Mali Classic tour — 14 days
In the comfort of all-hotel accommodations,
experience all of Mali's treasures:
Niger River · Sahara Desert · fascinating Dogon country
also visit Djenne, Mopti, Timbuktu, Sikasso, Segou and Bamako
13 nights hotel; no camping
Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday in Bamako; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.
Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify the month/year of travel, and how many persons are in your party—prices are digressive, so a better value per person for a party of four than a party of two, etc.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sunday: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening, airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)
Day 2 Monday: Bamako - Sikasso (375 km; ~4½hrs)
Begin your tour with a scenic drive south to historic Sikasso, in Mali's green belt; visit Sikasso: see the Mamelon: residence of the former kings of Sikasso; and the Tata: remnants of a large palisade that encircled the city and for a time held off the French colonial army; overnight in Sikasso (Hotel Kaaky, or similar) -
with Breakfast
Day 3 Tuesday: Sikasso - Segou (295 km; ~3½hrs)
Visit the grotto of Misiri Koro, home of the protector spirits of the Mande people; onward drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; visit Segou: admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market on the river bank, traditional weavers and mudcloth artisans; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar) -
with Breakfast
Day 4 Wednesday: Segou - Mopti (405 km; ~4½hrs)
Onward drive through the heartland of Mali, to Mopti, the "melting pot" of Mali, located between the Bani and the Niger rivers; city tour of Mopti: visit the Komoguel mosque, the fishing port (see pirogues being made by hand), and the bustling market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
- with Breakfast
Day 5 Thursday: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km; ~6hrs)
Today we depart across the Sahel to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; enjoy a sunset camel ride on the sand dunes around Timbuktu; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 6 Friday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert
NB: due to security concerns we do not go deep into the desert.
City tour of Timbuktu, including the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and Ahmed Baba Institute archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically, salt was worth its weight in gold; afternoon excursion into the Sahara Desert by 4x4 vehicle to visit Tuareg camps on the outskirts of Timbuktu; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar) -
with Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Saturday: Timbuktu - Mopti (550 km; ~6hrs)
Return drive across the Sahel, back to Mopti; enjoy a relaxing sunset stroll on the banks of the Niger River; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 8 Sunday: Mopti / Niger River
Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River, in a motorized pirogue; visit Bozo fishing villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the shore; observe the large variety of Mali's birds, and perhaps see hippos in the river (do not approach—hippos are dangerous); return to and overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar) - with Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 Monday: Mopti / Djenne (130 km; ~1½hr) / Dogon country (240 km; ~3½hrs)
Excursion to Djenne, Timbuktu's historical sister-city, on its colorful weekly market day when villagers from miles away come to buy and sell; hundreds of market stalls are spread before the magnificent Great Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture; originally constructed in the XIIIth century, it is one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; when the market winds down, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar) - with Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 Tuesday: Dogon country
Visit Sangha, large agglomeration of 10 distinct Dogon villages, some animist, some Islamic; visit Dogon seers and see a divination ceremony; descend the Bandiagara escarpment and visit Dogon cliff villages Banani, Ireli, Amani (see the sanctuary of sacred crocodiles, totem animal of the Dogon people), and Tireli; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar) - with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Wednesday: Dogon country
Drive to the southern end of the Bandiagara escarpment to visit Tely and Ende villages; see ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel Falaise, or similar) - with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Thursday: Dogon country - Segou (480 km; ~5½hrs)
Visit Songo village, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; this is the site of contemporary circumcision ceremonies for all Dogon villages; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; return drive to Segou for overnight (Hotel Independance, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 13 Friday: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
Visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom, now just a sleepy village on the banks of the Bani river; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; then return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 14 Saturday: Bamako - final departure
City tour of Bamako: panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village and the fetish market for traditional 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: Hotels subject to availability.
Tour package includes:
- 13 nights hotel, double occupancy
- day-room in Bamako on the final day
- 13 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D), excluding drinks
- private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver and fuel
- full day's excursion on the Niger River by private river boat (with outboard motor, fuel and crew)
- excursion by 4x4 vehicle into the Sahara Desert to visit Tuareg camps on the outskirts of Timbuktu
- camel ride on the sand dunes
- experienced English-speaking guide throughout
- airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
- all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- all touring, excursion and entry fees as per tour program
Tour package does not include: international airfare to/from Bamako; Mali visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; tips, optional Dogon mask dance, and personal expenses.
Optional traditional Dogon mask dance in a village — upon request
NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change; itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked.
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It is also possible to compose your circuit as you wish, or modify an existent one... 
