Niger River Journey to Timbuktu –

Day 2 Monday: Bamako - Mopti (640 km; ~7½hrs)

After breakfast, begin your African journey with a scenic drive through the heartland of Mali, to the port city of Mopti; sightseeing en route; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 3 Tuesday: Mopti / Niger River

City tour of Mopti, sometimes called the Venice of Mali because it is surrounded by the waters of the Niger and the Bani rivers: see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market; your boat crew will purchase supplies, and at mid-morning embark on your river boat and begin sailing the Niger River to Timbuktu; overnight camping on the river bank

Day 4 Wednesday: Niger river

Full day of sailing; visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; you will also see Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river; meals and overnight camping on the riverbank

Day 5 Thursday: Niger river - Timbuktu

Final day of sailing to take in the tranquil sights and sounds of the Niger River, and arrive in Timbuktu by day's end; transfer from the port to your hotel in town; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 6 Friday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert

Visit the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert: see the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — here, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, begin your own desert excursion by 4-wheel drive vehicle, and experience the vast majesty of the great Sahara Desert; visit a Tuareg camp; enjoy dinner and tea on the dunes, and overnight camping with your Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the Desert

Day 7 Saturday: Sahara Desert - Timbuktu

Goodbye to your Tuareg hosts and return to Timbuktu; rest of the day at leisure to further explore this ancient city; optional Takamba (Tuareg dance) in the evening; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 8 Sunday: Timbuktu - Djenne (660 km; ~7½hrs)

Depart Timbuktu; interesting drive across the Sahel ecosystem, and onward to Timbuktu's historic sister-city Djenne, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)

Day 9 Monday: Djenne - Segou (335 km; ~4hrs)

Visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Great Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world, originally constructed in the XIII^th century; stroll through the narrow streets and alleys, and visit the tomb of the young girl sacrificed to appease the spirits; in the afternoon, onward drive to Segou; overnight (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 10 Tuesday: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)

Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port and the pottery market; and onward to Bamako! en route, visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; arrive and overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 11 Wednesday: Bamako - final departure

Bamako city tour: get an overview of this sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure