Saga Tours of Mali - West Africa Adventure Travel
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Fax +223.2020.9002
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Niger River Journey to Timbuktu - 11 days

· 3-day Niger River sail by private river boat, all the way to Timbuktu; with 2 nights camping on the river bank
· excursion into the Sahara Desert with overnight camping on the dunes
· also visit Mopti, Djenne, Segou and Bamako

A unique river and desert experience in the heart of Africa !

7 nights hotel, 3 nights camping



Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Wednesday in Bamako; there are no fixed-date group departures.

Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify the month/year of travel, and 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.


Day 1 Sunday: 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 Monday: Bamako - Mopti (640 km; ~7½hrs)
After breakfast, begin your African journey with a scenic drive through the heartland of Mali, to the port city of Mopti; sightseeing en route; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 3 Tuesday: Mopti / Niger River
City tour of Mopti, sometimes called the Venice of Mali because it is surrounded by the waters of the Niger and the Bani rivers: see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market; your boat crew will purchase supplies, and at mid-morning embark on your river boat and begin sailing the Niger River to Timbuktu; overnight camping on the river bank
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Wednesday: Niger river
Full day of sailing; visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; you will also see Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river; meals and overnight camping on the riverbank
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Thursday: Niger river - Timbuktu
Final day of sailing to take in the tranquil sights and sounds of the Niger River, and arrive in Timbuktu by day's end; transfer from the port to your hotel in town; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
with Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 Friday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert

NB: due to security concerns we do not go deep into the desert.

Visit the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert: see the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — here, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, begin your own desert excursion by 4-wheel drive vehicle, and experience the vast majesty of the great Sahara Desert; visit a Tuareg camp; enjoy dinner and tea on the dunes, and overnight camping with your Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the Desert
with Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 Saturday: Sahara Desert - Timbuktu
Goodbye to your Tuareg hosts and return to Timbuktu; rest of the day at leisure to further explore this ancient city; optional Takamba (Tuareg dance) in the evening; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 8 Sunday: Timbuktu - Djenne (660 km; ~7½hrs)
Depart Timbuktu; interesting drive across the Sahel ecosystem, and onward to Timbuktu's historic sister-city Djenne, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 9 Monday: Djenne - Segou (335 km; ~4hrs)
Visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Great Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world, originally constructed in the XIIIth century; stroll through the narrow streets and alleys, and visit the tomb of the young girl sacrificed to appease the spirits; in the afternoon, onward drive to Segou; overnight (Hotel Independance, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 10 Tuesday: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port and the pottery market; and onward to Bamako! en route, visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; arrive and overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 11 Wednesday: Bamako - final departure
Bamako city tour: get an overview 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
with Breakfast

1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops

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.

NB: Hotels subject to availability; see proposed hotels description.



Tour package includes:



Tour package does not include: international travel to/from Bamako; Mali visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; tips, sleeping bags, optional Tuareg dance, and personal expenses.

Optional: Tuareg dance in Timbuktu on Day 7; contact us for pricing info.

NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change; itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked.

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

NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change; itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked.

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

Before reserving, please see our Terms and Conditions