Eco-Art & Community Culture Pass Lamu – Responsible Travel Experiences

The Eco-Art & Community Culture Pass is for travelers who want their visit to Lamu to mean something beyond the experience itself. It brings together three of the island's most meaningful community and conservation activities — a circular economy project built on ocean waste, a marine turtle conservation programme, and a traditional craft visit — bundled at a KES 2,500 saving.

None of these are typical tourist experiences. All of them connect you directly to the people and organisations working to keep Lamu's culture and environment intact.

What's Included

• Flip Flopi Visit — behind-the-scenes visit to the workshop where recycled plastic is used to make boats and furniture.
• LaMCoT Turtle Hatching Experience — join the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust's turtle monitoring on the outer beaches (seasonal — see note below)
• Swahili Wood Carving Lesson — hands-on session with a master craftsman in a traditional Lamu workshop

Who This Package Is For

The Three Experiences in Detail

The Flip Flopis Project

Millions of plastic and flip flops wash up on Kenya's beaches every year. Most end up interfering with marine life. The Flip Flopis Project collects them.

Locals collect the waste from beaches, earning income for their efforts. The plastic is sorted, shredded, melted, and molded by hand into plastic "timber" that craftsmen can carve just like traditional hardwood.

LaMCoT Turtle Hatching

The Lamu Marine Conservation Trust monitors sea turtle nesting sites on the outer beaches of the archipelago — one of the last significant nesting grounds for green and hawksbill turtles on the East African coast. The turtle hatching experience gives you access to that monitoring work — watching hatchlings emerge and make their way to the ocean is one of those natural events that stays with you permanently. This experience is seasonal and on-request — availability depends on nesting activity. Confirm timing at booking.

Swahili Wood Carving Lesson

Lamu's woodcarving tradition has been passed down through generations of craftsmen who produce the carved doors, furniture, and decorative pieces the island is famous for. A hands-on lesson in a working workshop teaches the tools, motifs, and techniques behind that tradition. You leave with a small piece you made yourself — a more meaningful souvenir than anything for sale in the market.

Suggested 2-Day Itinerary With This Package

Day 1 – Art & Craft

Day 2 – Conservation & Departure

Turtle hatching timing is determined by natural nesting cycles rather than a fixed schedule — the LaMCoT team advises on the best window during your stay.

Important Note – Turtle Hatching Seasonality

The LaMCoT turtle hatching experience is seasonal and on-request. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on the outer beaches of the Lamu Archipelago primarily between October and March, with hatching activity peaking between December and February. If you're visiting outside this window, the team may offer alternative conservation activities — confirm at booking.

Combine With Other Lamu Experiences

The Eco-Art & Community Culture Pass focuses on community and conservation — it pairs naturally with cultural and ocean experiences for a more complete Lamu stay:

For travelers combining responsible travel with cultural depth, the Lamu Swahili Heritage Package at KES 22,000 (saving KES 2,750) is the natural companion package.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Flip Flopis Project in Lamu? The Flip Flopis Project collects washed-up Flip Flopis and plastic from Kenyan beaches and transforms them into art and products sold internationally. The Lamu workshop is one of their creative hubs — the visit gives you behind-the-scenes access to the production process and the artisans behind it. See the full Flip Flopis Visit page for more detail.

Is the turtle hatching experience guaranteed? No - turtle hatching is a natural event and cannot be guaranteed. The LaMCoT team monitors nesting sites and advises on the best timing during your stay. The experience is most likely between December and February. Confirm availability at booking.

Is this package suitable for children? Yes - particularly the turtle hatching experience, which is genuinely unforgettable for younger visitors. The wood carving lesson suits older children and teenagers. The Flip Flopis visit works well for all ages.

Does visiting these projects benefit the local community? Yes. The Flip Flopis Project employs local artisans and reinvests in community programmes. LaMCoT is a locally run conservation trust funded partly by visitor contributions. The wood carving lesson supports a traditional craftsman directly. All three have direct community and environmental benefit.

Can I buy products from the Flip Flopis Project during the visit? Yes - products made at the workshop are available for purchase during your visit.

Lamu's culture and environment are inseparable. The Eco-Art & Community Culture Pass connects you to the people actively working to protect both.

Browse our full package range or explore our Things To Do in Lamu guide for more experiences across the island.