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Hero photo: Kotu Beach by Mark Hodson Photos, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped
Hotels and resorts in The Gambia
Start with real hotels and resorts, then use the area guides to decide which part of the coast fits your trip.
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Senegambia Beach Hotel
A large, long-established resort in the heart of the Senegambia Strip in Kololi. -
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The Kairaba Beach Hotel
A five-star hotel in extensive tropical gardens on Kololi's coast. -
Balafon Beach Resort
An adults-only beachfront resort on the Atlantic shore at Kololi. -
Kombo Beach Resort
A family-oriented beachfront resort directly on Kotu Beach. -
TUI BLUE Tamala
An adults-only beachfront resort in Kotu with direct Atlantic beach access. -
Kalimba Beach Resort
An adults-only resort directly on Kotu Beach with pools and Atlantic views.
Explore Gambia's beaches
From the busy sands of Senegambia to quieter shores south towards Brufut.
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Kololi and Senegambia Beach
The busiest beach on the coast, in front of the Senegambia hotels. -
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Kotu Beach
A wide, palm-backed beach divided by a mangrove creek. -
Cape Point and Bakau coast
Bakau's Atlantic coast near Cape Point and the Gambia River estuary. -
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Bijilo Beach
A sandy Atlantic beach beside Bijilo's resort zone and coastal forest. -
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Brufut Beach
A quieter, less built-up stretch of Atlantic shore south of Bijilo.
Must-see attractions
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Kachikally Crocodile Pool
A sacred pool and museum in the heart of Bakau, cared for by the Bojang family. -
Arch 22
The monumental arch at the entrance to Banjul, with views over the city. -
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Kunta Kinteh Island
A UNESCO World Heritage island in the Gambia River, central to the history of the slave trade. -
Wassu Stone Circles
Laterite stone circles upriver, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. -
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Abuko Nature Reserve
The Gambia's first wildlife reserve: gallery forest, monkeys and birdlife. -
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Bijilo Forest Park
Coastal forest trails with monkeys, beside the Senegambia area.
Wildlife and nature
The Gambia is small, but forest, river and coast sit close together. Monkeys and hundreds of bird species are within reach of the resorts.
- Abuko Nature ReserveThe Gambia's first wildlife reserve: gallery forest, monkeys and birdlife.
- Bijilo Forest ParkCoastal forest trails with monkeys, beside the Senegambia area.
- River Gambia experiencesMangrove creeks near the coast and multi-day trips upriver.
- TanjiA working fishing town on the coast, with a village museum and a bird reserve.
- Makasutu Culture ForestA forest reserve inland near Brikama, with palms, mangroves and a creek.
Culture and heritage
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, sacred places that are still in use, and markets full of craft traditions.
- Kunta Kinteh IslandA UNESCO World Heritage island in the Gambia River, central to the history of the slave trade.
- Wassu Stone CirclesLaterite stone circles upriver, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Kachikally Crocodile PoolA sacred pool and museum in the heart of Bakau, cared for by the Bojang family.
- Arch 22The monumental arch at the entrance to Banjul, with views over the city.
- Markets and craft marketsAlbert Market in Banjul, Serekunda's market and coastal craft stalls.
Plan your trip
- Flights to BanjulEvery international arrival lands at Banjul International Airport (BJL). Compare routes from your city.
- Where to stayChoose your area first: Kololi, Kotu, Bakau, Bijilo and Brufut, or Banjul.
- Airport transferDecide before you land how you'll reach your hotel.
- Mobile dataInstall a travel eSIM before you fly so maps and messages work on arrival.
Entry, visa and health rules depend on your passport, so we link to official sources rather than summarise them. See travel essentials, the pre-departure checklist and the first-timer's guide.
Photos on this page: Ikiwaner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Ikiwaner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Peter van der Sluijs, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Mark Hodson Photos, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Leonora (Ellie) Enking, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; Steve Garvie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; Jan Kruithof, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Jan Kruithof (tjabeljan), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Wmtribe2015, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Tjeerd Wiersma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Wolfgang Weigelt, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Forbes Johnston, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Peter van der Sluijs, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Graeme Eyre, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped for display. All image credits