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12 days Festival in the desert from 30 Dec to 10 Jan 2010
offered by supplier M19125 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 12
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 20
people
Destination(s):
Mali
Specialty Categories:
Festival Tours
Cultural Journey
Season: December - January
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2390 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2390 US Dollar (USD)
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Dec 30, 2009: Arrive in Bamako International flight arrives in Bamako. You will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. Hote Wassulu or similar
Dec 31, 2009: Bamako
Today you will explore this capital city of Bamako situated on the Niger, one of Africa's great rivers. Mali is a country of many tribal peoples, each with your own exuberant styles of clothing and jewelry. There is nowhere better to see this colorful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. Bamako has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewelers and metal workers exhibit their wares and skills.
You will visit the Grand Marché, or 'Great Market', where you can spend hours exploring the hundreds of stalls. From carvings and cassettes, to fabrics, beads, brass and gold, the variety of goods is staggering. One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you'll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles, along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments. Accommodation at Hotel Wassulu or similar. Includes: (B).
January 1, 2010: Bamako / Segou
Breakfast, then drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans. Overnight in Segou. Accommodation at Independence Hotel or similar. Includes: (B).
January 2, 2010: Dogon Country
Drive to Dogon Country, 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. This is such a unique place that the United Nations has declared it a World Heritage site. Visit the village of Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto Overnight at Hotel Guina or similar. Accommodation at Hotel Guina. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
January 3, 2010: Dogon Country
Continue tour of Dogon Village. The Dogons are animists, worshipping their ancestors and the spirits of nature. Having preserved their traditions down through the centuries, they are considered to be one of the most original civilizations of West Africa. Today’s sightseeing involves walking over rough ground to visit some of the villages, and fairly steep and rough paths have to be negotiated. Experience the authentic traditional Dogon Mask Dance. Early evening drive to Bandiagara for overnight. Accommodation at Cheval Blanc or similar. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
January 4, 2010: Dogon / Dejenne / Mopti
Drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city on the Niger; visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world and one of UNESCO’S World Heritage sites; Return to Mopti for overnight. Accommodation at Hotel Konaga Or similar. Includes: (B).
January 5, 2010: Mopti
Mopti city tour (you will see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï and Hausa): visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market, where you can shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leatherwork, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool. Overnight in Mopti. Accommodation at Kanaga Hotel Or similar. Includes: (B).
January 6, 2010: Mopti / Timbuktu
This morning take an early flight to legendary Timbuktu. 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. It was here that they would trade salt, pound-for-pound, with African merchants bringing gold and ivory along the Niger from the heart of Africa.
Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. See the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base. Accommodation at Hendrina Khan Hotel or similar. Includes: (B).
January 07,08,09, 2010: Festival in the Desert
Drive to Essakane and enjoy 3 days of world music, dancing, camel races and other activities. Meals prepared by private chef. Accommodation in Private tents. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
January 10, 2010: Return to Timbuktu and fly to Bamako for departure or extended tour begins. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 8 nights of hotel accommodation (double occupancy) and breakfast
- 3 nights of Tuareg tents accommodation during the festival
- Ground transportation in an air condition 4WD vehicle to all listed sites
- Full board pension prepared on the festival site ( 3 breakfast, 3 lunch, and 3 dinner)
- Mineral water
- Camel ride on the festival dunes
- An experienced English – speaking guide
- Dogon mask dance.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Mali
Local Culture
Festival Tours
Cultural Journey
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, ext: 19125
