Mali Explorer Tour -

Day 1: 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: Bamako - Djenne (570 km; ~7hrs)

Begin exploring Mali with a drive through the heartland of our beautiful country, to Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu; sightseeing en route; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)

Day 3: Djenne - Sevare (120 km; ~1½hr)

City tour of Djenne: stroll through the narrow, ancient streets to tomb of the young girl sacrificed to appease the spirits; see the imposing Great Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture, originally constructed in the XIII^th century, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; visit traditional mudcloth artisans in their workshops — mudcloth is an authentic Malian textile art; in the afternoon, drive to Sevare for overnight (Hotel Flandre, or similar)

Day 4: Sevare - Dogon country (110 km; ~2hrs)

Onward drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; visit the Dogon village Songo; see its renowned rock paintings and circumcision grotto; circumcision rites are held here every three years; the rock paintings are representations of noble Dogon families; continue to Sangha; visit Sangha, Ogols and Bongo villages; 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; overnight camping at the Sangha-Tireli crossroads

Day 5: Dogon country

Descend the Bandiagara escarpment and visit the Dogon village Tireli, where you will witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; this is an authentic reproduction of the Dogon people's mourning rituals, when the masks ask the spirit of a deceased person to depart the village and join the ancestors; overnight camping on the dunes of the village Ireli

Day 6: Dogon country

Visit the Dogon villages Ireli and Banani (option to hike across the cliffs); ascend the Bandiagara escarpment back to Sangha; take in the sights and sounds of a large Dogon village as the people return home for the evening, see women pounding grain, children rounding up goats, fetching water, etc.; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement, or similar)

Day 7: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs) - on the Niger River

Depart Dogon country and drive to Mopti; visit Mopti's local market to get supplies, and begin your tranquil two-day sail on the Niger River; visit Bozo fishing villages and Fulani nomads' camps along the shore; overnight camping on the river bank

Day 8: Niger River - Lake Debo

Entire day of sailing the Niger River; village visits continue, with many photo opportunities; arrive at Lake Debo, which forms (expands and contracts) with the natural flow and overflow of the river; overnight camping on the beach

Day 9: Lake Debo - Niger River - Konna - Mopti (65 km; ~¾hr)

Sail to Konna village, where your vehicle will meet you and drive you back to Mopti; Mopti city tour: see the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market, where you will observe many of Mali's varied ethnic groups: Bambara, Bozo, Bobo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhay and Hausa; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 10: Mopti - San - Segou (405 km; ~4½hrs)

Depart Mopti for Segou, with a brief stop en-route in San; also visit Terekongo, the sacred well of the Bobo people; arrive and check into your Segou hotel, then visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; see the interesting mix of traditional and colonial architecture; stroll through the pottery market on the riverbank; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 11: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)

Visit Sekoro, ancient capital of the Bambara kingdom, now just a sleepy village on the banks of the Niger River; see the tomb of king Biton Coulibaly; then return drive to Bamako; city tour of Bamako: get an overview of the sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market and the artisans' village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure