Day 1: Dakar

Arrive in Dakar. Meet and greet at the airport, followed by transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 2: Dakar/Saloum

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a brief panoramic tour of Dakar. This city is a fascinating blend of modernity and tradition. Discover the vibrant Medina, the residential area of Fann showcasing contemporary Senegalese architecture, and visit various monuments and markets. Continue your journey to the Saloum Islands (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), passing through the historic town of Rufisque, the baobab forest of Sindia, and the Serer villages of the Petite Côte.

Arrive in Ndagane by the river for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the villages in the palm forest of Samba Dia and witness the traditional Yela dance of the Peulh and Fouta ethnic groups, accompanied by rudimentary yet harmonious musical instruments. Later, head to the Serer village of Palmarin for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Saloum

After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring the Saloum Islands by motorized pirogue. These islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the bird islands and the Niominka fishing villages. Engage with the local populations and fishermen. Lunch will be a Robinson Crusoe-style fish barbecue on a deserted island. Relax on the beach after lunch before returning to the lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Saloum/Gambia (Banjul)

Depart after breakfast. Cross the Saloum River and continue to Banjul. Visit the Serer villages in the area and discover the traditional music and dances, such as the Ngoyane and Ndaga, known for their erotic and popular themes. Lunch in Toubacouta before crossing the Gambia River in the afternoon to reach Banjul. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Banjul/Ziguinchor

After breakfast, explore Banjul. The Gambia, a country nestled within Senegal, is the land of the Mandinka people, where the Kora, the musical instrument of the Mandinka Empire, reigns supreme. Meet master Kora players during your visit to Banjul. Enjoy a traditional lunch in Banjul. In the early afternoon, continue to Ziguinchor, passing through Diouloulou, Baila, and Badiana, where you will encounter the culture of the Diola people, the dominant ethnic group in this region. Here, music and dance celebrate the spirits of the ancestors, who are believed to be present alongside the living. Arrive in Ziguinchor for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 6: Ziguinchor/Lower Casamance/Ziguinchor

After breakfast, spend the day visiting the typical villages of Lower Casamance, where animist civilizations thrive, deeply respecting and venerating nature. Here, music and dance are sacred rites emerging from the "Sacred Wood." Lunch at Cap Skirring by the sea, followed by further exploration of Lower Casamance in the afternoon. Visit a master of the Incounting, an instrument considered the root of the "Blues." Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Ziguinchor/Saly

After breakfast, depart Ziguinchor for Saly-Portudal on the Petite Côte via the Trans-Gambian Highway. After passing the town of Bignona, visit the Fulani villages, home to the Fulani people who have blended with the Mandinka ethnic group. The villagers will present their dances accompanied by traditional music produced by rudimentary instruments. Lunch in Kaolack before continuing to Saly, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Saly 

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day of relaxation by the beach with full board at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 9: Saly/Airport

Breakfast and lunch at the hotel. Relax by the beach. In the late afternoon, transfer to Dakar for your return flight. 

End of Itinerary