Tour overview
MALI & BURKINA FASO Mali is home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites: the legendary city of Timbuktu, the ancient cliffside Dogon Villages and Timbuktu’s sister city- Djenne. You will start the tour in Bamako on Point G, a hilltop vantage point of the city before visiting the National Museum and the Central Market. In Djenne see the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world’s largest mud brick structure, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the evening set sail on the Niger River in a traditional Pinasse to enjoy the sunset.
Day 1: Arrive Bamako Arrive in Bamako; you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Le Grand Hotel
Day 2: Bamako After breakfast, morning tour of Bamako: start at Point G and the panoramic overview of the city; visit the National Museum, and part of the Central Market. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast Overnight at Le Grand Hotel
Day 3: Bamako-Ségou After breakfast, drive to Ségou, visit the port, pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans Visit Sekoro, the former Mali & Burkina Faso, capital of the Bambara Kingdom and visit the tomb of Biton Coulibaly. Return to Segou for overnight Meal(s) Included: Breakfast Overnight at Hotel Independence
Day 4: Ségou-Mopti After breakfast, drive to Mopti; in the evening enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional Pinasse. Overnight in Mopti. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast Overnight at Hotel Kanaga
Day 5: Mopti-Dogon After breakfast, drive to Mali’s fascinating Dogon country. Visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and grotto. Overnight in Sangha. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight at Sangha
Day 6: Dogon After breakfast, visit the village of Banani. Continue to the villages of Ireli and Amani, site of a sanctuary for crocodiles which are sacred to the Dogon people. Visit the village on the edge of the Bandiagara Cliff. Continue to Bandiagara for overnight. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight at Falaise
Day 7: Dogon-Djenne After breakfast, drive to Djenne and visit the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world’s largest mud brick structure, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast Overnight at Hotel Campement
Day 8: Djenne-Bobo Dioulasso This morning drive to Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city. This afternoon we will drive to mysterious Koumi, a typical Bobo village. Here, time seems to have stood still for centuries. Sites of interest in Koumi include the young female’s’ initiation place. This evening return to Bobo. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast Overnight at Auberge Bobo
Day 9: Bobo Dioulasso-Banfora-Bobo Dioulasso, Tour the city of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city. See the old mosque and visit the old Kibidwe artisans’ district, where you will see blacksmiths, potters, and dyers at work. In the afternoon, drive to Banfora to visit the Karfiguela waterfalls and Lac Tengrela. On the way, visit the domes of fabedougou that are natural sculptures, enjoy a cruise on lake Tengrela. This evening return to Bobo. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast Overnight at Auberge Bobo .
Day 10: Bobo Dioulasso-Gaoua Breakfast and drive to Gaoua. In the afternoon, visit the mysterious stone ruins of Loropeni, whose origins are unknown then continue to Kampti to visit the Lobi houses and the Fetish man with his family. Learn the culture of the Lobi people. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner. Overnight at Hala Hotel
Day 11: Gaoua-Ouagadougou After breakfast, visit the Poni Museum, dedicated to the Lobi culture; see the distinctive, fortress-like Lobi architecture, then continue on to Ouagadougou. Visit the sacred crocodiles of Bazoule on the way. Overnight in Ouagadougou. Meal(s) Included: Overnight at Splendid Hotel
Day 12: Ouagadougou-Tiébilé-
Day 13: Ouagadougou /Depart Explore Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital city; visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral Mali & Burkina Faso,