Burkina Faso Tours & Holidays
At this stage we don't have any organised trips to Burkina Faso.
That said, Intrepid can create tailor-made tours to many destinations, including Burkina Faso. Our fully customised trips still offer the same small group experiences with local leaders, but made just the way you want it. Simply fill out your details on our Tailor-Made page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch. Or why not visit Morocco, Kenya or Botswana?
Our Burkina Faso trips
Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.
Explore tailor-made tripsBurkina Faso at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Ouagadougou (population 2.5 million)
POPULATION
22.1 million
CURRENCY
XOF
LANGUAGE
French, More, Fulfulde, Lobi
TIME ZONE
(GMT) Casablanca
CALLING CODE
+226
ELECTRICITY
Type C (European 2-pin) Type E (French 2-pin, female earth)
Learn more about Burkina Faso
Best time to visit Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has a tropical climate which can mean some serious extremes between the wet months and dry months. The best time to visit is between October and December. From June to September the rains set in and days can be very hot and humid. The weather cools from December to February but harmattan winds bring dusty air. If you like your weather super hot then March to early June are the months for you with averages soaring into the 40s (Celsius).
Geography and environment
This landlocked country shares borders with some of West Africa’s most fascinating countries: Mali, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire. While the Sahara is slowly creeping in from the north, the south is savannah country. The country’s three main rivers - the Black Volta, the Red Volta and the White Volta - provide water for subsistence farming.
Top 5 quirky Places in Burkina Faso
1. Ouagadougou
With a name that just rolls off the tongue, Ouaga (as the locals call it) is a fascinating city. It may be the capital of the third-poorest country in the world, but the town lives up to its name: ‘Where people get honour and respect’.
2. Bobo-Dioulasso
So much fun to say, and even more fun to visit. Home to the Bobo tribe, this town has vibrant markets, and music and dancing wherever you go.
3. La Mare aux Poison Sacres de Dafre
Not far from Bobo-Dioulasso is the ‘sacred fishpond of Dafra’. Locals come here to sacrifice chickens to the fish, which have, understandably, grown huge.
4. Karfiguela
Home to beautiful waterfalls, Karfiguela offers visitors a glimpse of tropical paradise. Walk through an avenue of mango trees and over a jumble of rocks to see the falls.
5. Lake Tengrela
Bring your camera for some serious hippopotamus spotting. Locals believe the hippos are sacred and therefore won’t attack humans. Bring a long lens, just to be on the safe side.
Further reading
| Title | Author |
| Exchange Is Not Robbery | John M. Chernoff |
| The Bobo Marche | Curtis Cushman |
| The Parachute Drop | Norbert Zongo |
| Folktales from the Moose of Burkina Faso | Alain-Joseph Sissao |
Top responsible travel tips for Burkina Faso
- Be considerate of Burkina Faso’s customs, traditions, religion and culture.
- Dress modestly and respectfully. Shoulders to knees should be covered, especially when entering places of worship.
- For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water.
- Always dispose of litter thoughtfully, including cigarette butts.
- When bargaining at markets, stay calm, be reasonable and keep a smile on your face. It's meant to be fun!
- Learn some local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple greetings will help break the ice.
- Shop for locally made products. Supporting local artisans helps keep traditional crafts alive.
- Refrain from supporting businesses that exploit or abuse endangered animals.
- Please ask and receive permission before taking photos of people, including children.
- When on community visits or homestays, refrain from giving gifts or money to locals.
Burkina Faso travel FAQs
A 10% to 15% service charge is usually included in the bill. However it’s customary to tip taxi drivers and hotel staff.
Burkina Faso’s toilets may be basic. Be prepared for squat toilets, even in major centres.
Mobile phone coverage is fairly good in major towns. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your carrier if you wish to use your phone.
Internet is available in hotels in Ouagadougou and there’s an internet café in Bobo-Dioulaso. Power cuts can mean access is interrupted.
Tap water isn’t safe to drink in Burkina Faso. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, bring water purification tablets or ask your leader where filtered water can be found.
Credit cards are rarely accepted. At larger hotels and restaurants in Oagadougou you may be able to pay with card, but Burkina Faso mostly runs on a cash economy.
ATMs are very rarely available. Cash can be withdrawn from a bank using your card, but they will be hard to come by even in Ouagadougou.
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.