Tour Dates

2026

•  28 January – 12 February 2027 BOOK NOW

What’s Included

• 15 nights accommodation (twin share basis)
• 15 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 7 dinners
• Rock My Adventure group leader & local guides
• Comprehensive pre-departure information & support
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary & included activities
• Tips for local safari and activity guides
• All activities as per the itinerary below:
  • Welcome Dinner
  • Dakar City Tour
  • Goree Island
  • Museum of Black Civilisations
  • Dakar Market
  • Lac Rose Boat Trip
  • Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
  • Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
  • Fulani Village
  • Langue de Barbarie
  • Great Mosque of Touba
  • The Cheese Tree
  • Koumpo Dance
  • Kafountine Village
  • Djembe Drumming Performanec & Lesson
  • Visit to King of Oussouye
  • Diola Village
  • Bubaque Island
  • Bissau City Tour
  • Bijante Parish
  • Baca Bruto Dance
  • Orango Island
  • Tomb of Queen Okinka Pampa
  • Canhabaque Village Walk
  • Kundere Dance
  • Kabaro Dance
  • Inore’s Beach
  • Visit to Queen Tia Inacia
  • Bissau Carnival

What’s Not Included

• Flights
• Visas
• Medications, antimalarials or vaccinations
• Travel/health insurance (required)
• Drinks & meals not mentioned
• Optional activities
• Transport & tips for optional activities

Day 1: Dakar, Senegal

Arrive in Dakar, Senegal and transfer to your accommodation for the night.

In the evening, we’ll meet as a group and enjoy a relaxed welcome dinner at the hotel – a chance to get to know each other and ease into the trip.

Your Rock My Senegal Adventure starts here.

• Meals: Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Welcome Dinner

Day 2: Dakar, Senegal

After breakfast, we’ll we’ll visit the impressive Monument of the African Renaissance, the tallest statue in Africa, offering sweeping views over the city and coastline.

We’ll then make our way to the port and take a ferry across to Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its pastel-coloured buildings, quiet streets, and powerful history. We’ll have time to explore the island, learn about its past, and soak up its peaceful atmosphere before returning to Dakar in the afternoon.

In the evening, we’ll head out for dinner at a great local restaurant, then those who wish can dive into Dakar’s legendary live music scene.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Dakar City Tour, Goree Island

Day 3: Lac Rose, Senegal

Today begins with a deeper exploration of Dakar, starting with a city tour that brings together history, creativity, and contemporary culture.

We’ll visit the impressive Museum of Black Civilisations, one of West Africa’s most important cultural institutions, before browsing vibrant local art markets where you’ll find everything from paintings and textiles to handmade jewellery and crafts.

In the early afternoon, we’ll leave the city behind and travel to Lac Rose, Senegal’s famous Pink Lake. Here, we’ll enjoy a boat trip on the lake to learn about its unique colour and salt-harvesting traditions

Those who want to can take an optional quad biking experience across the surrounding sand dunes.

It’s the perfect mix of culture, scenery, and adventure – and a fantastic way to experience a completely different side of Senegal in one day.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Dakar City Tour, Lac Rose Boat Trip

Day 4: Saint Louis, Senegal

Today we travel north to the historic city of Saint-Louis, once the capital of French West Africa and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On arrival, we’ll sit down for lunch before enjoying some time to relax and settle in.

In the afternoon, we’ll discover the city on a traditional horse-drawn carriage tour, exploring the atmospheric island, elegant colonial streets, and nearby fishing village, where daily life unfolds along the riverbanks.

Afterwards, there’s free time to wander at your own pace – soaking up the colourful facades, lively streets, and unique blend of French and Senegalese influences that make Saint-Louis such a captivating place to explore.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

Day 5: Saint-Louis, Senegal

We’ll start early this morning with a journey to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, one of the most important bird reserves in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Exploring the park by boat, we’ll glide through tranquil waterways surrounded by extraordinary birdlife, with thousands of migratory birds including pelicans, herons, and cormorants – a dream for wildlife lovers and photographers alike.

After our time in Djoudj, we’ll visit a local Fulani village, offering a fascinating insight into traditional pastoral life and culture in northern Senegal.

Later, we’ll head to the Langue de Barbarie, a striking strip of land where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Here, we’ll explore the area’s beaches, fishing communities, and natural scenery before returning to Saint-Louis, rounding off a day rich in wildlife, culture, and unforgettable landscapes.

Then we’ll head back to Saint-Louis for the evening, where we’ll try to catch some live music.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Fulani Village, Langue de Barbarie

Day 6: The Gambia

We’ll travel south today, stopping en route to visit the Great Mosque of Touba, one of the most important religious sites in West Africa. Here, we’ll learn about its significance to the Mouride Brotherhood, a powerful Sufi Islamic movement that plays a central role in Senegalese spiritual, social, and economic life.

After our visit, we’ll continue south and cross the border into The Gambia, arriving in the lively Senegambia area. The pace shifts as we reach the coast, where the Atlantic breeze, palm trees, and sandy beaches signal a change of scene.

In the evening, we’ll head out for dinner at a much-loved spot rooftop restaurant, perched above the buzz of Senegambia.

Enjoy good food, cool drinks, and warm evening air as the sun sets and the city comes alive below.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Great Mosque of Touba

Day 7: Abéné, Senegal

We’ll travel south to Abéné, a small but culturally rich village known for its vibrant music scene (particularly reggae) and artistic soul.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the legendary Fromager, or “cheese tree” – an enormous, sacred kapok tree that towers above the village and serves as a communal gathering spot and a place of deep cultural and spiritual importance.

Later, we’ll experience the Koumpo dance, a sacred spiritual masquerade unique to the Jola people. This ceremony is not a performance but a deeply meaningful ritual.

We’ll organise this respectfully prior to arrival, ensuring the experience is authentic, ethical, and led entirely on local terms.

The evening is left open to reflect, relax, and absorb the magic of Abéné.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Guesthouse (Ensuite)
• Activities: Cotton Tree, Koumpo Dance

Day 8: Abéné, Senegal

This morning, we’ll visit Kafountine, a lively fishing village known for its colourful boats, bustling shoreline, and traditional fish smoking and drying practices.

Wander through the village and along the beach as fishermen land their catch and women prepare fish using age-old methods, offering a fascinating glimpse into daily life on the Casamance coast.

We’ll then return to Abéné, where the afternoon takes on a more musical rhythm, with a djembe performance, followed by an interactive drumming lesson led by local musicians.

Learn the basic rhythms, understand the cultural meaning behind the beats, and have a lot of fun making music together – no experience needed, just enthusiasm.

The rest of the day is free to relax, reflect, or enjoy the beach as the sounds of Casamance drift into the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Guesthouse Ensuite (Ensuite)
• Activities: Kafountine Village, Djembe Drumming Performance & Lesson

Day 9: Ziguinchor, Senegal

After breakfast, we’ll travel to Oussouye, the spiritual heart of the Diola region. Here, we’ll meet the King of Oussouye, a revered spiritual leader and custodian of Diola traditions. This is a rare opportunity to witness a living cultural institution that continues to be deeply respected by local communities, offering insight into belief systems and leadership structures that have endured for generations.

After our visit, we’ll continue to the nearby Diola village of Miomp. Walking through the village, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of traditional Diola architecture, customs, and rural life. Learn how homes are built, how communities are organised, and how daily life remains closely connected to the land and ancestral traditions.

In the evening, we’ll head to Ziguinchor, the lively regional capital of Casamance, where the night is yours to relax, explore, or enjoy dinner in town.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Visit to King of Oussouye, Diola Village

Day 10: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

Today we’ll travel to Bissau, crossing into Guinea-Bissau and arriving in the country’s laid-back capital. On arrival, the pace slows – take time to relax, settle in, and absorb the distinct atmosphere shaped by Portuguese, African, and Creole influences.

Later, we’ll head out on a city tour, taking in key highlights including the bustling port of Bissau, where daily life and trade converge, as well as central squares and colonial-era buildings that tell the story of the city’s past and present. It’s a great introduction to the capital and an easy way to get your bearings.

The evening is left free to unwind, enjoy dinner in town, or simply relax after the journey.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Bissau City Tour

Day 11: Bijagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau

Today we leave the mainland behind and head out to the Bijagós Archipelago, a remote chain of 88 islands and islets off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, of which only around 20 are inhabited.

Society in the Bijagós follows a matrilineal tradition, with families and clans traced through the mother’s line. Villages are typically overseen by a king, alongside a priestess and a council of elders who play an important role in community decisions.

We should be arriving  in time for carnival so expect an incredible time of the islands!

We’ll explore Bubaque on foot, getting our bearings and soaking up island life – sandy lanes, colourful fishing boats, and the rhythms of daily life shaped more by the tides than the clock.

We’ll then settle in for our stay in the Bijagós, where we’ll spend the next three nights immersed in island culture and traditions.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Village Walk

Day 12: Bijagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau

Today we’ll explore the spiritual and historical heart of the Bijagós Archipelago.

Our day begins with a visit to Bijante, where we’ll witness the Baca Bruto (“Holy Cow”) dance, a powerful ceremonial performance deeply rooted in local belief systems and community identity. This is a meaningful cultural tradition, experienced respectfully and on local terms.

From here, we’ll continue by boat to Orango Island, one of the most culturally and ecologically significant islands in the archipelago.

On arrival, we’ll visit the tomb of Okinka Pampa Kanyimpa, a legendary queen remembered for her resistance to Portuguese colonial rule and her important role in Bijagós history.

We’ll also keep an eye out for the island’s famous Hippopotamus, known locally for their unusual coastal habits. From November to February, these saltwater hippos often move from inland areas to coastal lagoons and mangrove channels in search of water, giving us the best chance of spotting them.

Later in the afternoon we’ll return to Bubaque, with time to relax and reflect on the day’s experiences.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities:Baca Bruto (“Holy Cow”) Dance, Orango Island, Tomb of Queen Okinka Pampa, Saltwater Hippo Safari

Day 13: Bijagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau

Today is dedicated to deeper cultural connection in the Bijagós Islands.

We’ll travel by tuk-tuk to Canhabaque village, offering insight into everyday island life away from the coast. Walking through the village, we’ll learn about community structures, traditions, and daily rhythms shaped by both land and sea.

Here, we’ll experience two important cultural performances: the Kundere dance, traditionally performed by women, and the Kabaro dance, associated with boys and youth. These dances are rich in symbolism and reflect age, gender, and social roles within Bijagós society.

Later, we’ll head to Inoré’s Beach, where the atmosphere softens into celebration. Music and movement come together by the ocean for a relaxed beachside dance, blending tradition with joy and community spirit.

The day continues with a visit to Queen Tia Inácia, where we’ll take part in a meaningful community exchange. This is a chance to listen, learn, and engage on local terms, closing the day with connection and reflection.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Canhabaque Village Walk, Kundere Dance, Kabaro Dance, Inoré’s Beach, Visit to Queen Tia Inácia

Day 14 & 15: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

We’ll return from the Bijagós Islands to Bissau, easing back into life on the mainland as the energy of the capital begins to build.

These days are dedicated to festival participation and free exploration. Join in celebrations, enjoy live music and cultural performances, explore markets and neighbourhoods, or simply wander at your own pace. Whether you want to dive into the action or observe from a shaded café, Bissau offers plenty of atmosphere and character.

This flexible time allows you to experience the city on your own terms – a fitting contrast to the quieter rhythms of the islands and a lively finale to your time in Guinea-Bissau.

• Meals: 2 x Breakfast,
• Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
• Activities: Bissau Festival

Day 15: Departure Day

Today is always a sad day as we say goodbye to our new friends, but the memories and shared experiences of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia will last a lifetime!

We can arrange your transfer to Osvaldo Vieira International Airport or you can continue your Africa travels from there.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: None
• Activities: None