| Duration: | 12 Day(s) - 11 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Rock Climbing Tours |
Day 1: Arrival – Bamako
On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will stay overnight.
Tour orientation. Overnight at Hotel Mirabeau.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 2: Bamako
This morning, we explored Mali’s capital city, Bamako. From the hotel, we drive to the Grand Market, walk through the market, and continue to the handicraft center for a visit. We then drive along the winding road to Point G for panoramic views of Bamako. Descending from Point G Hill, we visit the National Zoo. Overnight in Bamako.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3: Bamako – Ségou – Teriyabugu
After breakfast, drive to Ségou, the heart of the Bambara Kingdom. Visit Sékoro, the former capital of the kingdom, then visit the mud-cloth fabric center to learn and experience the traditional dyeing process. Visit the pottery market at the port.
After lunch, drive to Teriyabugu, a center of rural development. Walk around the village to visit the center and see the Bozo people smoking and drying fish. In the afternoon, enjoy a walk along the river under the trees to observe and listen to the birds.
Overnight at Hotel Teriya.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4: Teriyabugu – Djenné
Today, discover the medieval city of Djenné, home to the world’s largest mud-brick structure, the Great Mosque. Begin with a visit to the archaeological site, then continue into the city to visit the famous mosque. Wander through the streets of Djenné to learn about the city’s history and the traditional techniques used to build mud houses that have endured for centuries.
In the afternoon, drive to Senossa, a village of sedentary herders. Learn about their education system, and you may see young women walking bare-chested, a traditional expression of cultural pride. Overnight at a hotel in Djenné.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5: Djenné – Dogon Country
Today marks the start of your journey into the fascinating Dogon Country, with the first stop in Songho. Visit the village and its circumcision grotto, where the initiation of young Dogon boys takes place every three years. Descend into the grotto, then continue to Niogonon, renowned as one of the most beautiful Dogon villages, located about 15 km from the paved road.
After the visit, drive to Bandiagara for lunch, then continue to Sangha. Check in at the hotel and enjoy a trek to visit some of the ten villages that make up Sangha. The trek includes visits to the Hogon, the spiritual leader of the Dogon people; the house of the late hunter Ogotemmêli Dolo; the site of the Dogon fortune teller; and other culturally significant locations. Overnight at Campement Sangha.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Dogon Country
Today, leave the vehicle behind and trek deep into Dogon Country to visit the Tellem cave dwellings on the cliff face of the Bandiagara Escarpment. Trek from the Bongo Tunnel and visit villages such as Banani, Ireli, Amani, Tireli, and others.
After the visits, drive to Bandiagara for overnight accommodation at Hotel La Falaise, still within Dogon Country.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Bandiagara – Hombori
Today, drive to Hombori to meet the “joking cousins” of the Dogon people, the Songhai. After lunch, visit Mount “The Hand of Fatima” and Hombori Tondo, Mali’s highest point at 1,155 meters. After the visit, return to Hombori for an overnight.
Mali is a country where football is the most popular sport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8: Hombori – Mopti
After breakfast, proceed to Mopti, known as the “Venice of Mali,” nestled between the Niger and Bani Rivers. Highlights include the fishing port, the beautiful mosque, and the vibrant market, where many of Mali’s cultural groups can be seen, including the Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, and Songhai.
Time permitting, enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River in a pinasse, a traditional motorized boat. Overnight at Ambedjele Hotel or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9: Mopti – Koutiala
After breakfast, drive to Koutiala, where you will stay overnight at Hotel Coton.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10: Koutiala – Sikasso
This morning, drive to Sikasso, passing through the rich agricultural lands of southern Mali. Sikasso is considered Mali’s breadbasket. Visit the remnants of the Tata, an ancient palisade that once encircled the city and temporarily resisted the French colonial army.
At the Mamelon, the former residence of the kings of Sikasso and the cultural center of the Sénoufo tribal homeland, learn about this resilient community and its heritage. Conclude the visit with a stop at the Missirikoro Grotto, where Muslim and traditional spiritual practices coexist. Overnight at Hotel du Cinquantenaire, Sikasso.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11: Sikasso – Bamako
After breakfast, drive approximately four hours back to Bamako, with sightseeing en route. Arrive in Bamako and overnight at Hotel Mirabeau.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 12: Bamako – Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your morning flight home.
Tour Price Includes:
Accommodation in the listed properties
Meals as indicated
Transportation in a private vehicle
Experienced English-speaking tour guides and local guides
Admission to all indicated sites
Tour as outlined
Tour Price Does Not Include:
Travel insurance
Visa fees
International air tickets
Tips for drivers and guides
