MALI
Highlights
Timbuktu: the dream!
The scorching sands of the Sahara and Sahel‘s thriving savannah
The Mandingo people and life on the river Niger
The masterpiece of the Great Mosque of Djenné
Where will we sleep
Hotel and Tent
How we will get around
Domestic charter flights, 4×4 car with driver
RATING
On-the-road trip with private driver, in unstable territory no longer used to tourism. Nights in hotels and tents are planned, requiring a spirit of adaptation. For safety reasons, the margin of autonomy in travel and visits is limited
Per altre informazioni sui nostri viaggi, consulta la sezione FAQ.
DAY 1: meet up in Bamako, immigration formalities and meeting with local contacts. First introduction to the city and Malian culture. Depending on arrival time (in case of late afternoon arrival, activities are moved to Day 8) check in with lunch at local restaurant offering traditional West African dishes such as poulet yassa, spicy marinated chicken with lemon, mustard or onions. Visit National Museum, with a collection of 10,000 objects, ranging from traditional masks and costumes to textiles, old photos and many videos, to immerse yourself in Malian culture. Visit Africa Tower: the tallest structure in Mali at 80 meters high, and finally, visit the marble Mali Independence Monument and the capital’s train station. Dinner and evening in Bamako
Morning: breakfast and start the on-the-road journey to Segou. Visit Segoukoro, also known as Sekoro, the formerly capital of the Bambara kingdom. Meet with the village chief, a descendant of the Bambara kings, and explore the village, where traces of the past are still visible, including the tomb of Biton Coulibaly and the mosque dedicated to his mother. Visit to the Soroblé Bogolan center, where cloths are woven in bogolan, which in the Bambara language means “made of mud”. This traditional cotton cloth is in fact dyed with fermented mud, and is one of Mali’s most influential cultural practices. After the visit, more in-depth exploration of Ségou, with its colonial quarters and a traditional bar where millet beer is brewed
Afternoon: move to San and arrive in the evening
Evening: dinner and overnight at the hotel in San
Morning: breakfast and tour of the village, the market and the local mosque, a small Sudanese-Sahelian style jewel, built of rammed earth, a sort of Djenné mosque in miniature. Drive to Segou and lunch
Afternoon: move to Bamako and arrive in the evening
Evening: dinner and overnight at hotel in Bamako
Morning: breakfast and departure from Bamako by private charter plane to the mythical city of Timbuktu, historic terminus of the trans-Saharan caravan routes, whose historical heritage has been seriously threatened in recent years by the presence of armed fundamentalist cells in the territory. Visit three mud mosques, a library containing precious manuscripts, the ethnological museum, and a chance to witness a traditional Touareg dance, along with a camel ride
Afternoon: lunch in Timbuktu and flight to Mopti, one of Mali’s main ports along the Niger River. Visit the fish market and earthen mosque, followed by a boat trip on the Niger River. Flight back to Bamako, arrival late afternoon
Evening: dinner and overnight at hotel in Bamako
Morning: breakfast and tour of the capital, related to what we did on day 1. Visit recycling market and puppet workshop, tour by traditional wooden boat to enjoy the life of the Niger River, the third longest river in Africa. Visit the sand port and temporary fishing villages. Moving on to Siby
Afternoon: Siby is home to the Mandingo people, an ethnic group descended from the 13th-century Mali Empire. Visit the Kamadjan Arch, a beautiful natural and historic stone arch that served as a meeting place for soldiers, war councils and notable people in the 13th century. Visit the other historical sites around the site, including the sacrificial caves and the consultation cave. Time for one of the highlights of the trip: a Dogon mask ceremony. This is where village elders sing to chase away evil spirits, while sacred Dogon masks are brought from traditional homes to be worn for the dance
Evening: dinner and overnight at the hotel in Siby
Morning and afternoon: breakfast and return to Bamako for free time or possible catch-up on activities missed on days 1 and 5
Evening: dinner and overnight at hotel in Bamako
Morning: check out in the morning and it’s time to go again. We bid farewell to our fellow travelers and hope to see you again on the next trip!
