Overview
Eldoret sits high in Kenya's Rift Valley at around 2,100 metres, a friendly, fast-growing highland city known worldwide as the training base for Kenya's champion distance runners. For UK travellers it is a rewarding gateway to western Kenya, with a cool climate, rolling farmland, dramatic escarpments and the nearby running hub of Iten. There are no direct flights to Eldoret from the UK, so the trip runs via Nairobi with a short domestic hop or a scenic drive to finish. Use the price charts on this page to compare live fares for flights to Eldoret from the UK.
Best time to fly to Eldoret
Eldoret's altitude keeps temperatures mild all year, usually 22–25°C by day and chilly after dark, so there is no bad season. The driest, brightest months are generally late December to March and July to October, which are ideal for touring the Kerio Valley. The long rains fall around March to May and shorter rains around October to December, when the countryside is greenest but roads can be muddy. The Christmas period and UK school holidays push fares up, so check the When to book chart above for cheaper windows.
Airlines and routes
No airline flies non-stop from the UK to Eldoret. The usual route is London to Nairobi, then a connecting domestic flight to Eldoret International Airport (EDL). Kenya Airways and British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Nairobi in around 8 hours 45 minutes to 9 hours. One-stop options to Nairobi include KLM via Amsterdam, Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa. From Nairobi, carriers such as Kenya Airways and Skyward Express reach Eldoret in about 45 minutes to an hour. End to end, allow roughly 14 to 20 hours depending on your layover.
Things to do in Eldoret
Eldoret works best as a base for exploring the highlands, with plenty within easy reach.
- Iten: The famous "Home of Champions" running town, with a celebrated viewpoint over the Kerio Valley escarpment.
- Kerio Valley: A vast, hazy rift beneath towering cliffs, best seen from the Kerio View lookouts.
- Doinyo Lessos Creameries: Eldoret's well-loved dairy, a good stop for local cheese and ice cream.
- Kipchoge Keino Stadium: The city's athletics heart, named after Kenya's Olympic great.
- Kakamega Forest: Kenya's last tropical rainforest, roughly two hours away and superb for birds and butterflies.
At Eldoret International Airport (EDL)
The airport lies about 15 km (roughly 9 miles) south-west of the city centre on the Eldoret–Kisumu road, a drive of 20 to 30 minutes. It is a small terminal with no rail link, so onward travel is by taxi or pre-arranged hotel transfer; agree the fare before setting off. Shared minibuses (matatus) run along the main road for budget travellers, and many hotels in Eldoret and Iten will collect guests who book ahead.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Eldoret
- Book roughly two to five months ahead for the best balance of price and choice on the UK to Nairobi leg.
- Fly midweek and avoid Christmas, Easter and the summer school holidays, when fares peak.
- Keep your dates flexible and compare the price charts on this page across several departure days.
- Weigh a through-fare to Eldoret against a separate UK–Nairobi ticket plus a domestic add-on, and try different hubs and airlines.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for Kenya, applied for online before departure; there is no visa on arrival, so allow a few days for processing. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. The currency is the Kenyan shilling; pounds are easy to exchange, card and M-Pesa mobile payments are widely accepted, and Eldoret has ATMs. No yellow fever certificate is required when arriving directly from the UK, but check current NHS TravelHealthPro advice on malaria precautions and vaccinations before you travel.
