Mali · Burkina Faso · Ghana

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; then visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and 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 exchanged for slaves and gold 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 Komoguel 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, historical sister-city of Timbuktu, 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 built 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 along 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; visit Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; traditional circumcision ceremonies are held here very three years for all Dogon boys aged 9-14 years; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

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

Breakfast, then depart Mali and drive through picturesque villages; cross the border into Burkina Faso, and onward to Bobo Dioulasso for overnight (Hotel Auberge, or similar)

Day 8 Thursday: Bobo Dioulasso - Banfora (85 km; ~1hr) - Bobo Dioulasso

Morning excursion to Banfora, in Burkina Faso's sugarcane country; return to and visit Bobo Dioulasso ("house of the Bobo merchants"), Burkina'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; overnight in Bobo Dioulasso (Hotel Auberge, or similar)

Day 9 Friday: Bobo Dioulasso - Ouagadougou (355 km; ~4hrs)

After breakfast depart for Ouagadougou; en route, visit the Deux Bales National Park and perhaps see elephants; brief stop in Sabou village to see the "tame" crocodiles; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar)

Day 10 Saturday: 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 11 Sunday: Ouagadougou - Tiebele - Tamale, GHANA (360 km; ~5hrs)

Depart Burkina Faso for Ghana; en route, visit Tiebele village, in Burkina's Gourounsi country; visit magnificent fortress-like houses and compounds, colorfully painted with traditional motifs; onward to Tamale for overnight (Gariba Lodge, or similar)

Day 12 Monday: Tamale - Larabanga - Mole National Park (120 km; ~2½hrs)

Visit the Tamale market and the National Cultural Center; afternoon drive to Mole National Park, with a stop en-route to visit the Larabanga mosque, which may be the oldest building in Ghana; continue to Mole Park for overnight (Mole Park Hotel, or similar)

Day 13 Tuesday: Mole National Park

Day of game drives in Mole Park, which is home to more than 90 species of mammals, and more than 300 species of birds — perhaps see elephants, buffalo, hippos, various species of antelopes, monkeys and birds; overnight in Mole Park Hotel (or similar)

Day 14 Wednesday: Mole Park - Kumasi (375 km; ~5hrs)

Final game drive in Mole Park and onward to Kumasi, in Ghana's Ashante country; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar)

Day 15 Thursday: Kumasi

City tour of Kumasi, capital of Ghana's Ashante country: visit the National Cultural Center, the Manhyia Palace, and the Kejetia market, perhaps the largest market in West Africa; afternoon excursion to Bonwire village, to see authentic kente cloth being made; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar)

Day 16 Friday: Kumasi - Kakum National Park - Elmina (240 km; ~3½hrs)

Drive to and visit Kakum National Park; learn about the rain forest and its animals, and see the forest from the canopy walkway in the treetops; onward to Elmina; enjoy a walking tour of St. George's Castle, and finish with a stroll to St. Jago Hill for a panoramic overview of historic Elmina; overnight in Elmina (Elmina Beach Resort, or similar)

Day 17 Saturday: Elmina / Cape Coast - Accra (165 km; ~2hrs)

Visit historic 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 18 Sunday: Accra - final departure

City tour of Accra, including the National Cultural Center, National Museum, and the Nkrumah Mausoleum; walking tour of James Town, and crafts shopping at the Trade Fair Centre; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure