Festival In The Desert, 7 Days

Day 1 (Monday) - Jan 3, 2011– ARRIVE BAMAKO

Photo: Pedro

Meal(s) Included: No

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Day 2 (Tuesday) - Jan 4, 2011– TOUR OF BAMAKO

Photo: Bamako Market

Today 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 their 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. 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 mystifying treatments.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Day 3 (Wednesday) - Jan 5, 2011 – BAMAKO-TIMBUKTU (2 hour flight)

Photo: Timbuktu Street

This morning take a morning 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 Hotel

Day 4 (Thursday) - Jan 6, 2011– TIMBUKTU/ESSAKANE (approx. 2 hours)

Photo: Pedro

This morning continue touring Timbuktu. Visit the ethnological museum and Maison des Artisans.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Private Tents or Similar

Day 5 (Friday) - Jan 7, 2011– ESSAKANE

After a musical evening, we shall have a leisurely morning. In the afternoon, we will enjoy camel rides, traditional songs and games and interact with the musicians and traders before enjoying the music which lasts all night long.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Private Tents or Similar

Day 6 (Saturday) - Jan 8, 2011– ESSAKANE

Activities in Essakane continue. Enjoy the music festival finale, which lasts all night long.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Private Tents or Similar

Day 7 (Sunday) - Jan 9, 2011– ESSAKANE/TIMBUKTU/BAMAKO

After breakfast, return to Timbuktu early in the morning for your flight to Bamako where you will await your onward flight or extended tour begins.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

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