February 1st-11th 2010 10 day retreat. Average temperature 28 degrees. Min 24 - Max 32 degrees.

This little known Kenyan Island is a natural paradise, 10 miles long and 5 miles wide, with vast, empty sandy beaches, pristine waters and a fascinating and enduring ancient swahili culture.



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.

Retreat -You will be brought to the sleepy fishing village of Shella in an old, slow, wooden boat, across the fringes of the Indian Ocean. Then tucked away in the back of the village, against the sand dunes, you reach the entrance gates to Fatuma's Tower, where the retreat will be held. An 18th Century ruin which lies in a secluded and peaceful world; lovingly restored by its owners, using natural materials of coral, lime and sand.



Meals -For the delicious brunches and dinners, great care is taken by the cooks to purchase the freshest local ingredients and produce their excellent combinations of Swahili and Italian cucina. You can take your meals in the shady courtyard dining area or on your terrace. At night lanterns are placed amongst the greenery surrounding the sandy garden and dinner is taken under the stars.

Rooms -Ten double rooms positioned in different buildings and parts of the gardens, all furnished with local antiques and fabrics in a simple yet elegant style to recreate the atmosphere of a fine Swahili house. No two rooms are the same and the cool, airy spaces retain an informal feel while several shaded balconies provide comfortable areas for avoiding too much sun and generally enjoying the peace and fresh air. All rooms have solar powered hot water, fans and mosquito nets. The peaceful gardens have been recently “ enlivened” by the refreshing sound of a fountain splashing over coral rocks into a small plunge pool.

Balcony Room, Acacia Room, Garden Room, Sand Castle, Garden Cottage ,Peacock, French Rooms and Library

Yoga - There will be two 2 hour sessions a day,mornings and late afternoons -in the large and airy studio, with slanted windows adopted by mosques. The afternoon sessions will include longer healing guided relaxations as well. The day will begin and finish with quiet seated meditations. There will be a complete day free in the middle of the course.

Treatments -The thatched garden banda with its calming blue walls and hand painted details is used for massage and selected therapies, and two trained masseuses can be booked at any time. The gardens and terraces are the perfect setting for quiet contemplation.

What to do there - A favourite here is to walk the beach- eight miles of soft white sand -called crowded by the locals if more than eight people are visible!
Besides yoga, relaxation, rest, reading, walking and swimming -you can sail, dive, fish, windsurf 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 turtles. On the day off a boat trip and barbecue on the beach can be organised with local, live music to accompany.......

Fatuma's Tower also has a library, which is a lovely room in which to relax, read or hold group meetings. There are many novels and books on the area which are available for our guests. High ceilings and an open design make it cool and airy during the day and the wooden balcony looks out over the remains of some original ruins.

Set in an archipelago of coral fringed islands, Lamu Town was a trading centre for hundreds of years. Great lateen-rigged dhows sailed in from Arabia and India, buying and selling ivory and spices. The resultant blend of cultures has produced a vibrant people, the Swahili, who are rich in history and justifiably proud of their maritime tradition. To this day there are no cars on the island, and transport is by dhow, donkey or on foot. A visit to Lamu town is a must swathed in Arabic culture and rich, ordained architecture with the sound of the Mosque's call to prayer ringing in the background.

The Peponi Bar, not far from the retreat, is where you'll get the news and find out who's in town.

Getting There: you need a flight to Nairobi or Mombassa and an onward flight to Lamu Island. 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 til
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. If you cannot get an overnight flight to Nairobi to link up with midday flight to Lamu then a pleasant medium range hotel for an overnight stay in Nairobi is Mayfair Hotel.

Nairobi to Lamu Flights: there are two daily flights from Nairobi International Airport to Lamu. Kenya Airways: http://www.kenya-airways.com 
Fly 540: http://www.fly540

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.

Price:980 euros

Includes: Accommodation and yoga as booked, Big Brunch and Dinner. Plus transfer to Fatuma's towers from Lamu airport



Read previous students feedback here or check out more photos from this retreat.