Day 1, 4 January 2010: Arrival in Bamako, MALI. International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening (hotel check-in 2:00 PM or later). Airport to hotel transfer. Overnight in Bamako (hotel).
Day 2, 5 January 2010: Bamako - Mopti
Breakfast and drive to Mopti , arrival and city tour (you will see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhai and Hausa): we will begin our visit by the mosque built in 1930 similar to the one of Djenne with the same architecture. Then we will continue to the handicraft center with the market where you could discover many local condiments. Lunch in the Bar Bozo; visit the fishing port which is one of the noisiest places in the day of market by the flow of local boats full of goods for selling. Local boat to Visit of some bozo villages to see how they dry fishes as fish is every one concern in Mopti at the over side of the river Niger and then to overlook to photograph the sunset, Overnight in Hotel.
Day 3, 6 January 2010: Mopti - Timbuktu (540 km; ~6hrs)
Breakfast in the early morning then drive to Timbuktu , departure from Dogon Country to reach the legendary city of Timbuktu, the city of 333 holy, the mysterious city or the doorway to the desert founded around the 11th century by the touareg Imagcharen. In Timbuktu the tradition says: “gold comes the south, salt comes from the north, money come from occident, but the speeches of God, holy things, wonderful stories can be found only in Timbuktu. The 6 th administrative capital of Mali, Timbuktu attracts many tourists who like to discover an exceptional cultural heritages, adventure landscape and fabulous histories of the city. Timbuktu has maintained many ancient monuments you will walk through street to see the buildings, arrival at Timbuktu and overnight in Timbuktu (hotel).
Days 4-6, 7-9 January 2010: Desert Festival days. Onward drive (~2 hrs) across the dunes to Essakane and enjoy the three days of festivities: music at night, and during the daylight hours more music, dancing, sword-play, poetry, arts and crafts, camel races, and more! Overnight camping in Essakane with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on the three festival days.
Day 7, 10 January 2010: Essakane - Timbuktu (65 km; ~2hrs). Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day at leisure to relax, or explore this ancient city on your own. Overnight in Timbuktu (hotel). Includes: (B).
Day 8, 11 January 2010: Timbuktu. City tour of legendary Timbuktu: visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Istitute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the city market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south. Overnight in Timbuktu (hotel). Includes: (B).
Day 9, 12 January 2010: Timbuktu - Mopti. Return drive across the Sahel to Mopti; late afternoon walking tour of Mali's port city on the Niger; see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, the bustling local market, where many of Mali's diverse ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Hausa, Songhai. Overnight in Mopti. Includes: (B).
Day 10, 13 January 2010: Niger River. Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River, with picnic lunch; visit tranquil Bozo fishing villages and nomadic Fulani camps; observe Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and perhaps see hippos in the river ! (caution—do not approach the hippos); return to and overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel). Includes: (B), (L).
Day 11, 14 January 2010: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km; ~2hrs)
Drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; start with a visit of Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys aged 9-14 years old; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon famililes; continue to Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Dogon villages (animist and Islamic); walking tour of Sangha: observe many beautiful examples of the unique Dogon architecture and traditional fetishes. Overnight in Sangha (hotel). Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 12, 15 January 2010: Dogon country. Descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit some of the most beautiful Dogon villages: also see ancient Telem cave dwellings in the cliff face; visit Amani village, with its sanctuary of sacred crocodiles; visit Tireli village and witness a fascinating Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; return to and overnight in Sangha (hotel). Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 13, 16 January 2010: Dogon country. Explore Yenduma, and the triple Yuga villages (some hiking required), origin of the Sigi dance, one of the foundations of Dogon cosmology, held every 60 years. Overnight in Sangha (hotel). Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 14, 17 January 2010: Dogon country - Djenne (250 km; ~4hrs). Drive to the southern end of the escarpment, to visit Tely and Ende villages; if time permits, also visit Nando and Niongono villages (some hiking required). Onward drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city. Overnight in Djenne (hotel). Includes: (B), (L).
Day 15, 18 January 2010: Djenne. Experience Djenne's colorful weekly market day, with hundreds of market stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; originally built in the XIIIth century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture, and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon. Overnight in hotel Campement (hotel). Includes: (B).
Day 16, 19 January 2010: Djenne-Ségou. Breakfast, then drive to Ségou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative centre; Visit of San on the way; the capital of Bobo land, an ethnic very attached to its culture as they are animists, arrival in Ségou and admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans. Overnight in Ségou, Independence Hotel or similar. Includes: (B).
Day 17, 20 January 2010: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs). Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; stroll through the pottery market along the waterfront; also visit Sekoro villge, former capital of the Bambara kingdom, now just a sleepy village on the banks of the Bani River; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; return drive to Bamako for overnight (hotel). Includes: (B).
Day 18, 21 January 2010: Bamako - Departure
After breakfast visit Bamako. Bamako is 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 jewellery. There is nowhere better to see this colourful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. We start our Bamako city tour with a panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G, you will visit the Museum which shows the traditional local status, archeological discovering in Djenno-Djenne and the textile of Mali. Continuation to the handicraft center to discover the status, jewel, blankets of our different ethnics, the big market and the pink market with its multicolor objects (the bazin clothes with its different design and departure.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 14 nights hotel (double occupancy), including breakfast (B)
day-room in Bamako on the last day
- 3 nights camping at the desert festival site; bring your sleeping bags for the cold desert nights; tents are provided
- All ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle; maximum 4 travellers per vehicle
- Festival entry pass (priced separately, but included in tour package)
- Meals per itinerary
- Bottled mineral water (3 liters/day/person) at the festival site
three days to explore Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment
- Traditional Dogon mask dance
- Full-day sailing excursion on the Niger River, including box lunch
- English-speaking guide for the entire tour
- Airport transfers for Bamako arrival and departure (you will need to provide your Bamako arrival/departure flight details).
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Mali
Local Culture
Festival Tours
Cultural Journey
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 19125
