2-day Lac Rose & Lompoul Desert tour from Dakar: Overnight desert stay

Salt lake swim, desert camp night, camel ride at dawn

A 2-day tour from Dakar combines Lac Rose, where you swim in the salt-saturated pink waters and meet the Fulani salt collectors, with an overnight stay in Lompoul desert under the stars. Day one departs Dakar in the morning, includes lunch by the lake and a 4×4 transfer through the dunes to a Mauritanian tent camp. Day two offers a camel ride or dune walk before returning to Dakar. A live guide in English, Spanish or French, vehicle with driver and dinner are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Dakar to Lake Rose and Lompoul Desert

• Depart from Dakar in morning
• Tour Lake Rose
• Visit Fulani village
• Meet salt collectors
• Swim in salt lake
• Rinse off with fresh water
• Lunch by the lake
• Drive to Lompoul desert
• Arrive at Loumpoul village
• Transfer by 4x4 through dunes
• Check in at desert camp
• Enjoy sunset spectacle
• Dinner under the stars
• Overnight in Mauritanian tents

Day 2: Lompoul Desert to Dakar

• Breakfast at own pace
• Dromedary ride or walk dunes
• Optional dune surfing
• Lunch in Loumpoul
• Return to hotel in Dakar or Saly

The experience

The circuit starts with a morning departure from Dakar heading northeast to Lac Rose. Once there, you tour the lake itself, visit a Fulani village and watch the salt collectors at work: people who harvest salt from the hypersaline water by hand. The main event is swimming in the lake. The salt content keeps you afloat without effort, though rinsing with fresh water afterward is essential. Lunch happens by the shore before the drive continues south into Lompoul.

The second half of day one is the transfer into the desert. A 4×4 takes you through the dunes to reach the camp, where you're welcomed and settle in for the evening. Dinner and the night happen under the stars in a Mauritanian tent at either the Lompoul Ecolodge or the Desert Camp. The sunset over the dunes is the spectacle the itinerary names. The peace and quiet of the place are what remain.

Day two starts at your own pace with breakfast, then moves into a camel ride or a walk across the dunes. Both options are available. Some travelers choose to surf down the dunes instead. Lunch is in Lompoul village before the return drive to your hotel in Dakar or Saly. The whole circuit is built around the contrast between the water and the sand, and the two nights give you time to sit with each one.

What’s included

• All excursions at Lac Rose and Lompoul.
• vehicle with fuel, driver and live guide.
• one night in a Mauritanian tent with dinner.
• camel ride or dune walk on day two morning.
• lunch both days.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 00:00, 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesUp to 90 years

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Senegal Tourist Guide

Is this one for you?This tour works best for travelers comfortable with basic camp accommodation and a mix of water and desert in a single trip. The two-day structure means you spend real time at each place rather than rushing through. The fixed itinerary and group setting keep costs down compared to private options.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Lac Rose actually like when you swim in it?

Lac Rose is a salt lake so concentrated that you float without swimming strokes, much like the Dead Sea. The pink color comes from algae and salt-loving bacteria. After swimming, rinsing with fresh water is necessary to avoid irritation.

Do I need experience to ride a camel on day two?

No experience is required. The camel ride on day two morning is offered as an option alongside a walk on the dunes, so you choose which one suits you. Surfing down the dunes is also available if you prefer that instead.

What kind of accommodation is in Lompoul?

You stay in a Mauritanian tent at either the Lompoul Ecolodge or the Desert Camp: the operator assigns which one. Both are in the dunes, and dinner and breakfast are provided at the camp.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes all excursions, vehicle with fuel, the guide, dinner on night one, and overnight accommodation. Drinks and water are not included, so bring your own or budget to purchase them at the lake and in the village.