Festival au Desert | Festival in the Desert Tour

Saga Tours of Mali - West Africa Adventure Travel
Tel +223.6673.1631
Tel +223.7641.7383
tours@sagatours.com

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Festival in the Desert Group Tour 2012
11 days: 07-17 January 2012

11-day group tour featuring Mali's Festival in the Desert,plus Timbuktu, Djenne and Dogon country
The highlights of Mali !

07 January 2012: 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)

08 January 2012: 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 Breakfast

09 January 2012: Dogon country
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; overnight in Bandiagara/Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast

10 January 2012: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs) / Niger River - Sevare
Drive to Mopti, the "melting pot" of Mali, located between the Bani and the Niger rivers; city tour of Mopti: visit 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; enjoy an afternoon sailing excursion on the Niger River; overnight in Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast

11 January 2012: 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 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on the three festival days

12, 13, 14 January 2012: 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 enjoy the three days of the Festival in the Desert>: 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

15 January 2012: Timbuktu - Mopti/Sevare (540 km; ~6hrs)
Goodbye to Timbuktu, and return drive across the Sahel, to Mopti/Sevare for overnight (hotel)
with Breakfast

16 January 2012: Mopti/Sevare - Djenne (120 km; ~2hrs) - Segou (330 km; ~4hrs)
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 XIII^th century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; iin the afternoon, drive to Segou for overnight (hotel)
with Breakfast

17 January 2012: Segou - Bamako / final departure (235 km; ~3hrs)
City tour of Segou, Mali's former colonial capital, the return drive to Bamako; check into day-room to freshen up; late afternoon city tour of Bamako, as time permits (visit the markets and the artisans' village); evening transfer to the airport for your onward flight home (day-room check-out 18h00/6:00 PM)
with Breakfast

1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops; ferry crossings not included

11-day Desert Festival Tour includes:

7 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 4x4 vehicle
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
afternoon sailing excursion on the Niger River
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

Tour does not include international airfare to/from Bamako; Mali visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; Festival entry pass' tips, personal expenses and sleeping bags.

Please note: Saga Tours does not handle Festival tickets, international air reservations or visas.
See the Festival official website to purchase tickets, or get them at the Festival itself.

Mali's entry requirements:

tourism visa
Yellow Fever immunization

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended; consult your physician.

NB: Five-day entry visas are available upon arrival at Bamako airport; these must be extended to standard 30-day visas, in Mopti or in Timbuktu.
Saga Tours does not handle entry visas or visa extensions.

See our Travel Tips page for Mali Embassy contact information, to apply for your Mali visa prior to travel.
***We recommend obtaining visas prior to travel whenever possible, to avoid possibly being denied flight boarding by the airline, on the flight to Bamako.

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.