Festival on the Niger Tour 2010
featuring Segou and the Festival on the Niger
plus Bamako, Djenne, Mopti, the Niger River and Dogon country
02 - 12 February 2010
11 days / 10 nights all-hotel accommodation
The fourth annual Festival on the Niger will be held in Segou, MALI, on 3 - 7 February 2010. This cultural celebration will feature traditional music and contemporary musicians, arts and crafts expositions (textiles, pottery, sculpture, jewelry), traditional dance troupes and puppet troupes, pirogue races on the river, and more !
See the official website on the Niger River Festival:
www.festivalsegou.org
NB: this is a group tour
ITINERARY
02 February 2010: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in
Bamako (hotel)
03 February 2010: Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs) / Festival on the Niger
Drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial center; check into your hotel, then
enjoy the festival activities (masks, puppets, music, and more); overnight in Segou (hotel) - with Breakfast
04, 05, 06 February 2010: Segou / Festival on the Niger
Full days of festival activities: speakers, demonstrations, artisan expositions, films,
story-tellers, puppets, as well as traditional and contemporary music and dance; overnight in Segou
(hotel) - with Breakfast three days
07 February 2010: Segou - Djenne (335 km; ~4hrs)
Enjoy the final festival activities, then drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city and one
of Unesco's World Heritage sites, overnight in Djenne (hotel) -
with Breakfast
08 February 2010: Djenne - Dogon country (230 km; ~3½hrs)
Visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see hundreds of market
stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque—this is the world's largest mud brick
architecture, originally built in the XIIIth century; in the afternoon, drive to Mali's fascinating
Dogon country; overnight in Sangha (hotel) -
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
09 February 2010: Dogon country
Walking tour of Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Islamic and animist villages; see beautiful
examples of traditional Dogon architesture and contemporary fetishes; descend the Bandiagara
escarpment to visit Dogon villages along the cliff; witness a spectacular Dogon mask dance,
performed in a village—this is one of the Dogon people's traditional funerary rites; return
to and overnight in Sangha (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10 February 2010: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs) / Niger River
Visit Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; circumcision
ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys ages 9-14; the rock paintings are
historical representations of noble Dogon families. Onward drive to Mopti, the Venice of Mali: see
the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï
and Hausa); visit 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; in the
evening enjoy a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti (hotel) - with Breakfast
11 February 2010: Mopti - Bamako (640 km; ~7½hrs)
Return drive to Bamako, with sightseeing en route; overnight in Bamako (hotel) -
with Breakfast
12 February 2010: Bamako - final departure
City tour of Bamako, including the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the
fetish market for tradtional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final
departure
with Breakfast
1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and
stops
NB: private departures only, this is not a group tour.
Tour includes the following:
- 10 nights hotel, double occupancy, with
breakfast
- day-room in Bamako on the final day
- 2 lunches and 2 dinners in Dogon country; excluding
drinks
- private ground transportation by air-conditioned vehicle,
with driver and fuel
- sunset sail on the Niger River
- spectacular traditional Dogon mask dance in a
village
- 4-day Festival on the Niger; entry fee priced separately
(subject to change)
- experienced English-speaking guide
throughout
- airport transfers upon arrival and departure in
Bamako
- all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- all touring, site visit, excursion and entry fees as per
tour program
Not included: international flights to/from
Bamako; Mali visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; tips and personal expenses.
For the cost, payments, etc. Please see our tour Terms and Conditions
The Festival on the Niger in Segou, Mali— a unique cultural celebration of West African
music, dance, theater, arts and crafts !
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It is also possible to compose your circuit as you wish, or modify an existent one... 
