Mali river & desert discovery tour
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Location: Mali
Departures: January - December
Duration: 15 days
Group size: 2 - 4 people
Price: From £2120 including airport transfer, luggage handling, accommodation (double occupancy), day room in Bamako, half board pension in hotels, full board on trekking day, Niger River Cruise, an experienced English speaking guide, taxes in the villages, any other agency service. Excluding flights, all drinks and insurance.
Departures: January - December
Duration: 15 days
Group size: 2 - 4 people
Price: From £2120 including airport transfer, luggage handling, accommodation (double occupancy), day room in Bamako, half board pension in hotels, full board on trekking day, Niger River Cruise, an experienced English speaking guide, taxes in the villages, any other agency service. Excluding flights, all drinks and insurance.
The Trip...
En route we pass by Djenne, a beautiful World Heritage island city with the largest mud building in the world - The Grand Mosque. This tranquil, timeless city will erupt in the morning with the cacophony of sounds, colours and smells of one of west Africa’s largest and most vibrant markets.
From Djenne to the Dogon Country of leisurely trekking between the villages of the Dogon escarpment. A journey into the Dogon country with its distinctive architecture, animist culture and the strangely beautiful barren landscape is like stepping onto another planet. We camp on their open roofs beneath the extraordinary stars which are so important to the Dogon belief system.
We then return to the Niger river for a 3 day river boat trip through the Inland River Niger Delta to Timbuktu. Here flat wetlands and lakes give out great bird life and spits of land on which perch fishing villages and towns which will host us at night. After the market at Dire we pass the hippos who announce that we are approaching Timbuktu.
From Djenne to the Dogon Country of leisurely trekking between the villages of the Dogon escarpment. A journey into the Dogon country with its distinctive architecture, animist culture and the strangely beautiful barren landscape is like stepping onto another planet. We camp on their open roofs beneath the extraordinary stars which are so important to the Dogon belief system.
We then return to the Niger river for a 3 day river boat trip through the Inland River Niger Delta to Timbuktu. Here flat wetlands and lakes give out great bird life and spits of land on which perch fishing villages and towns which will host us at night. After the market at Dire we pass the hippos who announce that we are approaching Timbuktu.
The itinerary...
Day 1: Bamako.
Upon arrival at Bamako Senou airport, you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel, overnight at hotel Mande or a Similar.
Day 2: Bamako - Djenne
After breakfast drive to Djenne the city classified as World Heritages because of its architecture. The city considered as the twin of Timbuktu because of their links to Islam.
Upon arrival at Bamako Senou airport, you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel, overnight at hotel Mande or a Similar.
Day 2: Bamako - Djenne
After breakfast drive to Djenne the city classified as World Heritages because of its architecture. The city considered as the twin of Timbuktu because of their links to Islam.
Day 3: Djenne - Dogon Country - Somadougou - Bankass - Kani Konbole – Teli
We will have breakfast and then drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country. The Dogon are amongst one of the most enigmatic people of Africa. The Dogons are animists, worshipping their ancestors and the spirits of nature.
Day 4: Teli - Ende - Yatabalou – Djoundjounrou – Begnemato.
This morning, we will visit Teli, where you will discover the Toguna and the Hogon then we continue with our visit through Ende, have a lunch, walking to Yatabalou, Djoundjourou and overnight in Begnemato.
Day 5: Begnemato - Dourou – Nombori.
We will have breakfast and then continue our discovery of Begnemato and Dourou, where you will see the table of divination, the Dogon granaries, have lunch in Dourou and then spend the night in Nombori.
Day 6: Nombori – Ireli – Komokan – Tireli – Amani.
Breakfast and then we continue with our journey through Nombori, Ireli, Komokan and Tireli. Experience the authentic traditional Dogon Mask Dance.
Day 7: Amani – Ireli – Banani – Ibi – Koundou.
Breakfast and visit of Amani where we will visit the sacred crocodile sanctuary and trek down a cliff on the Bandiagara escarpment to visit the villages of Ibi and Banani, home to the ancient Tellem Cave dwellings.
Day 8: Koundou - Youga - Yendouma
Breakfast and visit of Koundou. Today we continue our tour of the Dogon Villages. The Dogons are considered to be one of the most original civilizations of West Africa.
Day 9: Yendouma - Douentza - Timbuktu
Breakfast then drive to Timbuktu. On the way we will visit Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto. We will then continue through Douentza to reach the legendary city of Timbuktu, known as the city of the holy, the mysterious city or the doorway to the desert.
Day 10: Timbuktu
Breakfast and visit of the old Islamic manuscripts in the Baba Ahmed Institute, the houses of exploratory Gordon Laing, Henri Barth, Mongo Park, and Rene Caille, and the handicraft centre to discover the wonderful work of the Tuareg: the jewellery and the blankets.
Days 11 & 12: Timbuktu - River Niger Cruise.
Breakfast and boat cruise along the Niger river. During three days you will enjoy a great variety of multi colour birds, see Malian fishermen with their canoes, and visit the bozo villages on bank of the river.
Day 13: Boating - Mopti.
Arrival at Mopti in the afternoon and visit of the colourful city. Dubbed 'Venice of Mali' for its location between the Bani and Niger river, we will visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market.
Day 14: Mopti-san-Segou
After breakfast, departure from Djenne to Ségou, home of the Balanzan tree considered as mythical because it is leafy in the dry season and has no leaves in the rainy season; the 'acacia albilda’ is a symbol of the bravery and courage of the citizens of Ségou.
Day 15: Ségou - Bamako
Breakfast and departure to the Capital city of Mali, Bamako is situated on the Niger, one of Africa's great rivers. There is nowhere better to see this colourful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. We will visit Sekoro, the capital of the former Bambara kingdom to see the king’s tomb.
We will have breakfast and then drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country. The Dogon are amongst one of the most enigmatic people of Africa. The Dogons are animists, worshipping their ancestors and the spirits of nature.
Day 4: Teli - Ende - Yatabalou – Djoundjounrou – Begnemato.
This morning, we will visit Teli, where you will discover the Toguna and the Hogon then we continue with our visit through Ende, have a lunch, walking to Yatabalou, Djoundjourou and overnight in Begnemato.
Day 5: Begnemato - Dourou – Nombori.
We will have breakfast and then continue our discovery of Begnemato and Dourou, where you will see the table of divination, the Dogon granaries, have lunch in Dourou and then spend the night in Nombori.
Day 6: Nombori – Ireli – Komokan – Tireli – Amani.
Breakfast and then we continue with our journey through Nombori, Ireli, Komokan and Tireli. Experience the authentic traditional Dogon Mask Dance.
Day 7: Amani – Ireli – Banani – Ibi – Koundou.
Breakfast and visit of Amani where we will visit the sacred crocodile sanctuary and trek down a cliff on the Bandiagara escarpment to visit the villages of Ibi and Banani, home to the ancient Tellem Cave dwellings.
Day 8: Koundou - Youga - Yendouma
Breakfast and visit of Koundou. Today we continue our tour of the Dogon Villages. The Dogons are considered to be one of the most original civilizations of West Africa.
Day 9: Yendouma - Douentza - Timbuktu
Breakfast then drive to Timbuktu. On the way we will visit Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto. We will then continue through Douentza to reach the legendary city of Timbuktu, known as the city of the holy, the mysterious city or the doorway to the desert.
Day 10: Timbuktu
Breakfast and visit of the old Islamic manuscripts in the Baba Ahmed Institute, the houses of exploratory Gordon Laing, Henri Barth, Mongo Park, and Rene Caille, and the handicraft centre to discover the wonderful work of the Tuareg: the jewellery and the blankets.
Days 11 & 12: Timbuktu - River Niger Cruise.
Breakfast and boat cruise along the Niger river. During three days you will enjoy a great variety of multi colour birds, see Malian fishermen with their canoes, and visit the bozo villages on bank of the river.
Day 13: Boating - Mopti.
Arrival at Mopti in the afternoon and visit of the colourful city. Dubbed 'Venice of Mali' for its location between the Bani and Niger river, we will visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market.
Day 14: Mopti-san-Segou
After breakfast, departure from Djenne to Ségou, home of the Balanzan tree considered as mythical because it is leafy in the dry season and has no leaves in the rainy season; the 'acacia albilda’ is a symbol of the bravery and courage of the citizens of Ségou.
Day 15: Ségou - Bamako
Breakfast and departure to the Capital city of Mali, Bamako is situated on the Niger, one of Africa's great rivers. There is nowhere better to see this colourful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. We will visit Sekoro, the capital of the former Bambara kingdom to see the king’s tomb.
Additional information...
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.
The difference...
Environmental responsibility
For you to have better knowledge of the trip we will provide you with accurate pre-trip information before the start of the tour. In order for you to have a good understanding of the places, the environment, and the local community we will supply you with our travellers' guidelines, which is also supplied to our staff and local suppliers. We do not produce brochures and all our messages are through email. As we know the danger that nature faces today we try to not use domestic flights in our trip, most of the travelling is done on ground.
During our trip we do lots of camping and staying in guesthouses in villages, because they have not got big hotels to waste water and some of them use solar energy.
The root cause of Global Warming is society's dependence on emission creating fossil fuel. Planting trees is not going to reverse this trend or cancel our carbon emissions very quickly or effectively. We believe the way to reduce these dependencies is to create clean energy production. Therefore, we support renewable energy projects like wind and solar power and the gold standard setter in effective, meaningful action addressing climate change. As a barren country we need a lot trees for our survival. So, while we believe that tree planting can play a small role in greenhouse gas abatement, we have gone the extra mile in promoting a longer term solution because our countries are deserted and planting trees will be good for the general population.
Much of the country was devastated by both man-made and natural disasters. We need to advise local people of the importance of planting trees and avoiding bushfires, which is all too common in our local community.
We also help a bee protection organization in Ségou named (GIPA). They try to advice local people not to use fire to have honey.We provide them vehicle during their trip to inform local people how they could get honey without killing bees, because in our society they use fire to kill bees and obtain their honey.
Social responsibility
This cultural trip, being tailor made express the very soul of a community of Mali, rooted as they are in local history and folklore. They’ll engage all your senses, with their crafts, colourful markets, historical sites and a beautiful nature – the sheer rawness and spontaneity of the whole experience. This is a fabulous way to learn about the local customs and traditions and get an authentic view of the cities you are passing.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world but by visiting and operating responsibly we are able to deliver economic benefits to a variety of local businesses. This means employing local guides in each town; using locally owned hotels, guesthouses and spreading our customers to small local restaurants and craft shops where possible. Even just stopping to buy fruit at a local market can really help supplement a family’s income.
Using local guides is also the best way to get in depth information on not only the historic and cultural aspects of villages but insider information on day to day life and learning to respect local traditions. Malians are very friendly and hospitable people and we try to find as many opportunities as possible for you to meet the people in a fun and positive way for both sides.
We support a charity project from a customer who wants to give school supplies, cow and chicken to ten villages in January 2010. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.
For you to have better knowledge of the trip we will provide you with accurate pre-trip information before the start of the tour. In order for you to have a good understanding of the places, the environment, and the local community we will supply you with our travellers' guidelines, which is also supplied to our staff and local suppliers. We do not produce brochures and all our messages are through email. As we know the danger that nature faces today we try to not use domestic flights in our trip, most of the travelling is done on ground.
During our trip we do lots of camping and staying in guesthouses in villages, because they have not got big hotels to waste water and some of them use solar energy.
The root cause of Global Warming is society's dependence on emission creating fossil fuel. Planting trees is not going to reverse this trend or cancel our carbon emissions very quickly or effectively. We believe the way to reduce these dependencies is to create clean energy production. Therefore, we support renewable energy projects like wind and solar power and the gold standard setter in effective, meaningful action addressing climate change. As a barren country we need a lot trees for our survival. So, while we believe that tree planting can play a small role in greenhouse gas abatement, we have gone the extra mile in promoting a longer term solution because our countries are deserted and planting trees will be good for the general population.
Much of the country was devastated by both man-made and natural disasters. We need to advise local people of the importance of planting trees and avoiding bushfires, which is all too common in our local community.
We also help a bee protection organization in Ségou named (GIPA). They try to advice local people not to use fire to have honey.We provide them vehicle during their trip to inform local people how they could get honey without killing bees, because in our society they use fire to kill bees and obtain their honey.
Social responsibility
This cultural trip, being tailor made express the very soul of a community of Mali, rooted as they are in local history and folklore. They’ll engage all your senses, with their crafts, colourful markets, historical sites and a beautiful nature – the sheer rawness and spontaneity of the whole experience. This is a fabulous way to learn about the local customs and traditions and get an authentic view of the cities you are passing.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world but by visiting and operating responsibly we are able to deliver economic benefits to a variety of local businesses. This means employing local guides in each town; using locally owned hotels, guesthouses and spreading our customers to small local restaurants and craft shops where possible. Even just stopping to buy fruit at a local market can really help supplement a family’s income.
Using local guides is also the best way to get in depth information on not only the historic and cultural aspects of villages but insider information on day to day life and learning to respect local traditions. Malians are very friendly and hospitable people and we try to find as many opportunities as possible for you to meet the people in a fun and positive way for both sides.
We support a charity project from a customer who wants to give school supplies, cow and chicken to ten villages in January 2010. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.
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