NB: this is a group tour

Expanded Tour Itinerary

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03 January 2011: Arrive in Bamako, MALI

International flights arrive in Bamako in the evening (hotel check-in 2:00 PM, or later); airport-t--hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

04 January 2011: Bamako - Sevare (630 km; ~7hrs)

Begin your West African journey with a full day's drive through the heartland of Mali to Sevare, with sightseeing en route; overnight in Sevare (hotel)

with Breakfast

05 January 2011: Sevare - Timbuktu (540 km; ~6hrs)

Interesting drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu ! overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

with Breakfast

06, 07, 08 January 2011: Desert Festival days

Onward drive (~2 hours) across the dunes to Essakane and enjoy the festivities: full concerts 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

Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day at leisure to relax, or explore this ancient city on your own; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

with Breakfast

10 January 2011: Timbuktu

City tour of legendary Timbuktu: visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the city market which received the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

with Breakfast

11 January 2011: Timbuktu - Mopti (540 km; ~6hrs)

Return drive across the Sahel to Mopti; late afternoon walking tour of Mali's port city on the Niger; see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, the bustling local market, where Many of Mali's diverse ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Hausa, Songhay; overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)

with Breakfast

12 January 2011: Niger River

Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River, with picnic lunch; visit tranquil Bozo fishing villages and nomadic Fulani camps; observe Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and perhaps see hippos in the river ! (caution—do not approach the hippos) return to and overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)

with Breakfast, Lunch

13 January 2011: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km; ~2hrs)

Drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; start with a visit of Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with ancient and modern rock paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys ages 9-14years old; the rock paintings are historical representation of noble Dogon families; continue to Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Dogon villages (animist and Islamic); walking tour of Sangha: observe many beautiful examples of the unique Dogon architecture and traditional fetishes; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

14 January 2011: Dogon country

Descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit some of the most beautiful Dogon villages: also see ancient Telem cave dwellings in the cliff face; visit Amani village, with its sanctuary of sacred crocodiles; visit Tireli village and witness a fascinating Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; return to and overnight in Sangha (hotel)

with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

15 January 2011: Dogon country

Explore Yenduma, and the triple Yuga villages (some hiking required), origin of the Sigi dance, one of the foundations of Dogon cosmology, held every 60 years; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

16 January 2011: Dogon country - Djenne (240 km; ~3½hrs)

Drive to the southern end of the escarpment, to visit Tely and Ende villages; if time permits also visit Nando and Niongono village (some hiking required); onward drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city; overnight in Djenne (hotel)

with Breakfast, Lunch

17 January 2011: Djenne - Segou (330 km; ~4hrs)

Experience Djenne's colorful weekly market day, with hundreds of market stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; originally built in the XIII^th century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture, and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (hotel)

with Breakfast

18 January 2011: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)

Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; stroll through the pottery market along the waterfront; also 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; return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

with Breakfast

19 January 2011: Bamako - final departure

Bamako city tour: begin with a panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; then visit 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

with Breakfast