Current as of: May 10, 2026 - 19:44

Mombasa Beach by Rail Add-on Tour

Mombasa Beach by Rail Add-on Tour Trip Notes

  • Destination: Kenya
  • Programmes: Trip Extensions
  • Activity Level:

    1 out of 7 - Easy

  • Ages: 16+
  • Trip Code: XTNWKS

Trip Overview

Ride the Madaraka Express to Diani Beach for all-inclusive downtime and coastal bliss

Swap the highlands for the Indian Ocean on this easy-going beach extension from Nairobi. Travel by the Madaraka Express, a comfortable rail journey skirting Tsavo, before continuing to Diani Beach, where your hotel sits on the shoreline. Days are deliberately unhurried: swim, relax on the sands, or join optional snorkelling above coral reefs or a trip on a traditional dhow boat. With logistics sorted, train tickets included, and hotel staff on hand locally, you’re free to focus on a slower pace by the coast.

Adult min age: 16

Min group size: 1

Itinerary

Land Only

  • Start City: Nairobi
  • End City: Nairobi

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1
Train to Mombasa • Settle into your beachside hotel

A guide drops you at the train station, where you’re due to catch the Madaraka Express. This modern train journey (approximately 5hr 30min) links the capital with the coast, passing through stretches of the Tsavo region.

Alight at Mombasa Terminus, where you’re met by a driver and transferred (approximately 1hr 30min) to Diani Beach, where Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel sits directly on the shoreline.

After check-in, there’s time to settle in and shift gears to coastal life.

Accommodation: Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2
Relax on Diani Beach • Optional coastal activities

With a full day at leisure, you can make the most of the hotel’s beachfront setting and all-inclusive offering.

Diani Beach runs for several miles along the Indian Ocean and is backed by coral reefs, creating conditions suited to snorkelling and diving.

Optional activities such as dhow sailing trips or guided marine excursions can be arranged locally, offering time on the water and a closer look at the coastline.

If you prefer to stay on land, the hotel pool and shaded beach areas provide a comfortable base for a quieter day.

Accommodation: Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3
Enjoy a second full day on the coast • Optional visit to Shimba Hills

For those interested in venturing beyond the beach, Shimba Hills National Reserve is within reach and offers a contrast to the coast, with forest landscapes and the chance to see species such as sable antelope and forest elephants (optional excursion).

Alternatively, you may choose to stay at the hotel and enjoy the facilities, with meals and drinks included throughout the day.

The hotel team are available to help organise any activities, ensuring your time here runs smoothly.

Accommodation: Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4
Return to Nairobi

Enjoy a final morning by the coast before transferring back to Mombasa Terminus (approximately 1hr 30min) for the return Madaraka Express to Nairobi (approximately 5hr 30min). On arrival, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight arrangements.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel

Mombasa Beach by Rail Add-on Tour

Set directly on Diani Beach, Papillon Lagoon Reef places you steps from the Indian Ocean, with coral reefs just offshore shaping much of the experience here. The hotel is spread through tropical gardens, with rooms in Swahili-inspired buildings, each with a balcony or patio looking towards either the gardens or the sea.

The all-inclusive setup keeps things straightforward, with buffet meals and a poolside bar ensuring refreshments are always within reach, while the beach bar and restaurant terrace face out towards the water.

Facilities include an outdoor pool, tennis courts and access to snorkelling and diving, reflecting the hotel’s close connection to the reef.

Food & Drink

Meals are served buffet-style in the main restaurant, with a mix of international dishes and Kenyan influences across breakfast, lunch and dinner. Expect fresh seafood, grilled meats and a range of salads and sides, alongside themed evenings that vary through the week. There’s also a beach bar and pool bar for drinks throughout the day, plus light snacks between meals, all included as part of the all-inclusive offering.

Weather & Seasonality

Diani Beach has a tropical climate year-round, with temperatures typically hovering between 25C (77F) and 32C (90F). Coastal breezes help keep conditions comfortable, particularly by the sea. The driest months tend to fall between June and October, while April to May sees the heaviest rainfall, often in short, sharp bursts rather than all-day downpours. The warm Indian Ocean makes swimming possible at any time of year, with clear conditions often best outside the rainy seasons.

What To Take

Practical Information

Visa

Kenya

Travellers from the UK, US and EU need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter Kenya. Please note, requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required eTAs/visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on entry requirements for their citizens. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

You can apply for your eTA, which costs US$30, on the official website for the Kenyan government. You will need the following before you make your application:

  • Valid passport
  • Recent passport picture OR a selfie picture taken during application process
  • Contact details (home address, telephone, email)
  • Travel information and flight itinerary (arrival flight number, date of departure of initial flight in case of connecting flights)
  • Proof of booking for the hotel you will be staying at (if staying with friends, a letter of invitation is accepted)
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from endemic countries (please check the World Health Organization website for the updated list of countries)
  • Credit/debit card information for payment, if applicable

Vaccinations and Health

Kenya

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rabies, tuberculosis and yellow fever. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest you seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which to take. Additionally, dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Methanol: The FCDO warns travellers to be cautious of methanol poisoning when travelling in destinations visited on the trip.

Local Time

Kenya's time zone: Africa/Nairobi (UTC +03:00)

Electricity

Kenya's electricity: Plug types G (three rectangular pins) – 240V, 50Hz

Mombasa Beach by Rail Add-on Tour

Money

Kenya's currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Optional excursions (available to book before departure through your sales representative)

  • Full-day Shimba Hills excursion from the coast: Features game drives through forests and hills to spot elephants, giraffes, sable antelope and diverse wildlife. Includes optional guided walk to Sheldrick Falls, lunch at the award-winning Shimba Hills Tree Lodge overlooking a waterhole, rainforest boardwalk, scenic viewpoints and return to hotel by evening.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.