Festival in the Desert Tour 2009

3 nights camping / 9 nights hotel

TOUR ITINERARY


03 January 2009: Arrival in Bamako, Mali
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

04 January 2009: Bamako - Djenne (B)
Full day's drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city; overnight in Djenne (hotel)

05 January 2009: Djenne - Dogon Country (B)
Experience the colorful weekly market in Djenne, spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; in the afternoon, 3-hour drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in Sangha/Sevare (hotel)

06 January 2009: Dogon country - Sevare (B)
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment; witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight in Sevare (hotel)

07 January 2009: Sevare - Timbuktu (B)
6-hour drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu ! overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

8, 9, 10 January 2009: Desert Festival days (BLD x3)
2-hour drive to Essakane and enjoy the festivities: music, dancing, sword-play, poetry, arts and crafts, camel races, and more ! overnight camping in Essakane

11 January 2009: Essakane - Timbuktu (B)
Return to Timbuktu; check into your hotel to freshen up, then visit Timbuktu: visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city market and the artisans' center; afternoon free to wander about this historic town; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)

12 January 2009: Timbuktu - Mopti / Niger River (B)
Drive (6 hours) to Mali's port city on the Niger River; enjoy a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)

13 January 2009: Mopti - Segou (B)
City tour of Mopti: visit the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Songhay; onward to Segou (~3½-hour drive); overnight in Segou (hotel)

14 January 2009: Segou - Bamako (B)
City tour of Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial capital; also visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; 3-hour return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

15 January 2009: Bamako - final departure (B)
Bamako city tour: panoramic overview of the city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the colorful city market and the artisans' village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your onward flight home (day-room)

• 9 nights hotel (double occ.), including breakfast (B)
• day-room in Bamako on the last day
• 3 nights camping at the desert festival site; bring your sleeping bags for the cold desert nights; tents are provided
• all ground transportation by 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
• sunset sail on the Niger River
• camel ride on the dunes
• Dogon mask dance
• English-speaking guide for the entire tour
• airport transfers for Bamako arrival and departure (you will need to provide your Bamako arrival/departure flight details)
• all hotel taxes, local tourism taxes and site visit fees, as per itinerary