Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Saturday: Depart from JFK - New York at midnight for overnight flight to Mali.
Day 2, Sunday: Arrive in Bamako at 2:20 PM and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight in Bamako.
Day 3, Monday: Depart for Segou, arriving before noon. After lunch, explore the town with visits to the Grand Mosque, the Market and the artisans who make carpets and mud-cloth. Overnight in Segou.
Day 4, Tuesday: Travel north along the Niger River to Mopti - 'The Venice of Mali', arriving before noon. Transfer to hotel and lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Market, the Harbor and take a sunset priogue canoe trip on the Niger. Overnight in Mopti.
Day 5, Wednesday: Morning departure for Bandiagara and the land of the Dogon people. Arrive in the Dogon village of Songha at noon. After lunch, tour the village and witness a cultural performance of Dogon masked dancers. Late afternoon - return to Mopti. Dinner and overnight in Mopti.
Day 6, Thursday: Morning departure for Djenne, the sister city of Timbuktu. Lunch at the Auberge and afternoon visits to the Grande Mosque (the largest ever built in the 'Sudanese style'), old quarters of the city and the archeology digs. Late afternoon return to Mopti. Overnight in Mopti.
Day 7, Friday: A full day in Mopti: Go shopping in the markets, take a pirogue trip down the Niger to visit island villages of the Fulani, Peul and Bozo people. See Africa's only Bead Museum and visit the workshops of Tuareg and Bambara gold and silver smiths. Overnight in Mopti.
Day 8, Saturday: Morning departure by road for Bamako, stopping for lunch along the way. Transfer to hotel in late afternoon and enjoy a dinner with a cultural performance of Mali music and dance. Overnight in Bamako.
Day 9, Sunday: A full day at leisure in Bamako to explore more of the city, visit the Museum and bargain for souvenirs with merchants at craft markets. After an early dinner, depart for the airport to board the flight back to New York, leaving at 9:00 PM.
Day 10, Monday: Arrive at JFK - New York at 8:00 AM.
Extension to Timbuktu - 2 Days / 1 Night:
Day 1: Morning flight on Air Malitas to Timbuktu. Transfer to hotel and after lunch, visit Tuareg craftsmen fashioning swords, jewelry and leather. Mid-Afternoon camel ride into the Sahara desert to visit a Tuareg camp. Overnight at the Relais Sofitel Azalai.
Day 2: Morning tour of Timbuktu, the ancient mosques, fabulous doorways and the museum-homes of 19th century European explorers. Early afternoon, board the return flight to Bamako.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner (local restaurants and hotels) daily
- All transport, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters
- Airport transfers for land & air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities
- Lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc)
- International (if applicable) and domestic air taxes
- Visa fees and excursions referenced as 'optional'
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
Note: Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs, shopping, and visas.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ivory Coast
Mali
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Crafts Tours
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 19125
