Roots Heritage Tour (Juffureh & Kunta Kinteh Island)

The Roots Heritage Tour takes you across the River Gambia to Juffureh — the ancestral village of Kunta Kinte, made famous by Alex Haley's novel Roots — and on to the UNESCO-listed Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly James Island, a sobering reminder of the transatlantic slave trade. This full-day trip of around nine hours includes transport from the coast, the boat transfer to the island, a knowledgeable guide, museum entry and lunch, run in English for groups of two to fifteen. At Juffureh you'll meet members of the Kinte family and visit the ECOWAS slavery museum at neighbouring Albreda; on the island, the ruined fort and slave cells make the history unavoidably real. It's an easy day in terms of walking, but a heavy one emotionally, and for many travellers the most affecting thing they do in The Gambia. Treated with respect, it's unforgettable.