Festival in the Desert, 7 Days

Culture and History tour in Bamako

Tour Price : $1820 Duration : 7 days Languages: English, French, German, Bamanakan, Miniankakan

Day 1 (Monday) - Jan 4, 2010– Arrive Bamako
On arrival in Bamako, you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 (Tuesday) - Jan 5, 2010– Tour of Bamako
Today explore this capital city of Bamako situated on the Niger, one of Africa's great rivers. Mali is a country of many tribal peoples, each with their own exuberant styles of clothing and jewelry. There is nowhere better to see this colorful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. Bamako has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewelers and metal workers exhibit their wares and skills. One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you'll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles, along with lizard skins and other mystifying treatments.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 3 (Wednesday) - Jan 6, 2010 – Bamako-Timbuktu (2 hour flight)
This morning take a morning flight to legendary Timbuktu. Located at the terminus of the great trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu became fabulously wealthy in the 16th century. Loaded with blocks of salt and other trade goods, huge convoys of camels would spend weeks crossing the unforgiving Sahara to reach Timbuktu. It was here that they would trade salt, pound-for-pound, with African merchants bringing gold and ivory along the Niger from the heart of Africa. Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. See the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast 

Day 4 (Thursday) - Jan 7, 2010– Timbuktu/Essakane (approx. 2 hours) Photo: Pedro This morning continue touring Timbuktu. Visit the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 (Friday) - Jan 8, 2010– Essakane
After a musical evening, we shall have a leisurely morning. In the afternoon, we will enjoy camel rides, traditional songs and games and interact with the musicians and traders before enjoying the music which lasts all night long.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 6 (Saturday) - Jan 9, 2010– Essakane
Activities in Essakane continue. Enjoy the music festival finale, which lasts all night long.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 7 (Sunday) - Jan 10, 2010– Essakane/Timbuktu/Bamako
After breakfast, return to Timbuktu early in the morning for your flight to Bamako where you will await your onward flight or extended tour begins.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

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