Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Nomad Beach Resort is the ideal destination to enjoy a hassle-free beach holiday with impeccable service on Kenya’s Southern Coast. The award-winning boutique resort is the perfect getaway for those wanting to experience the breath-taking Diani Beach; indulge yourself with first-class dining, enjoy the extensive collection of old and new world wine from the owner’s wine cellar, scuba dive on untouched reefs with Kenya’s leading PADI dive center or simply relax around the resort and soak up Kenyan hospitality that the south coast is famous for. With sustainable practices at the core offering of resort, Nomad Beach Resort is a leader in Kenya for its efforts to help preserve, protect and educate about the precious natural environment of Kenya’s south coast. A well-deserved bolthole from busy city life and the perfect end to a Kenyan safari to round off the ultimate African holiday.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Boutique
Luxury
Languages Spoken
English, German, Italian
Location
Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Ukunda 80401 Kenya
Nomad Beach Resort
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nomad Beach Resort garners praise for its exceptional service, as the staff is frequently highlighted for their friendliness and eagerness to enhance guest experiences. The resort's cleanliness and meticulous grounds maintenance also receive acclaim. Nestled on a picturesque beachfront, it offers guests scenic walks and ocean vistas.
While the rooms are generally spacious and well-fitted, a few guests find them to be basic. The resort's atmosphere is described as inviting, with a range of amenities and dining options, though opinions on value for money and beach vendor presence are mixed.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Wonderful 6 days of being so spoiled! Villa 42 is 6 bedrooms ensuite, perfect for a big group. We were welcomed with madafu and fruit skewers and were impressed by the beauty of the house, tastefully decorated, clean, small invilla kitchen, hot water, ac, perfect netting, towels changed and mineral water replenished daily. All just a step down to our own private pool and few steps to our own private part of diani beach! Thankyou to Salim and Kassim.
Activities included in the booking were kayaking, snorkels, diving lessons, paddle boarding. Great for the kids. The house also had beach toys/blow up balloons and body boards for our use. We also went snorkelling/glass bottom boating at a fee down to the reef We were so lucky to see 2 sets of turtles hatching during this season!
Now FOOD. 5* Chef Richard and his team catered for vegetarian, seafood, Mediterranean, bbq, Swahili, italian. Anything we requested, it was done. The Half board option is superb, you get to dine in villa or at their beach bar, teppanyaki or bbq grill restaurants. Breakfast is a huge spread, and tea time cake and cookies were delicious!
Oliver kindly arranged for a car to pick and drop any of the group with mobility issues, as the 5 min walk down to the main hotel pool and restaurants a little uneven. I highly recommend booking the villa and private pool (pool at the main hotel is small and deep) if you are with kids or elderly. It's perfect!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Book the villas if you are with young children or elderly
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lara Hammond, Guest Services / Front Office at Nomad Beach Resort
Responded 26 Dec 2024
Thank you so much for not only taking the time to write such an extensive review of The Family Cottage (part of our private Villa collection) but for choosing to spend your vacation here with us on arguably the best beach in Africa, Diani Beach! It was a great pleasure to host you, pamper you and make your holiday perfect! We do hope that we will have the pleasure of your company again in the not too distant future! Warm regards from the Nomad team
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Nomad Beach Resort was our first stop for a six week African trip so we could get over jet lag as travelled from Canada. Stayed five nights. The room was great with a separate bedroom and bathroom for our daughter. A/C worked great in both sleeping areas and was needed as was hot and humid. Patio area outside the room nice and private save for the local monkeys, and had an ocean view that was amazing. Grassy areas simple but all you really need. Beach area was wide open and almost empty. No beach chairs on the beach area as the resort ends at the beach, and as pool people that was fine. Local beach vendors do not hesitate to come chat once you are on the beach but are respectful enough when you ask for space. Resort staff all very commendable for friendliness and helpfulness, especially when our daughter was ill. The restaurant breakfast buffet was great and menu options also good. Pool area was quiet as was the resort - no music blasting and it was a very chill vibe. Beds a bit hard for our liking but comfortable enough. Prices at the restaurant and bar were comparable to other resorts we visited on our journeys. A safe, clean, chill place with great staff. Thanks to Ismael at the pool for his help and kindness.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Get up early to enjoy the sunrise. Don’t miss breakfast. Bring 60 SPF sunscreen and reapply...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lara Hammond, Guest Services / Front Office at Nomad Beach Resort
Responded 26 Dec 2024
Thank you so much for recommending us, we are delighted that you had a great holiday at Nomad Beach Resort! With very best wishes for a Happy New Year! Warm regards from the Nomad team
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What a place! After an initial mix up with our rooms we were quickly and efficiently moved to Villa 40 - truly heaven on earth! The 4 of us were made to feel so incredibly welcome by the Villa’s staff - housekeeper Michael and butler Lucas - who provided a service that went above and beyond. The 4 bed Villa is stunning, as is the view across the well kept pool onto the beautiful Diani beach. Delicious daily meals were freshly created by chefs Richard, Jeff and Dan - the food was superb. The villa is a very short walk to the main hotel where there are 2 small restaurant areas, a small but lovely pool, the main hotel rooms and cottages, then a further short walk takes you to The Sands restaurant and bar which has a prime location overlooking the beach. We ate at Indulge fine dining one night which is in a private area overlooking the main restaurant. This was hosted by the head chef and superbly assisted by Felix who was thoughtful and attentive. The food and accompanying wine were fantastic and well priced for such a gourmet experience. Throughout the whole stay we were treated with such kindness - special mentions to Linda and her guest services team. The GM Lara was lovely and it was obvious she was well liked and respected by her staff. Highlights - a day trip to sister hotel on Chale Island which is a secluded private island; a deep sea fishing adventure where we caught kingfish which was cooked by the Villa 40 chefs for our dinner! The Villa staff - wonderful people. We’ll be back!!
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Pack beach shoes for snorkelling trips.
The sellers on the beach are pretty persistent but a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lara Hammond, Guest Services / Front Office at Nomad Beach Resort
Responded 26 Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your detailed review and wonderful comments following your stay in Beach House (one of the villa's in our private villa collection). We are thrilled that you experienced the true Nomad hospitality and we do hope that you will return for round two! Thank you again for choosing Nomad Beach Resort. Warm regards from the Nomad team
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We stayed for 6 nights at the end of our six week tour around Kenya. The beach faces east, so no sunsets. The spring tide reduces the beach to nothing and when it recedes it’s a 100 metre walk to the shallows.
The Good
A very personal and intimate resort with character. The pool area is lovely and the staff who look after you in this area are marvellous. Nelly was proactive and always smiling and friendly. Breakfast was perfect, mangoes, papaya, dragon fruit etc. Charles the pastry chef produced small quiches, tarts et al which were excellent. Lunch poolside was good for club sandwiches and pizzas. All staff were very helpful and courteous throughout.
The Bad
Dinner in the restaurant was below average. We were so disappointed that we ate out on 3 of the 6 evenings catching an Uber. We had 2 poor sleep nights as the air conditioner conked out (resolved giving us an adjoining room). The shower was uncomfortably hot as the cold water was also hot. No smart TV in room. No shower caps/sewing kits/ear buds/face flannels etc. No proper bedside tables and discrete lighting. Not a drawer in sight, just open cubbies and hanging rail. Limed furniture is a bit passé in 2025. The accommodation is quite expensive when compared to resorts we visited on our nights out (which offered live music, restaurant choices and a bit more dazzle etc.).
The whole place could do with some TLC!
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Date of stay: March 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:I’d think twice about half or full board.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Sands Kenya, Guest Services / Front Office at Nomad Beach Resort
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback following your recent stay at Nomad Beach Resort. We are glad that you enjoyed certain aspects, particularly the intimate atmosphere, the lovely pool area and the exceptional service provided by our staff. It is always our aim to create memorable experiences and we are thrilled that the breakfast offerings contributed to yours as well as the pool side dining at Rivas Bar. We sincerely apologize for the shortcomings you experienced particularly with the dinner service and the issues with your accommodation. I do believe we managed to resolve them all and we appreciate your patience as we did so. We will take your comments regarding the room decor into consideration and evaluate opportunities to improve. Regarding the sunrise and sunset locations, Kenya is located on the east coast of Africa so sunrises over the Indian Ocean are always a wonderful experience that many of our guests enjoy. We value your feedback and trust that you will give us the opportunity to provide you with an improved experience on your next visit. Thank you for choosing Nomad Beach Resort. Best wishes from The Nomad Team
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We were here for the first time and are already planning to return in May. In short: the hotel is enchanting. We had a beach cottage and have rarely had such a beautiful sea view.
There is a large lawn in front of the cottage, each cottage has a few loungers with a cloth roof over them. The neighbors are not visible. Sometimes other guests walk across the lawn, but rarely. So there is a lot of privacy. With a porch swing at the edge of the lawn. The cottage is spacious with a large bathroom, everything is very nice. I think it is brighter than in the photos. Because of the "attached" makuti roof, it really is not as "tight" as a classic room. Despite this, we did not have any large animals (apart from a gecko) in the room and there is a dense mosquito net around the bed, which is very comfortable. There is free bottled water every day. There is a foot wash basin on the terrace, which is great after bathing. It is refilled every day. The complex is very well maintained, the main restaurant is right on, almost above the beach.
I have rarely had such a good breakfast! Delicious coffee, any kind of egg dish (including Benedict), pancakes, waffles, crepes from the menu (no extra charge if you book breakfast) can be ordered. Plus a buffet with fresh fruit, homemade jam. We couldn't stop eating. In the evening we found the food good to very good, depending on the dish. Small criticism: it wasn't really hot at times. We also ate at the Teppanyaki, very tasty. It's a large grill area with up to 8 seats right next to the grill. There were only four of us and you can choose freely what you want to have prepared. Nice change! The beach is fantastic, not very busy there because there aren't many hotels around. That's probably why there aren't always beach vendors around. If they did come "shooting" at us, kind words always made them leave us alone. The sand is almost as fine as flour, great. In the water there is pure sand with no stones, great for swimming, no problem even at low tide. The staff is super friendly, from management to reception, housekeeping, restaurant, everyone is really sweet. We didn't do yoga or the jungle trek, but as I said, we'll be going back soon. Conclusion: definitely recommended!
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After Corona, we stayed at Sands at Nomad for several weeks this year. In recent years, the bungalows have been lavishly renovated and furnished. They have been furnished in a bright and friendly way - no comparison to the previous, somewhat darker furniture. The bathroom has also been redesigned and enlarged a little. The reception area has been redesigned. The overall impression is very positive. Of course, we can only judge the bungalows with their own garden and direct access to the sea. We only stayed there during the day. We do not know what the furnishings of the other rooms or life in and around the pool are like. We have particularly fond memories of the two employees Ralli (Guest Relations) and Oliver because of their friendliness and helpfulness. The meals were taken in the restaurant, which is also visited by out-of-town guests. It was not always easy for us to find the right dishes. Either they were not available at the time or were not on the menu at all. How much we had looked forward to a tuna steak or snapper fillet. A pink fried fillet with vegetables (not just carrots or cabbage) or a lamb chop would not have been bad. The salads were dominated by cabbage or strips of pepper. Tomatoes or cucumbers were unknown. All in all, the food was not comparable to that before Corona and a different management. We had the impression that the menu was geared towards Arabic or Asian tastes. Guests who book the hotel for a short time before or after a safari will hardly notice this. But for 4 weeks...? Conclusion: Beach Bungalows are highly recommended - restaurant should be improved.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is very well looked after, the rooms are equipped with everything and more: beach bag with towels, king size beds with mosquito net, in addition to making up the room they also clean up in the evening. The app allows you to find out about the services and book directly. Directly on Diani Beach. A true 5 star but without the stress of the dress code but with great naturalness. What struck me, however, was the welcome. We arrived late in the evening after a week of safari and, due to a mix-up with the agency, after having crossed Mombasa instead of flying directly to Diani. Seeing us exhausted, Marion at the reception immediately understood the situation and called a person who spoke Italian who reassured us by saying that they would sort everything out the next day. We went to dinner where the Italian chef Tobia showed up at the table and presented us with the dishes (exquisite) and laughed with us about the misadventures. The next day the manager (thanks Luca) took it upon himself to speak with the Italian agency, found a flight, a taxi and granted the last check out for free. For us this is feeling welcomed and I don't think there are many staff of this level. It was a fantastic 3 days. We will return more calmly Asanti
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:usate l'app così quanda arrivate il tavolo è riservato, così come gli altri servizi
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have stayed in Diani several times and although we have tried out several hotels we always come back to Nomads. From the minute you arrive nothing is too much trouble and all the staff go the extra mile so that you enjoy your holiday. The accommodation is spacious, bright in all rooms. to get to the restaurant you walk through the grounds which are well maintained. Although some meals are served in the restaurant which is also open to none residents, but we booked tables when we went to breakfast for lunch/dinner time and never had problem. You also have 3 other restaurants to choose from, we did the al fresco dinner, this was a sea food buffet and you dinned under the stars, an amazing experience. It's worth going into the turtle watch centre which is associated with the hotel, we did this and managed to see turtles hatching on the beach. The hotel also has canoes, paddle boards and snorkelling equipment that you can borrow, we did this and went out to the sandbank and saw lots of different fish. The beach is so clean and you can walk for miles, and can go up access roads to the local shops or bars and then either walk back or get a Tuk Tuk. If you are arriving into Ukunda airstrip it's worthwhile getting the hotel to arrange a taxi for you due to none waiting. This is the fourth time we've stayed here and will definitely go back. To all the staff thanks for making our stay so good and we'll be back
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Check in was prompt and efficient. The location of the resort is fantastic, right on a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach. The resort itself is rather dated and the room we had (A Sea Breeze Room #9) was small and basic. While it was clean it felt like the terracotta floors needed a really good clean as did the small bedside rugs. (see pictures). The aircon ran well and there was always hot water. Note: There was no TV in the room, so unsure if it is the same throughout.
The Nomad Restaurant and Bar at the far end of the resort was very good and the staff were excellent.
We were disappointed with the evening BBQ which was adjacent to the swimming pool. The food was freshly cooked but placed in tureens which did not keep it hot, so most of the food was cold. It would have been better to "cook to order". The desert was missing......on asking some small squares of cheesecake appeared. We did mention all of this to the assistant F&B manager who listened attentively, and was very friendly.
We opted for the Teppanyaki on the 2nd evening. The food was good, but as it is outside, and hidden away plus the temperature of the cook tops made it far too hot and uncomfortable. Go to the Nomad restaurant instead and enjoy the sea breeze.
Tip; At Nomad Bar the dirty martini is excellent.
On the plus side we had a late flight and were granted an extended checkout at 2pm. Normal check out here is 10am which is very early.
Would we go there again - probably not, but we are new to Kenya and the coast so we don't have a measuring standard as yet.
Is it good value for money - probably not as the room was very disappointing.
Final comment - excellent staff.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a lovely 6 night stay here after our various safari stops and what a great end to the holiday. The hotel is rustic style (maybe just on the brink of getting away with it). We stayed in an ocean view suite which was spacious, supering size bed and had fabulous air con! The mini fridge (payable) and water was replenished daily. We had a massive deck area (ground floor) where we sat each evening and listened to the waves and saw the cute monkeys and baboons. The beach is huge and at low tide you can walk out really far before the water is even waist height.Theres a lot of seaweed and I was told that this is seasonal, not a problem for us but just pointing it out. Breakfasts were nice, nothing amazing, but certainly enough variety. We had lunch at the pool daily and it was always very good as was the drinks service from your sun beds. We ate at the grill twice, simple but tasty. You can choose various meats and or seafood and sauces, marinades and sides, all very nice. We ate at the main restaurant twice which was also very good. The staff throughout the hotel are all very friendly and helpful. I cannot remember all of their lovely names, but we had a great rapport with Nellie and the guest relations manager, Jacinta (sorry if I've spelt wrong) We attended the manager cocktail party briefly - those blue cocktails were delicious. The spa was nice, we enjoyed our massages. We ate at a nearby restaurant twice, Alibarbour, (separate review), very nice set in a cave. You will have local people coming up to you on the beach selling, trips, coconuts etc but a polite no thank you and they go on their way. The glass bottom boat trip via the hotel to the sand bank was really enjoyable. it was a 2 hours and cost $25 p/p. it. One of the guys went in the water and fed the fish so we saw so many varieties plus eels, star fish, sea cucumbers and so on.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lara Hammond, Guest Services / Front Office at Nomad Beach Resort
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review of your recent stay with us. We are absolutely delighted to hear that your 6-night stay was the perfect end to your holiday after your safari adventures! It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the spacious Ocean View Suite and found the bed comfortable, as well as appreciated the air conditioning, mini fridge, and the lovely deck area. We’re also thrilled that you enjoyed the stunning beach, the sounds of the waves, and the company of the monkeys and baboons! We’re grateful for your feedback on breakfast and our dining options. It’s fantastic to hear that you enjoyed both our Grill and Main Restaurant, and we’ll certainly take note of your thoughts on breakfast variety to continue improving. We’re also glad that the poolside lunch and drinks service added to your relaxing experience by the beach. Thank you for mentioning the warm hospitality from our staff, including Nellie and Jacinta. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to them. It’s great that you also had fun at the manager's cocktail party and enjoyed the blue cocktail, as well as relaxing at the spa with your massages! We appreciate your understanding of the seasonal seaweed, and we’re happy that it didn’t impact your enjoyment of the beach too much. Additionally, we're glad you had a wonderful time on the glass bottom boat trip and were able to see the amazing marine life Diani has to offer. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for another relaxing getaway. Should you have any suggestions or special requests, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Warm Regards from the Nomad team
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There are more places to choose from in the Diani Beach area.
PRICE RANGE
S$433 - S$731 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the sands at nomad hotel diani, sands at nomad diani, sands at nomad hotel diani
LOCATION
KenyaCoast ProvinceUkundaDiani Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
29
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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