Cultural Tour of Mali & Burkina Faso – 15 Days

Day 1: BAMAKO

Upon arrival at Bamako airport, you are met, assisted and transferred to hotel for overnight.

Hotel: Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 2: BAMAKO

Breakfast at hotel, you will start the city tour of Bamako including: the viewpoint, the recycling market, the national museum. In the afternoon, you visit the Handicraft market, the fetish market and drive to some meaningful monument. Transfer to hotel for overnight 

Hotel: Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 3: BAMAKO – MANDE AREA – BAMAKO

Today you will go on a day excursion toward the South West of Bamako, Mande area or the cradle of a civilization. You will visit Kuru koro Kale Fanfan a historical dwelling cave, continue to Siby where the local guide will bring you to the Arch of Kamandjan. A big cave made, according to traditionalists, in the rock by King Kamandjan to show to the Mandé Prince what he can do during the war. Visit the divination room and have a general view on the Mandé valley. Drive down and continue to Bancoumana before driving to Kangaba. On the way you will stop at Kuru Kan Fugan, the place where the country got the name Mali in 1236. It is the place where the 44 Laws have been voted to regulate the country. 

Continue to Kangaba to visit the oldest sacred house of Mali (996 years old) and drive to back to Bamako. Before being to Bamako, you stop in 

Kirina, to perform a folk dance with hunters. Upon arrival in Bamako transfer to hotel for overnight 

Hotel: Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 4: BAMAKO – SEGOU

After breakfast, we will drive to Segou with stops in Bambara villages to see how they live and if lucky you may see women making Shea butter. The last stop will be Sekoro, the ancient capital city of the Bambara Kingdom, visit the direct descendant of the King Biton Mamary Coulibaly, visit the vestibule and the mosque he built for his mother. Continue to Segou, check in at hotel Esplanade and continue to discover Seg ou including the mud cloth making center, the potteries on the bank of the river Niger. 

Later in the afternoon, have a sunset cruise on the river and back to hotel 

for overnight. 

Hotel: Hotel Esplanade

SEGOU – DJENNE – SAN  

After breakfast at hotel, we will continue our trip to San the capital of the Bobo land. On our way stop in Terekoungo a Bobo village famous for the fetish house, the sacred well and the millet beer making. Then you will 

visit the mosque, same style as the one in Djenne, but smaller. Walk through the market. Back to hotel for overnight. 

Hotel: Hotel Teriya

Day 6: SAN – KOUTIALA – SIKASSO

Drive to Sikasso via Koutiala. We drive through the city of Koutiala with visit of the local market. Continue to Sikasso. Upon arrival installation at hotel for overnight 

Hotel: Hotel le Cinquantenaire

Day 7: SIKASSO

Breakfast at hotel and start the city tour:

The ruins of Tata, the protecting wall during the invasion time, you see the old palace of the chief warrior Keletigui Berthé, the Mausoleum of second King Tieba TRAORE, the Senoufo center which a museum where you will learn about the Senoufo culture, The Mamelon hill which has been rebuilt by the colonialists, the vegetable market one of largest markets in Mali and drive to different monuments dedicated to Kings and culture of the area and back to Hotel for overnight.

Hotel: Hotel le Cinquantenaire

Day 8: SIKASSO – BANFORA

After breakfast, drive to Burkina border, cross the border and continue to Bobo. On our way, stop at some villages for visit. Arrive in Bobo, in the afternoon, check in hotel and relax.

Hotel: Hotel Canne a Sucre

Day 9: BANFORA – SINDOU

After breakfast, you visit the domes of Fabedougou which are rock formation. Drive then to Karfiguela t0 visit the waterfalls. Drive back to hotel Canne a Sucre for lunch.

After lunch, you will drive to Sindou. Upon arrival, you check in Campement for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Campement de Sindou

Day 10: SINDOU – BOBO DIOULASSO

Early morning breakfast at Campement and drive to Niansogoni, where you will visit an ancient village with the troglodytes in caves very similar to the ones in Bandiagara cliffs in Dogon Country Some people will say it is the continuation of Dogon cliff. Lunch in Campement and drive to Bobo Dioulasso, the second largest city of Burkina Faso. Upon arrival, check in Hotel Sissiman and start a quick city tour of Bobo Dioulasso including the Mosque, the old quarter.  Time permitting, you will visit the Provincial museum and back to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Hotel Sissiman

Day 11: BOBO DIOULASSO – GAOUA

After breakfast, complete the tour of Bobo and drive to Gaoua. Upon arrival in Gaoua, check in hotel and lunch.

Afternoon visit the Pont museum dedicated to the Lobi culture, see the distinctive fortress-like Lobi architecture, then drive back to hotel for dinner and overnight at hotel.

Hotel: Auberge 11 Decembre

Day 12: GAOUA

Breakfast at hotel and drive to Loropeni, guided tour of the ruins of Loropeni, and continue to Obire where you will meet the 29th Gan King, You will visit the the Sanctuary of the former Gan Kings. Drive back to Gaoua for a late lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Hotel: Auberge 11 Decembre

Day 13: GAOUA – OUAGADOUGOU

After breakfast drive to Ouagadougou with stop to the Sacred crocodiles in Sabou. Visit and learn the legend about the crocodiles.

Lunch in a local restaurant and continue to Ouagadougou for dinner and overnight at hotel.

Hotel: Hotel Bravia

Day 14: OUAGADOUGOU – TIEBELE – OUAGADOUGOU

After breakfast, we drive Tiébelé where there are painted houses visit the village learn about their culture and see how houses are built to protect themselves against the enemy invasion. Drive back to Ouagadougou for overnight.

Hotel: Hotel Bravia

Day 15: OUAGADOUGOU – DEPARTURE

After breakfast drive to Manega to visit an interesting private museum. Back to Ouagadougou in time to discover the city including the grand Marché, National museum with it interesting collection of regional cloth, mask and household utensils, artisans village. Transfer to airport for your onward fight.