Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Departs Nairobi
3:30 AM sharp, 10 Dec
Returns Nairobi
About 4–5 PM, 14 Dec
Vehicles
Land Cruiser convoy
Terrain
Tarmac, murram & desert tracks
Network
Patchy or none in places
The route

One northern circuit

Up through Samburu to the crater lakes of Marsabit, west across the desert to Lake Turkana, then home through Ngurunit and Isiolo.

  1. NairobiStart
  2. NanyukiEquator
  3. Samburu
  4. MarsabitNight 1
  5. Maikona
  6. Chalbi DesertSalt flats
  7. North HorrNight 2
  8. LoiyangalaniNight 3
  9. Ngurunit
  10. Laisamis
  11. IsioloNight 4
  12. NairobiFinish
Overnight stop Trip highlight
The journey

Kenya's most remote landscapes, in five days

From the forests and crater lakes of Marsabit, across the white expanse of the Chalbi Desert, through North Horr to the turquoise waters of Lake Turkana, this trip takes you through country most Kenyans have only seen in pictures.

You ride in a convoy of Land Cruisers with experienced guides and drivers, eat together every day, and sleep in homestays and lakeside lodges along the way. A professional photographer travels with the group, so you can be in the moment and still bring the moment home.

Five days. Four nights. One extraordinary northern circuit.
A camel stands beside a palm-fringed waterhole under a bright blue sky
A herder walks with a herd of camels across a flat desert plain, a mountain on the horizon
Day by day

The itinerary

Day 1
Thu · 10 December

Into the north

Nairobi → Nanyuki → Samburu → Marsabit

  1. Depart Nairobi

    We leave via Thika Road. Please arrive by 3:15 AM so the convoy can roll out on time.

  2. Equator stop, Nanyuki

    Photos, a stretch and refreshments.

  3. Cedar Mall, Nanyuki

    Last big shopping stop before the north. Stock up on water, snacks and personal supplies.

  4. Samburu stopover

    About an hour to stretch, refresh and join the road-trip activation.

  5. AfternoonNorth to Marsabit

    A photo stop overlooking Mount Ololokwe, then on through Laisamis.

  6. Late afternoonMarsabit National Park

    Enter through Ajmarko Gate and explore the forested mountain and its crater-lake landscape, subject to road and park conditions. Exit through Ahmed Gate into Marsabit town.

OvernightMarsabitMeals: dinner
A Samburu woman in beaded jewellery waves a Magical Kenya flag on a dusty road
Day 2
Fri · 11 December

Across the Chalbi

Marsabit → Maikona → Chalbi Desert → North Horr

  1. Breakfast

    Then we depart Marsabit at 8:00 AM for the longest stretch of wild country on the trip.

  2. MorningMarsabit to Maikona

    Tarmac gives way to dusty tracks as the convoy heads for the Chalbi. Short stops depending on the road and the light.

  3. Late morningThe Chalbi Desert

    Walk out onto the white salt flats and take in the sheer scale of it. A major highlight of the trip.

    • Photography
    • Content creation
    • Desert walks
    • Landscape viewing
    • Group photos
  4. MiddayArrive North Horr

    Lunch at the homestays, check in, freshen up and rest.

  5. North Horr sand dunes

    Explore the dunes as the desert light changes and watch the sun go down.

  6. EveningDinner and bonfire

    Gather around the fire under one of the clearest night skies in Kenya.

OvernightNorth Horr homestaysMeals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
A long line of travellers stands along the top of a dune ridge while others climb its sandy face
Day 3
Sat · 12 December

The Jade Sea

North Horr → Gas → Loiyangalani → Lake Turkana

  1. Optional sunrise on the dunes

    Head back out for first light. Back at the homestays by about 7:15 AM.

  2. Breakfast and check-out

    We depart North Horr at 8:30 AM.

  3. MorningNorth Horr to Loiyangalani

    Through rugged northern country until the landscape opens up and Lake Turkana comes into view.

  4. Late morningLake Turkana boat ride

    Boats of up to about eight people. Learn about the El Molo community and their heritage, subject to local arrangements and conditions.

  5. MiddayLunch at Palm Shade Hotel

    Check-in at 3:30 PM. The group may be split across two properties, but we always eat together.

  6. AfternoonBy the lake

    Time to slow down.

    • Swimming
    • Photography
    • Relaxation
    • Sunset views
OvernightLoiyangalaniMeals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Travellers in orange life jackets ride a long boat across the turquoise water of Lake Turkana, desert hills behind
Day 4
Sun · 13 December

Turbines, rocks & the road south

Loiyangalani → Wind farm → Ngurunit → Laisamis → Archers Post → Isiolo

  1. Early breakfast

    One of the longest and most time-sensitive days. We depart Loiyangalani at 7:30 AM.

  2. MorningLake Turkana Wind Power

    Pass through the wind farm, its turbines lined up across the landscape. Photo stop if road conditions and timing allow.

  3. Late morningNgurunit and the sliding rocks

    Explore the dramatic landscape and stop at the natural sliding rocks, subject to water levels, weather and ground conditions.

  4. MiddayQuick lunch en route

    Then back onto tarmac at Laisamis and south through Archers Post to Isiolo.

  5. EveningSala Hotel, Isiolo

    Check in, dinner and a well-earned rest. Tonight the whole group stays under one roof.

OvernightSala Hotel, IsioloMeals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5
Mon · 14 December

Homeward

Isiolo → Nairobi

  1. MorningBreakfast and check-out
  2. Depart Isiolo

    The final leg on the main highway, with a short rest stop on the way.

  3. Arrive Nairobi

    End of the Northern Kenya frontier road trip.

MealsBreakfast

Meet the people of the northFrom Samburu to the El Molo of Lake Turkana, this trip passes through communities with deep roots in this land. Bring a little extra cash for crafts made locally, especially in North Horr and around the lake.

What you get

Package includes

Travel & stay

  • Return transport in Land Cruisers
  • Four nights' accommodation
  • Full board from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5
  • Mineral water throughout
  • Professional guides and drivers
  • Professional photography all trip

Experiences

  • Marsabit National Park & Lake Paradise
  • Kalacha Oasis
  • Chalbi Desert experience
  • North Horr sand dunes
  • Lake Turkana Wind Power turbines
  • Lake Turkana boat ride & swimming
  • El Molo community & cultural experience
From the road

Scenes from the north

A convoy of safari Land Cruisers parked across cracked desert flats
The convoy on the desert flats
A Samburu woman holding a flag on a dirt road
Samburu
A camel at a palm-lined oasis
Desert oasis
Camels crossing a wide plain
Camel country
Two smiling fishermen push a white boat out from the shore of Lake Turkana
Loiyangalani shore
Be ready

What to pack

  • Refillable water bottle
  • Plenty of drinking water
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat or cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Shuka or scarf for dust
  • Light, comfortable clothing
  • Warm jacket for mornings & evenings
  • Closed shoes
  • Comfortable open shoes
  • Swimwear
  • Towel
  • Power bank
  • Charging cables
  • Personal medication
  • Toiletries
  • Wet wipes
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Tissues
  • ID documents
  • Small cash in Kenyan shillings

For the desert

Sunglasses and a shuka or scarf matter most on the Maikona, Chalbi and North Horr stretch, where dust and sun are strongest.

For the culture

Carry some extra cash for locally made crafts and products, especially in North Horr and around Lake Turkana.

Good to know before you go

Roads

Expect long stretches of rough, dusty, corrugated road. Travel times can shift with conditions.

Connectivity

Coverage is limited or absent on some sections. Download documents, maps and entertainment before you leave.

Water

Carry enough personal drinking water every day.

Timing

This is a demanding itinerary. The 3:30 AM start and each morning departure matter, because delays cut into later activities.

December weather

Hot by day. Early mornings and evenings can be much cooler, especially around Marsabit and in the desert.

10–14 December 2026

Twende Chalbi

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