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SenegalFrom £1,9952 tours

Senegal Tours & Holiday

Experience the vibrant culture and natural beauty of Senegal with our expertly guided small group tours and holiday packages.

  • Time zoneGMT+0
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • LanguageFrench (official); Wolof widely spoken
  • Travel styleSmall group
Overview

An introduction to Senegal

Westernmost on the African continent, Senegal is one of West Africa's most rewarding and culturally rich destinations — refreshingly uncrowded, authentic, and full of contrasts. From the vivacity of Dakar's artistic heart and the UNESCO slave history of Gorée Island to the jazz-loving colonial streets of Saint-Louis and the tranquil waterways of the Saloum Delta, Senegal tours reveal a country that fosters its customs and nurtures its talents in equal measure.

Our small group Senegal holidays take you across grassy plains and arid open spaces, past elegant French colonial architecture and deep into traditional village heartlands where life continues much as it always has. Beyond the towns lies a land of abundant birdlife — Djoudj National Park hosts over 1.5 million migratory birds and is one of the largest bird reserves in the world — while the calm channels of the Sine-Saloum Delta shelter pelicans, flamingos and rare coastal ecosystems. Whether you join our seven-day Senegal Coast and Delta Explorer or extend your journey to Guinea-Bissau's remote Bijagós Archipelago on our 15-day explorer, every Senegal tour package is led by expert local guides with a maximum of 12 travellers, ensuring a personal and immersive experience from start to finish.

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Senegal detail
Explore

Senegal

Why visit

What makes Senegal worth the journey

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A place apart

West Africa's most welcoming nation

Senegal's reputation for warmth and stability makes it the ideal introduction to West African travel, with a rich culture that opens itself naturally to curious visitors.

01

Extraordinary birdlife

Djoudj National Park, one of the three largest bird reserves in the world, draws over 1.5 million migratory birds each season, making Senegal holidays a dream for wildlife enthusiasts.

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02

History that stays with you

From the Door of No Return on Gorée Island to the UNESCO-listed colonial city of Saint-Louis, Senegal's layered history is both profound and essential to understanding the wider Atlantic story.

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Moments

Unrepeatable in a guidebook

See itineraries
Highlights

The moments that make Senegal unforgettable

Gorée Island

Walk the colonial streets to the Maison des Esclaves and stand at the iconic Door of No Return — one of the most historically powerful stops on any Senegal tour.

Djoudj National Park

One of the three largest bird reserves in the world, Djoudj draws over 1.5 million migratory birds each season, including vast colonies of pelicans and flamingos.

Lac Rose (Lake Retba)

Just north of Dakar, the pink-hued waters of this remarkable salt lake are tinted by harmless algae — a vivid and uniquely Senegalese scene.

Saint-Louis

Senegal's first colonial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — explore its elegant island centre by horse-drawn carriage and visit the fishing community along the Langue de Barbarie.

Sine-Saloum Delta

A tranquil wilderness of mangroves, lagoons and sandbanks best explored by canoe from the eco-lodge at Palmarin — one of the most peaceful landscapes in West Africa.

Mar Lodj & the Sérère Villages

Cross by canoe to the island of Mar Lodj and visit the communities of Marfafaco, where the Sérère people maintain centuries-old traditions.

Touba & the Grand Mosque

The spiritual heart of the Mouride Brotherhood and home to one of the largest mosques in Africa — a rare and respectful insight into Senegalese Islamic culture.

Joal-Fadiouth & Shell Island

An entire island built on a bed of shells, with an inter-faith cemetery, ancient baobab groves and the forests of Samba Dia on the journey back to Dakar.

Senegal rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.

From the field

When to go

Picking the right season for your trip

Senegal has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The dry season runs from November to May and is the best time for Senegal travel packages — warm and sunny with low humidity, particularly pleasant for wildlife watching in Djoudj and exploring the Saloum Delta by canoe. The rainy season (June to October) brings heavy downpours, high humidity and lush green landscapes across the interior. All Undiscovered Destinations Senegal departures run during the dry season — in November, December, March and May

Live weather
Senegal

Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our Senegal tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.

A small group visited fishing villages, witnessed tribal dances and explored local markets. Efficient logistics and a great local guide who was friendly, knowledgeable and well organized.

Dominic T.

Senegal

An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!

Anna

This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!

Grete

My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.

Frank

Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.

Cathy

Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.

Lynn

We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.

Andy

We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.

Jennie

Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.

Debbie

Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.

Alexis

A small group visited fishing villages, witnessed tribal dances and explored local markets. Efficient logistics and a great local guide who was friendly, knowledgeable and well organized.

Dominic T.

Senegal

An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!

Anna

This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!

Grete

My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.

Frank

Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.

Cathy

Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.

Lynn

We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.

Andy

We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.

Jennie

Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.

Debbie

Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.

Alexis

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Senegal journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
Tailor-made journeys

Didn’t find your perfect Senegal trip?

We’ll build one around you.

If our scheduled Senegal tour packages don't suit your travel dates or group, we can design a bespoke Senegal holiday around your own itinerary. Whether you want longer time in Dakar and on Gorée Island, a private canoe safari through the Sine-Saloum Delta, an extended stay at the eco-lodge in Palmarin, or a private extension into Guinea-Bissau and the Bijagós Archipelago, our team will build a tailor-made Senegal trip from scratch. We use the same expert local guides and carefully chosen accommodation as our group tours, ensuring the same quality and depth of experience — just entirely on your own terms. Contact us to discuss your ideas.

Your dates
Travel when it suits you
Private group
Just you, family or friends
Your pace
Linger longer, skip the rest
Bespoke extras
Private guides, rare access

Typical reply within 3 working days · No obligation · Trusted by travellers since 2004

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How it works
  1. 1Tell us what you have in mind
  2. 2We build an itinerary + quote
  3. 3Refine until it feels right
Est. 2004
20+ years of
bespoke travel
Questions, answered

Planning a trip to Senegal?

  • Visa requirements depend on your nationality. UK and most EU and US passport holders do not currently require a visa for short stays, but requirements can change. We advise all travellers to check the latest requirements with the Senegalese embassy before departure and to carry a valid passport with at least six months' validity.

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

Before booking your Senegal holiday, familiarise yourself with the latest country-specific guidance on the FCDO Senegal travel advice page. This includes up-to-date immigration requirements and any travel advisories. We monitor FCDO guidance closely and will always inform clients of any relevant changes. At present there are no warnings against travel to the areas of Senegal we visit. Other nationals should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Ready when you are

Start planning your Senegal adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Senegal specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

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