Itinerary

Day 1

BAMAKO
02 January 2010
Assistance for police and customs formalities and transfer by coach to the hotel - 02h00
Bamako: “Bamako is a Bambara word meaning “Crocodiles River”. In 1806 Bamako was a Bozo fishing and trading community of about 6000 people. In 1883, the French captured the town and in 1908 Bamako became their regional seat of power and they built their residence on the hill of Koulouba. At the independence in 1960, Bamako was chosen as the capital ...”
Arrival to Bamako. Welcome by West Africa Tours team followed with your transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel or Guest House

Day 1

BAMAKO
02 January 2010
Assistance for police and customs formalities and transfer by coach to the hotel - 02h00
Bamako: “Bamako is a Bambara word meaning “Crocodiles River”. In 1806 Bamako was a Bozo fishing and trading community of about 6000 people. In 1883, the French captured the town and in 1908 Bamako became their regional seat of power and they built their residence on the hill of Koulouba. At the independence in 1960, Bamako was chosen as the capital ...”
Arrival to Bamako. Welcome by West Africa Tours team followed with your transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel or Guest House

Day 2

BAMAKO / SEGOU
03 January 2011
Route: 240 Km - 04h00 Breakfast and depart to Segou. Crossing of Saharan typical landscapes and villages. On route we will make a stop to visit Segoukoro which means in Bambara language the “Old Segou”. It is the location of Bambara Kingdom's former capital… You can see the vestibule and the tomb of Mamary Biton Coulibaly, the Founder of the Kingdom and try to understand how Animism and Muslim were intimately bound. Arrival to the hotel, check-in followed with your lunch. In the afternoon, we will have the city tour that includes the pottery market along the Niger River banks and the « Colonial Quarter ». Admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture.The local beer fabric, the women shops for their beautiful bogolan.Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hôtel L'Auberge or similar

Day 2

BAMAKO / SEGOU
03 January 2011
Route: 240 Km - 04h00 Breakfast and depart to Segou. Crossing of Saharan typical landscapes and villages. On route we will make a stop to visit Segoukoro which means in Bambara language the “Old Segou”. It is the location of Bambara Kingdom's former capital… You can see the vestibule and the tomb of Mamary Biton Coulibaly, the Founder of the Kingdom and try to understand how Animism and Muslim were intimately bound. Arrival to the hotel, check-in followed with your lunch. In the afternoon, we will have the city tour that includes the pottery market along the Niger River banks and the « Colonial Quarter ». Admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture.The local beer fabric, the women shops for their beautiful bogolan.Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hôtel L'Auberge or similar

Day 3

SEGOU / DJENNE
04 January 2011
Asphalted road: 330 Km - 05h30 Breakfast and departure for Djenne. Photo-stops in local markets located all along your way. Lunch stop at San. Continuation and arrival to Djenne followed with a walking tour of the city. DJENNE: “Founded in the 4th century, Djenne has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. In the 13th-15th centuries, Djenne was a rival of Timbuktu for the wealth of the Trans-Saharan trade. The city is located on an island in the inland Niger delta, and is surrounded by mud brick walls. As well as making a visit to the archaeological site of Djenné-Djeno that looks backward in time over a 1.000 years. Generation after generation, a guild of highly skilled master-builders, the Baris, have ensured Djenne's architectural integrity. The atmosphere in the streets brings the traveller back to medieval times.” Sites to visit and to see: The town weekly market of Monday , the particular architecture, the largest mud made mosque in the world, the chief's house, the sacred well of Nana Wangara, the tomb of the young woman who was walled in alive to give the town prosperity. Dinner in the restaurant of “Hotel Campement” and overnight at hotel. Auberge du Maafir or similar

Day 3

SEGOU / DJENNE
04 January 2011
Asphalted road: 330 Km - 05h30 Breakfast and departure for Djenne. Photo-stops in local markets located all along your way. Lunch stop at San. Continuation and arrival to Djenne followed with a walking tour of the city. DJENNE: “Founded in the 4th century, Djenne has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. In the 13th-15th centuries, Djenne was a rival of Timbuktu for the wealth of the Trans-Saharan trade. The city is located on an island in the inland Niger delta, and is surrounded by mud brick walls. As well as making a visit to the archaeological site of Djenné-Djeno that looks backward in time over a 1.000 years. Generation after generation, a guild of highly skilled master-builders, the Baris, have ensured Djenne's architectural integrity. The atmosphere in the streets brings the traveller back to medieval times.” Sites to visit and to see: The town weekly market of Monday , the particular architecture, the largest mud made mosque in the world, the chief's house, the sacred well of Nana Wangara, the tomb of the young woman who was walled in alive to give the town prosperity. Dinner in the restaurant of “Hotel Campement” and overnight at hotel. Auberge du Maafir or similar

Day 4

DJENNE / NANDO / NIONGONO / MOPTI
05 January 2011
Road by 4x4 - 230 Km: 04h00 + Ferry-boat crossing: 20 min Breakfast and depart to Dogon country. Visit to Dogon villages located on the plateau, like Niongono, located on a peak and Nando with its small mosque, the only mud-made structure in the village. Travel a short distance to Bandiagara for the lunch and proceed to Mopti. Check-in at hotel. Dinner and overnight. Hôtel Le Flandre or similar at Sevare

Day 4

DJENNE / NANDO / NIONGONO / MOPTI
05 January 2011
Road by 4x4 - 230 Km: 04h00 + Ferry-boat crossing: 20 min Breakfast and depart to Dogon country. Visit to Dogon villages located on the plateau, like Niongono, located on a peak and Nando with its small mosque, the only mud-made structure in the village. Travel a short distance to Bandiagara for the lunch and proceed to Mopti. Check-in at hotel. Dinner and overnight. Hôtel Le Flandre or similar at Sevare

Day 5

MOPTI / TIMBUKTU
06 January 2011
Road and desert track with 4x4 - 400 Km: 06h00 + Ferry-boat crossing: 45 min Breakfast and early depart to Timbuktu. Lunch at Douentza. Arrival at Timbuktu at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at hotel or guest house. Auberge Le Refuge du Sahara

Day 5

MOPTI / TIMBUKTU
06 January 2011
Road and desert track with 4x4 - 400 Km: 06h00 + Ferry-boat crossing: 45 min Breakfast and early depart to Timbuktu. Lunch at Douentza. Arrival at Timbuktu at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at hotel or guest house. Auberge Le Refuge du Sahara

Day 6

TIMBUKTU / ESSAKANE
07 January 2011
Town visit and desert track with 4x4 - 60 Km: 02h00 Breakfast and go for the mysterious town visiting Timbuktu: Timbuktu was formerly a great commercial trading city and an international centre of Islamic learning. The city was probably founded in the late 11th century AD by Tuareg nomads. Tuareg formed one of the most ancient tribal people of the Sahara. They speak a Berber language, Tamacheq, and have their own alphabet. In ancient times, the Tuareg controlled the trans-Sahara routes and substantially contributed in the expansion of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa even though they retained however some of their older rites. Today, the Tuareg symbolize the mysteries of the Sahara and continued to be seen as the Masters of the Desert. Sites to visit: -The ancient mosques including the famous mosque of Djingareiber the oldest and the famous Sankore whose reputation spanned all across North Africa and Europe as a leading Islamic academy for centuries. -The Ahmed Baba Centre where ancient books (some dating from the 14th century AD) are still preserved. -The explorers (Gordon Laing, Rene Caillé, Henrich Barth) houses. After the lunch, you will depart for Essakane desert Festival site located 60 km from Timbuktu. On route visit to the Tuareg village of Farach famous for has been a place where Tuareg people had fiercely resisted against colonial penetration. Meet with the elders and discover local population activities and women co-operative association. Continuation 2 Km to the site of the festival. Opening ceremony. Dinner followed by music show in the night.Overnight under Tuareg tents

Day 6

TIMBUKTU / ESSAKANE
07 January 2011
Town visit and desert track with 4x4 - 60 Km: 02h00 Breakfast and go for the mysterious town visiting Timbuktu: Timbuktu was formerly a great commercial trading city and an international centre of Islamic learning. The city was probably founded in the late 11th century AD by Tuareg nomads. Tuareg formed one of the most ancient tribal people of the Sahara. They speak a Berber language, Tamacheq, and have their own alphabet. In ancient times, the Tuareg controlled the trans-Sahara routes and substantially contributed in the expansion of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa even though they retained however some of their older rites. Today, the Tuareg symbolize the mysteries of the Sahara and continued to be seen as the Masters of the Desert. Sites to visit: -The ancient mosques including the famous mosque of Djingareiber the oldest and the famous Sankore whose reputation spanned all across North Africa and Europe as a leading Islamic academy for centuries. -The Ahmed Baba Centre where ancient books (some dating from the 14th century AD) are still preserved. -The explorers (Gordon Laing, Rene Caillé, Henrich Barth) houses. After the lunch, you will depart for Essakane desert Festival site located 60 km from Timbuktu. On route visit to the Tuareg village of Farach famous for has been a place where Tuareg people had fiercely resisted against colonial penetration. Meet with the elders and discover local population activities and women co-operative association. Continuation 2 Km to the site of the festival. Opening ceremony. Dinner followed by music show in the night.Overnight under Tuareg tents

Day 7

ESSAKANE
08 January 2011
Essakane: Created in January 2001, the "festival au désert" is held every year in Essakane, two hours from Timbouctou in Mali. This Festival seeks its origin in the big traditional Touareg festivities, as Takoubelt in Kidal and Temakannit in Tombouctou, which represented for long time a place for decision making and exchange of information among the different communities. At the beginning, there were songs and touareg dances, poetries, camel rides, games, etc. Today, the Festival is opened to the external world and welcomes artists from other Malian regions, other African countries, but also from Europe and from the whole world. During three days, around 30 artistic groups are invited from all around the world to present their art. Due to the attention of the media and to the huge logistic effort that it is mobilizing, the Festival is now included among the Big Modern Festivals, though it maintains its traditional cultural aspects. Breakfast. Visit to the cultural stands. Tuareg traditional music and dances. Depart to Bankor (15 Km) to see desert unique archeological site. Discover the old Tuareg settlement. Admire the beautiful panoramic view on Lake Faguibine. Drive back to Essakane. Lunch and relaxation with Sahara desert blue people. Dinner followed by music show in the night.Overnight under Tuareg tents

Day 7

ESSAKANE
08 January 2011
Essakane: Created in January 2001, the "festival au désert" is held every year in Essakane, two hours from Timbouctou in Mali. This Festival seeks its origin in the big traditional Touareg festivities, as Takoubelt in Kidal and Temakannit in Tombouctou, which represented for long time a place for decision making and exchange of information among the different communities. At the beginning, there were songs and touareg dances, poetries, camel rides, games, etc. Today, the Festival is opened to the external world and welcomes artists from other Malian regions, other African countries, but also from Europe and from the whole world. During three days, around 30 artistic groups are invited from all around the world to present their art. Due to the attention of the media and to the huge logistic effort that it is mobilizing, the Festival is now included among the Big Modern Festivals, though it maintains its traditional cultural aspects. Breakfast. Visit to the cultural stands. Tuareg traditional music and dances. Depart to Bankor (15 Km) to see desert unique archeological site. Discover the old Tuareg settlement. Admire the beautiful panoramic view on Lake Faguibine. Drive back to Essakane. Lunch and relaxation with Sahara desert blue people. Dinner followed by music show in the night.Overnight under Tuareg tents

Day 8

ESSAKANE
09 January 2011
Breakfast. Visit to the cultural stands. Tuareg traditional music and dances. Lunch and relaxation with Sahara desert blue people. Tea party. Camel race...Dinner followed by music show in the night. Overnight under Tuareg tents

Day 8

ESSAKANE
09 January 2011
Breakfast. Visit to the cultural stands. Tuareg traditional music and dances. Lunch and relaxation with Sahara desert blue people. Tea party. Camel race...Dinner followed by music show in the night. Overnight under Tuareg tents

Day 9

ESSAKANE / MOPTI
10 January 2011
Desert track with 4x4 - 460 Km: 10h00 + 01h ferry boat crossing Breakfast and drive back to Mopti. You will have your Lunch on route. Arrival to Mopti at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Le Flandre or similar in Sevare

Day 9

ESSAKANE / MOPTI
10 January 2011
Desert track with 4x4 - 460 Km: 10h00 + 01h ferry boat crossing Breakfast and drive back to Mopti. You will have your Lunch on route. Arrival to Mopti at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Le Flandre or similar in Sevare

Day 10

MOPTI / KONNA / MOPTI
11 January 2011
Sailing day on the Niger River + transfer with 4x4: 55 Km: 01h15 Breakfast and embark on a motorised riverboat for one day sailing on the Niger River. During the sailing you will visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani campsalong the way. Lunch on board. Arrival to Konna harbour and transfer to Mopti. After a short rest you will go in discovering of the “Venice of Mali”: the fishing harbour, the mosque of Komoguel, the boat building... At sunset drive back to the hotel in Sevare. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel Le Flandre or similar in Sevare

Day 10

MOPTI / KONNA / MOPTI
11 January 2011
Sailing day on the Niger River + transfer with 4x4: 55 Km: 01h15 Breakfast and embark on a motorised riverboat for one day sailing on the Niger River. During the sailing you will visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani campsalong the way. Lunch on board. Arrival to Konna harbour and transfer to Mopti. After a short rest you will go in discovering of the “Venice of Mali”: the fishing harbour, the mosque of Komoguel, the boat building... At sunset drive back to the hotel in Sevare. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel Le Flandre or similar in Sevare

Day 11

MOPTI / TERIYABOUGOU
12 January 2011
Road + track by 4x4 290 Km - 04h00 After the breakfast, we will depart to Teriyabougou. Arrival to Teriyabougou and check-in at hotel. Teriyabougou is quite a “paradise” where one can relax after all these days of trip. Lunch and go for a visit of this ecotourism experience. You can visit its mini zoo, and its botanical garden with almost 200 000 trees. Free time and relax till the dinner. Overnight at hotel.La Case de l'Amitie

Day 11

MOPTI / TERIYABOUGOU
12 January 2011
Road + track by 4x4 290 Km - 04h00 After the breakfast, we will depart to Teriyabougou. Arrival to Teriyabougou and check-in at hotel. Teriyabougou is quite a “paradise” where one can relax after all these days of trip. Lunch and go for a visit of this ecotourism experience. You can visit its mini zoo, and its botanical garden with almost 200 000 trees. Free time and relax till the dinner. Overnight at hotel.La Case de l'Amitie

Day 12

TERIYABUGU / BAMAKO / DEPARTURE
13 January 2011
Road + track by 4x4: 320 Km - 05h30 Breakfast and depart for Bamako. Arrival and check-in at hotel followed with the lunch at Restaurant le Santoro. In the afternoon we will visit the town: The National Museum: It contains some beautiful ethnographic pieces from many of Mali's ethnic groups...The panoramic view from point G on the escarpment north of the city...
The artisan and the fetish market. Dinner and transfer to airport for final departure.

Day 12

TERIYABUGU / BAMAKO / DEPARTURE
13 January 2011
Road + track by 4x4: 320 Km - 05h30 Breakfast and depart for Bamako. Arrival and check-in at hotel followed with the lunch at Restaurant le Santoro. In the afternoon we will visit the town: The National Museum: It contains some beautiful ethnographic pieces from many of Mali's ethnic groups...The panoramic view from point G on the escarpment north of the city...
The artisan and the fetish market. Dinner and transfer to airport for final departure.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Price Includes: - 8 nights of hotel accommodation (double occupancy) + breakfast- 3 nights of Tuareg tents accommodation during the festival- Ground transportation in an air condition 4WD vehicle to all listed sites- Full board pension prepared on the festival site (3 breakfast, 3 lunch, and 3 dinner)- Mineral water- Camel ride on the festival dunes- An experienced English – speaking guide- Dogon mask dance.

Exclusions -

Airfare is not included in the tour price.