Mali · Burkina Faso · Benin · Togo

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 - Segou - Mopti (640 km; ~7˝hrs)

Begin your West African journey with the drive to Mopti; en-route, visit Segou, Mali's former colonial capital; in Mopti, enjoy a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti/Sevare (Hotel Kanaga / Hotel Ambedjele, or similar

Day 3 Monday: Mopti - Djenne (130 km; ~1˝hr) - Mopti

City tour of Mopti, called the Venice of Mali because it is nestled between the Niger and the Bani rivers; see the beautiful Komoguel mosque and the fishing port, bustling commercial center; excursion to Djenne to see the colorful weekly market; stroll around the market stalls, spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; originally constructed in the XIII^th century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; return to and overnight in Mopti/Sevare (Hotel Kanaga / Hotel Ambedjele, or similar)

Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km; ~2hrs)

After breakfast, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; traditional circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years, for all Dogon boys aged 9-14 years; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; continue to Sangha, on the edge of the Bandiagara escarpment; walking tour of Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct animist and Islamic villages; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 5 Wednesday: Dogon country

Descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit the villages Banani (note the ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face), Ireli, Amani (visit the sanctuary of sacred crocodiles, a totem animal of the Dogon people), and Tireli; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance, an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's mourning rituals; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

Day 6 Thursday: Dogon country - Bobo Dioulasso, BURKINA FASO (560 km; ~7hrs)

Breakfast, then depart Mali and drive to Burkina Faso; overnight in Bobo Dioulasso (Hotel Auberge, or similar)

Day 7 Friday: Bobo Dioulasso - Ouagadougou (360 km; ~4hrs)

City tour of Bobo Dioulasso, ("house of the Bobo merchants"), Burkina Faso's second largest city; see the old mosque and visit the old Kibidwe artisans' district, where you will see blacksmiths, potters, and dyers at work; then drive to Ouagadougou; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar)

Day 8 Saturday: Ouagadougou - Natitingou, BENIN (485 km; ~6hrs)

City tour of Ouagadougou: visit the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; if time permits, also visit the crafts markets at the Artisans' Center, where you will find basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, jewelry, leatherwork and bronze castings; then drive to Fada N'Gourma, cross the BF-Benin border and continue to Natitingou, in Somba country; overnight in Natitingou (Hotel Tata Somba, or similar)

Day 9 Sunday: Natitingou - Abomey (420 km; ~5˝hrs)

Visit the Natitingou Museum for an interesting overview of the Somba culture; then drive to Abomey, the former Danhomey kingdom; overnight in Abomey (Motel d'Abomey, or similar)

Day 10 Monday: Abomey - Cotonou (135 km; ~1˝hr)

Visit the Royal Palace Museum, site of the ancient palaces of the twelve kings of Danhomey, who reigned from 1620 through 1900; visit the artisans' center; visit the artisans' center, renowned for traditional tapestries and bronze castings, formerly reserved for the royal court only; in the afternoon, explore the Dahomey Trail with its unrestored palaces and fetish temples; and drive to Cotonou for overnight (Hotel du Lac, or similar)

Day 11 Tuesday: Cotonou / Ganvie

Day 12 Wednesday: Cotonou - Ouidah (40 km; ~˝hr) - Lome, TOGO (110 km; ~1hr)

Short drive to Ouidah, an important traditional religious center and ancient slave depot, which sent thousands of slaves to the new world; visit the Museum in the old Portuguese fort, the temple of pythons, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Kpasse sacred forest; trace the route of the famous "Slave Road" which leads to the slavery memorial of Zoungbodji; perhaps also witness a traditional voodoo ceremony featuring the spirits of departed ancestors; drive to the Togo border; onward and overnight in Lome (Hotel Ibis, or similar)

Day 13 Thursday: Lome - final departure (B)

City tour of Lome: visit the National Museum, Lome central market, the artisans' village, and the Akodessewa fetish market; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure