BeachGambia Beach Week
- 5★ beach hotel, half board
- Flights from London, Manchester or Birmingham
- Return airport transfers
From£749per person · 2 sharing
View details
The Gambia · Holidays from the UK
The Gambia holidays from the UK
Warm beaches on the Atlantic coast, mangrove creeks and birdlife on the river, and the capital, Banjul. A UK consultant arranges your flights, hotels and transfers as one ATOL protected holiday.
Packages from £649 per person, with return flights, hotel and transfers
About 6 hours away
Direct flights from London, Manchester and Birmingham in the winter season.
Winter sun
Dry, warm weather from November to May, with daytime highs of around 32–35°C.
Muslim-majority country
Halal food is the norm and mosques are found in every town.
ATOL protected
Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416.
The Gambia holiday packages
The Gambia holiday packages
Flights, hotel and transfers in one price. Every package can be changed: more nights, a different hotel or another UK airport.
3 packages · guide prices per person
Beach
WildlifeGambia River & Wildlife
- 5★ hotel at Kotu
- Flights from London, Manchester or Birmingham
- River trip and wildlife day included
From£899per person · 2 sharing
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Beach and cityBanjul & Beach
- 5★ hotel near Cape Point
- Flights from London, Manchester or Birmingham
- Guided day in Banjul
From£649per person · 2 sharing
View details
Overview
The Gambia holiday guide for UK travellers
The Gambia is a narrow country on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, wrapped around the Gambia River. It is a winter sun destination: direct flights from the UK take approx. 6 hours, and from November to May the weather is dry and warm. Most UK visitors stay on the coast near Kololi, Kotu or Cape Point, with day trips inland.
The coast has long sandy beaches, with hotels at Kololi and Kotu and a lively strip of restaurants and shops at Senegambia. The airport at Yundum is approx. 30 minutes from the main resorts, so transfers are short.
Away from the beach, the Gambia River and its mangrove creeks are the main draw, with boat trips, birdwatching and wildlife reserves. Banjul, the capital, is on an island at the river mouth, with Arch 22, the National Museum, Albert Market and the King Fahad Mosque.
Where to stay
Where to stay in The Gambia
Three bases on the coast, from beach resorts to the capital. Transfer times are approximate and depend on your hotel.
Kololi
Beach · Restaurants · Families
A long beach with hotels along the sand, and the Senegambia strip of restaurants and shops close by. Bijilo Forest Park, with its monkeys, is a short taxi ride away.
Nearest airport: Banjul Airport, approx. 30 mins
Packages from £749 pp
Kotu & Cape Point
Birdwatching · Quieter · Beach
Quieter beaches at Kotu, with Kotu Creek for birdwatching, and Cape Point at Bakau, closer to the river mouth and Banjul.
Nearest airport: Banjul Airport, approx. 30–45 mins
Packages from £749 pp
Banjul
Capital · Markets · History
The capital sits on an island at the mouth of the Gambia River. Most visitors stay on the coast and visit on a day trip, for Arch 22, Albert Market and the National Museum.
Nearest airport: Banjul Airport, approx. 45 mins
Packages from £649 pp
Things to see
Places to see in The Gambia
A few of the sights to plan your trip around. We can suggest hotels close to the ones you most want to see.
Weather
The Gambia weather by month
Average daytime highs in Banjul, with the sea temperature. The chart runs from June to May, so the dry season sits in one block. Hover over or tap a month for the figures.
View as a table
| Month | Banjul | Sea at Banjul |
|---|---|---|
| Jun | 33°C | 26°C |
| Jul | 32°C | 28°C |
| Aug | 31°C | 28°C |
| Sep | 31°C | 28°C |
| Oct | 32°C | 29°C |
| Nov | 33°C | 27°C |
| Dec | 32°C | 24°C |
| Jan | 32°C | 21°C |
| Feb | 34°C | 21°C |
| Mar | 35°C | 21°C |
| Apr | 35°C | 22°C |
| May | 34°C | 24°C |
Long-term averages from weather2travel.com. Actual weather varies year to year.
Dry season, November to May
Almost no rain, with daytime highs of around 32–35°C. March and April are the hottest months, at around 35°C.
Rainy season, June to October
Showers and humidity build through the summer. August is the wettest month, with around 17 rainy days on average. The sea is at its warmest, at around 28°C.
Sea temperature
The Atlantic is coolest from January to March, at around 21°C, and warms to around 28°C from July to September.
A mosque beside a busy street
Halal holidays
Halal holidays in The Gambia
The Gambia is a Muslim-majority country, and halal food is the norm in restaurants and hotels. Mosques are found throughout the coast and in Banjul. Alcohol is served in many tourist hotels, so tell your consultant if you would like a quieter hotel and we’ll check what suits.
- Halal foodMeat served in local restaurants is generally halal; ask at your hotel if unsure
- Mosques nearbyMosques in every town, and the King Fahad Mosque in Banjul
- Quieter hotelsSome hotels are away from the bars; tell us what you need and we’ll check
- Prayer facilitiesPrayer mats and qibla direction on request; facilities vary by hotel
- Local dishesDomoda, a peanut stew, and fresh fish with rice are common local meals
- Modest dressAway from the hotel and beach, modest dress is the local custom
The Gambia holiday FAQs
Questions about The Gambia holidays
Quick answers for UK travellers. For anything else, our UK team is happy to help.
020 7871 4545How long is the flight to The Gambia from the UK?
Direct flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham take approx. 6 hours and run in the winter season, roughly October to April. At other times of year you fly with one stop. The Gambia is on GMT all year, so the time is the same as the UK in winter and 1 hour behind in summer.
When is the best time to visit The Gambia?
November to May is the dry season, with almost no rain and daytime highs of around 32–35°C. June to October is the rainy season, with the most rain in August and September.
Where should I stay in The Gambia?
Most UK visitors choose the coast. Kololi has a long beach with restaurants and shops close by, Kotu and Cape Point are quieter and suit birdwatching, and Banjul is usually a day trip. Airport transfers are approx. 30 to 45 minutes.
Is The Gambia a good destination for Muslim travellers?
The Gambia is a Muslim-majority country. Halal food is the norm, and mosques are found in every town. Alcohol is served in many tourist hotels, so tell us if you want a quieter hotel and we’ll check what’s available before you book.
What currency is used in The Gambia?
The dalasi (GMD). Hotels and some restaurants take cards, but you need dalasi cash for markets, taxis and small shops. Change money at your hotel or a bank, and keep some small notes.
Are The Gambia holiday packages ATOL protected?
Yes. Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416, and you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate when you pay.
More holiday destinations
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Other warm-weather destinations in Africa, with mosques, halal food and winter sun.
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Riads and souks in Marrakech and Fes, Agadir’s long sandy beach and the blue streets of Chefchaouen.
East AfricaKenya
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Safari in the Masai Mara, then a week on the Indian Ocean coast at Diani Beach, with flights from London of around eight and a half hours.
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Nungwi & Kendwa · Stone Town · Serengeti & Ngorongoro
White-sand beaches and the old Stone Town on Zanzibar, with a fly-in safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro as an add-on.
Planning a The Gambia holiday?
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