Welcome and assistance upon arrival. Departure for Lake Retba, better known as the Pink Lake. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Le Trarza Hotel 3* or similar. (D)

Departure for Dakar and transfer to Gorée Island, a memorial site designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through this former centre of the transatlantic slave trade, known for its colourful houses, wooden balconies and sandy streets leading to the sea. Visit the House of Slaves, followed by lunch. Return to Dakar for an orientation tour of the capital. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel at Pink Lake. (B-L-D)

Start the day with a 4x4 excursion to discover the traditional salt harvesting activities of Lake Retba before crossing the impressive dunes that separate the lake from the wild Atlantic beaches. Lunch in Thiès, a discreet colonial town that has preserved its unique character. Continue to Ngaye Mékhé, known as the capital of Senegalese craftsmanship. This region is renowned for its rich traditions, including leatherwork and basket weaving made from straw and plant fibres. Arrive in Saint-Louis, Senegal, the “Pearl of the North” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check in on the Langue de Barbarie. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Cap Saint-Louis Hotel 3* or similar. (B-L-D)

Morning boat excursion in Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, the world’s third-largest bird reserve. This remarkable natural sanctuary, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes millions of migratory birds each winter. Return to Saint-Louis for lunch with a local family and discover Senegal’s national dish, thiéboudiène, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the afternoon, explore the city by horse-drawn carriage, discovering its colonial architecture and distinctive neighbourhoods. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. (B-L-D)

Departure for the village of N’Guelakh for an immersive experience into the daily life of a Sahel community committed to its own development. Visit the ecological farm, vegetable gardens, weaving and dyeing workshops, as well as local schools and health centres. Lunch at a lodge overlooking the Senegal River. Continue through majestic landscapes reminiscent of the vast Sahara Desert. Walk among the dunes and along the ocean shore. Dinner and overnight stay in a Saharan tent. Okaï Ecolodge Oasis Desert Hotel 3* or similar. (B-L-D)

This morning, depart for the village of Nianing to discover its remarkable church architecture. Continue to Joal-Fadiouth and explore the beautiful Sine Saloum region. Walking tour of Fadiouth Island, built on a mound of seashells. Discover its millet granaries on stilts, its unique cemetery where people of different faiths are buried, its peaceful lanes and its welcoming community. Arrive in Palmarin at the end of the day. Ecolodge de Palmarin 2+* or similar. (B-L-D)

Meet the children of the Samba Dia nursery school before setting out for a day exploring the Sine Saloum Islands. From the Ndangane pier, board a traditional pirogue and cruise to Bird Island, a natural sanctuary home to a wide variety of species within the mangrove ecosystem. Continue to Mar Lodj Island. Walk through this village where Catholics, Muslims and followers of traditional beliefs live side by side. Visit the intertwined sacred trees, a site associated with marabout healing traditions, and learn about local beliefs linked to spirits and jinns. Discover the traditional talking drum used to communicate between villages. Cruise through the Fossémou bolongs, winding waterways that weave through the mangroves. Enjoy a grilled fish lunch with your feet in the water on a specially designed platform. Return to Ndangane before continuing to the seaside resort of Saly. Les Bougainvillées Hotel 3* or similar. (B-L-D)

Morning and lunch at leisure to enjoy the seaside. Optional ($): safari in Bandia Reserve. Transfer to the airport according to the flight schedule. (B-L)