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Home > Holiday destinations > Gambia holidays

Gambia holidays

At a glance

Gambian Beach
Gambian Beach

Unspoilt and unforgettable, this little country gives you a taste of Africa's vibrant culture, incredible slave-trading history, exotic wildlife and friendly people all in one amazing holiday, with glorious golden sand the backdrop for each resort.

What's best for you?

  Free kids Best for families Best for adults All inclusive Premier Close to the beach Central location

Jerma Beach
Four sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr		 FACClose to the beach FACCentral location

Sheraton Gambia Resort
Five sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr

 FACPremier FACClose to the beach

Hotel Kairaba
Four plus sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr		 FACAdults FACPremier FACClose to the beach FACCentral location

Ocean Bay
Four sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach

Hotel Senegambia
Three plus sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach FACCentral location

Sunbeach Hotel
Four sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach

Kombo Beach Hotel
Four sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach

Corinthia Atlantic Hotel
Four sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach

Hotel Palma Rima
Two plus sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach FACCentral location

Holiday Beach
Two sun rating (This accommodation rating is a First Choice Sun Rating)

Nov - Apr 		FACClose to the beach FACCentral location
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Free Kids

 

You can take your first child on holiday with us free of charge. If a Free Child Place is available on the holiday you choose, it’s yours – and your discount will be shown on the breakdown of your holiday price. Free Kids are generally found on holidays departing outside of 12 weeks.

 

We offer hundreds of Free Child Places on selected holidays and dates, but they won’t hang around forever! Book early to secure your Free Child Place and make fantastic savings online.

Best for Families

These accommodations are family-friendly, offering entertainment and facilities for both kids and grown-ups.

 

Some may feature their own kids’ club, crèche, kids’ dens, or sports and activities for families to enjoy together.

Best for Adults

These accommodations provide a holiday experience geared toward grown-ups. They’re best suited to couples, single travellers and groups of friends.

 

Although we can’t guarantee they will be child-free, these accommodations are more suited to those travelling without children.

All Inclusive

Our All Inclusive holidays cover all your essentials, so you can relax knowing that everything is already paid for while you’re on holiday with the UK’s ‘Best All Inclusive Tour Operator’.

What’s included?

  • Unlimited local alcoholic drinks
  • All meals and snacks
  • Unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee
  • Ice cream for the kids in many hotels
  • Sports and watersports facilities in most hotels
  • Daytime and evening entertainment and activities

Premier

An exclusive selection of quality four and five star hotels, our Premier range offers superior standards of comfort, service and dining, with luxurious facilities and fantastic extras. In-flight and in-resort benefits vary across our Premier Family, Premier Luxury and Falcon Premier holidays.

 

Benefits may include:

  • Free in-flight meal and reserved seating on First Choice Airways flights
  • Increased baggage allowance (up to 23kg per person)
  • Free day before check-in at London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham Airports
  • Priority airport transfers to your resort or return private taxi transfers
  • Premier Reps providing outstanding customer service and assistance
  • Complimentary children's’ pack with Premier Families

Close to the Beach

Choose one of these accommodations to ensure you are within 300 metres of the beach (1km for villas).

Central Location

These accommodations are guaranteed to be less than 200 metres from the centre of your resort, close to bars and restaurants.

Things to do

Gambia

Memorable moment...

Paddle dugout canoes in the glittering waters of Makasutu's winding mangrove creeks, glimpsing birds and monkeys as you glide past Gambian women picking oysters from the riverbanks.

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Things to do

See dolphins play in the River Gambia. Visit famous Juffureh, birthplace of Kunte Kinte, the slave immortalised in Alex Hayley's Pulitzer Prize winning book, 'Roots'; hear his tale and see Albreda's freedom flagpole and Fort James Island. Glimpse birds and wildlife in the beautiful Makasutu and Abuko nature reserves, visit village schools on the off-road Truck Safari and meet Charlie at Katchikally Crocodile Pool.
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Beaches

Gambia's beaches are beginning to flourish after years of coastal erosion, thanks to a renovation programme aided by the government and a First Choice representative agent. The programme assists the development of local schools and tourist guides. On many beaches, warm soft sand stretches for miles, scattered with drinks stalls and pretty shells.

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Explore your destination

Here's a little taste of what's on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep. River Cruise
Enjoy a relaxing day cruising down the River Gambia, where you can soak up the sun, surrounded by beautiful wildlife and gorgeous scenery, and even take a dip in the river. Roots Tour
Follow in the footsteps of writer Alex Haley, who famously travelled to Gambia to meet descendents of his ancestor, Kunte Kinte. You'll see the old slave market and Fort St James, where they were imprisoned. Jeep Safari
A jam-packed day, on which you'll visit a local school, see Paradise Beach and travel through the Gambian jungle. Finally, you'll sample freshly made chocolate and banana liqueur at a local factory.

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Food and drink

The larger resorts offer Italian, Indian, British and traditional Gambian cuisine, rich in flavour and heavily based on fish and peanuts. Try Domoda, a meat and pureed nut stew, served with rice, or fresh Barracuda. Dine alfresco, sipping banana cocktails or Banjul's lager, JulBrew.

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Evening Flavour

Listen to drumbeats and watch colourful African dancing, as local groups in tribal dress spill onto the streets. Have a flutter in Kololi Beach's casino or head to its few friendly bars and clubs.

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Shopping

Gambia's vibrant markets are an unmissable experience. Barter for woodcarvings, including masks, bowls and traditional games crafted in front of you. Buy silver jewellery and beautiful batik. Official tourist guides are inexpensive and help you find bargains!

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Media

Fact File

Local weather

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Information

Language: English (and tribal languages). Currency: Dalasi. Debit cards are generally not accepted and credit cards only in limited places. Standard GMT: + 0 hrs. Gambian Tourist Office: 57 Kensington Court, London W8 5DG. Tel: 020 7376 0093. www.visitthegambia.gm NB: A £5 Tourist Tax, per person, may be payable upon arrival.

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Travel foundation

  • First Choice is supporting The Travel Foundation, the UK charity caring for places you love to visit. With your help, in the Gambia the Travel Foundation has

  • trained locals to set up well-run businesses, providing you with fresh juices and crafts, enabling Gambians to support their families and send their children to school

    Find out more at www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk

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Brochure download

Summer Sun Brochure Download

Summer Sun brochure

Select from the available dates below, then we will email your bespoke brochure straight to you.

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Sunstart Brochure Download

Sunstart brochure

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To read your e-brochure you require Adobe Acrobat Reader Software, which you can download for free.

Winter Sun Brochure Download

Winter Sun 08/09 brochure

Select from the available dates below, then we will email your bespoke brochure straight to you.

To read your e-brochure you require Adobe Acrobat Reader Software, which you can download for free.

Our best deals

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