| Duration: | 12 Day(s) - 11 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN BAMAKO, MALI
The international flight arrives in Bamako, Mali. You will be met, assisted, and transferred to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel in Bamako or similar.
Meal(s) Included: None
DAY 2: MOPTI / NIGER RIVER
Drive to Mopti while sightseeing along the way, see in San the local mosque designed as a replica of the Djenné Grand Mosque, and visit Terekungo village, the site of a sacred well inhabited by protector spirits of the Bobo people see the locals.
Arrive in time to relax with a sunset sail on the Niger River. Overnight at Hotel Ambedjele
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3: MOPTI – TIMBUKTU
After breakfast drive to the legendary city of Timbuktu. En route, observe the various villages and see the wildlife on land and along the dusty road. Arrive at Timbuktu in the late afternoon. Auberge du Desert or similar
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: TIMBUKTU
Breakfast; located near the River Niger, and 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.
Tour that mystery city located at the terminus of the great trans-Saharan caravan route. Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankoré, Mosque of Sidi Yehia, and the Palace of Bouctou. Visit the ethnological museum Al Manzour Korey Museum, Henrich Barth Museum, and Maison des Artisans. See the houses of the various 19th-century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base. Camel ride in Timbuktu. Overnight in Timbuktu.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch. Dinner
DAY 5: TIMBUKTU – DOGON
Drive across the Sahel, an eco-climatic and bio-geographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert and the Sudanian savannas. Continue on to Mali’s fascinating Dogon country. Campement Sangha
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 6: DOGON COUNTRY
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment, where you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism. Campement Sangha
Meal (s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: DOGON COUNTRY
Following breakfast, we will descend the Bandiagara escarpment and visit the village of Banani where we will see ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face. Continue to the villages of Ireli and Amani, the site of a sanctuary for crocodiles which are sacred to the Dogon people. You will bear witness to a traditional Dogon Mask Dance.
We will drive to Bandiagara overnight at Hotel La Falaise
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
DAY 8: DOGON COUNTRY – DJENNE
Depart Dogon country and drive to Djenné, the ancient sister-city of Timbuktu. We will visit the Dogon village of Songho, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto. After arrival in Djenné, observe the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world’s largest mud-brick architecture, and one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. Overnight at Djenno Djenne Hotel
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9: DJENNE – SEGOU
Take a tour of Djenné, the pearl of the Niger delta. Visit the Grand Mosque, the weekly market, artisans in their workshops, and the Djenné Jeno archaeological site. Arrive at Ségou, one of Mali's largest cities and former colonial administrative center. Overnight at Independence hotel.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10: SÉGOU - SIKASSO
For breakfast, we visit the Mud clothes fabric center where we learn about the process of dying and experience it. We will keep our samples as souvenirs. We will enter the city and see local women preparing local brews (millet beer), and visit the tapestry center; then we shall take the border of the Niger River and visit the pottery market.
Afterward, travel to Sikasso. Sightseeing en route. Overnight at Hotel du Cinquantenaire
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11: SIKASSO – BAMAKO
Discover the South of Mali, the green belt of Mali, the Cultural center for the tribe Sénoufo, tour the city of Sikasso and explore the ruins of the Tata, an ancient palisade that encircles the city. Visit the Mamelon, known to be the residence of the last king of Sikasso; also visit the flourishing market there. Continue on to Bamako. Overnight at Hotel Mirabeau or similar
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12: BAMAKO – DEPART
Tour the city of Bamako, and visit the National Museum, the city market, and the artisans’ village. In the evening, you will be transferred to the airport for your final departure.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
TOUR INCLUDES (Price is person based on at least 02 people in one double room):
• Meeting and assistance upon arrival and departure
• Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers
• Hotel accommodation in the indicated properties
• Transportation in a private 4WD vehicle
• Experienced tour guide
• Admission to listed sites including Dogon masque Dance
• Meals indicated
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Cost of visa
• Meals not listed
• Travel Insurance
• Gratuity to driver and guide
