Burkina Faso Tours and Travel

While tours are currently on hold in Burkina Faso, below is an example itinerary for when tours are able to resume. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for perfect private and independent Burkina Faso tours as soon as the security situation allows it.

Example of a Burkina Faso Itinerary (7 days)

Day 1: Arrive to Ouagadougou – Bobo Dioulasso

• Arrive in the capital Ouagadougou where the local guide and driver will greet you before being taken to the hotel.
• After settling in, you will begin your journey to Bobo Dioulasso, the second-largest city in the country and home to beautiful neo-Sudanic architecture. The economy here is based on bicycle assembly works, cigarette factories, cotton procurement, food processing plants and the sale of metals such as ivory, bronze and silver. Bobo Dioulasso is home to some of the most interesting architecture in the country.
• Here in Bobo Dioulasso, you will have your first taste of the Burkina food
• Visit the Grand Marché, Bobo’s main market. Here you can wander around the artisan’s market, where everything handmade can be bought from clothes, jewelry and souvenirs.
• For dinner, you can find a maquis, or typical Burkinabe open-air bars which turn into nightclubs. A good opportunity to mingle with the locals and have a fun time!

Day 2: Bobo Dioulasso – Banfora – Sindou – Kawara – Banfora

• After breakfast you will head to Banfora to visit the Fabedougou Domes to watch the sunrise. These stunning rock formations are over 2 billion years old, yet they’ve hardly weathered at all. Looking closely, one can see the signs of ancient ocean erosion, from eons ago when the land was covered in water. This area was historically used by locals to hide from neighboring tribes.
• You will then embark on a boat for a trip on the Tengrela Lake where you can watch hippos up close and personal (but not too close and personal). According to local legend, the hippos are sacred and would never attack humans!
• You then will have a local lakeside picnic before traveling onwards to the village of Sindou, a place known for its stunning landscape which you can immerse yourself in.
• Hike 1.5km to the Karfiguela Falls, a series of waterfalls that marks one of Burkina Faso’s most popular tourist sites.
• Explore the village and the impressive rock formations for which it is renowned for, the Peaks of Sindou. Reaching a grand 415 meters above sea level, it’s the highest point in Burkina Faso. Historically, the peaks were a popular place for many to live as it offered excellent natural defense against invaders. Each rock formation has a story and your local guide can tell you all about them while you enjoy the stunning views of Burkina Faso.
• Drive out of Sindou and visit Kawara, a village of potters known for performing a traditional pottery dance.
• At last, you can head back to Banfora for an overnight stay.

Day 3: Banfora – Gaoua

• Today you will travel from Banfora to the west towards Gaoua, the capital of Lobi Country.
• Upon arrival, you’ll visit the Poni museum, where you can learn all about the culture of the Lobi people.
• Then, stop for lunch at the local market, before heading outside of Gaoua to explore some local villages
• Dinner and overnight in Gaoua, where you can enjoy a local dinner, trying the delicious local cuisine.

Day 4:  Gaoua – Bazoule – Ouagadougou

• Wake up and have breakfast and coffee to start your day!
• Your journey continues as you embark on another road trip to Ouagadougou. On the way, you will make scenic stops and have a lunch break.
• Stop in the city Bazoule, a sacred crocodile pond. Much like with the hippos, the locals respect and co-exist with the crocodiles. They are never hunted, harmed or killed. In exchange, the crocs do not eat the locals. Believe it or not, it’s even possible to play with the crocodiles, some of which are believed to be over a hundred years old, with the oldest dubbed the “old man of the lake”.
• Enjoy a lunch in Banfora where you can try a plethora of local food before going to visit the crocodiles and for the daring standing up close to take one of the iconic “I went to Burkina” crocodile photos
• Arrive in the Capital Ouagadougou and get settled in the hotel. Prepare for a night of music, dinner and some beers!

Day 5:  Ouagadougou – Pô – Tiébélé – Manga

• You will start early today and embark on another long road-trip to Tiébélé via the city of Pô. It’s in this city that the military first rebelled in 1983 to overthrow the president and bring pan-African revolutionary Captain Thomas Sankara to power.
• Arrive in Tiébélé, where every house is a work of art! The traditional Gourounsi architecture is met with elaborate decorations to the walls of home, turning what could have been simple brown mud-brick to vibrant, intricate exhibitions of the local artistry of the Kassena people. Sometimes the paintings are purely decorative, other times they are an expression of local religion or commentary on life, much like western graffiti art.
• After a long look around, including a visit to the local Royal compound, you can have lunch in a local encampment or in Pô.
• You may also attend a traditional Kassena dancing performance!
• Continue to the city of Manga that has an important nature reserve in the heart of west Africa.
• Spend overnight in Manga, have some dinner and a good night’s rest for a big next day.

Day 6:  Manga – Ouagadougou

• Eat breakfast and start an early trip to Laongo granite park. Here, you can see over 2000 sculptures carved into stone greet visitors, expressing the history, culture, spiritual practices or even just the basic raw creativity of local Burkinabe artists.
• Return to Ouagadougou in the early afternoon to take in its sights thoroughly.
• Explore Ouaga 2000, the futuristic city project where you’ll visit two monuments of great importance: the Monument to National Heroes and the Monument to the Martyrs.
• Visit the roundabout of the Second of October, commemorating the day Sankara announced the Burkinabe revolution.
• See the local railway station, a pride of Sankara’s revolution where the Burkinabe people self-funded and built the rail with their own hands.
• Visit the statue of Thomas Sankara, where you will learn about his role as “Africa’s Che Guevara”, a socialist revolutionary who continues to enjoy immense popularity among the Burkinabe population today.
• Check out local bronze workshops to see some of the artisanal crafts the capital has to offer. You can browse and buy some crafts at the village markets!
• Dine out at a lovely restaurant in Ouagadougou, serving some of the best meals Burkina Faso has to offer.

Day 7: Ouagadougou

• Enjoy one last breakfast before you bid the country goodbye
• Head to the airport after breakfast

Of course, this is just a starting point; please get in touch with us for more sample itineraries or to fully customize one on your own. Whatever your Burkina Faso requests may be, we can make them happen.

For information on pricing, please get in touch with us, and we will tailor a quote based on requests and requirements.