Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Bamako, Mali.
International flight arrives in Bamako; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel0

Day 2

Bamako - Mopti / Niger River
(B) After breakfast, 7-hour drive to Mopti, with sightseeing en route; arrive in time to relax with a sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti (hotel)

Day 3

Mopti - Timbuktu
(B) City tour of Mopti, the Venice of Mali: see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market; at mid-morning, 6-hour drive to Timbuktu; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

Day 4

Timbuktu / Sahara Desert
(B) Full day to explore this fabled city: visit the old mosques (former universities), the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city market and the artisans' center; enjoy a Sahara Desert excursion by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

Day 5

Timbuktu - Dogon country
(B,D) 8-hour drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; lunch break and sightseeing en-route; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

Day 6

Dogon country
(B,L,D) Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment; you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

Day 7

Dogon country - Djenne - Segou
(B) Depart Dogon country and drive to Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; continue driving to Segou; overnight in Segou (hotel)

Day 8

Segou - Bamako
(B) City tour of Segou, Mali's colonial administrative center; also visit Sekoro village, the "old Segou" and former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; 3-hour return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

Day 9

Bamako - final departure
(B) Bamako city tour: visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure

Extra Information

Inclusions -

9 nights hotel (dbl occ); day-room in Bamako on the final day

Exclusions -

international airfare to/from Mali