15-DAY TOUR: Bamako - Djenne - Mopti - Dogon Country - Timbuktu - 3-Day Niger
River Boat Tour - Segou
15 Days, 14 Nights
Day 1: Welcome
Arrive at Bamako Airport; welcome and transportation to hotel;
program briefing.
Day 2: Bamako - Djenne
Leave for Djenne by 4X4. Lunch at San, town of the Bobo
people. Arrive in Djenne in the afternoon; check-in at hotel;
take photos of the world's largest mud mosque in the
afternoon light. Dinner at Chez Baba Restaurant.
Day 3: Djenne & Mopti
Tour of Djenne and its unique architecture, tomb of Tapama,
museum, Koranic school, old town of Djenne Djeno, one of
the first big cities in West Africa. Depart for Mopti; check-in
and lunch at Restaurant Bozo; relax by the hotel pool. We
finish the day at Mopti's lively port scene where venders from
everywhere converge to sell their wares. What a spectacle!
Watch the sunset over the river & eat dinner at the hotel for a
peaceful night!
Day 4: Mopti
Mopti means "meeting," and all of Mali's ethnic groups are here at the
'Venice of Mali' and intersection of two vital African rivers. See the
grand mosque, old city, spice market - a magnificent shock of African
color! Lunch and siesta. Then take a short boat ride, visiting small
Bozo fishing villages and Peulh cattle herders. Watch the sunset on the
Niger, dinner and a peaceful sleep!
Day 5: Mopti - Dogon Country
Drive by 4x4 to Dogon Country - Bandiagara, Sangha or Djiguibombo.
Begin trek on escarpment and plateau. Visit authentic Dogon villages,
meet local people, lunch at one of the villages. Rest in the afternoon &
spend the night in a charming campment either in a room or on the
terrace under the stars!
Day 6: Dogon Country
Trekking in the a.m. Visit a guinna where the eldest villager lives;
meet the hogon village chief and visit a toguna, the traditional Dogon
meeting house where all laws and community decisions are made.
Lunch at one of the villages. In the afternoon, voluntary planting of
trees to help fight desertification (Mali Experience Tours will give each
volunteer a tree to plant). Spend the night either at Sangha Hotel or
Bandiagara Hotel, depending on where your trek began.
Day 7: Dogon Country - Timbuktu
Head for Timbuktu in 4x4 with a short stop in Douentza
to stretch. We will have the opportunity to observe the
superb countryside and stop for a picnic lunch in the
shade. Arrive in the early afternoon, check-in at hotel,
free afternoon. Dinner at Restaurant Hendrina Khan.
Day 8: Timbuktu
Visit Timbuktu the Mysterious, town of 333 Saints,
situated at the door of the Sahara Desert. See the
museum of explorers, big museum, mosque of Djingueray
Berre, Sankore Koranic University and Ahmed Baba
Library where ancient manuscripts are on display.
Afternoon camel ride to visit Tuareg camps. Watch the
sunset on the dunes; dinner and a peaceful night!
Day 9: Timbuktu & Niger River Trip
Embark on a 3-day river trip by wooden pinasse,
navigating the Niger River, Mali's cherished lifeline. Visit
camps of Bozo fishermen, Peulh cattlemen, and Sarakole
farmers - spectacular! Your cook will prepare a lunch fresh
from the fishermen. At sunset, we set up tents on the
beach and eat dinner. Mali Experience Tours can supply
fishing rods for those who want to go fishing on the river.
Or spend your evening on the river banks under the stars!
Day 10: River Trip
Continue the river tour, stopping
occasionally for visits; set up camp and
spend the night under the tents on the
edge of Lake Debo.
Contact us for prices here.
Prices do not include: International airfare, bottled water or other beverages, mask
dances, tips.
Day 11: River Trip
Continue the river tour; visit Kotaga and its beautiful
mosque where you may even visit the inside as they accept
all visitors; in the afternoon, arrive in Mopti. Eat dinner at the
hotel, go for a swim in the pool and have a peaceful night!
Day 12: Mopti - Segou
Breakfast; depart for Mopti, passing by San and reaching
Segou around noon. Check in at the hotel, eat lunch, enjoy
the swimming pool and have a free afternoon. Dinner at
Restaurant Poulet D'Or.
Day 13: Segou
Visit Segou, ancient capital of the Bambara kingdom. See the port,
Kalabougou pottery, spice market, colonial quarter featuring Sudanese
architecture, artists cooperative where you can learn the art of bogolan
(mud cloth dye). Eat lunch and siesta. Meet for dinner & a peaceful
sleep!
Day 14: Segou - Bamako
Depart for Bamako, Mali's capital. Arrive and check in, eat lunch and
take a rest. In the afternoon, see the city, visit the national museum,
have dinner and relax for a restful evening.
Day 15: Bamako Tour & Farewell
Visit Maison des Artisans and Marche Rose, have lunch at Santoro, and
we finish the tour at the crafts market where you can buy last-minute
souvenirs and gifts; in the evening, transportation to the airport and
farewell. Mali Experience Tours wishes you a safe trip and pleasant
memories of Mali!
African Travel & Tours
Mali Experience Tours
African Travel & Eco-Tours
B.P. 55
Mopti, Mali
tel/fax: +223 2143 1409
cell: +223 7621 3283
email: info@maliexperience.com
Copyright © 2007-2012 Mali Experience Tours/All Rights
Reserved
Mali Experience
Tours
© Patricia Lanza
© Patricia Lanza
© Patricia Lanza