Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, 2 January 2010: Arrival in Bamako. International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening. Airport to hotel transfer. Overnight in Bamako (hotel Mande or a Similar).
Day 2, 3 January 2010: Bamako – Mopti
Breakfast and drive to Mopti, arrival and Mopti 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 at your hotel in Mopti.
Days 3&4, 4-5 January 2010: Sail the Niger River. Onward travel to Mopti, to begin your three full days of sailing the beautiful Niger River: visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; see Mali's varied birdlife along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river (caution—do not approach the hippos); overnight camping on the riverbank include breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on both sailing days.
Day 5, 6 January 2010: Niger River / Timbuktu
Final moments to take in the sights and sounds of the Niger River, 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 form occident, but the speeches of God, holy things, wonderful stories can be found only in Timbuktu. The 6th 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, transfer from port to town; city tour of 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).
Days 6-8, 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, include breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on the three festival days.
Day 9, 10 January 2010: Essakane - Timbuktu-Mopti. Breakfast and drive to “Mopti” which means in Fulani ‘meeting point” is Considered as the “melting pot “of Mali because of the numerous ethnics which live in perfect social cohesion: bozo, Bambara, Fulani, touareg, dogon, soninkes. That fact gives the city a harmonious life, arrival and free afternoon, overnight at Ambedjele Hotel or a Similar.
Day 10, 11 January 2010: Mopti - Djenne - Dogon country
After breakfast drive to Djenne the city classified as World Heritages because of its architecture. The city considered as the twin of Timbuktu because of its attachment on Islam. Founded around the 10th century by Soninkés, a religious city considered as one of the oldest city in Africa. The visit of children learning in Coranic School is worthy. Djenne is very famous by its colourful market and the biggest mud monument in the world. Arrival and visit of the Monday market of Djenne considered as one of the most colourful market in West Africa due to its typical African products, in the afternoon visit of the mosque and overnight at the hotel Campement.
Day 11, 12 January 2010: Dogon country. Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment, another Unesco World Heritage site; you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; visit Amani village, with its sanctuary of sacred crocodiles; visit Tireli village and witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; overnight camping in a Dogon village.
Day 12, 13 January 2010: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs). Visit the Dogon village Songo, 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; return drive to Mopti; remainder of day for relaxation at the hotel (enjoy the swimming pool!); overnight in Mopti (hotel).
Day 13, 14 January 2010: Mopti - Segou (405 km; ~4hrs). Visit Mopti, called the Venice of Mali because it is nestled between the Bani and the Niger rivers; Mopti is also the "melting pot" of Mali, home to many of Mali's diverse ethnic groups: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Hausa, Songhai; visit Komoguel mosque, the fishing port and the interesting local market; afternoon drive to Segou for overnight (hotel Esplanade or a similar).
Day 14, 15 January 2010: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
City tour of Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial capital; stroll through the traditional pottery market on the waterfront; the bogolan centre to learn the different design , visit Sekoro village, 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; Bamako city tour: begin with then visit the National Museum, the colorful city market, the artisans' village and the fetish market for traditional medicine; hotel day-room check-out 6:00 PM; at the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 6 nights hotel (double occ.), including breakfast (B)
- Day-room in Bamako on the last day
- 7 nights camping; bring your sleeping bags for the cold December nights, especially in the desert; tents are provided
- Bottled mineral water is included with meals while sailing
- All ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle; maximum 4 travellers per vehicle
- Private river boat for 3-day sail from Mopti to Timbuktu
- Traditional Dogon mask dance in a village
- 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)
- All hotel taxes, local tourism taxes and site visit fees, as per tour program.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Mali
Local Culture
Festival Tours
Cultural Journey
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