West Africa
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Desert 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
17-days : 03 - 19 January 2011
This expanded tour features Mali's Festival in the Desert and more !
- fascinating 3-day Dogon country adventure
- full-day sailing excursion on the Niger River
- as well as Timbuktu, Djenne, Mopti and Bamako
Go beyond the basics, and get the most out of your visit to Mali !
17-day Expanded Desert Festival Tour Itinerary
03 January 2011: Arrive in Bamako, MALI
International flights arrive in Bamako in the evening (hotel check-in 2:00 PM, or later); airport-t--hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
04 January 2011: Bamako - Sevare (630 km; ~7hrs)
Begin your West African journey with a full day's drive through the heartland of Mali to Sevare, with sightseeing en route; overnight in Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast05 January 2011: Sevare - Timbuktu (540 km; ~6hrs)
Interesting drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu ! overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
with Breakfast06, 07, 08 January 2011: Desert Festival days
Onward drive (~2 hours) across the dunes to Essakane and enjoy the festivities: full concerts 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
Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day at leisure to relax, or explore this ancient city on your own; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
with Breakfast10 January 2011: Timbuktu
City tour of legendary 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 received the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
with Breakfast11 January 2011: Timbuktu - Mopti (540 km; ~6hrs)
Return drive across the Sahel to Mopti; late afternoon walking tour of Mali's port city on the Niger; see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, the bustling local market, where Many of Mali's diverse ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Hausa, Songhay; overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast12 January 2011: Niger River
Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River, with picnic lunch; visit tranquil Bozo fishing villages and nomadic Fulani camps; observe Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and perhaps see hippos in the river ! (caution—do not approach the hippos) return to and overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch13 January 2011: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km; ~2hrs)
Drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; start with a visit of Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with ancient and modern rock paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys ages 9-14years old; the rock paintings are historical representation of noble Dogon families; continue to Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Dogon villages (animist and Islamic); walking tour of Sangha: observe many beautiful examples of the unique Dogon architecture and traditional fetishes; overnight in Sangha (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner14 January 2011: Dogon country
Descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit some of the most beautiful Dogon villages: also see ancient Telem cave dwellings in the cliff face; visit Amani village, with its sanctuary of sacred crocodiles; visit Tireli village and witness a fascinating Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; return to and overnight in Sangha (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner15 January 2011: Dogon country
Explore Yenduma, and the triple Yuga villages (some hiking required), origin of the Sigi dance, one of the foundations of Dogon cosmology, held every 60 years; overnight in Sangha (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner16 January 2011: Dogon country - Djenne (240 km; ~3½hrs)
Drive to the southern end of the escarpment, to visit Tely and Ende villages; if time permits also visit Nando and Niongono village (some hiking required); onward drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city; overnight in Djenne (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch17 January 2011: Djenne - Segou (330 km; ~4hrs)
Experience Djenne's colorful weekly market day, with hundreds of market stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; originally built in the XIIIth century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture, and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (hotel)
with Breakfast18 January 2011: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; stroll through the pottery market along the waterfront; also visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom, now just a sleepy village on the banks of the Bani River; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
with Breakfast19 January 2011: Bamako - final departure
Bamako city tour: begin with a panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; then visit the National Museum, the colorful city market, the artisans' village and the fetish market for traditional medicine; hotel day-room check-out 6:00 PM; at the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your onward flight home
with Breakfast1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops; ferry crossings not included
17-day Tour Price: € 1990 per person, double occupancy; single supplement: € 370
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
17-day Desert Festival Tour includes:
- 13 nights hotel (double occupancy), 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
- three days to explore Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment
- all meals in Dogon villages: 3 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D), excluding drinks
- traditional Dogon mask dance in a village
- full-day sailing excursion on the Niger River, including box lunch
- 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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