Burkina Faso Tours & Vacations
At this stage we don't have any organized trips to Burkina Faso.
That said, Intrepid can create tailor-made tours to many destinations, including Burkina Faso. Our fully customized 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 100s (Fahrenheit).
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 honor 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
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
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.
Cell 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 recommend that all travelers check with their government or national travel advisory organization for the latest information before departure. If traveling from the US, you can find helpful information from the US Department of State and the World Health Organization.
Read more about traveling with Intrepid as an American
Absolutely. All passengers traveling 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 travelers, 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 travelers 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 travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.