Bamako, Mali
West Africa
Tel/Fax +223 220 2708
sagatours@sagatours.com

sailing to Timbuktu

Niger River Journey to Timbuktu

with overnight excursion into the Sahara Desert - 11 days

a unique river and desert experience !

Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, with a Thursday arrival in Bamako; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.

Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Day 1 Sunday: Arrival in Bamako, Mali
International flight arrives in Bamako; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 2 Monday: Bamako - Mopti (640 km) (B)
After breakfast, begin your journey with a 7-hour drive to Mopti; sightseeing en route; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 3 Tuesday: Mopti / Niger River (B,L,D)
City tour of Mopti, the Venice of Mali: see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market; 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 (B,L,D)
Full day of sailing; visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; you will also see Mali's varied birdlife along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river; meals and overnight camping on the riverbank

Day 5 Thursday: Niger river - Timbuktu (B,L)
Final day of sailing to take in the sights and sounds of the Niger, and arrive in Timbuktu by day's end; transfer from the port to your hotel; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 6 Friday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert (B,D)
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 archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaļs, the salt caravans from the desert; in the afternoon, begin your own desert excursion by 4-wheel drive vehicle, and experience the vast majesty of the 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 (B)
Goodbye to your Tuareg hosts and return to Timbuktu; rest of the day at leisure; optional Takamba (Tuareg dance) in the evening; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 8 Sunday: Timbuktu - Djenne (660 km) (B,L)
Depart Timbuktu; ~7-hour drive across the Sahel to Timbuktu's sister city of Djenne, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)

Day 9 Monday: Djenne - Segou (332 km) (B)
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 XIIIth century; in the afternoon, onward to Segou (~4-hour drive); overnight (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 10 Tuesday: Segou - Bamako (235 km) (B)
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; 3-hour drive and overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 11 Wednesday: Bamako - final departure (B)
Bamako city tour: visit the National Museum, the city market, and the artisans' village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure

1 km ~ 0.6 mile

NB: camping is no frills, sleeping on a ground mattress in a small tent; there are no campgrounds, so no running water, no latrines. Camping in Mali is not recommended for inexperienced campers.

Optional: Tuareg dance in Timbuktu on Day 7; contact us for pricing info.

NB: Hotels subject to availability.

Tour includes the following:

7 nights hotel, double occupancy
day-room in Bamako on the final day
3 nights camping; travelers should bring sleeping bags
10 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)
bottled mineral water is included with camping meals
private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver
private pinnace with outboard motor and crew to sail to Timbuktu
overnight desert excursion
experienced English-speaking guide throughout
airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
all excursion and entry fees, as per itinerary

Not included are international travel to/from Mali, entry visas, non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water, tips, optional Tuareg dance, and personal expenses.

Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.