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DAY 1: ARRIVE BAMAKO Upon arrival in the capital city of Bamako, you will be met and transferred to the Azalai Hotel Salam for a two-night stay. This vibrant city became Mali's capital in 1960 when Mali gained its independence from France. Originally a fishing village on the banks of the Niger River, Bamako is now a large city with wide boulevards and a thriving local music and nightlife scene. *Please note that arrival should be on a Thursday for domestic flights to run smoothly. DAY 2: BAMAKO Set out this morning with your guide to explore this Malian melting pot. Bamako is home to people from all of Mali's various ethnic groups, including the Bambara, Soninke, Malinke, Fula, Songhai, Bozo, Bobo and Tuareg people. Your first stop will be the Marche de Medina. This colorful, sprawling market is a beehive of activity, full of tailors, barbers, musicians, and artisans selling just about everything. Look out for the stalls that offer various animal skins and traditional medicines for every ailment. From here, continue on to the recycling market, where everyday items are ingeniously given a new life. From here, head up to Point G, at the top of a high hill overlooking the city, for spectacular panoramic views of Bamako and the Niger River. Make your way down to the National Museum for lunch at their café before taking a guided tour. Apart from the stunning architecture of the exterior, the museum is a fantastic introduction to the rich art and culture that you will experience throughout Mali. From here, continue your flexible touring of Bamako to enjoy the city as the sun sets or relax by your hotel pool for the remainder of the afternoon. (B,L) DAY 3: BAMAKO - SEGOU Set out from Bamako this morning with your guide and driver for Segoukoro, the seat of the Bambara Kingdom, which ruled much of West Africa during the 18th century. Visit with the current chief of this village; he is a descendant of Biton Coulibaly (1712-1755), who was the founder of the kingdom. Walk through the village to see the adobe-like Bambara and Sudanic architecture of the village homes and mosques before strolling along the picturesque riverside. Continue on to Segou, a lovely old colonial town on the banks of the Niger River, and check in to the Hotel Le Djoliba for an overnight stay. Later, take an afternoon walk to the pottery market along the tree-lined esplanade. (B,L,D) DAY 4: SEGOU - DJENNE This morning, you will visit Le Ndomo, an artisan center that specializes in creating beautiful Bogolan. This fabric, also known as mud-cloth because it is dyed with river mud and natural plant extracts, can be found throughout Mali. You will learn about the process and will observe the artisans at work before creating your own small piece of mud-cloth as a souvenir. From here, visit Espace Bajidala to see the special exhibit of masks and marionettes before heading for the famed city of Djenne. En route, stop for lunch at Teriya Restaurant in San before arriving in Djenne in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Le Campement for an overnight stay. Later this afternoon, set out with your guide on a walking tour of this ancient city. Djenne sits on an island in the Bani River and is a joy to explore on foot, especially at sunset when the surreal light creates excellent photographic opportunities. The labyrinthine streets are filled with people returning home for their evening meal, schoolchildren playing, and donkeys carting heavy loads. Djenne is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in West Africa and the Grande Mosque is its piece de resistance. This otherworldly architectural masterpiece is the world's largest mud-brick building and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1280, the original building fell to ruin in the 19th century; the current mosque was rebuilt in 1907 in the same style as the original and is truly a magnificent sight. (B,L,D) DAY 5: DJENNE - BANDIAGARA If today is Monday, it is market day in Djenne - the most important day of the week. You will get a chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of market day, when the square in front of the mosque fills with thousands of traders who have come from far and wide to buy and sell their goods. You may want to take another leisurely walk early this morning before the sun rises to see the mosque and people arriving for morning prayer and the weekly market. You are sure to encounter friendly people on their way to the daily market, which you also may want to explore and photograph, as well as young children on their way to their madrassas where they study the Koran. After breakfast, explore the weekly market, one of the most fascinating in West Africa, before setting out with your driver and guide this afternoon for Bandiagara in Dogon Country. Along the way, there will be numerous opportunities for you to stop and take photographs as you pass mud-brick villages, cattle herders and villages belonging to the Bambara, Bobo and Fulani peoples before arriving in Dogon Country, home to Mali's Dogon ethnic group. Upon arrival, check into the Hotel Le Kambary for a three-night stay. (B,L,D) DAY 6: BANDIAGARA: NIONGO AND SONGO Set out for private touring of some of the plateau villages, including Niongo and Songo. Dogon culture is incredibly complex, with certain religious beliefs and festivals taking place about once every 60 years when a particular star is visible. As you walk through the village, look out for women pounding millet that will later be stored in the numerous granaries that are decorated with intricate symbols and elaborately carved doors. In Songo, you will also take a brief hike to the top of an escarpment to see rock art and scenic views of the village. Return to the hotel later this afternoon for some time to relax by the pool and an evening at leisure. (B,L,D) DAY 7: BANDIAGARA:DOURO, TIRELI, IRELI, AMANI Early this morning, depart with your guide and driver for a full day exploring Dogon villages along the Bandiagara Escarpment. Descend the escarpment at Douro amid breathtaking scenery to Tireli, where you will enjoy a traditional Dogon mask dance performance by local village residents before continuing on to the northern villages of Ireli and Amani after traveling over rough roads. Situated at the foot of massive cliffs, with ancient burial caves and dwellings dotting the shear rock face above it, Ireli is a classic Dogon village. After exploring Ireli, have lunch and continue your touring of Dogon villages, where you'll have the opportunity to meet a Hogon (Dogon spiritual leader) as you walk through the village and see how the Dogon live in this remote, unforgiving area. Return to Bandiagara for dinner. (B,L,D) DAY 8: BANDIAGARA - MOPTI After breakfast, spend the morning visiting some of the most spectacular Dogon villages. Descend the escarpment to the southern villages of Djiguibombo, Kani Kombole, Teli and Ende before departing by road for Mopti. Upon arrival in Mopti, you will be transferred to the Kanaga Hotel for a two-night stay. Mopti is a bustling town located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers. Originally a place where Bozo and Fula people came to trade, Mopti is still dependent on the river and has a thriving port at the heart of the city. Your afternoon is at leisure to relax by your pool or do some shopping in Mopti. (B,L,D) DAY 9: MOPTI This morning, set out for a private tour of Mopti, beginning with a walk through the Old Town, home to many of the Fula residents. You'll have the opportunity to meet and photograph Fula women, who are known for the very large and elaborate gold earrings that often must be worn with a strap over the top of the head to help support the weight. From here, visit some of the local daily markets that are buzzing with activity at all times. Continue to the port where fish is sorted and bundled beside blacksmiths making nails that will be used to build the pirogues and pinasse boats that you will also see. Also check out the massive slabs of salt that have made their way through the Sahara by camel caravans. Enjoy lunch at Bar Bozo, perched out over the water at one corner of the port, offering a fantastic vantage point from which you can relax and observe the activity. Later in the afternoon, set out by traditional pinasse boat to explore Mopti by water. Make your way along the coast in both the Bani and Niger rivers, disembarking at numerous fishing villages perched on tiny islands in the river. Some of the afternoon highlights will include visits to the Fulani village of Gnimintongo as well as Tongorongo, where a mixture of Songhai and Fulani peoples reside; Tongorongo is known for its beautiful mud mosque. Also visit Sekoubango, also known for its beautiful mud mosque built by the Marabout himself, Sekou Bango. Tourists are allowed to enter this mosque, which is unusual in Mali, and a benediction will be made for you if you wish. Later in the afternoon, you will be brought back to your hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure. (B,L,D) DAY 10: MOPTI - TIMBUKTU Early this morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Timbuktu, a city perched on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to La Maison for an overnight stay. Conjuring up alluring and adventurous images of camel caravans crossing the Sahara, Timbuktu is a unique and isolated destination. During the European Dark Ages, Timbuktu was one of the world's most important cities. Its position as a trading center for salt, ivory, gold and slaves on the Saharan trade route allowed it to flourish and scholars from throughout the Islamic world opened libraries and universities there. After checking into your hotel, you will be taken to get a Timbuktu stamp in your passport if you wish. Next, set out for a full day of touring, beginning with a walk through the sandy streets with your local Tuareg guide. Your first stop will be the Ethnological Museum, which offers a fascinating glimpse into Timbuktu's past. From here, continue to the houses where various European explorers stayed during their time here. You'll also visit the 13th-century Djingareyber Mosque, a masterpiece of Malian architecture. Next, make your way to the archives to see ancient Arabic texts, some of which are written in gold ink. After lunch and some time to relax, set out for a local rooftop to see the city from above, a unique vantage point from which to observe the action at the daily market, and then continue to the Grand Market. This evening, you will be collected for a sunset excursion out into the Sahara Desert to a small Tuareg encampment. The residents will offer tea and then perform some traditional drumming, singing and dancing. The Saharan sand dunes are the only sight visible for as far as the eye can see. Enjoy a leisurely hike around the dunes as the sun sets before returning to your hotel for dinner. (B,L,D) DAY 11: TIMBUKTU - BAMAKO You will be transferred to the airport today for your flight back to Bamako, where you will be met and transferred to the Azalai Hotel Salam for your final night in Mali. Your guide and driver will be available if you wish to do some last minute sightseeing or shopping. Tonight, have dinner at San Toro restaurant, which specializes in Malian cuisine. San Toro also boasts Malian art and artifacts and live Malian music most nights. (B,L,D) DAY 12: DEPART BAMAKO After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight today. (B) |