Bamako, overview of the city, visit the National Museum, artisans' village, flight to Timbuktu, See the ancient mosques, Azalais, Sahara Desert, camel caravan, visit a Tuareg camp, Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the Desert. Mopti, the Venice of Mali, Niger River, visit the Dogon village of Songo, tour of Dogon Country, drive to Segou.
DAY 1 Thursday - ARRIVE BAMAKO, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako. DAY 2 Friday - BAMAKO Bamako city tour: start at Point G and the panoramic overview of the city; visit the National Museum, the city market and the artisans' village, where you will see local craftsman at work: silversmiths, woodcarvers, weavers, and leatherworkers; overnight in Bamako. (B) DAY 3 Saturday - TIMBUKTU Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Timbuktu. Check into your hotel then visit the legendary city with a name synonymous with 'The End of the Earth': See the ancient mosques (built in the XIVth century) and former universities, the museum, the explorer's houses, the city market which received the Azalais, salt caravans from the desert. In the afternoon, excursion into the Sahara Desert by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp. Enjoy tea on the dunes with your Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the Desert. Return to and overnight in Timbuktu. (B) DAY 4 Sunday - MOPTI Mid morning transfer to the airport for flight to Mopti, the Venice of Mali, nestled between the Niger and the Bani rivers. Mopti city tour. Including the fishing port, the bustling market where many of Mali's cultural groups can be seen: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay. Enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue. (B) DAY 5 Monday - DJENNE This morning you travel from Mopti to Mali's architectural jewel, Djenne, founded in the fourth century has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. The atmosphere in the streets transports you back to Medievil times. Visit Djenne's colorful and bustling market on its legendary Monday Market Day. In the afternoon return to Mopti for dinner and overnight. (B) DAY 6 Tuesday - DOGON After breakfast, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country, visit the Dogon village of Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; continue to Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Dogon villages - some are traditional animist and others have converted to Islam, descend the Bandiagara escarpment and visit the village of Banani; you will see ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face, continue to the villages of Ireli and Amani, site of a sanctuary for crocodiles which are sacred to the Dogon people. You may bear witness to a traditional Dogon Mask Dance. Return to and overnight in Sangha on the edge of the Bandiagara escarpment. (B, L, D) DAY 7 Wednesday - DOGON Your tour of Dogon Country continues with a visit to the Dogon village Songo. See its renowned rock paintings and circumcision grotto, visit Sangha, Ogols, and Bongo, see the women's house, the shrine of the Hogon (the Dogon people's spiritual leader), visit Dogon elders and the natural tunnel in Bongo. Return to and overnight in Sangha. (B, L, D) DAY 8 Thursday - SEGOU After breakfast drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; en route, visit Terekongo village, site of a sacred well inhabited by protector spirits of the Bobo people; overnight in Segou. (B) DAY 9 Friday - SEGOU & SIKASSO Visit Segou and and Sokoro village (the "old Segou"), capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; after lunch, drive to Sikasso; overnight in Sikasso. (B) DAY 10 Saturday - SIKASSO & BOBO DIOULASSO, BURKINA FASO Visit Sikasso, in Mali's green belt; see the remnants of the Tata, ancient palisade that encircled the city and for a time held off the French colonial army; visit the Mamelon, residence of the kings of Sikasso; in the afternoon, depart Mali and cross into Burkina Faso; overnight in Bobo Dioulasso. (B) DAY 11 Sunday - BOBO DIOULASSO / BANFORA Tour Bobo Dioulasso, ("house of the Bobo merchants"), Burkina Faso's second largest city; see the old mosque and visit the old Kibidwe artisans' district, where you will see blacksmiths, potters, and dyers at work; in the afternoon drive to Banfora; visit the Karfiguela waterfalls and Lac Tengrela; overnight in Banfora. (B) DAY 12 Monday - BANFORA / GAOUA Depart Banfora and visit the mysterious stone ruins of Loropeni, whose origins are unknown but the local Gan people call them the "house of refusal"; Loropeni is also the site of a large and diverse market held every five days; overnight in Gaoua. (B) DAY 13 Tuesday - GAOUA / OUAGADOUGOU After breakfast, visit the Poni Museum, dedicated to the Lobi culture; see the distinctive, fortress-like Lobi architecture; then drive to Ouagadougou; overnight in Ouagadougou. (B) DAY 14 Wednesday - OUAGADOUGOU Full day to explore Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital city; visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils, and ancestral statues; visit the craft market at the Artisans' Center where you will find basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues, and masks, jewelry, leatherwork and bronze castings; overnight in Ouagadougou. (B) DAY 15 Thursday - OUAGADOUGOU / DEPART Today decide on your tour and activities with the assistance of your driver and guide. Later today, transfer to the airport for your flight or extend your tour. (B) TOUR INCLUDES: - Roundtrip airport to hotel transfers
- Accommodations in properties listed or similar
- Transportation in private vehicle
- Trained English-speaking tour guide
- Admissions to all sites
- Meals indicated by (B, L, D)
- Local flights within Africa
NOT INCLUDED: International flight to Africa, Travel insurance, visa fees, gratuities to driver and tour guide, meals not listed |
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