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Nairobi to Lamu Flights: |
The owner's advice to is to get an overnight flight if coming from Europe, which will link you up with a midday flight to Lamu. It is better to book the tickets with one airline all the way through. Fly540 connects best with all flights from Europe on-going to Lamu. From London, Kenya Airways who are partners with KLM, fly direct and are from experience reliable. Virgin also fly there too. Air Kenya and Safarilink, who both operate from Wilson Airport, don't leave until 3.15pm in the afternoon which is too long to hang around after an all night flight. So best To use Fly540 from Narobi to Lamu.
Nairobi to Lamu Flights: there are two daily flights from Nairobi
International Airport to Lamu. Kenya Airways:
http://www.kenya-airways.com |
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Transfers |
The owners will arrange for you to be met at the Lamu Island airstrip, (or, if you are arriving by bus/ferry, at the port) and transferred to Fatumas Tower. Be certain Free spirit Travel ahs your flight details so they can arrange this for you |
| Accommodation and yoga as booked, big brunch and dinner. | |
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Not included: |
Flights to Lamu island, transfers (minimal), treatments and massages, yoga classes and meals other than those pre-booked. |
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For more information please contact us at: Free Spirit Travel or call on: 01273-564230
Updated 23/03/2010
