Mali Desert Festival

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Bamako

Arrive in Bamako any time.

Day 2 Bamako (B)

Enjoy a city tour of Mali's capital city, Bamako. Visit the city market, the antiquary and the artisans' village where you will see silversmiths, woodcarvers, weavers, and leatherworkers at work.

Day 3 Timbuktu (B)

This morning we will journey to the legendary Timbuktu. Located at the terminus of the great trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu became fabulously wealthy in the 16th century. Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu at your leisure, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou where you can take an optional visit to these fantastic places.

Day 4-6 Festival of the Desert (3B,3L,3D)

Drive to Essakane where we will immerse ourselves in this world famous desert festival, spending the next three days enjoying dancing, camel races and other activities. Camp under the stars in the Sahara.

Day 7 Djenne (B)

We make our way to Mali's architectural jewel, Djenne. You will have free time to relax and reflect on the amazing experience we just had.

Day 8 Djenne/Dogon (B,D)

Founded in the fourth century, Djenne has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. The atmosphere in the streets transports us back to Medieval times. There will be free time to visit its colorful and bustling market before we travel to Mali's fascinating Dogon Country.

Day 9 Dogon (B,L,D)

Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment and see many examples of the typical Dogon architecture and ancient Tellem cave dwellings situated on the cliff. We will have a chance to visit one of the 700 villages and truly understand what it's like to live in West Africa.

Day 10 Mopti (B)

Travel to Mopti, referred to as the Venice of Mali, for its location between the Bani and the Niger rivers. We will take a tour of Mopti to see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï and Hausa. There will be time to take an optional visit to the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market, where you can shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leatherwork, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool.

Day 11 Segou (B)

After breakfast we will travel to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative centre. Admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture. Take an optional visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans. We will visit a Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom and see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly.

Day 12 Sikasso (B)

Journey to Mali's green belt where we will stop at Sikasso. We will take a tour of Sikasso and visit 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). We will visit the grotto of Misiri Koro, home of the protector spirits of the Mande people.

Day 13 Bamako (B)

Early in the morning we will end our journey by returning to Bamako where we may have time to do an optional short tour of this city before enjoying one last night together.