LAMU CARVED DOORS GUIDED WALKING TOUR
Experience the beauty and hear the rich history of the centuries-old Lamu Swahili Doors through a guided walking tour within Lamu Old Town.
There are a lot of fascinating things to experience in Lamu but the magnificently carved wooden doors are truly a sight to behold. These doors stand guard at the entances of residential buildings, government offices, hotels, shops, churches, museums, mosques - you name it! Unlike in most areas, where ornately carved doors are found mostly in stately residences. This unique experience focuses on the histories, symbolism and carving artistic styles found on these beautifully carved doors which capture the stories of a time long past. They remain a testament of the resilience of a culture that went through upheavals in the centuries past yet remained rooted despite this and the onset of modernisation.. The different types of doors found in Lamu gives evidence of the coexistence between different cultures and traditions in Lamu, which continues to this day.
Welcome all!
The tour is curated so as to view some of the most significant doors on the island from the POV of a bonafide woodcarver. It entails walking through the Old Town of Lamu, the best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa & a UNESCO world heritage site. Whether you are into cultural heritages and expressions, architecture, traditional crafts, African art, heritage and preservation or just curious - this is for you.
The tour lasts for 3 hours and this is valued at $30 per person.
Reviews from verified clients;
‘I had the privilege of meeting Almasi, and the experience was truly unforgettable. As she guided me through the island’s different door carving styles, it became immediately clear how deeply she loves her craft - she is absolutely made for it. Her knowledge is extraordinary, from traditional motifs to the history behind each design, and she shares it with such clarity and passion that you can’t help but be inspired. Beyond her talent, Almasi is simply a joy to spend time with: warm, open and genuinely lovely to talk to. If you are in Lamu and want to understand its artistic soul, meeting Almasi is a must. Her work, her spirit and her story make the experience truly special.’
~ Raluca Firǎnescu
‘We had the good fortune to take a Swahili Doors Tour with Almasi! It is her passion, and she showed us many beautiful intricately carved doors in Lamu. We learned so much about the unique history of the coast of Kenya and the influence of the Omani, Portuguese, East Indian, Siu and Zanzibar people who passed through or settled in this area. Our walk with Almasi gave us a long lasting appreciation for the history and beauty of woodworking in this area. If we had more time, we would have taken her woodcarving class as well. It was a true pleasure to spend time and learn from Almasi.’
~ KM Rautfike
’The walking tour of Lamu’s carved doors was the highlight of our time on the island. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable- she knows everything about these doors, from where the motifs came from to what every element of the carving means, and she explains it so well that after a couple of hours we could identify the styles on our own. By the end we were pointing at the doors ourselves: that one’s Omani influence, that one’s Indian. We also got to step into a real traditional Swahili house, which was a treat in itself. Honestly, it stopped feeling like a tour about doors and turned into a tour through the entire history of the region- everything here is so interwoven that one carved panel pulls a whole story behind it.’
~ Kirill Pavlyukevich
You may find pictures and stories of these beautiful doors on my Instagram channel, solely dedicated to the doors here.
Book this unique and enriching guided walking tour with me below.