Day 1:

(Monday) – Jan 3, 2011 – ARRIVE BAMAKO

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

Overnight at 3 star hotel

Day 2:

(Tuesday) – Jan 4, 2011 – TOUR OF BAMAKO

Today you will explore this capital city of Bamako situated on the Niger, one of Africa’s great rivers.

Mali is a country of many tribal peoples, each with their 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 skills. One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you’ll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles, along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments.

Overnight at 3-star Hotel

Day 3:

(Wednesday) – Jan 5, 2011 – BAMAKO/TIMBUKTU (2 HOUR FLIGHT)

This morning take a morning flight to legendary Timbuktu. 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. Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. See the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base.

Overnight at Hotel

Day 4:

(Thursday) – Jan 6, 2011 – TIMBUKTU/ESSAKANE (APPROX. 2 HOURS)

This morning we shall continue our tour of Timbuktu, including a visit to the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans. This afternoon we shall travel approximately 2 hours to Essakane, the site of the Festival in the Desert. We shall have leisure time in the encampment before the evening music begins.

Overnight at Private Tent

Day 5:

(Friday) – Jan 7, 2011 – ESSAKANE

After a musical evening, we shall have a leisurely Morning. In the afternoon, we will enjoy camel rides, traditional songs and games and interact with the musicians and traders before enjoying the music which lasts all night long.

Overnight at Private Tent

Day 6:

(Saturday) – Jan 8, 2011 – ESSAKANE

Activities in Essakane continue. Enjoy the music festival finale, which lasts all night long.

Overnight at Private Tent

Day 7:

(Sunday) – Jan 9, 2011 – ESSAKANE/TIMBUKTU/BAMAKO

After breakfast, return to Timbuktu early in the morning for your flight to Bamako where you will await your onward flight or extended tour begins.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Tour Price Includes:

• Hotel accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
• Day-room in Bamako on the last day
• 3 nights camping in private tents with mats
• All ground transportation by 4×4 vehicle
• Hot Meals prepared at Festival site
• Bottled water during the festival
• Meals indicated
• Tours as outlined in the program
• One tour guide per vehicle
• Roundtrip airport to hotel transfers
• All taxes and admission fees to included sites

Tour Price Does Not Include:

• Travel insurance
• International airfare to Mali
• Meals not listed
• Visa fees
• Gratuity to driver and guide
• Festival entry pass (approximately 150 Euros)
• Domestic flights ($649)
• Sleeping bags (recommended)

Prices are determined by the number of guests per vehicle not, including driver and guide

AIRFARE-Bamako/Timbuktu/Bamako – $649 (subject to change)

January 3, 2011 – January 9, 2011

Numbers of travellers	Price per person in US $
	Double Occupancy	Single Supplement*
3	$ 1895.00	$ 330.00
4	$ 1760.00	$ 330.00