Mali · Burkina Faso · Niger · Benin · Togo · Ghana

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 (235 km: ~3hrs)

Welcome to West Africa ! Bamako city tour: start at Point G for a panoramic overview of the sprawling city of Bamako; than visit the National Museum, the city market and the artisans' village, where you will see local craftsmen at work: silversmiths, woodcarvers, weavers, and leather workers; in the afternoon, scenic drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 3 Monday: Segou - Djenne - Mopti (465 km; ~5½hrs)

Onward drive to Djenne, to see the huge, colorful weekly market, and 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; onward drive to Mopti for overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti / Niger river

City tour of Mopti, called the Venice of Mali for its location at the confluence of the Bani and the Niger rivers; see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque and the fishing port, bustling commercial center; enjoy a tranquil sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 5 Wednesday: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km; ~6hrs)

After breakfast, depart Mopti and drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, at the edge of the Sahara Desert ! overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 6 Thursday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert

Visit the mysterious city of Timbuktu: see the ancient mosques (built in the XIV^th century) and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient 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 gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, excursion into the 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 7 Friday: Timbuktu - Dogon country (625 km; ~7hrs)

Return drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

Day 8 Saturday: Dogon country

Visit the architectural wonders that are Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment: Banani (note the ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face), Ireli, Amani (visit the sanctuary of sacred crocodiles, totem animal of the Dogon people), and Tireli village; witness a fascinating traditional Dogon mask dance—this authentic representation is one of the Dogon people's traditional funerary rites; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

Day 9 Sunday: Dogon country - Bobo Dioulasso, BURKINA FASO (560 km; ~7½hrs)

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

Day 10 Monday: Bobo Dioulasso / Banfora (85 km; ~1hr)

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; in the afternoon drive to Banfora to visit Lac Tengrela; return to Bobo Dioulasso for overnight (Hotel Auberge, or similar)

Day 11 Tuesday: Bobo Dioulasso - Ouagadougou (355 km; ~4hrs)

Onward drive Ouagadougou; en route, cross the Deux Bales National Parc and perhaps see elephants along the road; check into your Ouagadougou hotel; in the afternoon, city tour of Ouagadougou: visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; 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; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar)

Day 12 Wednesday: Ouagadougou - Niamey, NIGER (500 km; ~6hrs)

After breakfast, depart Burkina Faso for Niger; observe the Sahelian countryside and rural villages as you drive northward, toward the great Sahara Desert; overnight in Niamey (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 13 Thursday: Niamey

City tour of Niamey, including the National Museum, the large city market, and the artisans' village Wadata; optional excursion to Koure to see one the last remaining herds of giraffes in West Africa; overnight in Niamey (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 14 Friday: Niamey - Parakou, BENIN (620 km; ~7½hrs)

Depart the Sahel today, for the greener tropics; see the countryside change as you cross into Benin and continue south; overnight in Parakou (Hotel Majestic, or similar)

Day 15 Saturday: Parakou - Abomey (300 km; ~3½hrs)

Onward to Abomey, city of Benin's former Danhomey kings; check into your hotel, and begin to explore Abomey, as time permits; overnight in Abomey (Motel d'Abomey, or similar)

Day 16 Sunday: Abomey

Visit 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; overnight in Abomey (Motel d'Abomey, or similar)

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

Drive to Cotonou, capital city of Benin; city tour of Cotonou, including the fish market and the international Dantokpa market, with its fetish market and handcraft center; enjoy a pirogue excursion to Ganvie village, built on stilts over the lagoon (Lake Nokoue); overnight in Cotonou (Hotel du Lac, or similar)

Day 18 Tuesday: Cotonou - Ouidah (40 km; ~½hr)

Short drive to Ouidah, the voudou capital of West Africa, and 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; overnight in Ouidah (Hotel Oasis, or similar)

Day 19 Wednesday: Ouidah - Lome, TOGO (110 km; ~1½hr)

Continue visits of Ouidah in the morning; afternoon drive to Lome, Togo for overnight (Hotel Ibis, or similar)

Day 20 Thursday: Lome

City tour of Lome: visit the National Museum, Lome central market, the artisans' village, and the Akodessewa fetish market; overnight in Lome (Hotel Equateur, or similar)

Day 21 Friday: Lome - Elmina, GHANA (365 km; ~5hr)

Cross the Ghana border, and onward drive to Elmina; enjoy a walking tour of St. George's Castle and a stroll to St. Jago Hill for a panoramic overview of historic Elmina; overnight in Elmina (Elmina Beach Resort, or similar)

Day 22 Saturday: Cape Coast / Elmina

Excursion to Cape Coast; visit the old town and the Cape Coast Castle, former bastion of the Atlantic slave trade, now a Unesco World Heritage site; return to Elmina and enjoy the hotel facilities; overnight (Elmina Beach Resort, or similar)

Day 23 Sunday: Elmina - Kakum National Park - Kumasi (240 km; ~3¼hrs)

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 drive to Kumasi, capital of Ghana's Ashante country; check into your Kumasi hotel, and begin exploring Kumasi, as time permits: see the National Cultural Center, the Manhyia Palace, and the Kejetia market, the largest market in West Africa; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar)

Day 24 Monday: Kumasi / Ashante country

Full day to finish exploring Kumasi, then visit Ashante villages on the outskirts of Kumasi: Bonwire village, to see authentic kente cloth being made; Pankronu village and its traditional pottery; wood carvings in Ahwiaa village; Ntonso village, for its adinkra cloth; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar)

Day 25 Tuesday: Kumasi - Accra (270 km; ~3hrs)

Drive to Accra; afternoon 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 26 Wednesday: Accra / final departure

Free day for last-minute shopping, or just relax at your hotel before you onward flight; evening transfer to the airport for your final departure