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Saint-Louis Jazz Festival – Senegal May 2026

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Dates confirmed!
From$3,600
Dates confirmed!
From$3,600
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214
9 Days / 8 Nights
Availability : 5/9/2026 (9am) to 5/17/2026 (9pm)
Depart from Dakar (DSS) Airport
Pickup at Dakar (DSS) Airport
Tour Details

Join us for a 9-day, 8-night immersive adventure during one of West Africa’s most iconic cultural events—the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal. This unique trip offers a rich blend of live music, historical exploration, and meaningful cultural connection in two of Senegal’s most captivating cities: Dakar and Saint-Louis.

✅ Experience the energy of the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal—with exclusive access to concerts, artist showcases, and community celebrations
✅ Explore Senegal’s diverse cultural landscape through its languages, religions, cuisine, and daily life
✅ Engage with local musicians, artists, and historians in intimate group settings for deeper understanding and exchange
✅ Visit Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and reflect on its historical significance
✅ Enjoy boutique accommodations and curated dining that reflect the warmth and richness of Senegalese hospitality
✅ Travel comfortably in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with expert local guides and support staff

From jazz under the stars in Saint-Louis to the bustling markets and vibrant coastline of Dakar, this weeklong journey offers an unforgettable window into the rhythm and soul of Senegal. Whether you’re a music lover, cultural explorer, or curious traveler, you’ll return home inspired, energized, and more connected to the world.

Start and End Location

Pickup/Drop-off at DSS, Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (Google Map)

Start Time

9 am

Price Includes

  • 8 Nights Hotel Accommodation
  • 4-day tickets for Exclusive VIP access to Saint-Louis Jazz Fest (all 8 headline shows)
  • Exclusive visits and excursions
  • All Ground Transportation in Senegal
  • All Entrance Fees
  • All Meals
  • All Tips

Price Excludes

  • International Airfare to/from Senegal
  • Required Travel and Medical Evacuation Insurance
  • Passport/Visa Fees
  • Required Yellow Fever Vaccination and Any Other Health-Related Costs
  • Any Private Expenses (gifts, souvenirs, snacks, laundry, etc.)
What to Expect
  • Live Jazz, Up Close: Enjoy world-class performances at the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival in intimate, open-air settings. From riverside stages to colonial courtyards, the music is as atmospheric as it is unforgettable. Headline shows begin at 9:00pm and 11:00pm.
  • Pre-Departure Support: We’ll host 2–3 optional Zoom sessions to introduce you to Senegalese history, music, culture, and practical travel tips—so you arrive informed, confident, and ready to connect.
  • Seamless Travel: Private transportation between Dakar, Saint-Louis, and Gorée Island ensures you travel safely and comfortably while taking in Senegal’s coastal beauty and local life along the way.
  • Historical Sites: Spend a day on Gorée Island, where you'll explore its powerful history and UNESCO-recognized architecture and nature. In Saint-Louis, discover the legacy of French West Africa through guided walking tours.
  • Senegalese Hospitality: Dine at locally-owned restaurants serving traditional food and drink like thieboudienne, yassa, and bissap. Dietary needs can typically be accommodated.
  • Historical & Heritage Sites: Tour Gorée Island, explore colonial architecture, and reflect on Senegal’s complex past and present.
  • Meaningful Dialogue: Whether you’re learning a few Wolof phrases or exchanging stories with locals, expect to engage in real conversations that bring cultural understanding to life.
  • A waitlist is available when our trips are fully booked. Join the waitlist and we will let you know if we can offer another tour or include you on this one.
Sample Itinerary

Day 1Arrival + Dakar

Saturday (May 9) – Arrival, Orientation & Local Arts

  • Morning: Land at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) and meet your Vive team and local guide who will pick you up around 9am to head to our hotel.
  • Settle in by the pool as we start our day with a cultural orientation with a focus on greetings, personal well-being, bargaining, and other aspects of Senegalese culture and life.
  • Head out to visit some iconic sites as you climb the stairs at the African Renaissance Monument for panoramic city views and powerful stories of modern Africa. We will follow this with a visit to the beautiful Mosquée Massilikoul Djinane.
  • Explore a local artisanal market for a little shopping and to see the artisans at work.
  • End your first day at our Dakar hotel with dinner in a beautiful outside terrace.

Day 2History & Heritage in Dakar

Sunday (May 10) – Gorée Island, Mosques & Markets

  • Morning:  Take an early ferry to Gorée Island, where you’ll explore the House of Slaves and reflect on the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade. 
  • End the afternoon with a visit to the Musée des civilisations noires in Dakar.
  • In the evening we will have dinner outdoors in front of the ocean and then return to our Dakar hotel for a good night’s sleep before heading to Saint-Louis in the morning.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 3 Journey to Saint-Louis

Monday (May 11) – Road to Jazz & Colonial Charm

  • We will depart early to head north to Saint-Louis (approximately 5-6 hour drive, including stops to visit with local artisans, stretch your legs, pause at rest stops).
  • Along the way we will pause to see artisanal shoemakers north of Thiès, 3rd largest city of Senegal.
  • Once we arrive in Saint-Louis, we will check in and then take a horse & carriage tour of Saint Louis Island and Island Guet Ndar, a fishing village along the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Afterwards, we will have time back at our hotel where you can take a walk on the beach, rest by the pool, or sit under the filao trees..
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4UNESCO Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj

Tuesday (May 12) – Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary 

  • We will embark on a half-day excursion to Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj, a UNESCO biosphere and one of the world’s most important bird sanctuaries.
  • In the afternoon we will return to the hotel around 2pm for a relaxing afternoon at the beach and pool.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5Saint-Louis Jazz Fest (Day 1)

Wednesday (May 13) – Jazz Fest!

  • We will embark on a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Saint-Louis Island.
  • Visit the iconic Hôtel de la Poste, once a stop on the legendary Antoine de Saint-Exupéry aéropostale route.
  • Along the way we will also visit the Musée de la Photographie and make time to pause at some local boutiques, including the first fair trade shop in Senegal.
  • There will be plenty of free time to spend in town or at beach and hotel as well.
  • Opening Night Saint-Louis Jazz Concerts start at 21:00 and 23:00.
  • Transport will be available to and from the hotel and downtown Saint-Louis.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

NOTE: We anticipate a number of unadvertised events and concerts during each day of the Jazz Fest. As these pop up, we will be sure to make sure you are aware so you can take advantage of as much music as you want. 

Day 6St. Louis Jazz Fest (Day 2), Griots, Drumming and Cultural Exchange

Thursday (May 14) – Griots, Drumming and Cultural Exchange

  • To learn more about Senegalese culture we will meet a local griot, a traditional storyteller, genealogist, historian, and drummer at his home; hear about his societal role, and learn about the role of drumming.
  • We will have time in the afternoon to relax, and get ready for another night of jazz.
  • The second night of the Saint-Louis Jazz Fest starts with key concerts at 21:00 and 23:00.
  • Transport will be available to and from the hotel and downtown Saint-Louis.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7Saint-Louis Jazz Fest (Day 3) and Architectural, Historical Visits

Friday (May 15) – Architectural, Historical Visits

  • We will again have time to sleep in, relax, and get ready for another night of jazz. 
  • Friday’s key activity will be to visit the Saintl-Louis Centre Culturel, former home of the Governor of French West Africa for a traditional Senegalese lunch and other activities.
  • The second night of the Saint-Louis Jazz Fest starts with key concerts at 21:00 and 23:00.
  • Transport will be available to and from the hotel and downtown Saint-Louis.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8Saint-Louis Jazz Fest (Day 4) and Pirogues

Saturday (May 16) – Jazz and Pirogues

  • As on other days we expect to have time to sleep in, relax, and enjoy the beach and pool.
  • Depending on interest, we may take a tour of the Langue de Barbarie via pirogue ride.
  • There will be additional time to go in downtown Saint-Louis to visit local stores or just to stroll through downtown.
  • Close the day with your final Jazz Fest night—soak in the music and final celebrations.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Head South to the Petite Côte

Sunday (May 17) – Travel day to take Flights Home

  • After breakfast we will have a morning departure from Saint-Louis to Saly, a relaxed coastal resort town ideal for reflection and recharging.
  • Along the way we will stop and visit basket weavers and sellers.
  • If flying to the US on a direct United or Delta flight early in the morning, you will arrive in the US on the same day. We will provide multiple transfers to the airport to accommodate your departure schedules.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Photos
Former governor of French West Africa's home
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