Mali Classic — 14 days

In the comfort of all-hotel accommodations, experience
the Niger River, the Sahara Desert, Dogon country and Timbuktu

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 Friday: 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 Saturday: Bamako - Segou (235 km) (B)
Breakfast, then 3-hour drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; visit Segou: admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and mudcloth artisans; visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 3 Sunday: Segou - Mopti (405 km) (B)
3˝-hour drive to Mopti, also known as the Venice of Mali, for its location between the Bani and the Niger rivers; visit Mopti: the Komoguel mosque, the fishing port (see pirogues being made), and the bustling market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 4 Monday: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km) (B)
Continue to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert (6-hour drive); Timbuktu city tour, including the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and Ahmed Baba Institute archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaďs, the salt caravans from the desert; camel ride on the dunes around Timbuktu; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 5 Tuesday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert (B,L)
Full day's excursion into the Sahara Desert by 4x4 vehicle; visit Tuareg camps and desert oases; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 6 Wednesday: Timbuktu - Mopti (550 km) (B)
Return drive (6 hours) across the Sahel, to Mopti; enjoy a sunset stroll on the banks of the river; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 7 Thursday: Mopti / Niger River (B,L)
Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River; visit Bozo fishing villages and nomadic Fulani camps; observe the large variety of Mali's birds, and perhaps see hippos in the river; return to and overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 8 Friday: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km) (B,L,D)
Onward to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; visit Songo village, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; continue to Sangha, an agglomeration of 10 Dogon villages, some animist, some Islamic; visit Dogon seers and see a divination ceremony; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 9 Saturday: Dogon country (B,L,D)
Descend the Bandiagara escarpment and visit Dogon cliff villages Banani, Ireli, Amani (see the sanctuary of sacred crocodiles), and Tireli; perhaps witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 10 Sunday: Dogon country - Djenne (230 km) (B,L)
Drive to the southern end of the Bandiagara escarpment to visit Tely and Ende villages; in the afternoon, drive to Djenne, sister-city of Timbuktu; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)

Day 11 Monday: Djenne - Segou (332 km) (B)
Visit Djenne on its colorful weekly market day, when villagers from miles away come to buy and sell; hundreds of market stalls are spread before the magnificent Great Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture; constructed in the XIIIth century, it is one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; when the market winds down, drive (~3˝ hours to Segou; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 12 Tuesday: Segou - Sikasso (295 km) (B)
3˝-hour drive to Sikasso, in Mali's green belt; visit Sikasso: see the Mamelon (residence of the former kings of Sikasso), the Tata (remnants of a large palisade that encircled the city and for a time held off the French colonial army); overnight in Sikasso (Hotel Kaaky, or similar)

Day 13 Wednesday: Sikasso - Bamako (375 km) (B)
Visit the grotto of Misiri Koro, home of the protector spirits of the Mande people, then 4-hour return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 14 Thursday: Bamako - final departure (B)
Tour Bamako: panoramic overview of the 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

1 km ~ 0.6 mile

NB: Hotels subject to availability.

Optional Dogon mask dance in a village on Day 9.

Tour includes the following:

13 nights hotel, double occupancy
day-room in Bamako on the final day
13 breakfasts (B), 5 lunches (L), 2 dinners (D), excluding drinks
private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver
full day's excursion on the Niger River by private river boat (with outboard motor, fuel and crew)
full day's excursion by 4x4 vehicle into the Sahara Desert to visit the Tuareg people (including desert guide)
camel ride on the sand dunes
experienced English-speaking guide throughout
airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
all touring, excursion and entry fees as per itinerary

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

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

See our Terms and Conditions

CLICK HERE to sign-up for this tour.

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