Day 1: Arrival – Bamako
Your international flight arrives today in Bamako be met and transferred to your hotel in town. Tour Orientation.
Hotel Mirabeau or similar
Meals included: None
Day 2: Bamako
Today is Christmas; city tour of Bamako includes the point of view on the city of Bamako, the National Museum, providing an excellent introduction to the ethnic diversity of the country, the big and pink markets, the dryers etc.
Decide your night activities with your tour guide.
Hotel Mirabeau or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3: Bamako – Sikasso
4-5 drive to discover the South of Mali, the green belt of Mali. Visit many villages on your way. Tour of Sikasso includes the remnants of Mamelon, the Cultural centre for the tribe Senoufo.
Hotel Du Cinquantenaire or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4: Sikasso – San
Complete tour of Sikasso visiting the Missirikoro grotto and continue to Koutiala, the capital of white gold (cotton), continue to overnight in San. Time permitting visit the mosque of San and Terekungo.
Hotel Santoro or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: San – Dogon Country
Drive to fascinating Dogon country, points of interest the circumcision grotto in Songho, Niongonon and Sangha etc.
Campement Sangha or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Dogon Country
Another full day in Dogon country. Descend escarpment to visit Dogon typical villages on the edge of the cliff, a Dogon masque dance will be organized before you depart to overnight in Bandiagara.
Hotel La Falaise or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Dogon Country – Timbuktu
We drive along the paved then dusty road to Timbuktu with stops at interesting points on the way admiring the landscape.
Hotel du Desert
or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 8: Timbuktu
Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankoré, Sidi Yehia Mosque and the manuscripts centre. See the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base.
Visit to the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans.
Excursion into the Sahara Desert by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp just near to Timbuktu. Enjoy tea on the dunes with your Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the Desert. Return to and overnight at your Hotel in Timbuktu.
Hotel du Desert
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9: Timbuktu – Mopti
Drive back along the dusty road to Mopti with stops at interesting points on the way admiring the landscape.
Hotel Kanaga
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 10: Mopti – Djenné – Mopti
This morning you travel from Mopti to Mali's architectural jewel, Djenné, on its weekly market day visit Djenné when it is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud-brick architecture in the world and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites, visit the museum and wander through the narrow streets of Djenné discovering this architectural city...
Drive to overnight in Mopti.
Hotel Kanaga
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11: Mopti – Kona – Mopti
This morning approx 7-hours cruise on the Niger River to Kona, located at 55 km from Mopti.
Lunch on board. Highlight: watching fishermen at work, visit of riverside villages including the very beautiful mosque of Kotaca, seeing water birds. Upon arrival in Kona you will drive back to Mopti.
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 jewellery, Tuareg leatherwork, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool.
Hotel Kanaga
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 12: Mopti – Teriyabugu
Drive to visit the “Hut of friendship” Teriyabugu a center of ecotourism for rural development and a self depending center. Relax and breathe fresh air from the side Bani River.
Visit the mini zoo, the museum, and may see Bozo people smoking and drying fish.
Hotel Teriya
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13: Teriyabugu – Ségou
Following breakfast, approx 1 hour drive to visit the Bambara Kingdom Ségou. Highlight: Pottery market, the mud clothes fabric center, see women preparing local beer, continue to Sékoro and learn the history of the Kingdom, see the tomb of the first King, Biton Coulibaly and the mosque that no one knows who built. After visits stay overnight in Ségou.
Hotel Auberge
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 14: Ségou – Bamako
Drive back to Bamako and rest of day is at leisure ,
Hotel Mirabeau
Day 15: Bamako – Depart
Day at leisure or souvenirs shopping with your tour guide and driver.
Prepare for onward flight
Or
Travel to the mountain village of Mandé in the Western region of Mali (55 Km) on it weekly market day. Here you will learn about the history of Soundiata Keita, the legendary former king of the ancient Malian Empire. Several of Mali’s ethnic groups including Dogon, Bambara, Malinké, Kassonke, Minianka, Sénoufo, and Bobo originate from this area. In Mandé you will see the Fanfamba Grotto (the former meeting place of the village elders), the cave of Kamadian, with compartments for artisans including blacksmiths, hunters, traditional fortune tellers, and chiefs. See a Donso, traditional hunter in his clothes. Visit the center where local women produce butter and soap with “Chi tree” nuts. Return to Bamako.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Price Includes: (price is per person based on at least 2 people, double occupancy)
Round trip airport to hotel transfers, Accommodations in the properties listed or similar, Tours in private vehicle, Experienced English/French-speaking guides, Admissions to all listed sites and activities, cruise Kona-Mopti, Luggage transfer, Meals indicated.
Tour Price Does Not Include:
International airfare to Mali, any domestic airfare, travel insurance, meals not listed, personal items such as telephone, laundry and visa fees, gratuity to drivers and guides.
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