- Abidjan: As the economic capital of Ivory Coast, Abidjan offers a vibrant cityscape with modern skyscrapers, bustling markets, and a rich cultural scene.
- Grand-Bassam: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a historic town known for its colonial architecture, beautiful beaches, and relaxed atmosphere.
- Taï National Park: Home to a diverse range of wildlife, including chimpanzees, pygmy hippopotamuses, and rare bird species, Taï National Park is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.
- Man: Located in the western part of the country, Man is famous for its stunning natural landscapes, including Mount Tonkoui and the enchanting La Cascade waterfall.
- Assinie-Mafia: This coastal resort town offers pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a lively nightlife, making it a popular destination for relaxation and entertainment.
backpacking Africa
Ivory Coast
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Backpacking Ivory Coast in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Ivory Coast with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Ivory Coast
Discover the vibrant tapestry of Ivory Coast, where rich culture and diverse landscapes unfold for adventurous backpackers. Pros? Immerse in traditional music and dance, explore lush rainforests, and indulge in the affordable local cuisine. Ivory Coast offers an authentic experience with fewer tourist crowds. However, infrastructure may be less developed, and knowledge of French is beneficial. For the intrepid traveler seeking off-the-beaten-path encounters, Ivory Coast's unique blend of authenticity and natural beauty make it a distinctive choice, promising an immersive journey into West African charm and culture.
💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Ivory Coast
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Ivory Coast
The best time to visit Ivory Coast for backpacking is during the dry season, which typically lasts from November to March. During this time, the weather is generally hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 °C (77 to 95 °F). This season is ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, exploring national parks, and visiting the beautiful beaches along the coastline.
It's important to note that Ivory Coast experiences two rainy seasons: a short one from May to June and a long one from June to October. During the rainy season, heavy rainfall and occasional thunderstorms can make outdoor activities more challenging and some roads may become impassable.
It's important to note that Ivory Coast experiences two rainy seasons: a short one from May to June and a long one from June to October. During the rainy season, heavy rainfall and occasional thunderstorms can make outdoor activities more challenging and some roads may become impassable.
Risk level: medium (50%)Safety advice for Ivory Coast
Safety has impact on the way you can travel. Always check the safety of the country you go to and adjust the way you travel to the advice.
Ivory CoastMy tips to get you on the way!Does Ivory Coast sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Ivory Coast. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Ivory Coast may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Ivory Coast. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Ivory Coast may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Ivory Coast, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Ivory Coast, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 29 September 2024