Worodougou Tour

Day 1: Arrival – Bamako

Your international flight arrives in Bamako, where you will be met, assisted, and transferred to your hotel. Radisson Blu Bamako or similar.

Tour orientation with your tour guide, followed by the rest of the day at leisure.

Meals included: None

Day 2: Bamako

City tour of Bamako. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from Point G, also known as the Hill of Health. Visit the National Museum, which provides an excellent introduction to the ethnic diversity of the country. Visit the recycling market of Bamako, where local artisans transform old metal into new products. At the city’s craft bazaar, see sculptors, weavers, leatherworkers, jewelers, and metalworkers exhibiting their wares and demonstrating their skills. One section of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicine.

Here, you will find dried animal parts, herbs, and other traditional remedies. Visit the handicraft center to shop for souvenirs. After the visits, return to your hotel to relax and overnight at Radisson Blu Bamako or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: Bamako – Sikasso (374 km)

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, for a time, held off 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 brave community and its strong heritage. Overnight in Sikasso at Hotel du Cinquantenaire or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4: Sikasso – Ségou (296 km)

After breakfast, conclude your visit to Sikasso with a tour of the Missirikoro Grotto, where Muslim and traditional spiritual practices coexist. Then drive to Ségou, a former colonial administrative center.

In the afternoon, take a cruise in a traditional pinasse on the Niger River to the Bambara village of Kalabougou. The village is known for its pottery, and you may see women shaping and firing their work. Overnight at Auberge Ségou or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5: Ségou – Mopti (405 km)

This morning, complete a tour of Ségou with a visit to the mud-cloth fabric center, where you will learn the dyeing process and participate in it. Keep your samples as souvenirs. Visit local women preparing millet beer and the tapestry center.

Explore the ancient colonial buildings and Sékoro (Old Ségou), the former capital of the Bambara Kingdom. Learn about the history of Ségou, visit the family of the village chief, and interact with him if possible. See the tomb of the first king of Ségou, wander through the streets, and visit the mosque that predates the village and whose origins remain unknown.

After the visits, travel to Mopti, known as the “Venice of Mali.” Overnight at Hotel Kanaga, Mopti.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Mopti – Djenné – Mopti (131 km each way)

After breakfast, travel to Mali’s architectural jewel, Djenné.

Founded in the fourth century, Djenné has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. As you stroll through the streets and the bazaar, you will be transported back to medieval times.

If today is Monday, visit Djenné on its weekly market day, when it is at its most colorful. Explore the market in front of the magnificent Grand Mosque—the largest mud-brick structure in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the museum, where a representative of the Mission Culturelle will guide you to the archaeological site of Djéno Djenné, the original ancient settlement.

Learn about the rich history of this ancient city. Return to Mopti for overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7: Mopti – Dogon Country (approx. 120 km, partly unpaved)

Drive to Dogon Country, one of the most extraordinary regions on Earth, known for its dramatic Sahelian landscapes and ancient Tellem cave dwellings.

The Dogon people inhabit the central plateau south of the Niger Bend near Bandiagara. They are renowned for their mythology, mask dances, wooden sculptures, and unique architecture.

The region is defined by the Bandiagara Escarpment, a sandstone cliff rising up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) and stretching approximately 150 km (almost 100 miles).

Dogon life revolves around sacred rites and rituals performed within the cliff hollows where their houses are built. Their culture is steeped in mysticism, from advanced astronomical knowledge to the distinctive layout of Dogon villages.

Visit the Dogon village of Songho, famous for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto, and continue to Sangha, a group of ten Dogon villages inhabited by both animist and Muslim communities. Visit the women’s house and enjoy a special audience with the Dogon spiritual leader, the Hogon. Overnight in Sangha at Campement Sangha.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 8: Dogon Country

After breakfast, descend the Bandiagara Escarpment and visit the village of Banani, where ancient Tellem cave dwellings cling to the cliff face. Continue to the villages of Ireli and Amani, home to a sacred crocodile sanctuary. Witness a traditional Dogon mask dance.

Drive to Bandiagara for an overnight stay at Hotel La Falaise.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 9: Dogon Country – Ségou (456 km)

Depart Dogon Country and drive to Ségou. En route, visit San to see the local mosque designed as a replica of the Djenné Grand Mosque. Continue to Terekungo Village, home to a sacred well believed to be inhabited by protective spirits of the Bobo people. Continue to Ségou for overnight at Auberge Ségou.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10: Ségou – Bamako – Départ (235 km)

After breakfast, drive to Bamako. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and visit the Artisanat handicraft center. Later, proceed to your hotel to refresh and relax before your airport transfer.

You will be transferred approximately three hours before your international flight.

Tour Price Includes:

Round-trip airport-to-hotel transfers; accommodation in the listed properties or similar; tours in a private air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle; experienced English- and French-speaking guides; admission to all listed sites and activities; sunset sails; camel ride; Dogon mask dance; luggage transfers; and meals as indicated.

Tour Price Does Not Include:

International airfare to Africa; travel insurance; meals not listed; personal expenses such as telephone and laundry; visa fees; and gratuities for drivers and guides.