A comprehensive tour of Mali, with a dash of adventure:
- 3-days sailing the Niger River from Mopti to Timbuktu
- camel caravan in the Sahara Desert, with camping on the dunes
- trekking in Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment
also visit Timbuktu, Djenne, Mopti, Segou and Bamako
10 nights hotel, 4 nights camping
Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, with a Saturday arrival in Bamako; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.
Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify 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 Saturday: 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 Sunday: Bamako - Djenne (570 km) (B)
Breakfast, then all-day drive to Djenne, with sight-seeing en-route; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)
Day 3 Monday: Djenne - Mopti (130 km) (B)
Visit Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu, on its colorful weekly market day; see the magnificent Great Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; drive to Mopti for overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti / Sail the Niger River (B,D)
City tour of Mopti, also called "the Venice of Mali"; see the Komoguel mosque, the fishing port (see pirogues being made), and the bustling market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; after lunch, begin sailing to Timbuktu; overnight camping on the riverbank
Day 5 Wednesday: Niger River (B,L,D)
Full day of sailing: visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; see Mali's varied birdlife along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river; overnight camping on the riverbank
Day 6 Thursday: Niger River - Timbuktu (B,L)
Final day of sailing to take in the sights and sounds of the Niger, and arrive in Timbuktu at day's end; transfer from port to town; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
Day 7 Friday: Timbuktu - Sahara Desert (B,D)
Visit the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert: see 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 azalaοs, the salt caravans from the desert; in the afternoon, depart on your camel caravan into the desert to visit a Tuareg camp; the Tuareg people are known as the Princes of the desert; dinner and overnight camping on the dunes of the Sahara with your Tuareg hosts
Day 8 Saturday: Sahara Desert - Timbuktu (B)
Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day free to relax or further explore this historic city; or visit the artisans' center; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
Day 9 Sunday: Timbuktu - Dogon country (650 km) (B,D)
8-hour drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; lunch break and sightseeing en-route; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)
Day 10 Monday: Dogon Country (110 km) (B,L,D)
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment, another Unesco World Heritage site; you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight camping in a Dogon village
Day 11 Tuesday: Dogon country (B,L,D)
Continue visiting Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment; see ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel Falaise, or similar)
Day 12 Wednesday: Dogon country (B,L,D)
Visit Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; also visit villages in the southern part of the escarpment; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel Falaise, or similar)
Day 13 Thursday: Dogon country - Mopti (110 km) - Segou (405 km) (B)
Return to Mopti, and wander through Mopti's busy streets on its weekly market day, then onward drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)
Day 14 Friday: Segou - Bamako (235 km) (B)
Visit Segou, Mali's former colonial capital; stroll through the pottery market on the waterfront; also visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; return drive to Bamako; rest of day at leisure; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel) (Grand Hotel, or similar)
Day 15 Saturday: Bamako - final departure (B)
Bamako city tour: visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the market of traditional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure
1 km ~ 0.6 mile
Option: Dogon mask dance performed in a village
NB: camping is no frills, sleeping on a ground mattress in a small tent; there are no campgrounds, so no running water, no latrines. Camping in Mali is not recommended for inexperienced campers.
NB: Hotels subject to availability.
Tour includes the following:
- 10 nights hotel, double occupancy
- day-room in Bamako on the final day
- 4 nights camping; travelers should bring sleeping bags
- 14 breakfasts (B), 5 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D)
- bottled mineral water is included with meals while sailing
- private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver
- 3-day Niger River sail to Timbuktu by private river boat with outboard motor, and crew
- overnight excursion into the Sahara Desert by camel caravan, to spend the night in a Tuareg camp on the dunes
- experienced English-speaking guide throughout
- airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
- all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- all excursion, site visit and entry fees as per tour program
Not included are international airfare to/from Mali, entry visas, non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water, tips, sleeping bags, optional items, and personal expenses.
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It is also possible to compose your circuit as you wish, or modify an existent one... 
