How many towns to visit: Two to four towns is the sensible number. Transport is slow, buses leave when full, and each move eats most of a day. Fewer stops mean more time actually spent wandering markets, listening to live music and talking to people. Beyond four, you are mostly watching the road.
Which kind suits you: The
southwest towns suit most backpackers: greener, cooler, with walking, cycling and craft traditions. The
larger central towns suit those who want nightlife, cinemas, galleries and the best food. Skip anything in the north, east or near borders. Reaching these places is hard, and they offer nothing that justifies the security risk.
What it costs: Budget
15,000 to 30,000 CFA francs (US$25 to 50) a day in the smaller towns. A basic guesthouse room runs 8,000 to 15,000 CFA francs …
read more 👉 How many towns to visit: Two to four towns is the sensible number. Transport is slow, buses leave when full, and each move eats most of a day. Fewer stops mean more time actually spent wandering markets, listening to live music and talking to people. Beyond four, you are mostly watching the road.Which kind suits you: The southwest towns suit most backpackers: greener, cooler, with walking, cycling and craft traditions. The larger central towns suit those who want nightlife, cinemas, galleries and the best food. Skip anything in the north, east or near borders. Reaching these places is hard, and they offer nothing that justifies the security risk.What it costs: Budget 15,000 to 30,000 CFA francs (US$25 to 50) a day in the smaller towns. A basic guesthouse room runs 8,000 to 15,000 CFA francs (US$13 to 25), street meals cost 500 to 1,500 CFA francs (under US$3), and a restaurant meal 2,500 to 5,000 CFA francs (US$4 to 8). A longer bus between hubs costs about 6,000 to 10,000 CFA francs (US$10 to 17). A local guide for a day runs 10,000 to 25,000 CFA francs (US$17 to 42), and museum or site entries are typically 1,000 to 5,000 CFA francs (US$2 to 8). Cash is vital. ATMs fail often, so carry reserves and withdraw in larger towns whenever you pass one.Costs and delays that catch you out: Buses leave only when full, so arriving at the station at dawn avoids a wait of several hours. Moped taxi drivers quote tourist rates, so agree a price before getting on. Photography permits or informal fees sometimes apply at cultural sites, so ask the guesthouse first. Power cuts are common, so carry a power bank and a headlamp.Safety and culture: Before booking, read your government’s current travel advice and confirm your insurance covers Burkina Faso, since many policies exclude areas under a do-not-travel advisory. Stay out of regions flagged as high risk, avoid night driving, and expect checkpoints where you should carry your passport and visa copies and stay polite. Never photograph soldiers, police, bridges or government buildings. Dress modestly, especially in Muslim-majority areas, with covered shoulders and knees. Greet people before asking anything, a handshake and a few words of French go a long way. Ask permission before photographing individuals, and expect to pay for it at some markets. Drink bottled or treated water, and take malaria prophylaxis.
Register with your embassy if it offers it, keep a local SIM, and share your plans with the guesthouse. A guide who knows the local situation is worth the fee when roads change.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.