Bamako, Mali
West Africa
Tel/Fax +223.2020.2708
Fax +223.2020.9002
sagatours@sagatours.com
[Text-only version]
Farako Tour : Mali and Senegal
from Mali's Dogon country to historic Goree Island
11 days / 10 nights hotel, no camping
Home |
Multi-country Tours |
Mali Tours |
Reserve a Tour |
FAQs |
Contact |
Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, beginning on a Saturday in Bamako, MALI and ending on a Tuesday in Dakar, SENEGAL; there are no fixed-date group departures.
Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify the month/year of travel, and how many persons are in your party—prices are digressive, so a better value per person for a party of four than a party of two, etc.
Option: add Timbuktu to this itinerary; this adds three supplemental days (see bottom of page).
Please specify if you want to add Timbuktu.
ITINERARY
01 Feb. 2009
Day 1 Saturday: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)
Day 2 Sunday: Bamako - Djenne (570 km; ~7hrs)
After breakfast, drive across the heartland of Mali, to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city; sightseeing en route; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 3 Monday: Djenne - Dogon country (230 km; ~3½hrs)
Visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; stroll around the market stalls, spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque: originally constructed in the XIIIth century, it is the world's largest mud brick architecture and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, drive to Dogon country; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 4 Tuesday: Dogon country
Visit 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 Banani; you will see ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face; continue to the villages Ireli, and Amani, site of a sanctuary for crocodiles which are sacred to the Dogon people; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance ceremony, an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's mourning rituals; return to and overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 5 Wednesday: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs)
/ Niger RiverDepart Dogon country today; but first, visit one last Dogon village: Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years, and the rock paintings are historical representation of noble Dogon families; continue to Mopti, the Venice of Mali, nestled between the Niger and the Bani rivers; city tour of Mopti, including the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market; enjoy a tranquil sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 6 Thursday: Mopti - Bamako (640 km; ~7½hrs)
After breakfast, return drive to Bamako; en route, visit Terekongo village, site of a sacred well inhabited by protector spirits of the Bobo people; every morning a sacrificial chicken is offered to the spirits to assure the well-being of the village; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 7 Friday: Bamako - Dakar, SENEGAL
Bamako city tour, including a panoramic overview of the city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market and the artisans' village, where you will see craftsmen at work: silversmiths, wood carvers, weavers, and leather workers; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight to Dakar; in Dakar, transfer to your hotel; overnight in Dakar (Hotel Novotel / Farid or similar)
with BreakfastDay 8 Saturday: Dakar / Goree Island - Saint Louis (265 km; ~3½hrs)
City tour of Dakar including the colorful Kermel market; then board the ferry for Goree Island, old slavery depot for some 300 years; visit the House of Slaves and the Historical Museum; lunch on Goree, then return by ferry and drive to historic Saint Louis; overnight in Saint Louis (Hotel Cap St. Louis, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 9 Sunday: Saint Louis / Parc Djoudj (60 km; ~½hr)
Excursion to the Parc Djoudj national bird sanctuary, another of Unesco's World Heritage sites, and one of the world's richest in bird species; enjoy a pirogue ride to better view the many types of cormorants, pelicans, ducks, flamingos, various songbirds and more; you may also see crocodiles, boas and wild boars; in the afternoon, return to and visit old colonial Saint Louis city; overnight in Saint Louis (Hotel Cap St. Louis, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 10 Monday: Saint Louis - Thies - Saly (250 km; ~3hrs)
Depart St-Louis via Thies; visit the renowned tapestry cooperative, and continue to Saly beach resort; remainder of the day at leisure — enjoy the sun, the sand, and the ocean; overnight in Saly (Savana Saly, or similar)
with BreakfastDay 11 Tuesday: Saly - Dakar (80 km; ~1hr)
- final departureRelax on the beach, or enjoy one of the many activities available at the resort: surf boarding, jet skiing, tennis, etc.; afternoon transfer to Dakar airport for your final departure
with Breakfast1 km ~ 0.6 mile; distances are approximate
Driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops
NB: Hotels subject to availability; see proposed hotels description.
Suggestion: you may wish to add-on a few days at the end of the tour, to relax on the beach.
If so, just let us know and we will re-program your airport transfer for the day of your choice.
Please note: during the rainy season (July/Aug/Sep) the visit to Parc Djoudj in Senegal is replaced by the Langue de Barbarie bird sanctuary, as Parc Djoudj is closed.
Tour package includes:
Tour package does not include: international travel to Bamako, MALI and onward from Dakar, SENEGAL; tourism visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; optional items, resort activities, tips and personal expenses.
Option: traditional Dogon mask dance in a village - upon requestOption: include Timbuktu; this requires three more days, for a 14-day/13-night itinerary
NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change; itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked; airfare is subject to change until tickets are purchased.
Optional Timbuktu extension :
Day 6 Thursday: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km; ~6hrs)Interesting drive across the Sahel ecosystem, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)with Breakfast |
Day 7 Friday: Timbuktu - Sahara DesertVisit the legendary and historical city of Timbuktu: see the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — at one time salt was literally worth its weight in gold; in the afternoon, depart on your camel caravan into the desert to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes; the Tuareg people are known as the Princes of the desert, or the Blue Men of the desert (for the blue tinge on their skin from their indigo-dyed clothing); return to Timbuktu for overnight (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)with Breakfast |
Day 8 Saturday: Timbuktu - Mopti (550 km; ~6hrs)Return drive across the Sahel to Mopti; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)with Breakfast |
Day 9 Sunday: tour resumes where it was interrupted, Day 6 - Day 11 (becoming Day 9 - Day 14) |
Supplemental services package:
|
NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change;
itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked.
Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.
Before reserving, please see our Terms and Conditions
Home |
Multi-country Tours |
Mali Tours |
Reserve a Tour |
FAQs |
Contact |
Copyright © 2003-2010 Saga Tours / All rights reserved.