Continent Tours

Mali Hotels

Festival In The Desert 12 Days (overland)

Day 1:

(Sunday) – Jan 2, 2011 – ARRIVE BAMAKO

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

Overnight: (3 star Hotel)

Day 2:

(Monday) – Jan 3, 2011 – BAMAKO/MOPTI

Drive to Mopti. Tour Mopti city and witness the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï and Hausa. Visit the beautiful mosque and the fishing port. Shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leatherwork, and Fulani cotton or wool blankets at the bustling market.

Overnight: (3-star Hotel)

Day 3:

(Tuesday) – Jan 4, 2011 – MOPTI/DOGON

After breakfast, travel from Mopti to Dogon. Tour the Dogon villages, and experience one of the most extraordinary places on earth. The Dogon people built their villages high up on the narrow ledges of cliffs. In the 11th century, the advancing Arab combatants forced the Dogons to flee their homes in the north. They found shelter and adapted to one of West Africa’s most unforgiving regions. This unique area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the village of Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto.

Overnight: (Hotel)

Day 4:

(Wednesday) – Jan 5, 2011 – DOGON

After breakfast, descend along the Bandiagara escarpment. Walk through the rocky terrain to visit the villages of Banani, Ireli, Arou and Tireli. The Dogons are known for their mythology, full with rituals and worship of the spirits of nature. Their wooden sculptures are also a major attraction. Traditions have been preserved through the centuries, making Dogon one of the most original civilizations of West Africa. Witness a traditional Dogon Mask Dance (providing there are at least 8 travelers)

Overnight: (Hotel)

Day 5:

(Thursday) – Jan 6, 2011 – DOGON/TIMBUKTU

After breakfast, drive to the legendary city of Timbuktu. This ancient city was the ending point of the great trans-Saharan caravan route. Timbuktu was extremely wealthy in the 16th century as convoys of camels carrying goods for trade spent weeks crossing the unforgiving Sahara to arrive in this famous metropolis. Picnic along the way, arriving in time to witness the magnificent sunset over the dunes.

Overnight at Hotel

Day 6:

(Friday) – Jan 7, 2011 – TIMBUKTU/ESSAKANE (APPROX. 2 HOURS)

In the morning, tour the city of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djingarey Berre Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. Observe the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base. Visit the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans. In the afternoon, travel approximately 2 hours to Essakane, the site of the Festival in the Desert. Have leisure time in the encampment before the evening festivities begin. The stage at Festival in the Desert

Overnight: (Private Tent)

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7:

(Saturday) – Jan 8, 2011 – ESSAKANE

In the morning, tour the city of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djingarey Berre Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. Observe the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base. Visit the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans. In the afternoon, travel approximately 2 hours to Essakane, the site of the Festival in the Desert. Have leisure time in the encampment before the evening festivities begin.

Overnight: (Private Tent)

Day 8:

(Sunday) – Jan 9, 2011 – ESSESSAKANE /TIMBUKTU (APPROX. 2 HOURS)

In the morning, return to Timbuktu and check into the hotel before continuing the tour of this legendary city whose name is synonymous with “a place unreachable.” Visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the city market and the artisans’ center.

Overnight at Hotel

Day 9:

(Monday) – Jan 10, 2011 – TIMBUKTU/MOPTI

After breakfast, drive to Mopti. Continue touring Mopti, where the Niger and Bani rivers meet. Mopti is Mali’s most important port city.

Overnight at 3-star Hotel

Day 10:

(Tuesday) – Jan 11, 2011 – MOPTI/DJENNE/SEGOU

Drive to Djenne, Timbuktu’s ancient sister-city on the Niger. Visit Djenne; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world and one of UNESCO’S World Heritage sites. Later, travel to Segou.

Overnight at 3-star Hotel

Day 11:

(Wednesday) – Jan 12, 2011 – SEGOU/BAMAKO

Explore Segou, Mali’s second largest city and former colonial administrative center; admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture. Visit the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans, before continuing to Bamako.

Overnight at 3-star Hotel

Day 12:

(Thursday) – Jan 13, 2011 – BAMAKO/DEPART

Day at leisure before your onward flight—or extended tour begins.

January 2, 2011 – January 13, 2011

Numbers of travellers	Price per person in US $
Numbers of travellers	Double Occupancy	Single Supplement*
3	$ 2530.00	$ 410.00
4	$ 2295.00	$ 410.00