Bamako, Mali
West Africa
Tel/Fax +223 220 2708
sagatours@sagatours.com

Bandiagara escarpment

Mali: Dogon Country Trek tour

9 days- Dogon country plus Mopti, Djenne, Segou and Bamako

See our Tours page for other (non-trekking) tours that include Mali's fascinating Dogon country.

Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice; 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: Arrival in Bamako, Mali
International flight arrives in Bamako; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 2: Bamako — Sevare (630 km) (B)
7-hour drive towards Dogon country; en route visit Terekongo, a Bobo village with a sacred well; overnight in Sevare (Hotel Flandre, or similar)

Day 3: Sevare — Dogon country (110 km) (B)
Arrive in Dogon country; visit the village Songo with its renowned rock paintings and circumcision grotto; visit Sangha, Ogols and Bongo; see the traditional women's house, the sacrificial altar of the Hogon (the Dogon people's traditional and religious leader); visit a Dogon seer; overnight at your Sangha hotel (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Days 4, 5 and 6: Dogon country trek (B,L,D; B,L,D; B,L,D)
Trekking on the Bandiagara escarpment; overnight in local villages; visit the villages Ireli, Banani, Ibi, Koundou, Yuga Na, Yuga Pili and Yuga Dogourou; camping on nights 4 and 5; overnight at the Sangha hotel on night 6

Day 7: Dogon country — Mopti (120 km) / Niger River (B)
Depart Dogon country and drive (2 hours) to Mopti, also known as the Venice of Mali, because it is sometimes completely surrounded by the waters of the Niger and Bani rivers; city tour, including the mosque, the port, the market; enjoy a sunset cruise on the Niger River in a traditional pinnace (motorized riverboat); overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 8: Mopti — Djenne (130 km) — Segou (332 km) (B)
1½-hour drive to Djenne, sister-city of Timbuktu and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; visit the town, see the magnificent Great Mosque (the largest mud-brick building in the world); also visit bogolan artisans (makers of traditional mudcloth) in their workshops; drive (~3½ hours) to and overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 9: Segou — Bamako (235 km) (B)
Tour of Segou and Sekoro, ancient capital of the Bambara kingdom, now just a sleepy village on the river; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; 3-hour drive to Bamako; Bamako city tour (as time permits): the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure

1 km ~ 0.6 mile

NB: camping is no frills, sleeping on a ground mattress in a small tent; there are no campgrounds, so no running water, no latrines. Camping in Mali is not recommended for inexperienced campers.

Option: Dogon mask dance performed in a village

NB: Hotels subject to availability.

Day-room optional in Bamako on Day 9; please specify if you would like to have a day-room.

Tour includes the following:

6 nights hotel, double occupancy
2 nights camping; travelers should bring sleeping bags
8 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)
private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver
3 days hiking in Dogon country
sunset sail on the Niger River
experienced, English-speaking guide
airport transfers upon arrival and departure
all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
all touring, site visit, and village entry fees, as per itinerary

Tour does not include international travel to/from Mali, entry visas, non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water, tips, optional Dogon mask dance, optional day-room in Bamako, and personal expenses.

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