From Pays Dogon to Timbuktu over the Niger River
14 days – all inclusive –

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Day 01: Arrival-Bamako (Friday)
You’ll flight to Bamako on a scheduled airline (Air France most probably). Arrival at night in Bamako. Reception and transfer to your hotel.
Day 02: Bamako-Ségou (Saturday)
Morning – City tour of Bamako including the Bamako Museum, the traditional market, the great mosque, the Pink market, the view of Bamako from the high hills of “point G”.
Afternoon – Depart to Ségou, the capital of the fourth region of Mali. Ségou is also called the Bambara capital, name of the main ethnic group in Mali. On the road, 10 miles away from Ségou, we will visit Segou Sekoro, the ancient capital of the Bambara kingdom of Segou.
Arrival at Ségou, Ancient Bambara kingdom and Land of the Balanzans (an acacia tree)
Little walk along the Niger River and in the colonial district from the 19s.
Day 03: Ségou-Djenné (Sunday)
This morning we leave for Djenné.
All along the way we will make stops to discover and visit Bambara and Bobo villages.
We will cross the Bani river
We will arrive in Djenné for lunch and overnight at your hotel.
Day 04: Djenne-Songo-Sangha (Monday)
Djenne is probably the most remarkable city of Mali for its architecture. Surrounded by the waters of the Bani river during high water, Djenné become an island. From its prestigious past she has kept its internationally famous Great Mosquee, a pure neo – Sudanese style.
A walk among its winding streets is a must to admire its beautiful houses decorated floors.
After exploring the town we’ll visit the Monday weekly market which is the biggest around.
After lunch we set off towards the Dogon Country. Along the way we will stop in Songo to admire its cave paintings. We will arrive in the late afternoon on the outskirts of Sangha.
Overnight.
Day 05: Dogon Country, Banani, Ireli, Amani-Tireli (Tuesday)
Sanga, a little Dogon village offers the typical architecture of the region with its pointed roof shaped like hats. With our local and expert Guide we’ll go hiking to explore the country’s famous and spectacular cliffs with villages hanging into an incredible mineral chaos.
We will descend along the famous cliffs, where the Tellems, the first inhabitants of the region have left many troglodytes habitations who are now graveyards. We will arrive in a village with no less chaotic huts, millet granaries, Toguna, Binoy and sanctuaries. Beyond an apparent confusion, reigns a very precise intellectual and religious order.
Then, we’ll reach the plains and many irrigated crops. It is a real pleasure to explore on foot this unique civilization of West Africa. The villages, very close to each other, live in close relationships. The variety is constant at every step. Here, everything has a meaning: from the doors of millet granaries, to palaver huts every part of the buildings is a aggregation of sculptures explaining life according to Dogons. Our guide, a native Dogon, will explain all the details. The ancestors are in permanent communication with the living, the heaven with earth, the water with fire… This is how it goes in the magical Dogon country world.
Dinner and overnight in bivouac at Tireli Village.
Day 06: Dogon Country (Wednesday)
After breakfast we will continue our trek to discover the Dogon villages of Idjeli and Nombori. We will go on after lunch to the village of Dourou.
Arrival and installation at the campment.
Rest, dinner and overnight in Dourou.
Day 07: Dogon Country – Mopti (Thursday)
In Bandiagara, we get our vehicles back and head towards Mopti, where we will arrive for lunch.
Located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani Rivers, Mopti – nicknamed “Venice of Africa” – is a thriving city, bustling of shopping and merchants of all kinds.
After lunch we will visit the Thursday weekly market, one of the greatest mud mosque of Mali before coming to stroll in the harbor, watching the comings and goings of large canoes unloading tons of dried fish while fishermen are incessantly talking, trading and negotiating their products.
Dinner and Overnight at our Hotel.
Day 08: Mopti-Timbuktu (Friday) – River Cruise
Early in the morning we board in a long shaded boat called “Pinasse”, specially designed for the occasion. Gently and peacefully we’re cruising towards the Lake Debo. Soon the savannah gives way to the more arid landscape of Sahel. During our calls, as many as possible, we’ll discover villages and friendly habitants.
Bivouac on the Riverside.
Day 09: River (Saturday) – River Cruise
On the river, Bozo fishermen and Somono boatmen cross each others. Since centuries, Somono boatmen cruise on canoes made up of two tree trunks hollowed out and linked to each other through thick ropes.
The landscape is changing. Balanzans and dried bushes replace the baobab and mango trees of the South. We finally arrive at the Debo Lake, a bird sanctuary. Pelicans, egrets, herons, kingfishers and other migrants live in these in this mystery place. Here, one do not only fish with net, line or trap but also by foot… Side by side, fishermen walk towards each other. Some agitate the water to scare away the fish, on the over side, the other fishermen literally pick them in their cages or pierce them with wooden harpoon.
Bivouac near the village of Niafunke, home of the late Ali Farka Touré, one of the most famous Malian musician.
Day 10: River – Timbuktu (Sunday)
Last day of sailing towards Timbuktu. We arrive in the Kourioume harbor late in the afternoon and transfer to Timbuktu.
Dinner and overnight at our Hotel.
Day 11: Timbuktu (Monday)
Visit the city of Timbuktu, including the mosque Djingareyber, the Ahmed Baba Center, the Sankore mosque, the traditional market, the market town.
In the afternoon, camel ride near Tuareg camps.
Overnight at our Hotel
Day 12: Timbuktu – Mopti (Tuesday)
Driving back to Mopti in 4 × 4. Lunch in Douentza and stop to Boré to visit its beautiful mosque
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Mopti.
Day 13: Mopti – Bamako – Departure (Wednesday)
Breakfast and departure to Bamako.
Stop in San to visit the mosque. Lunch at Segou and arrival late in the afternoon in Bamako. Rest at the hotel. Dinner at the Santoro Restaurant, one of the finest Malian restaurant of the city. Flight to Europe.

From Dogon Country to Timbuktu along the Niger River

14 Days – all inclusive


Day 01: Arrival-Bamako (Friday)

You’ll flight to Bamako on a scheduled airline (Air France most probably). Arrival at night in Bamako. Reception and transfer in your hotel.

Day 02: Bamako-Ségou (Saturday)

Morning – City tour of Bamako including the Bamako Museum, the traditional market, the great mosque, the Pink market, the view of Bamako from the high hills of “point G”.

Afternoon – Depart to Ségou, the capital of the fourth region of Mali. Ségou is also called the Bambara capital, name of the main ethnic group in Mali. On the road, 10 miles away from Ségou, we will visit Segou Sekoro, the ancient capital of the Bambara kingdom of Segou.

Arrival at Ségou, Ancient Bambara kingdom and Land of the Balanzans (an acacia tree)

Little walk along the Niger River and in the colonial district from the 19s.

Day 03: Ségou-Djenné (Sunday)

This morning we leave for Djenné.

All along the way we will make stops to discover and visit Bambara and Bobo villages.

We will cross the Bani river

We will arrive in Djenné for lunch and overnight at your hotel.

Day 04: Djenne-Songo-Sangha (Monday)

Djenne is probably the most remarkable city of Mali for its architecture. Surrounded by the waters of the Bani river during high water, Djenné become an island. From its prestigious past she has kept its internationally famous Great Mosquee, a pure neo – Sudanese style.

A walk among its winding streets is a must to admire its beautiful houses decorated floors.

After exploring the town we’ll visit the Monday weekly market which is the biggest around.

After lunch we set off towards the Dogon Country. Along the way we will stop in Songo to admire its cave paintings. We will arrive in the late afternoon on the outskirts of Sangha.

Overnight.

Day 05: Dogon Country, Banani, Ireli, Amani-Tireli (Tuesday)

Sanga, a little Dogon village offers the typical architecture of the region with its pointed roof shaped like hats. With our local and expert Guide we’ll go hiking to explore the country’s famous and spectacular cliffs with villages hanging into an incredible mineral chaos.

We will descend along the famous cliffs, where the Tellems, the first inhabitants of the region have left many troglodytes habitations who are now graveyards. We will arrive in a village with no less chaotic huts, millet granaries, Toguna, Binoy and sanctuaries. Beyond an apparent confusion, reigns a very precise intellectual and religious order.

Then, we’ll reach the plains and many irrigated crops. It is a real pleasure to explore on foot this unique civilization of West Africa. The villages, very close to each other, live in close relationships. The variety is constant at every step. Here, everything has a meaning: from the doors of millet granaries, to palaver huts every part of the buildings is a aggregation of sculptures explaining life according to Dogons. Our guide, a native Dogon, will explain all the details. The ancestors are in permanent communication with the living, the heaven with earth, the water with fire… This is how it goes in the magical Dogon country world.

Dinner and overnight in bivouac at Tireli Village.

Day 06: Dogon Country (Wednesday)

After breakfast we will continue our trek to discover the Dogon villages of Idjeli and Nombori. We will go on after lunch to the village of Dourou.

Arrival and installation at the campment.

Rest, dinner and overnight in Dourou.

Day 07: Dogon Country – Mopti (Thursday)

In Bandiagara, we get our vehicles back and head towards Mopti, where we will arrive for lunch.

Located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani Rivers, Mopti – nicknamed “Venice of Africa” – is a thriving city, bustling of shopping and merchants of all kinds.

After lunch we will visit the Thursday weekly market, one of the greatest mud mosque of Mali before coming to stroll in the harbor, watching the comings and goings of large canoes unloading tons of dried fish while fishermen are incessantly talking, trading and negotiating their products.

Dinner and Overnight at our Hotel.

Day 08: Mopti-Timbuktu (Friday) – River Cruise

Early in the morning we board in a long shaded boat called “Pinasse”, specially designed for the occasion. Gently and peacefully we’re cruising towards the Lake Debo. Soon the savannah gives way to the more arid landscape of Sahel. During our calls, as many as possible, we’ll discover villages and friendly habitants.

Bivouac on the Riverside.

Day 09: River (Saturday) – River Cruise

On the river, Bozo fishermen and Somono boatmen cross each others. Since centuries, Somono boatmen cruise on canoes made up of two tree trunks hollowed out and linked to each other through thick ropes.

The landscape is changing. Balanzans and dried bushes replace the baobab and mango trees of the South. We finally arrive at the Debo Lake, a bird sanctuary. Pelicans, egrets, herons, kingfishers and other migrants live in these in this mystery place. Here, one do not only fish with net, line or trap but also by foot… Side by side, fishermen walk towards each other. Some agitate the water to scare away the fish, on the over side, the other fishermen literally pick them in their cages or pierce them with wooden harpoon.

Bivouac near the village of Niafunke, home of the late Ali Farka Touré, one of the most famous Malian musician.

Day 10: River – Timbuktu (Sunday)

Last day of sailing towards Timbuktu. We arrive in the Kourioume harbor late in the afternoon and transfer to Timbuktu.

Dinner and overnight at our Hotel.

Day 11: Timbuktu (Monday)

Visit the city of Timbuktu, including the mosque Djingareyber, the Ahmed Baba Center, the Sankore mosque, the traditional market, the market town.

In the afternoon, camel ride near Tuareg camps.

Overnight at our Hotel

Day 12: Timbuktu – Mopti (Tuesday)

Driving back to Mopti in 4 × 4. Lunch in Douentza and stop to Boré to visit its beautiful mosque

Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Mopti.

Day 13: Mopti – Bamako – Departure (Wednesday)

Breakfast and departure to Bamako.

Stop in San to visit the mosque. Lunch at Segou and arrival late in the afternoon in Bamako. Rest at the hotel. Dinner at the Santoro Restaurant, one of the finest Malian restaurant of the city. Flight to Europe.

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