Kenya’s oldest living settlement, Lamu, boasts golden sands fronting the Indian Ocean, tiny villages, and a breezy, slow-moving pace of life. It’s an island that offers a glimpse into the past—a place where donkeys are the main mode of transportation and residents still keep their arms and legs covered out of respect while out in town. The rich atmosphere and history alone makes Lamu worth the trek, but so do its beaches and waters: Shela Beach offers the best swimming, while excursions to ruins and coral reefs could have you snorkeling alongside frolicking dolphins.