Day 1:

ARRIVE IN BAMAKO

International flight arrives in Bamako where you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2:

BAMAKO / MANDE / BAMAKO

Travel to the mountain village of Mande in the Western region of Mali (55 Km). Here you will learn about the history of Sundiata Keita, the legendary former king of the ancient Malian Empire. Several of Mali’s ethnic groups including Dogon, Bambara, Maalinke, Kassonke, Minianka, Senoufo, and Bobo originate from this area.

In Mande you will see the Fanfamba Grotto (the former meeting places of the village elders), the cave of Kamadian, with compartments for artisans including blacksmiths, hunters, traditional fortune tellers, and chiefs. There is a small sacred pool where sacrifices are made in and effort to achieve wealth and prosperity, better health and protection against evil.

Visit Siby Market.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 3:

BAMAKO / DJENNE

Photo: Villagers en route to Djenne

Drive to Djenne (567 Km), Timbuktu’s ancient sister-city on the Niger, stopping at points of interest such as San, the capital of the Bobo ethnic group. Continue, visiting other villages along the way.Timbuktu’s ancient sister-city on the Niger.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 4:

DJENNE

Photo: Grand Mosque

See the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud-brick architecture in the world and one of Unesco’s World Heritage sites.

Founded in the fourth century, Djenne has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. The atmosphere in the streets transports you back to Medieval times. Visit Djenne’s colorful and bustling market.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 5:

DJENNE / DOGON (SANGHA)

Photo: Songo Granary

After breakfast, drive on to the fascinating Dogon country (224 Km). Visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; continue to Sangha, on the top of the Bandiagara escarpment, Visit Sangha, Ogols and Bongo; see the traditional women’s house, the sacrificial altar of the Hogon (the Dogon people’s traditional and religious leader. Visit a Dogon seer.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6:

DOGON (SANGHA) / DOGON (BANDIAGARA)

Photo: Dogon Country, Barry Williams

Depart Sangha to descend the Bandiagara escarpment (45 Km). Visit the villages of Banani (note the ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face), Ireli, Amani (visit the sacred crocodile sanctuary), and Tireli, where you may see a traditional Dogon mask dance; climb up the cliff/ drive to stay overnight in Bandiagara.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7:

DOGON (BANDIAGARA) / TIMBUKTU

Photo: Through a window in Timbuktu, Barry Williams

Depart Dogon to Timbuktu (440 Km). 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.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 8:

TIMBUKTU / TUAREG CAMP

Photo: Tauregs, Pedro

Depart on your camel caravan into the desert to visit a Tuareg camp. Dinner and overnight camping on the dunes of the Sahara with your Tuareg hosts. Accommodation in Tuareg Camp.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 9:

TUAREG CAMP / TIMBUKTU / MOPTI

Return to Timbuktu early morning via camel. Depart the only place which has a name synonymous with “a place unreachable” Timbuktu, and drive to Mopti (392 Km). 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.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 10:

MOPTI / NIGER RIVER CRUISE / MOPTI

Photo: Sunset on the Niger River, Mopti

Breakfast and board a traditional motorized boat for seven hours cruise on the Niger River to Kona (55 Km). Visit on your way Kotaca a river bank village with its beautiful mosque and other villages, see fishermen exercising their job, etc, your lunch will be prepared (African cooking) and eaten in the boat. Upon arrival, you will be driven back to Mopti. Overnight at your hotel in Mopti.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 11:

MOPTI / TERIYA BUGU

Depart Mopti to Teriya Bugu, “the hut of friendship,” and the headquarters of the Association for Rural Development (332 Km). The center is surrounded by thousands of eucalyptus plants, orchards, fisheries and a farm which supplies fresh food to its restaurant. Two beekeepers tend to 140 hives to produce honey.

Take a relaxing walk through mango trees and banana plants, watch birds, and see monkeys, camels, horses, crocodiles, peacocks and other wildlife in the on-site mini zoo.

Day 12:

TERIYA BUGU / SEGOU

Photo: Segou Architecture

Breakfast, then drive to Segou, Mali’s second largest city and former colonial administrative center (100 Km). Admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast.

Day 13:

SEGOU / SIKASSO

Photo: Mausoleum of former king of the Kénédougou Empire, Tieba Traore

Drive to Sikasso in Mali’s green belt (296 Km). Visit Sikasso where you will see the Mamelon (residence of the former kings of Sikasso), the Tata (remnants of a large palisade that encircled the city and for a time held off the French colonial army).

Visit the grotto of Misiri Koro, home of the protector spirits of the Mande people

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 14:

SIKASSO / BAMAKO

After breakfast, continue to Bamako (374 Km).

Explore this capital city, Bamako, situated on the Niger, one of Africa’s great rivers which flow through Mali. The city was founded in 1640, but didn’t really start to grow until the French colonial period began in 1898. 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 display their skills. Another highlight of your tour is the Grand Marche, 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.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 15:

BAMAKO / DEPART

Prepare for onward flight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

 

Tour Price Includes:

Meeting and assistance upon arrival and departure, Accommodation in the properties listed, tours in air-conditioned transportation, experienced English-speaking tour guides, cruise on board of traditional boat, Luggage Handling, Meals indicated

Tour Price Does Not Include:

International airfare, Travel insurance, visas, gratuity, meals not listed

Single Supplement is the additional price paid for single occupancy of a room