14 Days in Senegal
Trip Overview
This coast-to-countryside route stitches Senegal's Atlantic energy, colonial echoes, island sanctuaries, and riverine calm into one flowing story. You'll taste thieboudienne under flame-red dusk, ride pirogues through mangroves that reek of salt and fermenting oysters, and wake to the muezzin's call drifting over pink sand beaches. Days develop slowly enough to savour fresh bissap juice while still ticking off the country's essential triangle: Dakar, the Petite Côte, and the Sine-Saloum Delta, looping back through Kaolack's peanut warehouses.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
November through May, when Senegal weather is dry and daytime hovers around 28 °C
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Culture seekers, Food lovers, Moderate adventurers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Touchdown & Corniche Sunset
Dakar
Arrive, acclimatise, and taste your first Dakar Senegal food at a legendary beachside grill.
Morning
Airport transfer to Plateau hotel
Settle in, shower off the cabin air, and walk the Boulevard de la République where vendors fan charcoal smoke over grilled plantain. The Atlantic crashes against the seawall, drenching you in briny mist.
Lunch
Chez Loutcha
Afternoon
Île de Gorée ferry and House of Slaves
Wooden pirogues slap turquoise water en route to the car-free island. Pink bougainvillea frames coral-pink walls. The tour guide's voice echoes in the stone cells.
Ferry tickets bought at the dock, no reservation
Evening
Sunset drinks on the Corniche
Le Ngor for mojitos and grilled shrimp
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau/Downtown (Hotel Ndiambour or Radisson Blu)
Walkable to ferry docks, markets, and most things to do in dakar at night
See all Senegal accommodation options →Bring CFA cash. Few card machines on Gorée island cafés.
Day 1 Budget: $150
2
Colourful Marché & Afternoon Surf
Dakar
Dive into Sandaga market, then wash off the dust at Virage Beach.
Morning
Marché Sandaga haggling walk
Stalls spill indigo bazin fabric, glass beads clack underfoot, and the air is thick with dried hibiscus and frying beignet dough. Bargain for wood-carved Djola masks or embroidered boubous.
Lunch
Kilimanjaro Restaurant
Afternoon
Surf session at Virage Beach
Soft Atlantic rollers carry you past fishing pirogues painted in carnival stripes. Salt crusts on your lips while instructors shout Wolof instructions.
Book one day ahead via WhatsApp with Malika Surf Camp
Evening
Live mbalax at Just 4 U
Dinner first at Le Lagon 1, then dancing till 01:00
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau (Hotel Ndiambour)
Same base avoids packing up. Taxis easy to find
See all Senegal accommodation options →Carry a small padlock for Marché lockers, pickpockets love crowds.
Day 2 Budget: $170
3
Pink Lake & Camel Dunes
Float in the freakishly pink lake, then sip attaya among dunes.
Morning
Drive to Lac Rose (45 min) and swim
The water shimmers flamingo-pink against white salt crusts. You float easily, skin tingling with salt crystals, while children nearby collect pyramid-shaped salt mounds.
Negotiate round-trip; drivers wait
Lunch
Chez Salim on lake shore
Afternoon
Camel ride on surrounding dunes
Dromedary humps sway over ochre sand. Wind whips scarves and the scent of hot resinous shrubs fills the air. Pause for mint tea poured from a tin kettle.
Evening
Return to Dakar and jazz at Le Djoloff
Chicken yassa and live saxophone
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau (Hotel Ndiambour)
Pre-packed for next morning checkout
See all Senegal accommodation options →Bring flip-flops; salt cuts into bare feet.
Day 3 Budget: $130
4
Train to Thiès & Artisan Village
Thiès
Ride the rattling regional train north for tapestry and tapestry-making.
Morning
Dakar, Thiès train and tapestry workshop
The carriage smells of diesel and fresh mango. In Thiès, Manjaque weavers knot lively geometric rugs. The loom clacks like heartbeat.
Buy train tickets at station 30 min early
Lunch
Restaurant Le Relais
Afternoon
Return to Dakar and IFAN Museum
Wooden Dogon masks stare down from shadow-lit glass, drums thunder from a curator's demonstration, and the courtyard smells of frangipani.
Evening
Dinner at La Calebasse
Seafood pastels under string lights
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau (Hotel Ndiambour)
Last night in Dakar before Petite Côte
See all Senegal accommodation options →Thiès train runs once daily. Miss it and you'll taxi.
Day 4 Budget: $120
5
Coastal Road to Saly
Mbour/Saly
Leave Dakar behind. The road hugs cliffs and baobab sentinels.
Morning
Sept-place taxi to Saly
Seven passengers squeeze into a battered Peugeot. Windows down, Atlantic wind tastes of salt and hot tarmac. Baobab trunks twist like frozen cyclones roadside.
Taxis leave when full. Go early
Lunch
Le Chantier in Saly
Afternoon
Relax on Saly beaches
Powder-soft sand squeaks underfoot. Coconut sellers hack open husks releasing sweet milk. The sun glares white-hot, tempered by constant breeze.
Evening
Sunset at Le Barracuda
Catch of the day and cold Gazelle beer
Where to Stay Tonight
Saly (Hotel Espadon or Lamantin Beach)
Reputed Senegal hotels with pools and beach access
See all Senegal accommodation options →Negotiate beach-chair price upfront. They double after sunset.
Day 5 Budget: $140
6
Mboudj & Oyster Farms
Mbour
Witness the chaotic fish market, then taste oysters fresh from the shallows.
Morning
Mboudj fish market at dawn
Boats beach with a crunch. Men in neon jerseys haul silver barracuda still flapping. Flies buzz over seaweed heaps and diesel fumes mingle with brine.
Lunch
Chez Ramatoulaye oyster shack
Afternoon
Pirogue ride to oyster beds
Paddle through narrow mangrove arteries. Oysters cling to roots like grey barnacles. The guide cracks one open, its metallic flesh tastes of pure ocean.
Arrange via your hotel concierge
Evening
Live music at Le Patio
Afro-jazz with mafé dinner
Where to Stay Tonight
Saly (Hotel Espadon)
Same beach base for next day
See all Senegal accommodation options →Bring small bills. Market vendors rarely change large CFA notes.
Day 6 Budget: $135
7
Bandia Safari & Baobab Dinner
Giraffes stride past termite cathedrals, then dine under a 700-year-old baobab.
Morning
Jeep safari in Bandia
Dusty tracks reveal zebras flicking tails, white rhinos grazing under flat-topped acacias. The air smells of wild sage and sun-baked dung.
Reserve jeep night before via reserve gate
Lunch
Restaurant Keur Bandia
Afternoon
Drive to Somone lagoon
Pink flamingos needle the shallow blue. The breeze carries fermenting mangrove mud scent. Kayak silently among egrets.
Rent on arrival. Plenty of boats
Evening
Dinner at Le Baobab
Lamb méchoui under fairy-lit branches
Where to Stay Tonight
Somone (Eco-lodge Les Cordons Bleus)
Closer tomorrow to Saloum Delta
See all Senegal accommodation options →Bandia gates open at 08:00; animals active early.
Day 7 Budget: $155
8
Into the Saloum Delta
Palmarin
Leave roads behind. Reach the delta by pirogue where tides dictate time.
Morning
Transfer to Foundiougne, pirogue to Palmarin
The boat's engine sputters across glass-calm channels. Reed warblers chirp. You taste engine oil and drifting oyster shells.
Boats leave Foundiougne jetty when tide allows
Lunch
Chez Alice in Palmarin
Afternoon
Kayak through bolongs
Paddle between mangrove roots where fiddler crabs wave scarlet claws. The water is so still you hear your heartbeat.
Arrange at Chez Alice
Evening
Sunset over sand spit
Grilled red snapper on guesthouse terrace
Where to Stay Tonight
Palmarin (Ecolodge Le Palmarin or Keur Saloum)
Delta access, stilt huts over water
See all Senegal accommodation options →Pack mosquito repellent. Delta nights are buggy.
Day 8 Budget: $110
9
Shell Island & Serer Villages
Palmarin
Walk barefoot on shell mountains and share attaya with Serer farmers.
Morning
Quad to Shell Island (Ile aux Coquillages)
Millions of tiny white shells crunch under tyres like shattered porcelain. The island smells of sun-dried kelp.
Arrange night prior at lodge
Lunch
Village family home
Afternoon
Visit Serer village, attaya ceremony
Sit on woven mats under neem trees. Three rounds of bitter-sweet green tea passed clockwise. Children drum on plastic jerry cans.
Book via lodge guide
Evening
Night fishing pirogue
Join locals throwing nets under moonlight
Where to Stay Tonight
Palmarin (Ecolodge Le Palmarin)
Already settled, saves packing
See all Senegal accommodation options →Bring small gifts: pencils or batteries appreciated by villagers.
Day 9 Budget: $125
10
Kaolack Peanut Trail
Trade delta breeze for inland heat and the peanut-scented chaos of Kaolack.
Morning
Road cuts through dry savannah dotted with baobabs. Trucks unload hessian sacks smelling of roasted earth.
Leave Palmarin at 07:00 to catch bridge low tide
Lunch
Restaurant Khelcom
Afternoon
Central market stroll & peanut warehouse
Peanut dust hangs golden in shafts of sun. Traders shout prices over sacks taller than men. The air is thick with legume oil.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kaolack centre (Hotel Relais de Kaolack)
Air-con essential. Next morning early bus south
See all Senegal accommodation options →Stock up on CFA; Kaolack ATMs often out of cash.
Day 10 Budget: $100
11
Toubacouta Mangroves & Sacred Baobab
Toubacouta
Spend the day gliding mirror-like creeks where pelicans outnumber boats.
Morning
Local bus Toubacouta, pirogue into delta
Minibus rattles past millet fields. Inside smells of diesel and shea butter. At dock, engine oil sheens on green water.
Bus leaves Kaolack 07:30 sharp
Lunch
Campement du Delta
Afternoon
Visit 1000-year-old sacred baobab
The hollow trunk can fit twenty people. Incense smoke curls around grizzled bark. Inside echoes like a drum.
Evening
Drum circle on guesthouse pier
Join lodge guests for djembe under stars
Where to Stay Tonight
Toubacouta village (Campement du Delta)
Stilt rooms over lagoon, crocodiles below
See all Senegal accommodation options →Charge devices early. Generator shuts at 23:00.
Day 11 Budget: $120
12
Return to the Coast via Joal
Joal-Fadiouth
Cross the shell bridge to Fadiouth island, then roll back to Dakar-style nightlife.
Morning
Shared taxi to Joal, walk shell bridge
The bridge is paved with pink and white clam shells that crunch like snow. Below, tides slurp between mangrove roots.
Negotiate taxi at Toubacouta station
Lunch
Chez Aicha on Fadiouth
Afternoon
Christian-Muslim cemetery visit
Tombs share the same shell mound. Incense and sea salt mingle in the breeze. Silence broken only by distant gulls.
Where to Stay Tonight
Saly (Hotel Lamantin Beach)
One last beach sunrise before Dakar
See all Senegal accommodation options →Wear shoes on shell bridge. Shells can cut.
Day 12 Budget: $130
13
Last Beach Sunrise & Return to Dakar
Dakar
Catch the orange dawn, then roll back north for one final Dakar Senegal night.
Morning
Beach yoga and swim
Sun ignites the horizon. Warm waves fizz around ankles. Salt spray tastes like tears and freedom.
Sign up at hotel reception
Lunch
La Langouste in Saly
Afternoon
Shared Ndiaga Ndiaye bus to Dakar
A/C coach speeds past peanut fields. Radio plays Youssou N'Dour. Arrive downtown smelling of diesel and nostalgia.
Tickets bought on bus. Seats fill fast
Evening
Souvenir hunt at Village des Arts
Glass of bouye juice and final shopping for what to buy in Senegal
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau (Radisson Blu)
Airport shuttle next morning
See all Senegal accommodation options →Take the 15:00 bus to beat Dakar rush hour.
Day 13 Budget: $150
14
Farewell Coffee & Departure
Dakar
One last café Touba and airport transfer.
Morning
Coffee at Café de Rome
Strong café Touba spiced with guinea pepper. Flaky croissants still warm. Taxi horns blare outside, a final soundtrack.
Lunch
None
Afternoon
Transfer to Blaise Diagne airport
Smooth highway ride. Baobabs shrink in the rear-view mirror. Dust devils dance across red earth.
Book via hotel night before
Evening
None
Arrive airport 3 hours early. Security is thorough.
Day 14 Budget: $50
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Mix of sept-place taxis, Ndiaga Ndiaye buses, pirogues, and private drivers booked through hotels. Dakar has reliable orange taxis. Negotiate fares ahead. Delta boats run on tide schedules, guesthouses coordinate.
Book Ahead
Gorée ferry (weekends), Bandia reserve jeep, Palmarin quad tours, and Lamantin Beach during Christmas, New Year. Restaurant reservations at Le Lagon 1 or La Langouste on Fridays.
Packing Essentials
High-SPF sunscreen, plug adapter type C/E, headlamp for delta lodges, quick-dry towel, breathable long sleeves for mangroves, sturdy sandals, and at least two 10,000 CFA note rolls for tips.
Total Budget
$1,800-2,400 for 14 days including mid-range hotels, meals, activities, and transport but excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Stay in Dakar Plateau guesthouses, eat street thieboudienne, use Ndiaga Ndiaye buses everywhere, and camp on Palmarin beach for $90-110 per day.
Luxury Upgrade
Upgrade to Hotel des Almadies in Dakar, private drivers throughout, charter pirogue in Saloum, and dine at Le Ngor's lobster tower, expect $250-320 daily.
Family-Friendly
Book adjoining rooms at Lamantin Beach (kids' pool), shorten delta pirogue legs, add Bandia petting zoo, and swap late-night mbalax for earlier cultural shows.
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