Itinerary

Day 1 Bamako

Bamako is the capital and largest city in Mali. Located on the banks of the Niger River, Bamako is a culturally vibrant city with plenty to offer in terms of markets, museums and music. The name Bamako comes from the Bambara word meaning crocodile's back.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide.

The Radisson SAS Hotel, Bamako offers a restful and luxurious oasis away from the bustling city centre of Bamako. The hotel is enviably located in the newly developed district of ACI 2000, just west of the city centre and home to the government's Administrative City. With beautifully-equipped guest rooms, a gourmet restaurant and a world-class fitness centre , the hotel is bringing an unsurpassed level of luxury to one of Africa's fastest growing cities, Bamako. The hotel is perfectly situated just west of Bamako's city centre in the newly constructed ACI 2000 district. The hotel is close to notable landmarks such as the National Library, Bamako Grand Mosque and the Pont du Roi Fahd.

Overnight at Radisson SAS.

Day 2 Bamako

Private vehicle for the day with your english speaking guide.

Today you will visit the National Museum, highlights include the stylized antelope mask of Bamana; various Senoufo statuary, and, of course, the world-renowned antique Dogon Sculptures. The artisan center houses an abundance of shops and stalls selling crafts and curios such as leatherwork, fabric, silverware, masks, carvings and bronze figurines. There is also the artisan’s workshop where you can watch woodcarvers, silversmiths, drum makers and other craftspeople at work.

Lunch at a local restaurant (included in tour price).

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Overnight at Radisson SAS.

Day 3 Timbuktu

Established by the nomadic Tuareg as early as the 10th century, Timbuktu is home to a diversity of people from different Mali communities. The city was once considered an intellectual and spiritual capital for Islamic missions in the 15th and 16th centuries. It offers a convenient meeting spot for west and north African peoples, and the city is considered the home of written scholarship and knowledge in Africa. There is an institute in the city that is dedicated to commemorating the written history of the region, acting as home to many historic documents. It is assumed to have had one of the first universities in the world, with 25,000 students back in the 1400s. The Djinguereber Mosque, Sankore University, and Sidi Yahya mosque are all popular attractions to visitors.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide.

Take your flight from Bamako to Timbuktu today. The flight duration is approximately 2.5 hrs.

Explore Timbuktu and the surrounding areas with your private vehicle and english speaking guide.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Timbuktu is a legendary city at the border of the Sahara, which was in the past a strategic place in the trans-Sahara trade. At the same time it was an important centre of study of law and theology. In this city you’ll visit the Djingareiber-mosque, built in the 14th century, the Sidi Yahiya –mosque, the Sankoré-mosque, the house of the explorers (Gordon Laing, René Caillé and Heinrich Barth),the Ahmed Baba centre (manuscripts) and the museum. Later in the afternoon you'll go for a sunset trip on the back of a camel to visit the Touaregs(Blue Men of the desert).

La Maison is a unique find in Timbuktu. Located in the town, this 9 room hotel offers a roof top patio with great views of the dunes as well as the medina.

Overnight at La Maison.

Day 4 Mopti

Mopti is located between Timbuktu and Ségou. The city lies on three islands linked by dykes; New Town, the Old Town and Bani. As a result it is sometimes known as the "Venice of Mali".

Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide.

Take your morning flight from Timbuktu to Mopti today. The flight duration is approximately 1 and a half hour.

Explore Mopti with your english speaking guide in your own private vehicle.

Lunch at a local restaurant (included in tour price).

Upon arrival into Mopti you will have a tour of the harbour followed by a canoe-trip at sunset to the junction of rivers Bani and Niger. Mopti is built on three islands at the junction of rivers Bani and Niger. It is an important trade center and a lively town where a lot of ethnic groups live together: the Bozo, Dogon, Bambara, Bella-farmers, Tuareg and the Fulani. The market and the port are full of colours and smells. You can see in the port how the colourful ‘pinasse’-boats are made.

The Kanaga hotel is located on the banks of the Niger, in Mopti. The rooms are pleasantly decorated with local Malian handicrafts, offer good size bathrooms, air-conditioning and satellite TV. The hotel also has a swimming pool and restaurant, with the opportunity to dine outside.

Overnight at Kanaga Hotel.

Day 5 Mopti

Today you'll have a full day trip with a ‘pinasse’ on the river Niger with picnic. The canoe will bring you to the place where the rivers Bani and Niger meet and further. You can enjoy the wonderful landscape and fishing scenes, watch the wide variety of birds and with a bit of luck observe hippopotami. Lunch will be eaten on the pinasse or at the banks of the river. A few stops will be included to visit the villages near the river.

Overnight at Kanaga Hotel.

Day 6 Bandiagara

Bandiagara is located east south east of Mopti. It's home to several ethnic groups such as the Fulas, Dogons and Bambaras. The name Bandiagara roughly translates to "large eating bowl" -- referring to the communal bowl meals are served in.

Drive to Dogon Country (1.5 hs). Today you will visit several Dogon villages.

The Dogon left the Mandingue-country to escape from the Islam and settled themselves in the 15th century in the region that is now known as Dogon country along the cliffs of Bandiagara which are about 200 km long and 200 m high. When the Dogon arrived they encountered the Tellem, pygmies who lived from hunting and collecting fruits and lived in caves in the cliff face. After two centuries of living next to each other the Dogon drove the Tellem away but the houses of the pygmies in the cliff face still exist; they were and still are used by the Dogon as a place for offerings. Because of their isolation the Dogon had few influences from outside and could maintain their culture.

Private vehicle and english speaking guide for the day.

Lunch at a local restaurant (included in tour price).

The Hotel Kambary is an interestingly designed hotel, with dome shaped rooms and round portal windows is on the road from Mopti as you enter Bandiagara. The hotel has a swimming pool, nice bar, dining area, and even miniature golf!

Overnight at Hotel Le Kambary .

Day 7 Bandiagara

Private vehicle and english speaking guide for the day.

Today you will visit different Dogon villages. Djiguibombo, a beautiful village on the plateau where you see the first ‘tounga’, the ‘discussion hut’, and the house of traditional medicine. In Kani Kombole you will discover its beautiful contemporary mosque, called ‘the small mosque of Djenne’; Teli, a beautiful village built on the slope of a rock, and Begnematou, a village where three religions (Islam, Christianity and animism) live together in peace. Begnematou offers a beautiful view and authentic scenes of village life. Finally on to Songo, known for its’ two yearly circumcision rituals and accompanying rock paintings.

Lunch at a local restaurant (included in tour price).

Overnight at Hotel Le Kambary .

Day 8 Djenne

Djenne is famous for its mud brick architecture, most notably the Great Mosque of Djenné which was originally built in 1220 and then rebuilt in 1907. Djenne is the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa and in 1988 its historic city center was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Drive from Bandiagara to Djenne (3hs) with private vehicle, driver and English speaking guide.

Private vehicle and english speaking guide for the duration of the day.

Lunch at a local restaurant (included in tour price).

Djenne, founded in the 9th century, received ivory, gold, slaves, wool and cola nuts from the south and transported these products to the north. Since the 12th century the city became very important for this trade. For Muslims, Djenne is an important religious city because of the mosque and the many Koranic schools. Your visit to Djenne, will include its phenomenal mud mosque, the grave of Tapama Djenepo, the young Bozo-girl buried alive to save the city from a flood, and the architectural remainders of Moroccan colonisation.

Hôtel Djenné Djenno is a modern and elegant interpretation of Malian style, decorated by its owner Sophie Sarin, a Swedish artist and interior designer, who has used the ancient West African textile tradition ‘Bogolan’ to create the charming interiors of the hotel.

Overnight at Hotel Djenne Djenno.

Day 9 Segou

Ségou is a city in south-central Mali, northeast of Bamako on the River Niger. It was founded by the Bozo people in 1620, on a site about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the present town. With 100,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in Mali. The main economic activities of the Segou region are agri-business, cattle farming and fishing.

Drive from Bamako to Segou (4.5 hs) with private vehicle, driver and English speaking guide.

Private vehicle and english speaking guide for the day.

Lunch at a local restaurant (included in tour price).

Visit to Segou, the old capital of the Bambara kingdom and an important city during the colonial period which is still visible in the architecture of some old houses in town and to Segoukoro, the old village of Segou.

Hotel Le Djoliba offers clean comfortable rooms with a great location near the Niger River

Overnight at Hôtel Le Djoliba.
    

Day 10 Bamako

Drive from Segou to Bamako with private vehicle, driver and English speaking guide.

Private vehicle for the day with your english speaking guide.

Depart from Bamako international airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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