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World Heritage Tours

Day 1 Saturday: Bamako

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.

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2 Sunday: Bamako-Djénné

Travel to one of Mali’s architectural and cultural jewels, Djénné. Founded in the 4th century; Djénné has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. The atmosphere in the streets transports you back to medieval times. Visit Djénné’s Great Mosque, which is the world’s biggest mud edifice and UNESCO World Heritage.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 Monday: Djénné-Mopti

Check out the Moroccan district and experience the techniques and art of mud-cloth-making at Pama’s shop. Explore the archaeological site of Djénné-Jenno, a city whose existence can be traced as far back as 200 B.C.E. We have designed this schedule to fall on a Monday on purpose because a visit to Djénné is hardly complete without its world-famous open-air Monday market. Leave for Mopti later in the day.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti

Known as the “Venice of Mali”, Mopti, means the “meeting place” in Fulani, as the city is home to several ethnic groups, such as the Fulani, Bambara, Bozo, Tuareg, sonrhay, Dogon, etc. Mopti has 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

Days 5, 6 & 7 Thursday & Friday: Mopti-Dogon Country

Spend three days trekking the cliffs of Dogon villages of Songho, Sangha, Ireli, and Tirelli, and discover the mystique that has made the Dogon Country one of the most acclaimed sites in Mali and throughout the world. Start in Songho, which is famous for its prehistoric rock paintings. In addition to the ingenuity of houses perched as high as 200m up the cliffs, the Dogons 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 as a whole is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8 Saturday: Tirelli-Douantza

After breakfast hike up Dogon cliffs to the edge of the escarpment with spectacular views. We continue to Douantza where we may encounter caravans of elephants immigrating and visit other sites of interest.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 9 Sunday: Douantza-Timbuktu

A few hours drive will take us to legendary Timbuktu in the heart of the Sahara Desert. Visit 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10 Monday: Timbuktu

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, where scholars from around the world taught and studied. Visit the houses of explorers Réné Caillé, Mongo Park, Gordon Laing, and the “Ahmed Baba” cultural center, which holds the old manuscripts of 14th century scholars. Ride on camel back to a campground to visit with the Tuaregs, “the blue men of the Sahara." Timbuktu is a designated UNESCO World Heritage.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 11 Tuesday: Timbuktu-Hombori

After breakfast we leave for a visit of the Hand of Fatima, the legendary mountain sang about by Malian musician Habib Koité. This mountain is known as “Licke Meka” by the locals for all the alpine and serves as the premiere destination for rock climbers and base-jumpers (that’s not what we will be doing though). We will also visit the biggest camel market in Mali.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 12 Wednesday: Hombori-Ségou

Depart the Mount Hombori and the beautiful Hand of Fatima for must-see Ségou after a stop in Mopti for lunch and a quick visit. Ségou is famous for its beautiful adobe architecture. Enjoy an afternoon boat cruise and the aquatic scenery as locals of Ségou go about their business on the Niger River.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 13 Thursday: Ségou - Bamako-Departure

In the morning spend time at the port, the market, the weaving center, and the colonial district before departing for Bamako. In Bamako visit the Great Market and the handicraft center for last souvenir shopping. You are transferred to the airport for the departure flight. Have a safe flight come back to see us.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner