Highlights of Mali tour -

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) - Mopti (405 km; ~4½hrs)

Begin your discovery journey through Mali: after breakfast, drive to and visit Segou, Mali's former colonial capital; see the interesting mix of traditional and colonial architecture, and stroll through the pottery market on the waterfront; in the afternoon, onward through the heartland of Mali, to Mopti for overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 3 Monday: Mopti - Djenne (130 km; ~1½hr) - Mopti / Niger River

City tour of Mopti, also called "the Venice of Mali" because it is surrounded by the waters of the Niger and the Bani rivers; see the Komoguel mosque, the fishing port (see pirogues being made by hand), and the bustling market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; excursion to Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu, on its colorful weekly market day; see the magnificent Great Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture (originally constructed in the XIIIth century), one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; return to Mopti for a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km; ~6hrs)

Interesting drive across the Sahel ecosystem, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 5 Wednesday: Timbuktu - Sahara Desert

Visit the legendary and historical city of Timbuktu: see the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — at one time salt was literally worth its weight in gold; in the afternoon, depart on your camel caravan into the desert to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes; the Tuareg people are known as the Princes of the desert, or the Blue Men of the desert (for the blue tinge on their skin from their indigo-dyed clothing); return to Timbuktu for overnight (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

Day 6 Thursday: Timbuktu - Dogon country (670 km; ~8hrs)

Return drive across the Sahel, all the way to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; lunch break and sightseeing en-route; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 7 Friday: Dogon country

Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment (another Unesco World Heritage site); you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; descend the escarpment to visit Banani village, one of the most beautiful cliff villages; also visit Dogon seers, and option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)

Day 8 Saturday: Dogon country - Segou (525 km; ~6½hrs)

Visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its circumcision grotto and rock paintings; traditional circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years, and the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; return drive to Segou for overnight (Hotel Independance, or similar)

Day 9 Sunday: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs) - final departure

Onward drive to Bamako; city tour of Bamako: over-view of this sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure