(Friday) JAN 29, 2010 - ARRIVE BAMAKO

International flight arrives in Bamako, Mali. You will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Bamako.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

(Saturday) JAN 30, 2010 - TIMBUKTU

This morning take an early flight to legendary Timbuktu. Located near the River Niger, and at the terminus of the great trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu became fabulously wealthy in the 16th century. Loaded with blocks of salt and other trade goods, huge convoys of camels would spend weeks crossing the unforgiving Sahara to reach Timbuktu. It was here that they would trade salt, pound-for-pound, with African merchants bringing gold and ivory along the Niger from the heart of Africa. Wander the dusty streets of Timbuktu, admiring such magnificent mud-brick structures as the Djinguiraiber Mosque, the Mosque of Sankore, and the Palace of Bouctou. See the houses of the various 19th century European explorers who used Timbuktu as a base. Overnight in Timbuktu.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Sunday) JAN 31, 2010 - MOPTI

This morning, leave a place whose name is synonymous with somewhere unreachable, “Timbuktu”, and fly to Mopti. On the Mopti city tour, you will see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhay and Hausa. Visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market, where you can shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leather work, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool. Overnight in Mopti.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Canoe making workshop in Mopti

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Monday) FEB1, 2010 – MOPTI - DJENNE - MOPTI

Drive to Djenné, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city on the Bani River. Visit Djenné on its weekly market day when Djenné is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud-brick architecture in the world and one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites, visit the museum, wander through the narrow streets of Djenné discovering this architectural city. Later, return to Mopti to stay overnight.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Grand Mosque in Djenne

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Tuesday) FEB 2, 2010 - DOGON COUNTRY

After breakfast, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country with a first stop in Songho, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto; continue to Sangha. Visit the villages of Sangha, Ogols and Bongo; see the traditional women's house, the sacrificial altar of the Hogon (the Dogon people's traditional and religious leader). Visit a Dogon seer. Overnight in Sangha.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Hogon in Sangha

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

(Wednesday) FEB 3, 2010 - DOGON COUNTRY

Breakfast, descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit the villages of Banani (note the ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face), Ireli, Amani (visit the sacred crocodile sanctuary), and Tireli, where you may see a traditional Dogon Mask Dance. Climb up the cliff to continue to Bandiagara for overnight.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Ancient Tellem cave dwellings

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

(Thursday) FEB 04, 2010 - SEGOU - FESTIVAL ON THE NIGER

After breakfast, drive to Ségou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial capital. This drive takes you through various rural villages where you can observe the traditional way of life. Along the drive you have the opportunity to stop and visit local markets. Arrive in Ségou late afternoon. Enjoy the festival ceremonies and the evening activities (concert, story-telling, traditional dances).

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Traditional cloth in local market

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Friday) FEB 5, 2010 - SEGOU - FESTIVAL ON THE NIGER

Excursions to nearby cultural sites including: Kalabougou, the pottery village, and Sekoro, the old-Ségou, former capital of the Bambara kingdom.

Two full days of festival activities: speakers, demonstrations, expositions, music and dance.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Pottery in Segou

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Saturday) FEB 6, 2010 - SEGOU - FESTIVAL ON THE NIGER

Festival continues

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Sunset on the Niger

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Sunday) FEB 7, 2010 - SEGOU - BAMAKO

After breakfast depart to Bamako. Founded in 1640, Bamako didn’t really start to grow until the French colonial period began in 1898. Mali is a country of many tribal peoples, each with their own exuberant styles of clothing and jewelry. There is nowhere better to see this colorful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. Bamako has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewelers and metal workers exhibit their wares and display their skills. Another highlight in Bamako is the Grand Marché, or ‘Great Market’, where you can spend hours exploring the hundreds of stalls from carvings and cassettes, to fabrics, beads, brass and gold, the variety of goods is staggering. One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you’ll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments. Visit the craft center (Maison des Artisans), the national Museum.

Overnight at 3-star hotel

Bamako Market

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

(Monday) FEB 8, 2010 - BAMAKO/DEPART

Today is at leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast