Main Navigation

Senegal-Mali

12 days

Day 1: Arrival/Dakar, Sénégal

Upon arrival in Bamako you are met, assisted with airport formalities and transferred to the hotel by your guide and driver. Visit the Musée National and its rich collection, considered to be one of the best ethnographic museums in West Africa.

Day 2: Dakar

Continue tour of Dakar, the capital city of Sénégal, including the bustling markets and the picturesque residential quarters such as Medina, the presidential palace, the African Museum, sand painting gallery, etc.

Day 3: Gorée Island

This morning visit the infamous Gorée Island, a World Heritage site, known for its vital role in the slave trade. Visit the "Door of No Return" where slave ships left for the Europe and the Americas. The tour also includes a visit to the ethnographic museum and a lecture/story-telling by curator Joseph N’Diaye on the history of Gorée Island.

Day 4: Pink Lake/ Saint Louis

After breakfast, depart for Saint Louis in the north of Senegal with a tour of Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomenon caused by a unique combination of microorganism and high concentration of salts giving the lake its pink color. Interact with the women collecting salt; visit the Fulani village where you will be welcomed by the Chief and his wives. Continue to Saint Louis. In the afternoon, city tour of Saint Louis including a visit to the fishing village of Guet Ndar.

Day 5: Saint Louis/Dakar/Bamako

Tour the city of St. Louis, by exploring the narrow streets and their houses with carved wooden balconies. Visit the National Bird Sanctuary of Djoudj, which has a vast array of bird species (more than 400 species) including pelicans, ducks, flamingos, African Jacana, Ibis, and many among others. Continue to Dakar where you will board your two-hour flight to Bamako, Mali. Arrive in Bamako where you will be met, assisted, and transferred to your hotel.

Day 6: Bamako

Take a city tour of Mali’s vibrant capital city of Bamako. Visit the national museum, women’s museum and Médine recycling market. Have lunch at the African restaurant “Le Santoro” then visit the handicraft centre and enjoy a panoramic view from “the hill of knowledge.” A visit to Bamako is hardly complete without a trip to its world-renowned “Great Market” in the heart of the city.

Day 7: Bamako-Timbuktu

After breakfast, transfer to airport for departure for Timbuktu; Arrival in Timbuktu mid morning and transfer to hotel. Spend a full day in legendary Timbuktu and see the houses of explorers (René Caillé, Mongo Park, and Gordon Laing), the Mosque Djingareiber built by the emperor Kankan Moussa upon his return from his legendary trip to Mecca, the museum, city markets, the handicraft center, and the center «Ahmed Baba» which is home to 14th century manuscripts. Enjoy an afternoon camel back ride to a Tuareg campground on the sand dunes in the heart of the Sahara desert.

Day 8: Timbuktu-Mopti

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Mopti, known as the Venice of Mali because it is located between the Niger and the Bani rivers on three islands. Arrive in Mopti mid morning and transfer to hotel. Tour the Komoguel mosque and then experience life on the river by visiting to fishing villages, to witness the making of handmade traditional pirogues (fishing boats), browsing through vibrant markets displaying pottery and other arts that showcase Mopti’s ethnic diversity. Life around the Niger River will be an unforgettable experience as you take a boat cruise in the afternoon to admire the aquatic life and the most amazing sunset.

Day 9: Mopti-Dogon Country

Depart for Dogon country, stop at Songo, the village of underground caves to see magnificent rock paintings and visit the grotto of circumcision a place of great importance in Dogon culture. Visit the upper and lower Ogols. You may also visit the Hogon, the spiritual leader of the Dogon people and attend a traditional Dogon mask dance.

Day 10: Dogon Country-Djénné

Today you will visit Djénné, the beautiful; a city constructed almost entirely with mud and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The “Great Mosque", the biggest mud edifice in the world and UNESCO World Heritage. The ingenious use of local materials in the Sahelo - Sudanese style architecture will enchant you. The weekly Monday market is sure to amaze with its rich colorful displays. Stop by the archeological site of Djénné Jeno to see remains of the city dating back to 200 B.C.E, which provides further insight into the origins of this world-renowned city.

Day 11: Djénné-Ségou

Depart for Ségou, former colonial capital and Mali’s second largest city. Stop in San to visit the mosque, mud cloth workshops, and the animist village of Térékoungo. Once in Ségou, visit the busy port, and bustling market along the river where the best pottery artisans, and weavers are to be found.

Day 12: Ségou-Bamako-Departure

Arrive in Bamako around lunchtime. Visit the museum, handicraft center, local weavers, and the recycling market. Dinner and transfer to the airport. Tour ends; come visit again!