Flights to Gambia

With good sunshine all year round, great beaches and friendly local people, The Gambia really flies under the radar of popular holiday destinations. Upon arriving, you could be forgiven for believing that you’ve stumbled upon a secret holiday destination.

All international flights land at Banjul International Airport (BJL), also known as Yundum International. The airport is only 24km (15 miles) from the capital, Banjul, and only 20-24km (13-15 miles) to many of the Atlantic-washed beach resorts.

The country’s national carrier, Gambia Bird, ceased operation in December 2014, leaving only Titan Airways and Small Planet Airlines (via The Gambia Experience) offering direct flights from London Gatwick (LGW) to Banjul. Both airlines also offer cheap package holidays to Gambia. How long is the flight? Just six hours.

There are a few indirect flights, with Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca, Vueling via Barcelona, or Brussels Airlines via Brussels. The flight times range from 10 to 12 hours, and the cost is more expensive than direct flights.

Titan Airways and Small Planet Airlines offer twice-weekly flights from Birmingham (BHX) and Manchester (MAN) to Banjul during the winter months.

Air Brussels also flies from Birmingham to Banjul with a stopover in Brussels, while Royal Air Morac flies from Manchester with a layover in Casablanca. Alternatively, you can catch a Titan Airways or Small Planet Airlines flight from London.

As there are not many carriers competing on the UK to Banjul route, booking an all-inclusive package is definitely cheaper than buying flights and hotel separately.

If you aren't offered a free shuttle from your holiday package operator, your best option is to hire a car or take an official tourist taxi from the airport. You shouldn’t pay more than Dalasi 400 (£7) from the airport to Kotu or Kololi beach resorts. Even when the driver insists that the fare is fixed, confirm the price before getting in.

Instead of flying to Banjul directly, you can fly into Dakar (DKR), the capital of Senegal, first. From Dakar, there are many ways of getting to Banjul. Brussels Airlines fly four times a week between the two cities, with a flight time of 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can cross into The Gambia via the land border. You can rent a car from the airport in Dakar and drive the five to six-hour journey into The Gambia with relative ease.

A visa is not required for UK nationals for stays up to a month, and you will get a 28-day stamp on your passport on arrival. If you plan to stay further, you can get a further 28-day extension from the Immigration Office in Banjul or the Tourist Police Station in the Tourism Development Area.