Senegal & Gambia – May 8-16, 2025

Itinerary

May 8 – New York to Dakar – Depart from Charleston, SC to New York. (Exact departure times will be announced.) Connect to your international flight to Dakar, Senegal.

May 9 – Arrival in Dakar – Arrive in Dakar at 7:40 AM. Meet your Alkamba Tours representative and transfer to the Novotel Hotel to check into your room. Attend an orientation meeting, then enjoy a visit to the Museum of Black Civilizations, home to a stunning collection of African history, art, and culture from across the continent and its diaspora. In the evening, gather with your group for a welcome dinner. Overnight at Novotel Hotel. (D)

May 10 – Discover Dakar – After breakfast at 7:30 AM, begin a guided city tour of Dakar with visits to the National Museum, the Presidential Palace, local markets, and the handicraft gallery, where you’ll find traditional Senegalese art, jewelry, and handcrafted souvenirs. Enjoy lunch, followed by a drive past the iconic Cheikh Anta Diop University. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening. Overnight at Novotel Hotel. (B/L)

May 11 – Goree Island – After a 7:30 AM breakfast, head to the harbor and take a short ferry ride to historic Goree Island—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade, Goree is now a place of remembrance. Visit the House of Slaves and the powerful “Door of No Return,” a solemn landmark symbolizing the final exit point for enslaved Africans taken from the continent. You’ll meet the museum curator for a guided tour and Q&A session. After returning to Dakar, visit the towering African Renaissance Monument and the West African Research Center. Enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure exploring downtown Dakar. Overnight at Novotel Hotel. (B)

May 12 – Dakar to Banjul – Start the day with breakfast at 7:30 AM, then set off on a scenic drive toward Banjul, The Gambia. Along the way, visit a Wolof Village and gain insight into the culture and traditions of one of West Africa’s largest ethnic groups.  After clearing immigration and taking the ferry across the river into The Gambia. Check into the Senegambia Hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace. Overnight at Senegambia Hotel. (B)

May 13 – Banjul City Tour – After breakfast at 7:30 AM, enjoy a comprehensive city tour of Banjul. Stops include Arch 22, a national symbol commemorating Gambian independence; the National Museum; the University of The Gambia; and the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. Explore the Central Marketplace, where you can shop for handcrafted leather goods, woven baskets, jewelry, and even place custom clothing orders for pickup the next day. Overnight at Senegambia Hotel. (B)

May 14 – Banjul Culture & Markets – Enjoy breakfast before continuing your cultural tour of Banjul. Visit the Central Mosque and CrocodileGarden, then browse the city’s vibrant textile and Tye & Dye markets.  Here, you can purchase colorful fabrics, handmade garments, accessories, and home décor crafted using traditional dyeing techniques. Lunch will be along the lively and eclectic Senegambia Street. Return to your hotel in the afternoon to unwind. Overnight at Senegambia Hotel. (B/L)

May 15 – Roots Tour & Return to Dakar – Begin the day with an early breakfast at 7:00 AM, then travel by boat to the villages of Albreda and Juffereh. Visit local museums and explore Kunta Kinteh Island—named after the ancestral figure made famous in Alex Haley’s Roots.  Learn about the transatlantic slave trade from the village elders and historians during a special lecture. After lunch in Albreda, return to Dakar. In the evening, reunite with your group for a heartfelt farewell dinner. Overnight at Novotel Hotel or similar. (B/D)

May 16 – Return to the USA – Enjoy an early breakfast at 4:00 AM and check out of your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your 5:00 AM flight back to the United States. (B)