Discover Mali, 12 Days

Day 1 Arrive In Bamako, Mali

International flight arrives in Bamako; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako at Grand hotel or similar

Meal(s) Included: No

Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel or Similar

Day 2 Mopti/ Niger River

After breakfast, drive to Mopti; sightseeing en route; arrive in time to relax with a sunset sail on the Niger River

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Kanaga or Similar

Day 3 Mopti - Timbuktu

After breakfast drive to Timbuktu. En route stop at villages. See the wildlife on land and in the Niger. Arrive Timbuktu late evening.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hendrina Khan Hotel or Similar

Day 4 Timbuktu - Sahara Desert

Full day to explore this fabled city: visit the old mosques (former universities), the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city market and the artisans' center; enjoy a Sahara Desert excursion by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hendrina Khan Hotel or Similar

Day 5 Timbuktu - Dogon

Drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Cheval Blanc or Similar

Day 6 Dogon Country

Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment; you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Cheval Blanc or Similar

Day 7 Dogon Country

Continue exploring magnificent Dogon villages, and by day's end, return up the escarpment to Sangha; overnight in Sangha at hotel Guina. Optional spectacular Dogon Mask Dance.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel La Falaise or Similar

Day 8 Dogon Country - Djenne

Depart Dogon country and drive to Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Kanaga or Similar

Day 9 Djenne - Segou

Djenne the pearl of the Niger delta: visit the Grande Mosque, the weekly market, artisans in their workshops, the Djenne Jeno archaelogical site. Depart Djenne for Segou; en route, visit Terekongo, the sacred well of the Bobo people; visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Independence or Similar

Day 10 Segou - Sikasso

City tour of Segou, Mali's colonial administrative center; also visit Sekoro, the "old Segou" and former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; Drive to Sikasso for dinner and overnight

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Zanga or Similar

Day 11 Sikasso - Bamako

Sikasso city tour: see the ruins of the Tata, ancient palisade which encircles the city and for a time held off the French colonial army; visit the Mamelon, residence of the last king of Sikasso; also visit the market. Continue to Bamako for overnight

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel or Similar

Day 12 Bamako - Depart

Bamako city tour: visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast