7 Days in Gambia
Trip Overview
Seven days thread Gambia's riverine heart, Atlantic beaches and interior villages at a steady, unrushed rhythm. Glide through mangroves at sunrise, weave past kora players in an evening market, then wake to the hush of the rice-growing countryside. Expect wildlife sightings, hands-on craft sessions and long seafood lunches under palms. Nights alternate between lively Kotu and quieter coastal pockets, giving you both nightlife and star-filled quiet.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$90, 130 per day
Best Seasons
November, April when dry air and cool nights make travel comfortable
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Nature lovers, Culture seekers, Couples, Solo travelers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Touchdown & Tarmac to Tranquility
Kotu Beach
Land in Banjul and head straight to the Atlantic for sunset walks and grilled fish.
Morning
Airport transfer & beach walk
Collect bags, meet a pre-arranged taxi and roll 25 minutes to Kotu Bridge. Drop luggage, kick off shoes and stroll the wide, caramel sand while palm fronds rattle overhead.
Book the taxi in advance online to avoid airport haggling
Lunch
Friendship Restaurant on Kotu Strip
Afternoon
Kotu Craft Market browse
Wood smoke drifts between stalls as artisans sand djembe drums and polish ebony masks. Listen for the metallic clack of kora tuning and watch batik cloths drying in the breeze.
Evening
Sunset drinks on the sand
Calypso Beach Bar for fresh baobab juice spiked with local gin
Where to Stay Tonight
Kotu Beach strip (Kotu Beach Hotel or small guesthouse)
Walking distance to bars, beach and tomorrow's river cruise pier
See all Gambia accommodation options →Ask the barman for the 'green-season price', rooms drop by a third April, June.
Day 1 Budget: $110
2
River Gambia National Park by Boat
Cruise upstream to spot chimps, hippos and red colobus monkeys in protected river islands.
Morning
Guided boat safari
Board a low-draft pirogue at Denton Bridge, engine purring beneath the smell of diesel and river reeds. Watch pied kingfishers dive and listen for the splash of hippo pods.
Reserve through your Kotu hotel the night before
Lunch
Eat on board: packed benachin (one-pot tomato rice) prepared by your guide
Afternoon
Baboon Island chimp sanctuary viewing deck
From a floating pontoon, spot rescued chimps grooming each other under corkwood canopies. The air is thick with mangrove salt and distant fish-eagle cries.
Evening
Return to Kotu, dinner at Ali Baba's Garden
Octopus yassa with caramelized onions under fairy lights
Where to Stay Tonight
Kotu Beach (Same hotel or switch to a beachside eco-lodge)
Keeps luggage simple and lets you rinse salt off in the pool
See all Gambia accommodation options →Bring a dry-bag for cameras, the boat spray can surprise you.
Day 2 Budget: $120
3
Banjul Forts & Albert Market
Banjul
Cross to the capital for colonial history, produce piled high and afternoon lassis.
Morning
Arch 22 & National Museum
Ride the gondola-like ferry from Barra, diesel fumes mixing with river mist. Climb the spiral staircase inside Arch 22 for 360° views over tin roofs and baobabs.
Lunch
Stop at Musa's Stall in Albert Market
Afternoon
Albert Market wander
Aisles overflow with dried hibiscus, smoked catfish and bolts of wax-print cloth. Listen for the slap-slap of tailors' scissors and breathe in the peppery scent of kani kani spice.
Evening
Ferry back, beach walk at sunset
Grab a ginger beer from a street kiosk and watch the sky turn mango orange
Where to Stay Tonight
Kololi Beach (Kombo Beach Hotel or similar)
Closer to Senegambia nightlife yet quiet garden paths
See all Gambia accommodation options →Pay the ferry fare in dalasi coins, ticket staff prefer small change.
Day 3 Budget: $90
4
Weaving, Welding and Wassu Stones
Serekunda & Wassu
Head inland for craft villages and mysterious stone circles.
Morning
Serekunda Craft Market & tie-dye workshop
Under corrugated-iron roofs, women dip cotton in indigo vats. The sharp tang of dye stings the nose. Try tying your own pattern and rinse it in a plastic basin of river water.
Ask for 'Mariama's Workshop', she speaks fluent English
Lunch
Yaye Soumare's street stall
Afternoon
Wassu Stone Circles
An hour north, laterite monoliths rise from dry grass like rusted teeth. The wind whistles between them, carrying dust and the low hum of nearby cattle bells.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kololi (Same hotel)
Avoids repacking and keeps you near nightlife
See all Gambia accommodation options →Bring a sarong for modesty in the craft villages, shorts draw stares.
Day 4 Budget: $100
5
Tanji Fish Market & Paradise Beach
Dawn drums of fish auctions, then laze under palms on a quieter stretch of sand.
Morning
Tanji Fish Market at sunrise
Colorful pirogues slide onto black volcanic sand. Gulls shriek as men haul nets of shiny bonga. The air is thick with brine and wood smoke from drying sheds.
Arrange 5:30 am departure from Kololi by shared taxi
Lunch
Tanji Beach Bar
Afternoon
Great destination Beach relaxation
A short ride south, the sand turns peach-pink and the Atlantic roars. Hire a lounger, sip fresh coconut water and feel the cool spray on sun-warmed skin.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kololi (Same hotel or upgrade to a boutique guesthouse)
Lets you leave beach gear in the room
See all Gambia accommodation options →Pack a light scarf, sea breeze gets chilly after sunset even in season.
Day 5 Budget: $95
6
Jufureh & Kunta Kinteh Island
Jufureh & James Island
Trace the route of the slave trade by boat, then meet village griots and taste palm stew.
Morning
River cruise to Jufureh
From Lamin Lodge, glide past peanut-oil loading docks and red-cliff villages. The engine drowns out the creak of palms while egrets lift from mangroves like white confetti.
Buy tickets the evening before to secure shade seating
Lunch
Kadijatou's Compound
Afternoon
Kunta Kinteh Island tour
Walk the crumbling Portuguese fort, iron cannons now orange with rust. The echo of waves inside the dungeon cells mixes with the sweet smell of tidal mud.
Evening
Return to Kotu, sunset drumming circle
Beach Bar at Cape Point for impromptu kora and djembe jam
Where to Stay Tonight
Kotu Beach (Return to original hotel or pick a new beach hut)
End where you started for easy airport run next day
See all Gambia accommodation options →Bring small gifts, school pencils are welcome at Jufureh village.
Day 6 Budget: $110
7
Brunch, Souvenirs & Departure
Banjul Airport via Senegambia Strip
Last-minute shopping, a leisurely brunch and smooth ride to the terminal.
Morning
Senegambia Craft Market final browse
Wooden masks still smell of fresh carving oil. Beads click softly in the breeze. Bargain for a small kora keychain or hand-woven fan to slip into carry-on.
Lunch
Afternoon brunch at The Boss Room
Afternoon
Airport shuttle
A pre-booked taxi picks you up at 1 pm for the 25-minute run through bantaba villages and roadside baobabs to Banjul International.
Confirm pickup time the night before. Traffic can slow near the port
Evening
Departure
Duty-free stocks decent local coffee for souvenirs
Keep dalasi coins handy for departure tax, ATMs inside offer poor rates.
Day 7 Budget: $70
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Book Ahead
Reserve the River Gambia National Park boat and Tanji sunrise taxi. Hotels rarely sell out November, April but booking the first two nights helps with jet-lag.
Packing Essentials
Light cotton clothing, reef-safe sunscreen, dry-bag for electronics, small flashlight for village paths, scarf for boat wind, anti-malaria tablets.
Total Budget
$670, $840 for the week excluding airfare
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Stay in beach guesthouses with shared bathrooms, eat street afra, use public vans and skip private taxis. Est. $50, 60/day.
Luxury Upgrade
Upgrade to ocean-view suites, private pirogue charters, helicopter transfer to Kunta Kinteh Island and sunset yacht cruises. Est. $250, 300/day.
Family-Friendly
Swap late-night bars for earlier dinners, pick hotels with pools, shorten market walks and add Bijilo Forest Park monkey feeding for the kids. Carry baby wipes and small change for juice stands.
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