8 DAY MALI PROGRAM

DAY 1: BAMAKO 

Meeting at Bamako airport and transfer to hotel. Check in and overnight.

DAY 2: BAMAKO - TIMBUKTU  

Early breakfast and transfer to airport for the Flight to Timbuktu.

10H: Arrival in Timbuktu.

We visit the different mosques, the explorers’ houses, the Museum, the ancient manuscripts, the bustling food market and the artisan market.

Lunch at hotel La Maison and relax, (Time for writing postcards).

In the afternoon, we'll have the camel ride or drive to the desert to visit the Touareg camps and explore life of the desert people (The Blue Men of the desert). 

Optional: Organization of the traditional folkloric Touareg dance and return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: TIMBUKTU - MOPTI

AM: Breakfast and transfer to airport for the M.A.E Flight to Mopti (8H-9H).

Situated at the confluence of Bani and Niger rivers, Mopti is one of Mali’s liveliest trading centers with its harbor of hundreds of pirogues transporting both goods and people to and from neighboring villages. 

We will visit the port, the market, the mosque and have lunch at the “Bar Bozo”. (Local Restaurant situated in the heart of the port and overlooking the Niger River).

PM: Cruise ride on the Bani and Niger rivers to visit the Bozo villages. During this sunset cruise, we provide soft drinks for all passengers to enjoy on the boat.

Dinner at SIGUI restaurant and return to overnight in hotel La Maison Rouge.

DAY 4: MOPTI - DJENNE (Market Day) - BANDIAGARA

AM:  Early breakfast and drive to Djenné (2 hours driving) to catch the Monday market.

Founded in the 9th century Djenné is one of Africa’s oldest cities.

We take a walking tour of Djenné to visit the market, the famous mosque (the biggest mud monument in the world), the coranic schools and the narrow streets decorated with Moroccan designed

window doors on the Sudanese architecture.

PM: Early lunch and drive to Songho and visit the famous circumcision cave and rock paintings.

Continuation to Bandiagara and installation at La Falaise. 

Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: BANDIAGARA - TIRELI - BANDIAGARA

After early breakfast and drive to Sangha (45km) today, we will have a full day excursion to the cliffs, taking us to the most beautiful Dogon villages perched on the cliff sides. 

Driving down the cliffs from Sangha, we will have a panoramic view over the beautiful villages on the face of cliffs and under the light of the sunrise: Banani, Irelli: UNESCO world heritage, Amani and Tirelli. 

In Tirelli, we will enjoy the spectacular Dogon mask dance (one of the most invigorating tribal dance found anywhere).

Lunch in Tirelli at the chief of the village's house. 

PM: Drive through the sand dunes in the plains and then up cliffs to Bandiagara to overnight.

DAY 6: BANDIAGARA - SAN - SEGOU

After breakfast, drive to Sévaré and continuation to San.

On the way, we will visit the authentic Bobo village with its picturesque granaries lined along the road. Continuation  and enjoy the very energetic Bobo Dance. Lunch at restaurant Teriya after a visit of the mosque in San.

In the aftnoon, drive to Segou. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Auberge.

DAY 7: SEGOU - BAMAKO 

After breakfast we'll have a morning walk along the river to visit the port and the colonial buildings).After that quick walking tour, we will drive to Kasobané (the cooperative of Bogolan fabric), visit of Kasobané to discover the techniques and process of the preparation of the mud cloth Bogolan, the Bassilan and the Indigo. 

NB: We will have an initiation party so that every participant leaves with a piece of Bogolan made by himself.

Lunch in Segou and contunious to Bamako, on the way, we'll visit some Bambara authentic villages.

Arrival in Bamako in late afternoon and installation in hotel.

DAY 8: BAMAKO - DEPART 

 After breakfast, we'll proceed to the sightseeing of Bamako: visit of the national museum (one of the best ethnographic museums in West Africa). Visit of the artisan market; the recycling market and the different monuments in town marking the history of the country. 

Lunch at Santoro (famous for its African specialities and art gallery).

Return to hotel for day rooms.

PM: Dinner and transfer to airport for the departure flight. 

END OF SERVICE


For any INFORMATION, please contact me at:

TRAVEL AND DISCOVERY

The Best specialist in Mali (Dogon Country, Djenne and the desert (Timbuktu & Gao)

Baba Kalidi KASSAMBALA "KASS"

International English speaking tour guide

and Translator

E-mail: bkass77@yahoo.fr

kassambala@gmail.com

www.Facebook/Baba Kalidi Kassambala

Skype:dreamalove

(00223) 79.30.80.08

(00223) 65.01.00.21

Bamako, MALI

(WEST AFRICA)