Festival In The Desert (11days)

Day 1 (Monday) ARRIVE IN BAMAK0
International flight arrives in Bamako. You will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight at Le Grand Hotel Or Similar

Day 2 (Tuesday) TOUR OF BAMAKO
Today you will explore this capital city of Bamako situated on the Niger, one of Africa's great rivers. Mali is a country of many tribal peoples, each with your own exuberant styles of clothing and jewelry. There is nowhere better to see this colorful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako.

Bamako has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewelers and metal workers exhibit their wares and skills. You will visit the Grand MarchÈ, or 'Great Market', where you can spend hours exploring the hundreds of stalls. From carvings and cassettes, to fabrics, beads, brass and gold, the variety of goods is staggering. One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you'll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles, along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight at Le Grand Hotel Or Similar

Day 3 (Wednesday) BAMAKO/TIMBUKTU
The terminus of the great trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu became fabulously wealthy in the 16th century. Loaded with blocks of salt and other trade goods, huge convoys of camels would spend weeks crossing the unforgiving Sahara to reach Timbuktu. It was here that they would trade salt, pound-for-pound, with African merchants bringing gold and ivory along the Niger from the heart of Africa. Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. See the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight at Hendrina Khan Hotel Or Similar

Day 4 (Thursday) FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT
Drive to Essakane and enjoy 3 days of world music, dancing, camel races and other activities. Meals prepared by private chef. Accommodation in private tents
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 (Friday) FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT
Festival activities continue from day 4. Accommodation in private tents
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 (Saturday) FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT
Festival activities continue from day 5. Accommodation in private tents
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 (Sunday) ESSAKANE/TIMBUKTU/MOPTI
Return to Timbuktu and fly to Mopti. Mopti city tour (you will see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï and Hausa): visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market, where you can shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leatherwork, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight at Hotel Kanaga Or Similar

Day 8 (Monday) MOPTI/DJENNE/DOGON
Drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city on the Niger; visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world and one of UNESCO’S World Heritage sites. In the evening drive to Bandiagara for overnight near to Dogon Village.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Cheval Blanc Or Similar

Day 9 (Tuesday) DOGON VILLAGE
Tour of Dogon Village considered one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Built up high on the narrow ledges of the cliffs are the villages of the Dogon people. In the 11th century, the Dogons fled the advancing Arabs coming from the north, and found shelter in one of West Africa's most inhospitable areas. This is such a unique place that the United Nations has declared it a World Heritage site. Visit the village of Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Campement Hotel Sangha Or Similar

Day 10 (Wednesday) DOGON/SEGOU
Today’s excursions include walking over rough ground to visit some of the villages, and fairly steep and rough paths have to be negotiated. Experience the authentic traditional Dogon Mask Dance. Early evening drive to Segou for overnight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight at Hotel Independence Or Similar

Day 11 (Thursday) SEGOU/BAMAKO/DEPART
After breakfast tour of Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans. Late afternoon return to Bamako for departure flight or extend your tour of Mali.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Price Per Person in US$
Double Occupancy Single Supplement *

Departure dates and prices are guaranteed for a minimum of 6 travelers for this tour.
* Single Supplement is the additional price paid for single occupancy of a room.

Tour Price Includes:
• Hotel accommodation indicated in intinerary • Day-room in Bamako on the last day • 3 nights camping in private tents • All ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle • Meals prepared on site by private chef during the festival. (3 meals per day) • Bottled water during festival • Tours as outline in the program • All other meals indicated by B, L, D • Traditional Dogon Mask Dance • Camel ride on the dunes • English-speaking guide for the entire tour • Roundtrip airport to hotel transfers • All taxes and admission fees to included sites

Tour Price Does Not Include:
Travel insurance, international airfare, Meals not listed, Visa fees, Gratuities, Festival entry pass, Domestic flights (Bamako/Timbuktu/Mopti $409).

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