Senegal Tour Feat Saint Louis Jazz Festival

Arrive in Dakar, Senegal. You will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Overnight at Hotel in Dakar (Meals Included: Breakfast)

After breakfast, depart for a full-day tour of the mysterious Pink Lake. Arrive at this incredible rose-colored body of water known as Pink Lake, (‘Lac Rose’ in French, ‘Retba’ in Wolof). Take some time to swim in the shallow, warm waters without any fear of drowning. You are guaranteed to float (as everything floats on this lake due to its very high salinity). During the week, men and mostly women are busy crushing the bottom of the lake, which consists of a thick crust of salt. The lake is particularly spectacular at dawn and dusk, when feldspar deposits reflecting the sunlight through the salty waters produce the unique and vibrant pink color. Located just outside of Dakar, the lake is surrounded by sand dunes, a baobab forest and traditional villages with thatch-roofed huts in the middle of Senegal’s ‘garden belt.” The area produces huge quantities of flowers and vegetables for domestic consumption and export. While men farm the gardens, women control the sale of goods at all levels, except exports. After visiting the lake, have lunch on your own at a nearby resort located on the beach. You will have the opportunity to relax by the pool, take a ride along the beach on a camel or ride on the beach in a dune buggy. Overnight at lodge in Pink Lake (Meals Included: Breakfast).

After breakfast, depart for a full-day tour of the mysterious Pink Lake. Arrive at this incredible rose-colored body of water known as Pink Lake, (‘Lac Rose’ in French, ‘Retba’ in Wolof). Take some time to swim in the shallow, warm waters without any fear of drowning. You are guaranteed to float (as everything floats on this lake due to its very high salinity). During the week, men and mostly women are busy crushing the bottom of the lake, which consists of a thick crust of salt. The lake is particularly spectacular at dawn and dusk, when feldspar deposits reflecting the sunlight through the salty waters produce the unique and vibrant pink color. Located just outside of Dakar, the lake is surrounded by sand dunes, a baobab forest and traditional villages with thatch-roofed huts in the middle of Senegal’s ‘garden belt.” The area produces huge quantities of flowers and vegetables for domestic consumption and export. While men farm the gardens, women control the sale of goods at all levels, except exports. After visiting the lake, have lunch on your own at a nearby resort located on the beach. You will have the opportunity to relax by the pool, take a ride along the beach on a camel or ride on the beach in a dune buggy. Overnight at lodge in Pink Lake (Meals Included: Breakfast)

After breakfast depart on a reflective drive to Lac de Guiers as you journey through some typical Senegalese villages. Visit Keur Momar Sarr, and catch their big Saturday Market Day. Spend time in the bustling market to get a taste of daily life in Senegal. Later in the afternoon, continue to Lake Guiers for a picnic lunch. This trip includes a visit to a Fulani village and Richard Toll, which are famous for their lush sugar cane farms. Return to Saint Louis in the late afternoon to attend the jazz festival celebrations. Overnight at Hotel in Saint Louis (Meals Included: Breakfast).

After breakfast, spend the morning at leisure or exploring Saint Louis on your own. After lunch, depart to attend the jazz festival celebrations. Overnight at Hotel in Saint Louis (Meals Included: Breakfast)

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. After a morning departure, drive through several small villages before reaching the large red dunes. You will be awed by this spectacle of nature. Continue towards Rao and visit the local market and villages of various ethnic groups. As part of the trip, the group will learn about the schooling system in the villages, and also how the local women participate in farming and other income-generating activities. Return to Saint Louis to participate in the festival. Overnight at Hotel in Saint Louis (Meals Included: Breakfast).

After breakfast, depart Saint Louis for Lompoul. Lompoul is a desert where you will participate in an afternoon full of trekking and other fun activities. You will enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner in Lompoul. Overnight accommodation will be in Bedouins tents, also in Lompoul. (Meals included: Dinner)

After breakfast, the group will depart for Saly. En-route, you will visit the Bandai Nature Reserve. This nature haven presents the opportunity to view a variety of animals including buffaloes, antelopes, rhinos, monkeys, and other animals. Continue to Saly for dinner. Overnight at Hotel in Saly (Meals Included: Breakfast)

After breakfast, depart for the island of Fadiouth with a drive through Joal and several other traditional villages on the way. Lunch on this day will be on the island of Fadiouth, a unique village built on a bank of shells. Later, leave Fadiouth for an evening party in the village, with a sumptuous spread of traditional food and delicacies. You will also enjoy local entertainment as part of the evening’s festivities. Overnight at Hotel in Saly (Meals Included: Breakfast)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy last-minute shopping for souvenirs IN Saly or relax at the sandy beach. Later, transfer to the Blaise Diagne (Diass) airport for check-in and departure