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Sahara Escapade

Burkina Faso – Mali

14 Days

DAY 1: Ouagadougou (Burkina-Faso)

Meet your guide and driver upon arrival at airport in Ouagadougou the capital administrative capital city of Burkina. After being assisted by your guide with airport formalities you transfer to the hotel. Spend the evening settling in and relaxing.

Day 2: Ouagadougou

After breakfast take a guided tour of the city of Ouagadougou. Places to visit include the luxurious palace of the Mossi king, the busy Grand Marché (Great Market) and the National Museum with its great historical and cultural collections. The tour also includes a visit to the busy crafts markets at the Artisans' Center, with its beautiful basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, bronze castings, and other crafts. A visit to The Park of Bangr Weogo, with it many species of plant, birds, and animals is also part of this exciting day.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (Dinner O/N Hotel)

Day 03: Ouaga – Bobo

After breakfast travel from Ouagadougou to Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina’s second largest city and economic capital. En route to Bobo Dioulasso visit the sacred crocodiles. This trip is very scenic so get your cameras ready for some unique pictures.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 04: Bobo

City tour of Bobo’s old district, a place of great history and culture to experience the serene juxtaposition of the old and new in perfect symbiosis such as the old mosque built in 1890 and the very modern Houet Museum. Embark on an excursion to the natural waterfalls of Banfora to enjoy the sight of hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds in the Tingrela Lake. This is a heavenly visit where nature overwhelms with its beauty and calm.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 05: Bobo – San-Segou (Mali)

Leave in the early morning for an exhilarating road voyage from Burkina Faso to Mali. Along the way enjoy picturesque landscapes and a visit to the traditional Bobo village of Térékoungo before continuing on to Ségou, Mali’s second largest city.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with live local music.

Day 06: Ségou - Bamako

Famous Ségou is a must see for every visitor to Mali. Admire its beautiful adobe architecture; spend time at the port, the weaving center, and the colonial district. Enjoy an afternoon boat cruise and the aquatic scenery as Segovians go about their business on the Niger River. The day ends with a scenic road trip from Ségou to Bamako.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 07: Bamako-Timbuktu (by regular flight)

Fly from energetic Bamako to legendary Timbuktu and find out why this city enjoys such a celebrated status around the world. From the 13th to the 16th century, Timbuktu, located in the heart of the Sahara desert was a great center of culture with one the most vibrant economies in the world. Feel the mystery in its beautiful adobe buildings such as the Djinguiraiber mosque built by Emperor Kankan Moussa in the 14th century and Sankoré University. Explore the houses of explorers René Caillé, Mongo Park, Gordon Laing, and the “Ahmed Baba” cultural center, which holds the manuscripts of 14th century scholars. Ride on a camel to a caravan campground to visit with the Tuaregs, “the blue men of the Sahara.”

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 08: Timbuktu-Mopti

Take an early morning flight from Timbuktu to Mopti, the Venice of Mali because of its location on three small islands in the inland delta of the Niger River. Ride on a traditional handmade pirogue to fully experience the magic of the Niger River, one of Africa’s greatest rivers and stop over at the fisherman’s village to mingle with the locals and learn about their traditions. Many ethnic groups such as the Bozo, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhai, and Dogon call Mopti home so this trip day will reveal the diversity and harmony within Mali. Visit the magnificent mud buildings and the colorful market.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 09: Mopti-Djenné-Mopti

Leave Mopti early in the morning for Djénné, the twin city of Timbuktu, and architectural jewel of Mali with its adobe buildings. Upon arrival take a city tour including a visit to the well-renowned Great Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage), the world’s largest mud building. Check out the Moroccan district and experience mud cloth making at Pama’s shop. Feel the excitement at the weekly “open air” market. Explore the archaeological site of Djénné-Jenno a city whose existence can be traced as far back as 200 B.C.E.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10 and Day 11: Mopti-Dogon Cliffs Trekking

Spend two days touring the Dogon villages of Songho, Sangha, Ireli, and Tirelli, and discover the mystique that has made the Dogon cliffs one of the most acclaimed sites in Mali and throughout the world. Start in Songho, which is famous for its rock paintings. In addition to the ingenuity of houses perched as high as 200m up the cliffs, the Dogon are well known for their wooden sculptures, “bogolan” mud cloth, and their ancient rituals. During this trip take part in a traditional Dogon mask performance; visit ritual sites, the sacred Crocodile River. You may even meet with the Hogon, spiritual chief of the Dogon. Dogon country is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 12: Sangha Dogon Cliffs Trekking-Mopti

Visit Sangha in Dogon country in the early morning including the lower and upper Ogols and then head down to Mopti. A stop at the bead gallery in Sévaré is followed by a leisurely afternoon and dinner with traditional music and dance.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 13: Mopti

On your second stop in Mopti you will venture deeper into the old city, which still feels like Mopti in 14th century with its beautiful adobe houses and mosques. Witness the skills of great artists making Tuareg leatherwork, woven Fulani cotton and wool blankets, gold and silver jewelry, and intriguing pottery. Sail on the Niger River with stops in fisherman villages and witness the vital role the river plays in the daily lives of people in Mopti. On this leg of your Mopti tour will you will see the most amazing sunset on the river.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 14: Mopti-Bamako

Arrive in Bamako by lunchtime; visit Bamako‘s vibrant Great Market and arts and craft district where great displays of various artifacts can be seen. Other site visits will include the prehistoric grotto of Koulouba, the recycling market of Médine and the Women’s Museum before transfer to the airport for the return flight back home.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner