Koe Sahara, Länsi- ja Keski-Afrikka sekä Afrikan sarvi kanssamme!
On the map, Niger resembles a fish, although it is largely a parched Sahara desert. Alongside the barren landscapes, the traveller will find ancient caravan towns such as Agadez and Zinder, ornate mud buildings, lots of camels and a remarkably friendly and hospitable people who don't come across tourists every day. "What is a tourist anyway?", a Nigerien might curiously ask.
See the trip suggestions below and contact us if you are interested or need more information about trips to Niger.
Niger is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, with landscapes and rich cultural events unrivalled in the whole of West Africa. Kameli Travel organises trips to Niger – whether you want to see just the capital Niamey, combine it with a couple of days by plane in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Agadez, Niger's "Timbuktu", continue from Agadez for a week deeper into the Sahara, or tour the whole of Niger, for example on the Niamey–Kouré-Maradi–Zinder–Agadez–Tahoua–Niamey route. Niger is one of the last countries in the world where camel caravans still cross the Sahara from oasis to oasis and salt mine to salt mine. If you are sure your butt can take it, we can of course arrange for you to be part of a camel caravan, even for weeks. With a reliable guide of course and safety first. If a car ride or a flight from one place to another is more your thing, we can arrange not only private transfers but also air tickets within Niger.
We also organise visits to the colourful Cure Salée and Guérewol ceremonies in the village of In-Gall in Sahara every September, some of the most important annual gatherings of the Tuareg and Wodaabe people, celebrating the end of the rainy season. Similarly, the Festival de l'Aïr, a festival of traditional and contemporary Tuareg music in Iférouane, also in the Sahara, presents a line-up of world-renowned Tuareg musicians and bands from Bombino to Tinariwen. Festival de l'Aïr is traditionally held in early December. Both festivals can easily be combined with a week or two of touring the Aïr Mountains behind mythical Agadez, or even further afield – all the way to the dunes of Arakao and the palm-fringed oases of Bilma and Fachi. You probably won't encounter other tourists, but rather the stunning hospitality of the Saharan people!
Contact us if you are interested, need more information about travelling to Niger or already know where you would like to go in Niger. Or let us know when and let us make a suggestion. It is also easy to combine a trip to Niger with a visit to Nigeria.
We are organising a guided small group trip in September 2026 to Niger, from 14 to 28 September 2026 (tentative schedule). This trip is also possible on other dates (excluding the Cure Salée part):
Cure Salée festival & tour of the Aïr Mountains, 14-28 September 2026:
Day 1 – 14.9.2026 | Arrival to Niamey, where we stay overnight
Day 2 – 15 Sep 2026 | Flight to Agadez, where we stay overnight
Days 3–4 - 16-17 Sep 2026 | Participation in the Cure Salée festival in Ingall village
Days 5–13 - 18-26 Sep 2026 | Tour of the Aïr Mountains
Day 14 – 27 Sep 2026 | Flight from Agadez to Niamey
Day 15 – 28 Sep 2026 | Transfer to Niamey Airport and flight back home
Day 1 | Arrival in Niamey, from where the journey continues the same day towards Maradi
Day 2 | Maradi and Lake Madarounfa
Days 3–4 | Journey from Maradi to Zinder
Days 5–6 | Journey to Agadez
Days 6–7 | Journey from Agadez back to Niamey via Tahoua and Kouré
Day 8 | Transfer to Niamey airport
The remote oases of Niger and the Aïr Mountains (from Agadez)
Day 1 | Arrival in Agadez
Days 2–3 | from Agadez via Arbre du Ténéré to Fachi
Day 4 | Visit the oases of Fachi and Bilma
Day 5 | Visit to the Bilma salt mines
Days 6–7 | Journey from Bilma via the ruined city of Djado to Chirfa
Days 8–10 | Journey to the dunes of Arakao at the foot of Aïr Mountains, from there via Chiriet to Iferouane
Day 11 | Iferouane
Days 12–13 | from Iferouane to Timia
Day 14 | from Timia back to Agadez
The Great Tour of the Aïr Mountains (from Agadez)
Day 1 | Arrival in Agadez, from where on to Iferouane
Days 2–3 | Iferouane and a visit to Chiriet
Day 4 | A visit to the sand dunes of Arakao
Days 5–6 | Journey from the dunes of Arakao to Timia
Day 7 | Journey from Timia to Agadez
Day 8 | Tour conclusion and transfer to the airport or, if you wish, you can continue your tour of Niger with us for an additional fee.
Niger is one of the largest in the world (1 267 000 km²) and easily swallows up Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and even Iceland. Yet the population is only about 25 million. The country gained independence from French rule in 1960 and, as a colonial legacy, French is the dominant language of the country, although it is no longer an official language. English is poorly understood. People make their living from agriculture, but the country also has substantial uranium and oil reserves. Tourism is almost non-existent.
Climate: Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world; it's cooler in winter and in January, for example, the Sahara can dip into the freezing temperatures at night, while during the day the thermometer hovers around 30 degrees Celsius. May is the hottest month, with temperatures across the country soaring into the upper 40s day after day. This is followed by the rainy season, which lasts up to four months depending on the location. August usually sees the most rain, but in some parts of the Sahara the rainy season can be missed altogether. In terms of weather, the winter months are the best time to visit Niger.
Security: The big cities are safe even for a self-guided visit, but a certain amount of vigilance is still advisable, for example for pickpockets. Outside the cities, the Niger authorities sometimes require a military convoy for the safety of the tourist, and public transport between cities, for example, is not always available to foreigners. The need for and cost of a military convoy depends on the time of travel and the intended route. When travelling alone, it is often cheapest to fly between cities and thus avoid a military convoy. Niger Airlines operates regular flights from Niamey, Maradi, Zinder and Agadez, but currently there are no flights at all due to lack of demand (situation in June 2025). The Niger authorities are professional, but taking photos of police, military bases and places like that should still be avoided.
The border area between Mali and Burkina Faso and around Lake Chad on the border with Nigeria are dangerous and should not be travelled to.
Visa: Visas are required for all but some African nationalities. Since autumn 2024, it has been difficult for Westerners to obtain a tourist visa, but if you want to try your luck, we can try to get you a visa on arrival. This will take at least a month to process and we cannot guarantee a positive visa decision. The cost of a visa on arrival is around 130–140 euros. Please note that visa policies and prices are subject to change without notice. The passport must be valid for the whole trip.
Currency: Niger uses the West African CFA franc (XOF) as its currency, which is pegged to the euro. One euro is worth around 656 francs. You should take euro banknotes with you and exchange them on arrival or withdraw cash from an ATM.
Vaccinations and malaria: Niger requires proof of yellow fever vaccination. In addition, hepatitis a and b vaccinations are recommended. Please ensure that your basic vaccinations are up to date. Malaria is prevalent in Niger throughout the year, so anti-malaria medication is recommended.
Travel insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. Please check with your insurance company that your insurance is valid also in Niger.
