Arrive in Bamako; meet assist and transfer to Hotel.

Photo: Barry Williams

Meal(s) Included: No

Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel or Similar

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 Azalai Grand Hotel or Similar

Breakfast, then drive to 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. Overnight in Segou.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Hotel Independence or Similar

Drive to Dogon Country, 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 Kanaga Cheval Blanc or Similar

Continue tour of Dogon Village. The Dogons are animists, worshipping their ancestors and the spirits of nature. Having preserved their traditions down through the centuries, they are considered to be one of the most original civilizations of West Africa. Today’s sightseeing involves 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 Bandiagara for overnight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel La Falaise or Similar

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; Return to Mopti for overnight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Hotel Kanaga or Similar

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. Overnight in Mopti.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Hotel Kanaga or Similar

This morning take an early flight to legendary Timbuktu. Located at 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

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

Festival activities continue from day 9 . Meals prepared by private chef. Accommodation in private tents.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Festival activities continue from day 10 . Meals prepared by private chef. Accommodation in private tents.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Return to Timbuktu and fly to Bamako for departure OR extended tour begins.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Included

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, Chartered flights to and or from Timbuktu, 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, 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

Not included

Travel insurance, international airfare, meals not listed, gratuities, Festival entry pass

Note

* For a sneak peak into Festival in the Desert, see "Showtime in the Sahara" on page 170 of the July 2007 issue of Vanity Fair.

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