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features Mali's Festival in the
Desert, plus Timbuktu, Dogon country,
Niger River sunset sail, Djenne, Mopti and Bamako
All of the important sites, for an unforgettable visit of
Mali !
NB: this is a group tour
TOUR ITINERARY
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01 January 2011: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
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International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening (hotel check-in
2:00 PM or later); airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
- 02 January 2011: Bamako - Djenne (570 km; ~7hrs)
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Begin your tour with a full day's drive through the heartland of Mali, to Djenne, historic sister-city of Timbuktu; sightseeing en-route; overnight in Djenne
(hotel)
- with Breakfast
- 03 January 2011: Djenne - Dogon Country (240 km;
~3½hrs)
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Experience the colorful weekly market in Djenne—see hundreds of market
stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; originally constructed in the
XIIIth century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture and one of Unesco's
World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in
Sangha/Sevare (hotel)
- with Breakfast
- 04 January 2011: Dogon country - Sevare (120 km;
~2hrs)
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Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment: Banani, Amani and Tireli,
where you will witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; drive to Sevare for overnight
(hotel)
- with Breakfast
- 05 January 2011: Sevare - Timbuktu (540 km;
~6hrs)
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Interesting drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway
to the great Sahara Desert ! overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
- with Breakfast
- 06, 07, 08 January 2011: Desert Festival days
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Onward drive (~2 hrs) to Essakane and enjoy the three days of festivities: music at night, and during the daylight hours more music, dancing, sword-play, poetry, arts and crafts, camel races, and more ! overnight camping in Essakane
- with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on the three festival days
- 09 January 2011: Essakane - Timbuktu
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Return to Timbuktu; check into your hotel to freshen up, then enjoy your city tour of Timbuktu: visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Istitute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the city market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; afternoon free to wander about this
historic town; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
- with Breakfast
- 10 January 2011: Timbuktu - Mopti / (550 km; ~6hrs) Niger River
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Return drive across the Sahel to Mali's vibrant port city; enjoy a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti/Sevare
(hotel)
- with Breakfast<
- 11 January 2011: Mopti - Segou (405 km; ~4hrs)
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City tour of Mopti: visit the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Songhay; onward drive to Segou for overnight (hotel)
- with Breakfast
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12 January 2011: Segou - Bamako(235 km; ~3hrs)
- City tour of Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial capital; stroll through the traditional pottery market on the waterfront; also visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; and return drive to Bamako
for overnight (hotel)
- with Breakfast
-
13 January 2011: Bamako - final departure
- Bamako city tour: begin with a panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; thenvisit the National Museum, the colorful city market, the artisans' village and the fetish market for traditional medicine; hotel day-room check-out 6:00 PM; at the appropriate time,
transfer to the airport for your onward flight home (day-room)
- with Breakfast
1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops; ferry crossings not included
- 13-day Desert Festival Tour includes:
- >>9 nights hotel (double occ.), including breakfast (B); check-in 2:00 PM, check-out 12:00 noon
- >>day-room in Bamako on the last day; check-out 6:00 PM
- >> 3 nights camping at the desert festival site; bring your
sleeping bags
for the cold desert nights; tents are provided
- >>all ground transportation by private 4x4 vehicle
- >> festival entry pass (priced separately, but included in tour
package)
- >> all meals during the festival, prepared on-site:
3 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)
- >> bottled mineral water (3 liters/day/person) at the
festival site
- >> sunset sail on the Niger River
- >> traditional Dogon mask dance in a village
- >> experienced, English-speaking guide throughout
- >> airport transfers for Bamako arrival and departure
- >> all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- >> all site visit and entry fees, as per tour program
- Please Know That:
- since it is not included in the rate. AFTours can handle your international air
reservations or ticketing...
add Your Request in the 'Enquiry Form' in the menu on your left.
- Tour does not include:
- >> international airfare to/from Bamako... apart that you do the
reservation by AFTours
- >> Mali visas
- >> non-specified meals
- >> drinks/bottled water
- >> tips
- >> personal expenses
- >> sleeping bags
- Mali's entry requirements:
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1) tourism visa
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2) Yellow Fever immunization
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Malaria prophylaxis is recommended; consult your physician.
See our Travel Tips page for Mali Embassy contact information, to apply for your Mali visa.
AFTours does not issue entry visas.
- Festival tour requirements:
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1) a sleeping bag
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2) soft luggage, such as a duffel bag; hard suitcases are not appropriate
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3) summer clothing for days; a warm outfit for the desert nights; see our Travel Tips page for a suggested packing list.
- Please note:
- AFTours is not an organizer of the Festival in the Desert, and is not responsible for any possible changes in dates or festival entry fee. We will inform our registered
participants of changes, if any, as they occur. We reserve the right to modify the tour itinerary
as and if it becomes necessary in our judgment to do so. If an itinerary change becomes necessary,
we will offer and provide a comparable tour itinerary, within the constraints imposed by local
conditions. Registered participants will be able to opt out at this time.
Here end's the: 13-day MALI Desert-Fastival Intro
...Make your booking now
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