EXPLORE the gAMBIA AND SENEGAL

BANJUL | GUNJUR | JUFUREH | KUNTA KINTEH ISLAND | MEDINA BAYE | TOUBA | LOMPOUL DESERT | BANDIA | PINK LAKE | GOREE | DAKAR

With $1,000 Deposit

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With a $500 Deposit

January 16 - 26, 2026

9 Nights LAND PACKAGE

Islam came to the region of Senegambia through trade routes from north Africa, beginning in the 9th century, with more significant local adoption of the faith by rulers, elites and the populace from the 10th and 11th centuries onwards. The Gambia and Senegal are closely connected West African nations, where Islam is the faith of 96-97% of the respective populations. The various ethnic and linguistic groups of the region provide a rich mixture of cultural traditions.

In The Gambia we will visit Masjid Abu Bakr, one of the capital Banjul’s oldest mosques, as well as the historic Dobson Street Mosque and Albert Market, which has been the city’s main hub of activity for over 150 years. We will visit a local zawiya (spiritual lodge) and meet with eminent scholars. We will also travel to Gunjur to visit the renowned Sand Dunes Mosque and a local Qur’an school. Our program includes a visit by ferry to Kunte Kinteh Island, where we will learn more about the origins of the Transatlantic slave trade.

We will then cross the border into Senegal, making our way to the spiritual centers of Touba and Medina Baye. We will have the opportunity to meet with scholars at the Great Mosque and interact with members of one the largest Sufi orders in West Africa. While there, we will visit the resting place of Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba, a key figure who led the resistance against French colonization. We will proceed to Dakar, the vibrant capital where we will gain insights on contemporary developments. A trip to Gorée Island will underscore the horrendous nature of the slave trade and offer an opportunity to honor the victims in remembrance and prayer. Along the way we will appreciate many natural wonders, from the Lompoul Desert to the Pink Lake, as well as the cuisines and artisanship, that reflect the deep-rooted beauty of the land and its peoples.

faculty guideS

Name: Senegal & The Gambia Islamic Heritage Tour
Start: 2024-01-05
End: 2024-01-16
Location: Senegal & The Gambia

shaykh MUSTAFA BRIGGS

Born and raised in London, United Kingdom, Shaykh Mustafa Briggs is a graduate of Arabic and International Relations from the University of Westminster, where his dissertation focused on Arabic Literature and Literacy in West Africa. He began an MA in Translation at SOAS, University of London, specializing in Arabic and Islamic Texts, before pursuing another degree in Islamic Studies and Arabic at al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

Aside from his formal studies, Shaykh Mustafa engaged in in-depth learning across various Islamic disciplines, receiving valuable instruction and numerous ʾIjāzāt (traditional scholarly licenses) in key Islamic texts and sciences from scholars in Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

PAPA MBALLO DIALLO

Papa Mballo Diallo, a native of Senegal, has called Austin, Texas home since 1998. A graduate of Huston-Tillotson University (a Historically Black College and University) he went on to earn a Master’s in Global Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Today, he works in the technology sector. Diallo's passion lies in sharing the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of his homeland. Having grown up near some of West Africa’s most renowned Islamic centers—Touba, Tivaouane, and Medina Baye—he brings a deeply personal and informed perspective to this journey. His lived experience offers travelers a window into how these sacred sites have grown into vibrant spiritual destinations, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world.

Through this 10-day journey across The Gambia and Senegal, Diallo hopes to help bridge cultures and generations, through a heartfelt exploration of West Africa’s Islamic legacy, its resilient communities, and its enduring spiritual traditions.

ITINERARY FOR the gambia and senegaL

Participants from the US/Canada should begin travel on or before Friday, January 16.

DAY 1 SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 ARRIVE IN BANJUL / WELCOME DINNER

DAY 2 SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 BANJUL CITY TOUR / NATIONAL MUSEUM / ZAWIYA VISIT & DINNER

DAY 3 MONDAY, JANUARY 19 DAY TRIP TO GUNJUR: SAND DUNES MOSQUE / QURAN SCHOOL /

ALBERT MARKET

DAY 4 TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 DAY TRIP TO JUFUREH AND KUNTA KINTEH ISLAND

DAY 5 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 CROSS OVER TO SENEGAL / POROKHANE / KAOLACK

DAY 6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 MEDINA BAYE: SCHOOL VISIT / SCHOLARS AT GREAT MOSQUE /

DHIKR

DAY 7 FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 TOUBA: JUMAH AT GRAND MOSQUE / DAARAY KAMIL LIBRARY /

LOMPOUL DESERT

DAY 8 SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 BANDIA SAFARI / PINK LAKE / DAKAR

DAY 9 SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 DAKAR: GOREE ISLAND / MUSEUM OF BLACK CIVILIZATION /

MEMORIAL

DAY 10 MONDAY, JANUARY 26 FREE TIME / DEPART FROM DAKAR

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With $1,000 Deposit

Bayan has been offering faculty-led tours to world heritage destinations since 2017, with previous tours to Southern Spain, Morocco, Malaysia, Cambodia & Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jerusalem & Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Senegal & The Gambia, with exciting new destinations being planned in the coming years.

WHY JOIN A BAYAN TOUR?

Tours offered by Bayan cater to the diverse interests and needs of families, while offering an exceptional educational and cultural program. Each tour is led by one or more faculty members who provide daily background lectures and insights about the historical and contemporary contexts. Local guides are utilized as well at various points in time. The itinerary is crafted by experienced planners to maximize your enjoyment and satisfaction. While the scheduled program is robust, ample time is provided to explore on your own, shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs, and enjoy some leisure activities. Bayan’s tour group size is typically between 20-30 participants.

Tour highlights

The Gambia

Capital city of Banjul
Masjid Abu Bakr, one of Banjul's oldest mosques
Historic Dobson Street Mosque
Albert Market
Sand Dunes Mosque, Gungur
Kunta Kinteh Island

Senegal

Porokhane
Kaolack, Tijaniyyah tariqah
Historic city of Touba
Great Masjid of Touba
Lompoul Desert
Safari in Bandia
Pink Lake
Goree Island
Tour of the capital city of Dakar

Along with visiting these sites, we will encounter the people and make friendships, sample various Senegambian cuisines, appreciate cultural programs, and enjoy the natural landscapes that we pass through.

Hotels

Our tour group will stay in the following cities:

Banjul: Hotel Majula (4 nights)
Kaolack: Medinh Baye Residences (2 nights)
Lompoul Desert: Oasis du Desert (1 night)
Dakar: Hotel Azalai (2 nights)

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With $1,000 Deposit

take advantage of early bird pricing!

Tour information

TOUR PRICING - LAND PACKAGE ONLY

All pricing is double-occupancy, airfare is not included.

Early Bird (before 9/1/25] Regular

ADULT $3,495 $3,695

MINOR (age 8-17) $2,995 $3,195

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $750 $750

LAND PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

Airport transfers on January 17 in Banjul and January 26 in Dakar
9 nights hotel (4 *)
Ground transportation by private A/C coach
Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, 6 dinners
Daily commentary/discussion with faculty guide(s)
Local English-speaking guides as needed

EXCLUSIONS

International multi-city airfare (budget about $1,500 per person from US gateways) and applicable baggage fees
Tourist visa if required. US passport holders on arrival to The Gambia must pay $108 USD plus a $20 USD security fee; no visa is required for US passport holders to visit Senegal
Local taxi and public transportation fares during optional excursions
Gratuities for driver(s) and local guide(s)
Additional meals/beverages
Personal items, hotel incidentals, hotel porters and other individualized services
Urgent care, medical treatment and testing, related expenses
Travel insurance (recommended)

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Arriving to The Gambia

Several airlines provide service to The Gambia and Senegal. Participants should book “Multi-city” flights to Banjul (BJL), and arrive from on Saturday, January 17th by mid-afternoon. The tour program officially begins with a welcome dinner on that day. For travelers from the US, this would mean departing from your city of origin on Friday, January 16 (or earlier depending on connecting flights and cities). Based on your arrival time in Banjul, a transfer will be arranged for your party from the airport to the hotel, only on January 17 (if you arrive earlier, you will need to make your own transfer arrangements and hotel reservations for any extra nights).

Departing from Senegal

The group hotel reservation ends with check-out by noon on January 26. Participants departing from Dakar (DSS) on January 26 will be provided a transfer to the airport several hours before their flight departure time. Those who wish to remain longer in Senegal after the tour concludes must make their own lodging arrangements for the night of January 26 and beyond, and arrange their own transfer to the airport on their departure date.

Booking Your Flights

Once you’ve paid your deposit to Bayan Tours, you should research and book your flights as soon as possible to try and obtain well-priced airfare with suitable flight timings and layovers. We will provide some sample flight itineraries on various airlines to help you determine the same or similar itineraries based on your origin point. You can use your own travel agent, check airline websites, or use other booking sites to select the flight legs that are best for you. We recommend that you choose routes with layovers of not less than 90 minutes.

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With $1,000 Deposit

Who is leading the tour?

Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including eight previous programs in Southern Spain.
What is the expected group size?

Bayan’s tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring academic knowledge, historical site visits, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. The itinerary includes visits to mosques and other sites of prayer. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan’s mission as a non-profit educational institution. Our group size tends to be in the range of 20-30 participants. This enables participants to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime.
When is the registration deadline?

We are accepting registrations for the tour until February 28, in order to book desired hotel rooms, obtain entrance tickets to monuments, and finalize other details. You must pay a refundable deposit of $750 per traveler. Deposits are partially refundable through January 31, 2025, however, a cancellation charge of $ 100 per traveler will apply for any cancellation requested 24 hours after time of booking. For other important terms and conditions, please click here. Deposits after this date are non-refundable but can be applied to a different tour within a one-year time frame. After payment of your deposit, you will receive an invoice for the remaining balance for your party, reflecting any applicable discounts. The balance payment is due no later than January 31, 2025.
Is a visa required for U.S. citizens to enter Spain?

Bayan’s tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa to enter Spain for tourism. This is true for nationals of many other countries as well. However, non-US passport holders are encouraged to check requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required. We are unable to assist in obtaining visas.
How physically demanding is the tour?

Our group will be transported from city to city in a luxury air-conditioned tourist bus. However, in each city, since we will be in the historical centers where buses can't go, we will mainly be walking from site to site. In Madrid we will use the metro (subway) at times, as well as taxis. In any case, there will be a significant amount of walking on most days, on slight inclines and steps. The streets at times will have cobblestones. participants should expect to walk roughly 12,000 steps each day (about 6 miles in aggregate) during the first few days of the program, and perhaps 8,000 steps per day during the latter portion of the itinerary. At any given time, we will cover 1/4 to 1/2 mile between rest points. We will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Even so, this tour may not be suitable for those with knee, hip or foot pain that could be aggravated by the amount of walking involved, and a private tour might be preferable. Ideally, all participants should prepare for the tour by walking at least 5,000 steps per day in the weeks leading up to the tour.
What type of food will we have on the tour?

Spain’s food is a mix of Mediterranean and local traditions. Some dishes, such as paella, reveal their roots in Arab/Muslim cuisines. While the types of vegetarian options have grown in recent years in Spain, most local meat dishes feature pork. During the tour, we will dine at restaurants that serve zabiha halal foods, or at places that offer seafood and vegetarian options. We will be sure to avoid any foods prepared with pork or alcohol. You can expect meals to include Middle Eastern, Turkish and Moroccan dishes at restaurants run by local Muslims, and Italian and other types of dishes more generally. You’ll have the option of sampling various suitable tapas, small dishes with beverages.
Will you provide more information about the daily schedule and other details?

Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.
What precautions are you taking with regard to COVID-19?

We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. U.S. citizens can travel to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate, or show a negative diagnostic test result performed either within 72 hours prior to departure to Spain for a PCR test or within 24 hours prior to departure for a rapid antigen test. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual’s comfort level. For example, when shopping in crowded areas, it would be best to wear a mask. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times, such as washing hands with soap, using sanitizing gels and wipes, and maintaining a reasonable distance between individuals.