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Senegal itinerary for 2 weeks: Dakar, Saint-Louis, the Petite Côte and the Sine-Saloum
With 15 days in Senegal, do a loop: Dakar and Gorée, Lac Rose, Saint-Louis with the Djoudj and the Langue de Barbarie, then the Petite Côte and the Sine-Saloum. Allow 4 to 5 hours on the road to Saint-Louis, never at night. Casamance replaces the north if you prefer the south.
A Senegal itinerary for 2 weeks fits neatly into one loop: Dakar and Gorée, Lac Rose, Saint-Louis with Djoudj National Park and the Langue de Barbarie, then the Petite Côte and the Sine-Saloum delta. If you prefer the south, Casamance can replace the north, at the cost of a night on a boat or a flight.
Distances are modest, but the roads are slow and busy. Allow 4 to 5 hours between Dakar and Saint-Louis, leave early and never drive at night.
Before you go: season, pace and transport
When should you do this trip?
Go in the dry season, from November to May. The hivernage, the rainy season, runs from July to October. The French foreign ministry then advises against dirt tracks, and violent storms can cut off roads, even in Dakar.
For birds, aim for the heart of the dry season. Au Sénégal recommends the Djoudj from December to March, when most of the migratory birds are there. Generation Voyage advises the Langue de Barbarie from November to April.
A reasonable pace
The country divides into four main areas: Dakar and the Sine-Saloum, the Senegal River, eastern Senegal and Casamance. In 15 days, combine two of them, not three.
some days will be mostly devoted to getting from place to place.
This reminder applies to every route. A 4-hour trip often takes the whole day, between getting out of Dakar, the stops and arriving before dark.
Car with a driver, sept-place or bus?
The sept-place (seven-seat shared taxi) is the most widely used transport. These old station wagons only leave once they are full, so for long trips, aim for the first departures, around 6 a.m.
The Sénégal Dem Dikk buses are more comfortable, with seat belts, and run in daytime only. Their routes and timetables change: check them at the bus station before building them into your trip.
A car with a driver remains the most flexible option. It costs more than renting a car alone, but we recommend it, because road signs are rare.
| Route | Mode | Indicative price (Senego, October 2026) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakar to Saint-Louis | Sept-place | 4,000 to 6,000 CFA francs | 4 to 5 h |
| Dakar to Saint-Louis | Private company bus | 6,000 to 8,000 CFA francs | 4 to 5 h |
| Dakar to Mbour or Saly | Sept-place | 2,000 to 3,000 CFA francs | Depends on traffic |
| Dakar station to the airport | TER, 2nd class | 4,000 CFA francs | About 55 min |
These prices are ranges, not official fares. Always ask the price before you get in.
Senegal itinerary for 2 weeks, stage by stage
This route starts and ends at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), in Diass. Travel times come from the sources cited. When no source gives a reliable duration, the table says so.
| Days | Stage | Route | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, settle in Dakar | AIBD to Dakar | 55 min by TER, 40 min by taxi without traffic jams |
| 2 | Dakar | - | - |
| 3 | Gorée Island | Ferry | About 20 min |
| 4 | Dakar to Lac Rose | About 35 km | Depends on traffic jams |
| 5 | Lac Rose to Saint-Louis | Via Thiès and the N2 | A little less than from Dakar (4 h 30) |
| 6 | Saint-Louis | - | - |
| 7 | Djoudj National Park | 60 km | 1 h to 1 h 30 |
| 8 | Langue de Barbarie | Road to Gandiol, then pirogue | Excursion of about 4 h |
| 9 | Saint-Louis to the Petite Côte | Via Thiès, without entering Dakar | A full day on the road |
| 10 and 11 | Somone, Saly, Joal-Fadiouth | - | - |
| 12 | Petite Côte to the Sine-Saloum | Toward Palmarin or Ndangane | Less than from the airport (2 to 3 h) |
| 13 and 14 | Bolongs, islands, villages of the delta | Pirogue | - |
| 15 | Back to the airport | Sine-Saloum to AIBD | 2 to 3 h |
Days 1 to 3: Dakar and Gorée
Since September 28, 2026, the TER has linked the airport to Dakar station in about 55 minutes, according to Dakaractu. To choose your neighborhood, read our guide on where to stay in Dakar. The Plateau is convenient for Gorée, Ngor and Les Almadies for the sea.
Don't linger in Dakar longer than necessary. Two days are enough for the center, the Corniche and the Mamelles. Keep the third for Gorée Island, about 20 minutes by ferry from the port. You can even spend the night there.
Day 4: Lac Rose
Lake Retba, known as Lac Rose (the Pink Lake), lies about 35 km north-northeast of Dakar, according to UNESCO. It covers about 3 km², and salt has been harvested there since the 1970s. Its color changes over the course of the day, from mauve to bright pink.
The color is not guaranteed. In 2022, rainwater pumped out of flooded Dakar neighborhoods was discharged into the lake. It lost its color for nearly three years. In May 2025, Le Soleil reported that it had come back. Sleep nearby to avoid crossing Dakar the next morning.
Days 5 to 8: Saint-Louis, the Djoudj and the Langue de Barbarie
According to Au Sénégal, the 290 km between Dakar and Saint-Louis take about 4 hours 30 minutes. The road joins National Road 2 at Thiès, then runs through Tivaouane, Kébémer and Louga. From Lac Rose, you avoid crossing Dakar.
Saint-Louis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Faidherbe Bridge, 507 meters long, connects the island to the Sor district. Generation Voyage recommends crossing it on foot in the late afternoon.
Our advice
Book your excursions to the Djoudj and the Langue de Barbarie from Saint-Louis, through your accommodation or an agency. That way you avoid driving on dirt tracks.
The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is 60 km north of Saint-Louis. Au Sénégal allows 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes by road, on the N2 toward Richard-Toll. UNESCO counts about 1.5 million birds there, including great white pelicans, purple herons and flamingos. Part of the visit is by pirogue.
The Langue de Barbarie is a sand spit south of the city. You reach Gandiol by road, then board a pirogue. Generation Voyage quoted about 25,000 CFA francs per person for a 4-hour excursion, transport and entry included. Do not swim without asking for advice: the currents are dangerous.
Days 9 to 11: the Petite Côte
Day 9 is a travel day. You go back south, but turn off before Dakar toward the Petite Côte. Our sources give no duration for this trip: leave at dawn and plan nothing else.
Settle in Somone for the lagoon and the quiet, or in Saly for the hotels and restaurants. Our article on the Petite Côte compares the villages. From there, Joal-Fadiouth and its shell island make a half-day visit.
Watch out
The French foreign ministry reports thefts and assaults on the coast from Somone and Saly down to Joal, as well as at Lac Rose. Do not walk alone in the evening, and leave your passport and valuables in the safe.
Days 12 to 15: the Sine-Saloum
The Sine-Saloum delta is a maze of bolongs, sea channels lined with mangroves. Generation Voyage allows 2 to 3 hours by road between the airport and the first areas of the delta. From the Petite Côte, the trip is shorter.
Two bases are convenient. Palmarin and Djiffer, south of Joal, are about 15 minutes from each other. Ndangane is 20 minutes by pirogue from the island of Mar Lodj, according to the same site. Allow three to four days for a good overview.
Our advice
Withdraw cash before entering the delta, for example in Mbour or Kaolack.
On the last day, head back to the airport with 2 to 3 hours on the road, plus a good margin. For an early morning flight, spend the last night on the Petite Côte, closer to AIBD.
The Casamance variant
Casamance offers rice paddies, forests and the beaches of Cap Skirring. It replaces the north in this 15-day Senegal itinerary, because it needs at least five days.
| Days | Stage |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Dakar and Gorée |
| 4 | Night boat to Ziguinchor |
| 5 and 6 | Ziguinchor, then Oussouye |
| 7 and 8 | Cap Skirring |
| 9 | Back to Ziguinchor, boat or flight to Dakar |
| 10 to 15 | Petite Côte and Sine-Saloum, back to AIBD |
The Dakar to Ziguinchor boat
According to Au Sénégal, the Aline Sitoé Diatta ferry leaves Dakar at 8 p.m. and arrives in Ziguinchor around 11 a.m. the next day. It stops for about an hour at Carabane. The timetable on that page (updated in November 2025) listed four departures a week in each direction.
Prices for non-residents ranged from 15,900 CFA francs for a seat to 30,900 CFA francs for a two-berth cabin. Tickets cannot be booked online: you buy them at the ferry terminals in Dakar or Ziguinchor. Ideally, book at least two weeks ahead.
By road or by plane
The road runs through Kaolack and The Gambia, over about 450 km. Au Sénégal splits the trip into four sections of 1 to 3 hours each, which makes a very long day. You also have to enter The Gambia: the formalities depend on your nationality, so check them beforehand. Domestic flights link Dakar to Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring in about 35 minutes. Check the current airlines and schedules.
Watch out
The French foreign ministry places Casamance under heightened vigilance. Unless there is a compelling reason, it advises against the borders with The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau away from the main roads, as well as the strip south of Ziguinchor.
Stay on the main roads, such as Ziguinchor to Cap Skirring, and do not travel alone. The ministry states that the Cap Skirring hotel area presents no particular danger. Going into the forests, on the other hand, is strongly advised against.
Safety on the road
According to the France Diplomatie advice, updated on September 29, 2026, road accidents are very common. Many vehicles are old or poorly insured. Traveling between towns at night is advised against, because of the lack of lighting and pedestrians on the road.
Unless there is a compelling reason, the ministry also advises against the border with Mali and part of the Mauritanian border, including the Matam department. This itinerary does not go there. If you extend your trip to eastern Senegal, check the map before you leave.
On the Grande Côte, from Lac Rose to south of Saint-Louis, the sea is dangerous and often unsupervised. If you follow the beach between Dakar and Saint-Louis, go with a guide, because of the tides. Also check your own government's travel advice. The other safety guidelines are on our Senegal page.
Watch out
The Youth Olympic Games take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026 in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. If you travel on those dates, book accommodation and transport as soon as possible.
Health and entry requirements
Health
Malaria is present all year round throughout the country, according to the Institut Pasteur. The risk is slightly lower from January to the end of June in the west-central region, according to France Diplomatie. Protect yourself from mosquitoes, especially in the evening in the Saloum and at the Djoudj, and talk to your doctor about preventive treatment.
On yellow fever, the sources differ. The Senegalese government announced that a vaccination record has no longer been required on entry since March 9, 2026, and France Diplomatie applies the measure to travelers coming from a country without an epidemic. The Institut Pasteur still requires the certificate from those arriving from an at-risk country or who have transited through one. To be safe, get vaccinated at least 10 days before departure and keep the certificate with you.
A single dose has been valid for life since 2016, according to the WHO. A second dose is recommended if you were vaccinated before the age of 2, during pregnancy, or if you have HIV or a weakened immune system. A travel medicine center will tell you what applies to your case.
France Diplomatie also reports a diphtheria epidemic since September 2026: check that your boosters are up to date. Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is essential.
Entry requirements
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Your passport must be valid for more than six months. Check your case on our Senegal entry requirements page, with the Senegalese authorities or with your embassy. Start the process one to two weeks before departure.
The Tabaski and Korité holidays change dates every year and crowd the roads. Check our calendar of festivals in Senegal before setting your dates.
Which Senegal itinerary for 2 weeks should you choose?
| Criterion | North, Petite Côte and Saloum | Casamance, Petite Côte and Saloum |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Road, 4 to 5 h at most per stage | Night boat or flight, plus the road |
| Season | November to April for the birds | Dry season, from November to May |
| Highlights | Saint-Louis, Djoudj, Lac Rose | Rice paddies, villages, Cap Skirring |
| Safety | Caution on the coast and at Lac Rose | Heightened vigilance, main roads only |
For a first trip, choose the north. The stages are done by road, and Saint-Louis and the Djoudj are worth the detour. Choose Casamance if you already know Saint-Louis, or if you are looking for a greener, more rural Senegal.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the north and Casamance in 15 days?
It is possible with a domestic flight, but you will spend a lot of time in transit. You would then have to give up the Sine-Saloum or the Petite Côte.
Do you need to rent a car for this trip?
No. A car with a driver or the sept-places are enough.
Is the Djoudj open all year?
No. It closes during the rainy season. Au Sénégal gives opening months of November to June, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sahel Découverte mentions a closure from May to October. To be sure, aim for November to April and check locally.
How many days in Saint-Louis?
Plan four days including travel: one for the city, one for the Djoudj, one for the Langue de Barbarie, and the arrival.