Day 1 :
Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako,
airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako
(hotel)
Day 2 : Bamako
Leisurely first day in West Africa, to get used to the time change and climate
difference; city tour of Bamako: visit the National Museum,
the city market, and the artisans' village; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
Day 3 : Bamako - Timbuktu
Transfer to the airport for early morning flight to the legendary city of
Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; city tour: see the old mosques (built
in the 14th century) and former universities, the museum and
archives of scholarly Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city
market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans
from the desert; in the afternoon, excursion into the Sahara Desert by camel
caravan to visit a Tuareg camp; enjoy tea on the
dunes with your Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the
Desert; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)overnight in Timbuktu
(hotel)
Day 4 :
Timbuktu - Mopti
Airport transfer for early morning flight to Mopti,
the Venice of Mali, nestled between the Niger and the Bani
rivers; Mopti city tour: see the beautiful mosque,
the fishing port, and the bustling market where many of Mali's cultural groups
can be seen: Bambara, Bobo,
Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg
and Songhay; enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River
in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti (hotel)
Day 3: Mopti - Djenne - Dogon country
Excursion to Djenne on its
weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; stroll around the market stalls, spread out
before the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture
and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the
afternoon, 3-hour drive to Dogon country; overnight
in Sangha (hotel)
Day 6 : Dogon
country
Full day in Mali's
fascinating Dogon country; explore magnicifcent villages along the Bandiagara
cliff, and see many examples of the unique traditional architecture and
fetishes; overnight in Sanghga (hotel)
Day 7 : Dogon
country
Continue visiting Dogon villages, including Songo village, renowned for its rock paintings and
circumcision grotto; overnight in Bandiagara (hotel)
Day 8 : Dogon
country - Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO
Depart Dogon country, driving (~5 hours) through
picturesque villages and cross into Burkina Faso;
arrive in Ouagadougou; overnight in Ouagadougou (hotel)
Day 9 : Ouagadougou
Full day to explore Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital city; visit the Grand
Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing,
masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; also visit the crafts markets
at the Artisans' Center, where you will find
basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, jewelry,
leatherwork and bronze castings; overnight in Ouagadougou (hotel)
Day 10 : Ouagadougou
/ Tiebele - Ouagadougou
Excursion to Tiebele
village, in Gourounsi country; visit magnificent
fortress-like houses and compounds, colorfully
painted with traditional motifs; return to and overnight in Ouagadougou (hotel)
Day 11 : Ouagadougou - Niamey, NIGER
After breakfast, depart Burkina Faso for Niger ; observe the Sahelian country side
and rural villages; lunch in Fada N'Gourma;
overnight in Niamey (hotel)
Day 12 : Niamey - Tahoua (
Continue drive through the increasingly arid countryside, to Tahoua; sightseeing en route; overnight in Tahoua (hotel)
Day 13 : Tahoua
- Agadez
Continue northward into the desert,
until you arrive at the caravan crossroads and desert outpost of Agadez; walking tour of the town: see the beautiful mosque,
the city market, the artisans' cooperative, and the interesting livestock
market; overnight in Agadez (hotel)
Day 14 : Agadez - Aïr Desert - Agadez
Excursion into the Aïr Desert, to the Tiguidit escarpment; see fossils and ancient rock carvings;
beautful views of the desert; return to and overnight
in Agadez (hotel)
Day 15 : Agadez
- Niamey
Long return drive to Niamey; overnight (hotel)
Day 16 : Niamey - final departure
City tour of Niamey, including the National Museum, the large city market, and the
artisans' village of Wadata; optional excursion to Koure to see one the last remaining herds of giraffes in
West Aftica; in the evening, transfer to the airport
for your final departure