Festival au Desert | Festival in the Desert 2011

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

[Full graphics version]

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 !

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 Breakfast

05 January 2011: Sevare - Timbuktu (540 km; ~6hrs)
Interesting drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu ! 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
Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day at leisure to relax, or explore this ancient city on your own; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
with Breakfast

10 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 azalaļs, 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 Breakfast

11 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 Breakfast

12 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, Lunch

13 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, Dinner

14 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, Dinner

15 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, Dinner

16 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, Lunch

17 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 XIII^th 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 Breakfast

18 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 Breakfast

19 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

17-day Tour Price: 1990€ per person, double occupancy; single supplement: 370€
(promotional 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.

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 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

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.