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MALI
Festival in the Desert Tour
17 Days
A longer tour which features Mali's Festival in the Desert, a fascinating
3-day Dogon country adventure and a full-day sailing excursion on
the Niger River - as well as Timbuktu, Djenne, Mopti and Bamako
5 January 2009: Arrival in Bamako, Mali
Depart London 11.15. Arrive in Bamako at 21.20; airport to hotel
transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
6 January 2009: Bamako - Sevare
Full day's drive to Sevare, with sightseeing en route; overnight
in Sevare (hotel) (B)
7 January 2009: Sevare - Timbuktu
6-hour drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu
! overnight in Timbuktu (hotel) (B)
8, 9, 10, January 2009: Desert Festival days
2-hour drive to Essakane and enjoy the festivities: music, dancing,
sword-play, poetry, arts and crafts, camel races, and more ! overnight
camping in Essakane (B,L,D)
11 January 2009: Essakane - Timbuktu
Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day at leisure to relax, or
explore this ancient city on your own; overnight in Timbuktu (hotel)
(B)
12 January 2009: Timbuktu
City tour of legendary Timbuktu: the ancient mosques and former
universities, the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts,
the explorers' houses, the city market and the artisans' centre;
overnight in Timbuktu (hotel) (B)
13 January 2009: Timbuktu - Mopti
Return drive (6 hours) to Mopti; late afternoon walking tour of
Mali's port city on the Niger; see the beautiful Sudanese-style
mosque, the fishing port, the bustling local market; overnight in
Mopti (hotel) (B)
14 January 2009: Niger River
Full day's sailing excursion on the Niger River; visit Bozo fishing
villages and nomadic Fulani camps; observe Mali's varied bird life,
and perhaps see hippos in the river ! return to and overnight in
Mopti (hotel) (B,L)
15 January 2009: Mopti - Dogon country
Drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; visit Songo village,
renowned for its circumcision grotto with ancient and modern rock
paintings; continue to Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Dogon villages
(animist and Islamic); walking tour of Sangha: observe many beautiful
examples of the unique Dogon architecture and traditional fetishes;
overnight in Sangha (hotel) (B,L,D)
16 January 2009: Dogon country
Descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit some of the most beautiful
Dogon villages: also see ancient Telem cave dwellings in the cliff
face, and visit a sanctuary of sacred crocodiles; witness a spectacular
Dogon mask dance, part of the Dogon people mourning ritual; return
to and overnight in Sangha (hotel) (B,L,D)
17 January 2009: Dogon country
Explore Yenduma, and the triple Yuga villages (some hiking required),
origin of the Sigi dance; overnight in Sangha (hotel) (B,L,D)
18 January 2009: Dogon country - Djenne
Drive to the southern end of the escarpment, to visit Tely and Ende
villages, including a visit to the Hogon, spiritual leader of the
Dogon people, in his grotto; onward drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's
ancient sister-city; overnight in Djenne (hotel) (B,L)
19 January 2009: Djenne - Segou
Experience Djenne's colorful weekly market day, with hundred of
market stalls spread out before the magnificent Grand Mosque, one
of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, 3½-hour
drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (hotel) (B)
20 January 2009: Segou - Bamako
Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative
center; stroll through the pottery market along the waterfront;
also visit Sekoro villge, former capital of the Bambara kingdom;
3-hour return drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel) (B)
21 January 2009: 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 onward
flight home (day-room) (B)
(B) = breakfast
(B,L,D) = breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hotel check-in: 2:00 pm; check-out: 12:00 noon
Day-room 23 Jan. check-out: 6:00 pm
Cost: £1975 + £100 Festival entry (not including airfare)
Single supplement £360
17-day Desert Festival Tour includes:
· 13 nights hotel (double occupancy), including breakfast
(B)
· 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; tents are provided
· all ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle
· festival entry pass (priced separately, but included in
tour package)
· 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
· three days to explore Dogon villages along the Bandiagara
escarpment
· all meals in Dogon villages: 3 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches
(L), 3 dinners (D), excluding drinks
· traditional Dogon mask dance
· full-day sailing excursion on the Niger River, including
box lunch
· camel ride on the dunes
· English-speaking guide for the entire tour
· airport transfers for Bamako arrival and departure (you
will need to provide your Bamako arrival/departure flight details)
· all hotel taxes, local tourism taxes and site visit fees
Tour does not include international airfare to/from Mali, entry
visas, non-specified meals, tips, personal expenses and sleeping
bags.
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, modelled 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.
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