Mali · Burkina Faso · Ghana · Togo · Benin

Day 1 Thursday: 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 Friday: Bamako

Leisurely first day in West Africa, to adjust to the time change and climate difference; city tour of Bamako: begin with a panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, the fetish market for traditional medicine; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 3 Saturday: Bamako - Timbuktu

Transfer to the airport for early morning flight to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; city tour: see the old mosques (built in the 14^th century) and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of scholarly Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, excursion into the great Sahara Desert by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes; the Tuareg people are the Princes of the Desert; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 4 Sunday: Timbuktu - Mopti

Airport transfer for early morning flight to Mopti, the Venice of Mali, nestled between the Niger and the Bani rivers; Mopti city tour: see the beautiful mosque, the lively fishing port, and the bustling market where many of Mali's cultural groups can be seen: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 5 Monday: Mopti - Djenne (130 km;~1½hr) - Dogon country (230 km; ~3½hrs)

Excursion to Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; 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; in the afternoon, onward drive to Dogon country; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 6 Tuesday: Dogon country

Full day in Mali's fascinating Dogon country; explore magnificent villages clinging to the sheer walls of the Bandiagara cliffs, and see many examples of the unique traditional architecture and contemporary fetishes; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance, an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's mourning rituals; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 7 Wednesday: Dogon country

Continue visiting Dogon villages, including Songo village, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; traditional circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years, for all Dogon boys aged 4-14 years; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

Day 8 Thursday: Dogon country - Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO (365 km; ~5hrs)

Depart Dogon country, driving through picturesque villages and cross into Burkina Faso; en-route, visit Ouahigouya (as time permits), former capital of the Yatenga kingdom; continue to Ouagadougou for overnight (Hotel Silmande, or similar)

Day 9 Friday: Ouagadougou

Full day to explore Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital city; visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; also visit the Music Museum, and the crafts markets at the Artisans' Center, where you will find basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, jewelry, leatherwork and bronze castings; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar)

Day 10 Saturday: Ouagadougou - Tiebele - Tamale, GHANA (460 km; ~6hrs)

Depart Burkina Faso for Ghana; on the way, visit Tiebele village in Burkina Faso's Gourounsi country; visit magnificent fortress-like houses and compounds, colorfully painted with traditional motifs; cross the border into Ghana, and continue to Tamale for overnight (Gariba Lodge, or similar)

Day 11 Sunday: Tamale - Kumasi (390 km; ~4½hrs)

Visit the Tamale market and the National Cultural Center; then depart for Kumasi, with a visit to the Baobeng-Fiema monkey sanctuary en-route; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar)

Day 12 Monday: Kumasi - Elmina (240 km; ~3½hrs)

Visit Kumasi: the National Cultural Center, the Manhyia Palace, and the Kejetia market, the largest market in West Africa; afternoon drive to Elmina; enjoy a walking tour of St. George's Castle; finish with a stroll to St. Jago Hill for a panoramic overview of historic Elmina; overnight in Elmina (Elmina Beach Resort, or similar)

Day 13 Tuesday: Elmina - Cape Coast - Accra (165 km; ~2hrs)

Drive to Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Castle, former bastion of the Atlantic slave trade, now a Unesco World Heritage site; drive to and overnight in Accra (Novotel Accra, or similar)

Day 14 Wednesday: Accra

City tour of Accra, including the National Cultural Center, the National Museum, and the Nkrumah Mausoleum; walking tour of James Town, and crafts shopping at the Trade Fair Centre; overnight in Accra (Novotel Accra, or similar)

Day 15 Thursday: Accra - Lome, TOGO (200 km; ~2½hrs)

Drive to Lome, Togo; afternoon city tour of Lome: visit the National Museum, the Lome central market, the artisans' village and the Akodessewa fetish market; overnight in Lome (Hotel Ibis, or similar)

Day 16 Friday: Lome - Ouidah (110 km; ~1½hr) - Cotonou, BENIN (40 km; ~½hr)

Depart Togo for Benin; visit 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; onward to Cotonou for overnight (Hotel du Lac, or similar)

Day 17 Saturday: Cotonou - Abomey (135 km; ~1½hr) - Cotonou

Excursion to Abomey, former capital of the Danhomey kingdom; visit the Royal Palace and Museum, site of the ancient palaces of the twelve kings of Abomey (Unesco World Heritage site), who reigned from 1620 through 1900; 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; return to and overnight in Cotonou (Hotel du Lac, or similar)

Day 18 Sunday: Cotonou/Ganvie - final departure

City tour of Cotonou, including the fish market and the international Dantokpa market, with its fetish market and handcraft center; pirogue excursion to Ganvie village, built on stilts over the lagoon (Lake Nokoue); in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure