| |
MALI
Festival on the Niger
11 Days
The fourth annual Festival on the Niger will be held in Segou, Mali,
on 3 - 7 February 2010. This cultural celebration will feature traditional
music and contemporary musicians, arts and crafts exhibitions (textiles,
pottery, sculpture, jewelry), traditional dance troupes and puppet
troupes, pirogue races on the river, and more !
ITINERARY
02 February 2010: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport to
hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
03 February 2010: Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs) / Festival on the
Niger
Drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial centre;
check into your hotel, then enjoy the festival activities (masks,
puppets, music, and more); overnight in Segou (hotel)
with Breakfast
04, 05, 06 February 2010: Segou / Festival on the Niger
Full days of festival activities: speakers, demonstrations, artisan
exhibitions, films, story-tellers, puppets, traditional and contemporary
music and dance; overnight in Segou (hotel)
with Breakfast, three days
07 February 2010: Segou - Djenne (335 km; ~4hrs)
Enjoy the final festival activities, then drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's
ancient sister-city and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites, overnight
in Djenne (hotel)
with Breakfast
08 February 2010: Djenne - Dogon country (230 km; ~3½hrs)
Visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colourful
best; see hundreds of market stalls spread out before the magnificent
Great Mosque-this is the world's largest mud brick architecture,
originally built in the XIIIth century; in the afternoon, drive
to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in Sangha (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
09 February 2010: Dogon country
Walking tour of Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Islamic and animist
villages; see beautiful examples of traditional Dogon architesture
and contemporary fetishes; descend the Bandiagara escarpment to
visit Dogon villages along the cliff; witness a spectacular Dogon
mask dance, performed in a village-this is one of the Dogon people's
traditional funerary rites; return to and overnight in Sangha (hotel)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10 February 2010: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs) / Niger
River
Visit Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock
paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years
for all Dogon boys ages 9-14; the rock paintings are historical
representations of noble Dogon families. Onward drive to Mopti,
the Venice of Mali: 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; in the evening enjoy a relaxing
sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti (hotel)
with Breakfast
11 February 2010: Mopti - Bamako (640 km; ~7½hrs)
Return drive to Bamako, with sightseeing en route; overnight in
Bamako (hotel)
with Breakfast
12 February 2010: Bamako - final departure
City tour of Bamako, including the National Museum, the city market,
the artisans' village, and the fetish market for traditional medicine;
in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure
with Breakfast
NB: private departures only, this is not a group tour.
Tour includes the following:
10 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast
day-room in Bamako on the final day
2 lunches and 2 dinners in Dogon country; excluding drinks
private ground transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
sunset sail on the Niger River
spectacular traditional Dogon mask dance in a village
4-day Festival on the Niger; entry fee priced separately (subject
to change)
experienced English-speaking guide throughout
airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
all touring, site visit, excursion and entry fees as per tour program
Not included are: international flights to/from Bamako, Mali visas,
non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water, tips, and personal expenses.
|
|
|
