This 15-day tour offers an incredible experience in the wondrous west African country of Mali. Home to the evocative Timbuktu, this is a destination that is unique and alluring. The diversity of experiences is incredible and range from walking through villages and markets, travelling by camel into the Sahara Desert, sailing along the Niger River in a traditional pinasse and trekking through the incredible Pays Dogon World Heritage-listed area. The richness of culture in Mali is evident throughout our tour, where we have the opportunity to witness incredible masked dancers of Pays Dogon and mingle with the beautiful and distinctive Senossa people in their village. We rub shoulders with a range of tribal groups as market day unfolds in Djenne and sleep on the rooftops of the various chiefs' compounds on a trek through Pays Dogon. Opportunities exist to pull up at small riverside fishing villages on our cruise on the Niger River. We even have the chance to meet, interact and share a traditional meal with the nomadic Taureg tribe. The amazing and varied program on this incredible tour ensures that we do indeed witness the superb colours Of Mali.
Highlights
Boubacar Doumbia's atelier - mudcloth artistTrek through Pays DogonDjenne walking tourSenossa village visitNiger River excursionTimbuktu walking tourSahara desert overnight camel excursionTaureg visit
Itinerary:
1 (Sun) Arrive in Bamako and transfer to hotel.2 Drive to Segou. Tour of Segou.3 Visit workshop of Boubacar Doumbia. Drive to Mopti.4 Drive to Pays Dogon. Explore Songo and Dourou villages. Trek to Nombori village.5-6 Dogon Trek through Tireli and Ireli. Performance of the masked dancers of the Pays Dogon.7 Trek to Sangha. Return to Mopti. 8 Tour of Mopti. Drive to Djenne. Walking tour. 9 Visit Djenne Mission Culturale, market and Senossa village. Return to Mopti.
10-11 Niger River cruise in traditional pinasse, sleeping on the banks of the river.12 Arrive at port of Kourioume mid-afternoon. Drive to Timbuktu.13 Morning walking tour of Timbuktu. Afternoon sunset camel ride to Taureg camp. Stay overnight in desert.
14 Return to Timbuktu. Visit El Mansur Moracian House and Ahmed Baba Centre. 15 Fly to Bamako where tour ends on arrival (Sun).
Included: An experienced English-speaking local Peregrine leader, arrival transfer, transport, accommodation, meals, game activities, entrance fees to parks/reserves/sights indicated in itinerary.
Not Included: International flights, airport departure taxes, visas, meals unless specified in the itinerary, insurance, laundry, any optional tours or activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature.
Notes:
Meals: 14 breakfasts,6 lunches,13 dinners
National Parks: This trip includes a 4 day trek into the Pays Dogon World Heritage-listed area.
Trip Departure Notes: SPECIAL MUSIC OF MALI DEPARTURE Please note that there is a special departure of the 'Colours of Mali' trip that coincides with the Essakane Festival, a celebration of world music that takes place in the Sahara Desert, 80 kilometres outside of Timbuktu. It showcases not just the sounds of Mali, but also from the rest of Africa and beyond. The trip departs 28 December 2007. Please see trip code PFMF There is also a 'Highlights of Mali' trip departing on 28 December 2007, which is a shortened version of the 'Colours of Mali' itinerary and does not include the music festival. Please see trip code PFCF
Starts/Ends: Bamako/Bamako
Trip Reference: PFCM
