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Mali...

Mali Classic — 15 days

In the comfort of all-hotel accommodations, experience
the Niger River, the Sahara Desert, Dogon country and Timbuktu

Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, with a Thursday arrival in Bamako; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.

Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify how many persons are in your party—prices are digressive, so a better value per person for a party of four than a party of two, etc.



going to the mosque

 

 

 



Day 1 Thursday: Arrival in Bamako, Mali
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening, airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

Day 2: Bamako - Segou (B)
Breakfast, then drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; visit Segou: admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and mudcloth artisans; visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; overnight in Segou (hotel)

Day 3: Segou - Mopti (B)
Drive to Mopti, also known as the Venice of Mali, for its location between the Bani and the Niger rivers; visit Mopti: the Komoguel mosque, the fishing port (see pirogues being made), and the bustling market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; overnight in Mopti (hotel)

Day 4: Mopti - Hombori Mountains - Douentza (B)
To the Hombori Mountains; visit the Kondjo cliff and the Hand of Fatima; overnight in Douentza (hotel)

Day 5: Douentza - Timbuktu (B)
Continue to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; Timbuktu city tour, including the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert; camel ride on the dunes around Timbuktu; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

Day 6: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert (B,L)
Full day's excursion into the desert by 4x4 vehicle; see magnificent sand dunes, and visit a Tuareg camp; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

Day 7: Timbuktu - Mopti (B)
Return drive across the Sahel, to Mopti; enjoy a sunset stroll on the banks of the river; overnight in Mopti (hotel)

Day 8 : Mopti / Niger River (B,L)
Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River; visit Bozo fishing villages and nomadic Fulani camps; observe the large variety of Mali's birds, and perhaps see hippos in the river; return to and overnight in Mopti (hotel)

Day 9: Mopti - Dogon country (B,L,D)
Onward to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; visit Songo village, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; continue to Sangha, an agglomeration of 10 Dogon villages, some animist, some Islamic; visit Dogon seers and see a divination ceremony; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

Day 10: Dogon country (B,L,D)
Descend the Bandiagara escarpment and visit Dogon cliff villages Banani, Ireli, Amani (see the sanctuary of sacred crocodiles), and Tireli; perhaps witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

Day 11: Dogon country - Djenne (B,L)
Drive to the southern end of the Bandiagara escarpment to visit Tely and Ende villages, including a visit to the Hogon, spiritual leader of the Dogon people, in his grotto; in the afternoon, drive to Djenne, sister-city of Timbuktu; overnight in Djenne (hotel)

Day 12 Monday: Djenne - Segou (B)
Visit Djenne on its colorful weekly market day, when villagers from miles away come to buy and sell; hundreds of market stalls are spread before the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture; constructed in the XIIIth century, it is one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; when the market winds down, drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (hotel)

Day 13: Segou - Sikasso (B)
Drive to Sikasso, in Mali's green belt; visit Sikasso: see the Mamelon (residence of the former kings of Sikasso), the Tata (remnants of a large palisade that encircled the city and for a time held off the French colonial army); overnight in Sikasso (hotel)

Day 14: Sikasso - Bamako (B)
Visit the grotto of Misiri Koro, home of the protector spirits of the Mande people, then return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

Day 15: Bamako - final departure (B)
Tour Bamako: panoramic overview of the city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market and the artisans' village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure


Optional Dogon mask dance in a village on Day 10.

 

What's included?

Tour includes the following:

bullet 14 nights hotel, double occupancy
bullet day-room in Bamako on the final day
bullet 14 breakfasts (B), 5 lunches (L), 2 dinners (D), excluding drinks
bullet private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver
bullet full day's excursion on the Niger River by private river boat (with outboard motor, fuel and crew)
bullet full day's excursion by 4x4 vehicle into the Sahara Desert to visit the Tuareg people (including desert guide)
bullet camel ride on the sand dunes
bullet experienced English-speaking guide throughout
bullet airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
bullet all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
bullet all excursion and entry fees

Not included are international airfare to/from Mali, entry visas, non-specified meals, drinks, tips, optional Dogon mask dance, and personal expenses..

 

 

What Else!

We offer a series of other tours:
15 Days Senegal and Mauritiania
16 Days Mali, Burkina Faso & Cote
D'Ivoire
14 Days Black History Month
12 Days Burkina Faso and Mali
13 Days Sahara River Adventure
15 Days Gold Coast Tour of Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cote D'Ivoire
15 Days Mali, from the Dogonland to the River Niger

Call for custom designed tours!

 

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