Cultural Tour of Mali & Burkina Faso, 13 Days

Day 1: BAMAKO

Upon arrival in Bamako international airport, you are met, assisted and transferred to Hotel Radisson Blu for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 2: BAMAKO

After breakfast, we will start the city tour of Bamako including: the viewpoint from the top of the hill of Point G, the recycling market, the National Museum. Lunch will be in Museum Restaurant. Afternoon, drive to the handicraft market where you have the fetish market with skulls of animals, dead birds and reptiles, you will then drive to some meaningful monuments.

Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 3: BAMAKO / SEGOU

Breakfast at hotel, depart for Segou with visit stops in some villages. You will visit Sekoro, the former capital of the Bambara Kingdom of Segou where you will visit the direct descendant of the King Biton Mamary Coulibaly, the Vestibule for justice, the tomb of the King, and the mosque he built for his mother. Then continue to Segou for Lunch. Afternoon, you will visit Segou including: the mud cloth center, potteries on the bank of the river, watch people during their daily activities.

Late afternoon, take a pinasse cruise on the river to witness the beautiful African sunset.

Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Hotel Esplanade

Day 4: SEGOU / DJENNE / SAN

After breakfast at hotel you will drive to Djenne, a UNESCO world heritage site. Upon arrival in Djenne, you will visit the mosque, the biggest mud building in the world, visit the manuscript center, go on the roof to have better view of the mosque. See the three types of building: Sudanic style, Moroccan style and Toucouleur style. Lunch in a local restaurant and drive to San. Upon arrival in San, time permitting you will visit the mosque, go to Terekoungo an old Bobo village famous for its sacred well, the fetish house and the the millet beer making process.

Back to hotel Teriya or similar for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Hotel Teriya or Similar

Day 5: SAN / SIKASSO

Breakfast at hotel, followed by departure to Sikasso via Koutiala the capital city of the “white Gold” cotton, You will have lunch at Hotel La Chaumiere and continue to Sikasso. Time permitting you will visit Zerelaba an authentic Senoufo village, where you will witness a traditional balafon performance.

Continue to Sikasso, upon arrival, check in Hotel Le Cinquantenaire for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Hotel le Cinquantenaire

Day 6: SIKASSO

After breakfast, you start the city tour of Sikasso including: the Senoufo Center where you learn a lot about this tribe, the Mamelon Hill the residence of the King, the Mausoleum of the King Tieba Traore (1866 -1893) the House of his Marabout Keletigui Berthe, then you will continue to the ruins of the Tata wall. Back to hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Missirikoro, a natural rock formation where you will see the two religions (Islam, Animists) worshipping side by side.

Late afternoon drive back to Sikasso for dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Hotel le Cinquantenaire

Day 7: SIKASSO – BOBO DIOULASSO, BURKINA

Breakfast at hotel, depart Mali and cross into Burkina Faso; upon arrival overnight in Bobo Dioulasso check in Hotel Sissiman for Lunch. Afternoon, city tour including the Mosque, the old quarter.

Meals included: Breakfast

Hotel: Hotel SISSIMAN’

Day 8: BOBO DIOULASSO /BANFORA / BOBO DIOULASSO

In the morning, you will drive to Banfora (52 miles) with views of sugar cane fields along the way you will visit the domes of Fabedougou, the waterfalls of Karfiguela and have lunch at Hotel Canne à Sucre. This afternoon you will visit Tengrela Lake with the possibility of seeing some hippos.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.

Hotel: Hotel SISSIMAN’

Day 9: BOBO DIOULASSO / GAOUA

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Gaoua (211 KM). Upon arrival in Gaoua, you will check in Hotel and Lunch. Afternoon you have the tour of Gaoua including the Women’s cooperative where they make the local soap and the museum where you will learn about the history of the Lobi people their believes.

Back to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.

Hotel: Auberge 11 Decembre

Day 10: GAOUA / LOROPENI RUINS / GAOUA

Today after via the UNESCO ruins of Loropeni. In Obiré, if you’re lucky, you may meet the 29th Gan King of the dynasty and his 20 wives (it is forbidden to shake his hand.) Here you will learn about the Gan people’s traditions and beliefs and visit their museum to see a representation of the 28 former kings. Continue on to Gaoua where you’ll check-in at the hotel for lunch.

Afterwards, take tour of Gaoua including the Women’s Cooperation and the museum.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Hotel: Auberge 11 Decembre

Day 11: GAOUA / OUAGADOUGOU

In the morning, drive to Ouagadougou (123 miles), capital of Burkina Faso, stopping en-route to visit some Mossi villages and the sacred crocodiles of Sabou. If you like, you can buy some chickens at the village to get the crocodiles come out of the water. Continue on to Ouagadougou where you’ll check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Hotel: Bravia Hotel

Day 12: OUAGADOUGOU / TIÉBÉLÉ / OUAGADOUGOU

After breakfast, lave on an excursion to Tiébelé (221 mi) to see the unique painted houses, a few of the local sacred places and the amazing decoration and type of buildings. You will have a chance to enter one of the houses to see the inside then continue to walk through the market. in the west of the African continent, lying between Mali and Ghana, this country is the cradle of an artistic lineage of kings that live in a little village, and which, it would not be an exaggeration to say, is hand-painted: Tiébelé. Picnic lunch and return to Ouagadougou for dinner and overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Hotel: Bravia Hotel

Day 13: OUAGADOUGOU / DEPARTURE

You’ll have a morning city tour of Ouagadougou including the museum to learn about the local cultures and see the masks and traditional costumes from Burkina Faso’s major ethnic groups. Also, visit the artisan village where you can purchase some local arts and crafts. Lunch will be at a local restaurant followed by some leisure time until it is time for the transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch