Planning a Trip to Guinea

If you are anywhere near Guinea, make your way to Labe and find a car to Douki.  Once there ask for Hassan Bah.  Hassan is one of the most incredible people I have ever met.  He speaks at least six languages fluently and has worked all over the world.  He runs a tour guide business that supports not only him and his family, but most of the town.  
Hassan takes people hiking all over the Douki area to climb buttes and canyons whose beauty is unbelievable.He has creative and fun names for every trail he explores.  From the adventures of the "snakes and ladders" and "Indiana Jones world" hikes to the peaceful views of "Bob Marley's stage" this trip will be full of wonder.  
You also get a chance to hang out with Hassan, his family and any friends that might stop by, but you also get to meet a lot of Douki's residents.  This is truely an experience that any traveller would be a fool to miss.
Prices were less than $10 US per person for a guide, lodging and food.  Lodging is in traditional Fula huts with thatch roofs.  Food is cooked by Hassan's wife and it is to die for!  The rooms have their own mosquito nets and beds.  No running water and if you go in November-January the nights can get kind of chilly.  As the roads are kind of tough to travel by the best time to go in my opinion is just after the rainy season in October - December.  During this time things are still green and the harmataan winds have not yet stirred up too much dust.  It's also not unbearably hot at that time.  I would recommend staying around a week or a little longer.
Of all my travels, my time spent with Hassan and his family exploring Douki was truly my favorite and most memorable trip of all time!

Fria is a bauxite town just a couple of hours outside of Conakry, if you get a good taxi driver... and make sure he drives safely - car accidents kill and hurt many people every year in Guinea.

There is a recreation area with outside swimming pool where Frians through many a dance party. Go swimming or dancing, it will be an experience unlike any other any where else.

Beware the lack of electricity! However, it can be fun and amazing to see the women in the market sell their produce by candlelight.

Big, dirty, impoverished! What isn't there to love about Conakry? The beaches are foul; swimming may result in bacterial infections.

Another Guinean town that lacks electricity! However, it makes up for that in cultural richness. If you don't speak the local language, French is a necessity.

You'll most likely have to pass by this town when going up-country. President Conte has history here. Try climbing the nearby mountain at Kilometre Cinq, it's called Le Chien qui Fume and it has an amazing view.