| Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | BAMAK0 | International flight arrives in Bamako. You will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. | | Day 2 | Djenne | This morning, we shall leave our hotel and begin the journey eastward to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city on the Niger River. We will stop in San for lunch. Arrive in Djenne early evening. Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast | | Day 3 | Dogon | We shall experience Djenne on its weekly market day when Djenne is at its colorful best. The market is set against the magnificent Grand Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest mud brick architecture in the world. After the market, we shall visit artisan Pama Sinatou's workshop. After a late lunch, we shall drive three hours to Dogon Country, Mali's standout highlight and homeland of the fascinating Dogon people and their unique houses and art forms. Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner | | Day 4 | Dogon | After breakfast, we shall descend along the Bandiagara escarpment. Dogon Country, another World Heritage site, is considered one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Built up high on the narrow ledges of the cliffs are the villages of the Dogon people. In the 11th century, the Dogons fled the advancing Arabs coming from the north, and found shelter in one of West Africa's most inhospitable areas. We shall complete a walking tour of the villages of Banani, Ireli, Arou and Tireli, renowned for their rock paintings and circumcision grotto. We will likely witness a traditional Dogon Mask Dance (providing there are at least 8 travelers) Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 5 | Mopti | We shall spend the morning walking to the villages of Songo, Teli, and Ende. This afternoon travel to Mopti where we will see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures : Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhai and Hausa. We shall visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and Centre d'Artisanat des Femmes, where gold and silver jewelry, Tuareg Leatherwork and Fulani blankets are sold. Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast | | Day 6 | Timbuktu | After breakfast, we shall drive to the legendary city of Tombouctou. Located at the terminus of the great trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu became fabulously wealthy in the 16th century. Loaded with blocks of salt and other trade goods, huge convoys of camels would spend weeks crossing the unforgiving Sahara to reach Timbuktu. We shall picnic along the way. Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch | | Day 7 | ESSAKANE | This morning we shall tour the city of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. We shall see the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base. We will visit the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans. This afternoon we shall travel approximately 2 hours to Essakane, the site of the Festival in the Desert. We shall have leisure time in the encampment before the evening music begins. (Tent and mats) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner | | Day 8 | ESSAKANE | After a musical evening, we shall have a leisurely morning. In the afternoon, we shall enjoy camel rides, traditional songs and games and interact with the musicians and traders before enjoying the music festival finale, which lasts all night long. (Tent and mats) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 9 | Timbuktu | This morning we shall travel back to Timbuktu where we will check into our hotel to freshen up, then continue our visit to this legendary city with a name synonymous with "a place unreachable" Visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the city market and the artisans' center. Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast | | Day 10 | Mopti | After breakfast we will drive to Mopti, the Venice of Mali which is nestled between the Niger and the Bani rivers. This evening you will enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue. Overnight: (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch | | Day 11 | Bamako | This morning we will drive to Segou, one of Mali largest cities and former colonial administrative center. After lunch, we shall embark on our city tour of Segou as we walk through the tree-lined streets just back from the riverbank. This evening we will return to Bamako. Overnight : (Hotel) Meal(s) Included: Breakfast |
|
Hot Deals 
