MALI IN 11 DAYS, LODGING IN HOTELS

Day 1: Bamako

Morning arrival at the Bamako International airport. Transfer to Hotel Mandé.

Day 2: Bamako - Mopti

We will leave Mopti in the morning (8 hours by car). Check into Hotel Kanaga.

Day 3: Mopti - Dogon Country

City located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani Rivers, Mopti contains a busy and animated river port crowded with boats arriving and leaving, carrying all kinds of products. Here we will visit workshops where the river boats called "pinasses" (long wooden boat driven by outboard engine) are built and repaired.

We will also visit the craft market, the old city (Komoguel), where the Sougouni Market and Great Mosque dating from 1935 are located.

In the afternoon, we will leave for Bandiagara (one hour by car) where we will check into Hotel Falaise.

Day 4: Dogon Region

Other typical village buildings include: the "house for speech or debate" (the toguna) built with a low ceiling so that calm discussions are encouraged, place where the elders meet to make decisions affecting the village; the "house for menstruating women", where women live during their menstrual period; the "house of the Tellems," houses of the former inhabitants, constructed on the face of the cliff and used today as burial sites and the house of the hogon, the tribal chief in charge of transmitting his knowledge to his successor.

We will visit Sangha, Banani, Ireli, Amani and Tereli, all villages close to one another in the northern part of the Dogon Region. Upon our return to Bandiagara, we will stay in the same hotel as the previous night.

Day 5: Dogon Region - Mopti

We will visit Djiguibombo, Kani Kombolé, Téli and Endé villages of the south area of the Dogon Region. We will then return to Mopti (around 8 hours by car).

Check into Hotel Kanaga.

Day 6: Mopti – Timbuktu

Departure for Timbuktu, about 7 hours by car. Check into Hotel La Colombe.

In the afternoon, we will be able to take a walking tour of the city.

Day 7: Timbuktu

We will visit Timbuktu, legendary and mythical city, known the world over for its splendid past and for many years accessible only to Moslems.

This city, located at the edge of the Sahara Desert and designated as a UNESCO protected site, has long been a market place for merchants dealing in salt and gold.

Places to visit include: The Djingareiber Mosque, Ahmed Baba Cultural Centre, the houses of early explorers, the city wall, the Tuareg Museum and craft market, the Sankore Mosque, the first Islamic university and the Sidi Yahia Mosque.

We will have lunch at the hotel and then take a camel ride to a Touareg encampment.

Day 8: Timbuktu - Djenné

Departure for Djenné, about 8 hours by car. Check into Hotel Le Maafir.

We will visit the city of Djenne: the Komboro Mosque, the largest adobe mud mosque in the world, built by King Komboro at the end of the XIIIth century and rebuild in 1905; the tomb of Tapama Djenepo, a girl sacrificed for the prosperity of the city; the colorful Great Market; Koranic schools where children write the Koran on wooden tablets; the archeological site of Djenne Djeno and the Cultural Museum.

Afterwards , we will depart towards Ségou (4 hours by car). Accommodation at Hotel L’Esplanade.

Day 10: Ségou – Bamako

We can visit the "bogolan" (cotton fabrics dyed with organic pigments over designs outlined in mud of various colors) and bambara pottery workshops.

In the afternoon, we will take a short excursion on the Niger River in a pinasse.

Later, we will leave for Bamako (three hours by car). Check into Hotel Mandé.

Day 11: Bamako

We will visit the capital of Mali: the National Museum of Bamako, the Great Market, the artisan market, the market of traditional medicines and fetiches, the market of Medina, where they make tools to work the land, the Great Mosque and the Cathedral.

Included in this trip:

-Ten nights lodging in hotels, including the use of a room prior to departure flight.

-Breakfasts. In the Dogon Region, lunch and dinner are included (drinks are excluded except for bottled water).

-Travel by all terrain vehicle with air-conditioned system, including driver and gas.

-Experienced guide for all visits.

-Excursion in a pinasse.

-Transfers to and from the airport.

-Hotel and local tourist taxes.

Not included: international flights, visa, non-specified meals and drinks, tips and personal expenses.