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Deaert Festival info
Photos of our 2006 Desert Festival group tour, click here (thanks to Steve Hecht and Dori Smith).
Read a travelogue of the
2006 Desert Festival Tour
Festival in the Desert Tour 2011
10 days: 02-11 January 2011
10-day tour featuring Mali's Festival in the Desert,
plus Timbuktu, Djenne and Dogon country
The highlights of Mali !
10-day Express Basic Desert Festival Tour Itinerary
02 January 2011: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening (hotel check-in 2:00 PM or later); airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
03 January 2011: Bamako - Dogon Country (695 km; ~8hrs)
Begin your tour with a full day's drive through the heartland of Mali, to fascinating Dogon country; sightseeing en-route; overnight in Bandiagara/Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast04 January 2011: Dogon country - Sevare (120 km; ~2hrs)
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment: Banani, Amani and Tireli, where you will witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; return to Sevare for overnight (hotel)
with Breakfast05 January 2011: Sevare - Timbuktu (540 km; ~6hrs)
Interesting drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the great Sahara Desert ! overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
with Breakfast06, 07, 08 January 2011: Desert Festival days
City tour of Timbuktu: visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and 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; then onward drive (~2 hrs) to Essakane and enjoy the three days of festivities: music at night, and during the daylight hours more music, dancing, sword-play, poetry, arts and crafts, camel races, and more ! overnight camping in Essakane
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on the three festival days09 January 2011: Essakane - Timbuktu - Mopti/Sevare
Return to Timbuktu, and continue across the Sahel to Mopti/Sevare; overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast10 January 2011: Sevare - Djenne (570 km; ~7hrs)
Onward to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city; experience Djenne's colorful weekly market—see hundreds of market stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; originally constructed in the XIIIth century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; overnight in Djenne (hotel)
with Breakfast11 January 2011: Djenne - Bamako / final departure (570 km; ~7hrs)
Return drive to Bamako; check into day-room to freshen up; transfer to the airport for your onward flight home (day-room)
with Breakfast1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops; ferry crossings not included
10-day Tour Price: € 1290 per person, double occupancy; single supplement: € 200
plus Festival entry pass: € 150 per person (estimated; subject to change)
NB: single supplement is applied to all solo travellers, for a single room at the hotels
10-day Desert Festival Tour includes:
- 6 nights hotel (double occ.), including breakfast (B); check-in 2:00 PM, check-out 12:00 noon
- day-room in Bamako on the last day; check-out 6:00 PM
- 3 nights camping at the desert festival site; bring your sleeping bags for the cold desert nights; tents are provided
- all ground transportation by private 4x4 vehicle
- festival entry pass (priced separately, but included in tour package)
- all meals during the festival, prepared on-site: 3 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)
- bottled mineral water (3 liters/day/person) at the festival site
- traditional Dogon mask dance in a village
- experienced, English-speaking guide throughout
- airport transfers for Bamako arrival and departure
- all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- all site visit and entry fees, as per tour program
Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.
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Mali's entry requirements:
- tourism visa
- Yellow Fever immunization
See our Travel Tips page for Mali Embassy contact information, to apply for your Mali visa.
Saga Tours does not issue entry visas.
Festival tour requirements:
- a sleeping bag
- soft luggage, such as a duffel bag; hard suitcases are not appropriate
- summer clothing for days; a warm outfit for the desert nights; see our Travel Tips page for a suggested packing list, or our Desert Packing list for a more condensed and desert-focused list.
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