Day 1: Bamako
Morning arrival at the Bamako International airport. Transfer to Hotel Tamana.
Day 2: Bamako - Ségou
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.
After a meal of traditional food at a restaurant we will depart towards Ségou, a 3 hours ride by car.
We will spend the night in Hotel L’Esplanade.
Day 3: Ségou
We can visit the "bogolan"(cotton fabrics dyed with organic pigments over designs outlined in mud of various colors) and bambara pottery workshops.
Overnight at the Hotel L’Esplanade.
Day 4: Ségou - Djenné
Departure towards Djenné, 4 hours car ride. Lodge in Hotel Le Campament.
In the afternoon, we walk around this charming city.
Day 5: Djenné - Dogon Country
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.
In the afternoon, we head towards Bandiagara, Dogon Country, 3 hours car ride.
Spending the night at hotel Falaise.
Day 6: Dogon Country
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 Sanga, Banani, Ireli, Amani ,and Tereli where we will camp for the night. The journey will be done in a 4 wheel drive and trekking. During the rainy season, we will be able to see beautiful waterfalls, lke the one in Banani.
Day 7: Dogon Country
We will see traditional ceremonies in which the dancers wear typical masks, some designed to recognize a good harvest while others commemorate ancestors, frighten evil spirits, evoke beneficial spirits, etc.
Day 8: Dogon Country - Timbuktu
We will depart towards Tombuctú, 6 hours car ride. Accommodation atl hotel La Colombe.
Day 9: 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.
Traditional houses contain Arab-style sculpted wooden windows and doorways decorated with forged iron.
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.
Spend the night in the hotel or camp in the desert.
Day 10: Timbuktu - Niger River
Departure by pinasse (long wooden boat driven by outboard engine) on the Niger River.
We take advantage of the landscape, cool breezes, superb sunsets and view a wide variety of birdlife along the river.
The pinasses are covered by a roof that provides protection from the sun while also serving as a viewing platform from which one can take maximum advantage of the beauty of the landscape. In addition, these boats are equipped with a small kitchen and restroom facility.
Day 11: Niger River
The pinasse will tie up for the night so that we can sleep in tents in order to take advantage of the quiet and the stars.
Day 12: Niger River – Mopti
We reach Mopti in the afternoon. Accommodation at Hotel Y a pas de probleme.
Day 13: Mopti
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" 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.
Day 14: Mopti - Bamako
Return to Bamako, 8 hours car drive. Acomodation at hotel Tamana.
Day 15: Bamako
We will spend the day at the capital city, visiting some markets.
This trip includes:
-Ten nights of hotel lodging, including room use prior to departure flight, and four nights of camping.
-Breakfast each day. In the Dogon Country and while on the pinasse, lunch and dinner are also included (drinks are excluded with the exception of bottled water).
-Travel by all terrain vehicle with air-conditioned system, including driver and gas.
-Experienced guide for all visits.
-Private pinasse.
-Airport to hotel and hotel to airport transfers.
-Hotel and local visitor taxes.
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