Timbuktu : Festival in the Desert 2011 / 15-day tour

Saga Tours of Mali - West Africa Adventure Travel
Tel/Fax +223.2020.2708
Fax +223.2020.9002
sagatours@sagatours.com

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Festival in the Desert Tour
15 days : 01-15 January 2011
7 nights camping / 7 nights hotel

Sail the Niger River to Timbuktu, then onward overland to the Festival in the Desert !
Visit historic Timbuktu, plus Dogon country, Djenne, Mopti and Bamako — a camper's delight, with camping along the Niger river, in the Sahara Desert, and in Dogon villages on the Bandiagara cliffs !

01 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)

02 January 2011: Bamako - Sevare (630 km; ~7½hrs)
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 Breakfast

03, 04 January 2011: Sail the Niger River
Onward to Mopti, to begin your three full days of sailing the beautiful Niger River: visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; see Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river (caution—do not approach the hippos); overnight camping on the riverbank
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on both sailing days

05 January 2011: Niger River / Timbuktu
Final moments to take in the sights and sounds of the Niger River, and arrive in Timbuktu; transfer from port to town; 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 ù historically, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
with Breakfast

06, 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 days

09 January 2011: Essakane - Timbuktu - Sevare/Mopti (540 km; ~6hrs)
Return to Timbuktu, cross the Niger River by ferry, and continue to Mopti; overnight in Mopti/Sevare (hotel)
with Breakfast

10 January 2011: Sevare/Mopti - Djenne (130 km; ~2hrs) - Dogon country (250 km; ~3½hrs)
Onward to Djenne; visit Timbuktu's historic sister-city on its colorful weekly market day; see the magnificent Great Mosque—originally built in the XIIIth century, it is the world's largest mud brick architecture, and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon onward drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight camping in a Dogon village
with Breakfast, Dinner

11 January 2011: Dogon country
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment, another Unesco World Heritage site; you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; visit Amani village, with its sanctuary of sacred crocodiles; visit Tireli village and witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; this spectacular ceremony is an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's funerary rites; overnight camping in a Dogon village
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

12 January 2011: Dogon country - Mopti
Visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys ages 9-14 years old; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; return drive to Mopti; remainder of day for relaxing at the hotel (enjoy the swimming pool!); overnight in Mopti (hotel)
with Breakfast

13 January 2011: Mopti - Segou (405 km; ~4hrs)
Visit Mopti, called the Venice of Mali because it is nestled between the Bani and the Niger rivers; Mopti is also the "melting pot" of Mali, home to many of Mali's diverse ethnic groups: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Hausa, Songhay; visit Komoguel mosque, the fishing port and the interesting local market; afternoon drive to Segou for overnight (hotel)
with Breakfast

14 January 2011: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
City tour of 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 Breakfast

15 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 Breakfast

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

15-day Tour Price: 1890€ per person, double occupancy; single supplement: 260€
(promotinal price; non-commissionable, non-discountable)

plus Festival entry pass: 150€ per person (estimated; subject to change)
Entry pass includes Solidarity Contribution of 15€

NB: single supplement is applied to all solo travellers, for a single room at the hotels.
But there are no single tents at the festival site; you are welcome to bring your own small tent.

15-day Desert Festival Tour includes:

7 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
7 nights camping at the desert festival site; bring your sleeping bags for the cold desert nights; tents are provided
total 27 meals, as shown above: 14 breakfasts (B), 6 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D); excluding drinks
bottled mineral water is included with meals while sailing
all ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle
chartered river boat with outboard motor, fuel and crew; to sail from Mopti to Timbuktu
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
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

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

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

Mali's entry requirements:

tourism visa
Yellow Fever immunization

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended; consult your physician.

See our Travel Tips page for Mali Embassy contact information, to apply for your Mali visa.

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.