MALI
Festival in the Desert Tour
13 Days
A full tour of Mali which includes three days at the famous festival
and also Timbuktu, Dogon country, Niger River sail, Djenne, Mopti
and Bamako
03 January 2009: Arrival in Bamako, Mali
Arrive in Bamako; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako
(hotel)
04 January 2009: Bamako - Djenne
Full day's drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city; overnight
in Djenne (hotel) (B)
05 January 2009: Djenne - Dogon Country
Visit the colourful weekly market in Djenne, spread out before the
magnificent Grand Mosque. In the afternoon, drive to Mali's fascinating
Dogon country. Overnight in Sangha (hotel) (B)
06 January 2009: Dogon country - Sevare
Full day to visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment.
Witness a traditional Dogon mask dance. Overnight in Sevare (hotel)
(B)
07 January 2009: Mopti - Timbuktu
Drive across the Sahel to the legendary city of Timbuktu. Overnight
in Timbuktu (hotel) (B)
08, 09, 10, January 2009: Desert Festival days
Drive to Essakane and enjoy the festivities: music, dancing, sword-play,
poetry, arts and crafts, camel races, and more. Overnight camping
in Essakane. (BLD)
11 January 2009: Essakane - Timbuktu
Return to Timbuktu; check into your hotel to freshen up, then visit
Timbuktu: visit the old mosques and former universities, the museum
and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses,
the city market and the artisans' centre; afternoon free to wander
about this historic town; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel) (B)
12 January 2009: Timbuktu - Mopti / Niger River
Drive to Mali's port city on the Niger River then enjoy a relaxing
sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti (hotel) (B)
13 January 2009: Mopti - Segou
City tour and visit the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing
port, and the bustling local market where many of Mali's ethnic
groups come to trade: the Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Songhay.
Drive to Segou (3 - 4 hours drive) Overnight in Segou (hotel) (B)
14 January 2009: Segou - Bamako
City tour of Segou, Mali's second largest city. Also visit Sekoro
village which is the former capital. 3 hour return drive to Bamako;
overnight in Bamako (hotel) (B)
15 January 2008: Bamako - final departure
Bamako city tour: panoramic overview of the city from Point G; visit
the National Museum, the colourful city market and the artisans'
village; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight.
(B
Cost: £1615 + £100 Festival Entry (not including airfare)
Single Supplement £240
Desert Festival Tour includes:
· 9 nights hotel (twin), including breakfast (B); check-in/check-out
12 noon
· day-room in Bamako on the last day
· 3 nights camping at the desert festival site; bring your
sleeping bags for the cold desert nights
· all ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle
· all meals during the festival, prepared on-site: 3 breakfasts
(B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)
· bottled mineral water (3 litres/day/person) on the festival
days
· sunset sail on the Niger River
· camel ride on the dunes
· Dogon mask dance
· English-speaking guide for the entire tour
· airport transfers for Bamako arrival and departure
· all hotel taxes, local tourism taxes and site visit fees
Tour does not include:
· international airfare to/from Mali,
· entry visas, insurance,
· non-specified meals,
· tips and personal expenses;
· festival entry fee priced separately.
Mali's Festival in the Desert, a music and Tuareg culture festival,
to be held in January, is one-of-a-kind, modeled on traditional
gatherings and celebrations of the Tuareg people, the "Blue
Men of the Desert."
It is a musical event, drawing musicians from Mali, Mauritania,
Niger and other countries.
It is also an opportunity to interact with the Tuareg people, as
it is their event, and the festivities will include traditional
singing, dancing, swordplay, camel races and artisans' exhibits.
The festival is held in the desert oasis Essakane, 65 kilometers
from Timbuktu. Accommodations consist of Tuareg tents and ground
mats (NB: there are no hotels); hot meals are prepared on-site.
Desert temperatures in January are hot during the day (~35 C / 100
F), but quite cold at night (~5 C / 40 F) - travellers must bring
sleeping bags !
This is not a luxury holiday, but a unique cultural experience
that requires adapting to local conditions.
Mali's music and Tuareg culture festival in the desert is one-of-a-kind,
modelled on traditional gatherings and celebrations of the Tuareg
people, the "Blue Men of the Desert."
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