MALI

SCHEDULE AND COST:


Dates: June 5 – 14, 2024

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:
– 3 290 EUR subject to 11 – 12 participants,
– 3 490 EUR subject to 10 participants,
– 3 690 EUR subject to 8 – 9 participants
– 3 950 EUR subject to 7 participants.

* 10% early booking discount (in case you book before January 5, 2024)

** If the expedition is finally carried out without visiting Timbuktu, the cost will be reduced by 350 EUR per person.

Everything is included except for:
- international flight to Bamako roundtrip
- international medical insurance,
- lunches and dinners,
- Mali visa (to be obtained at the consulate in Moscow or another city for 50 EUR. The cost may change).

Estimated cost of the flight Moscow – Bamako – Moscow: 1100 – 1400 EUR (usually purchased on your own. We advise on purchasing tickets)
Estimated cost of the flight Istanbul – Bamako – Istanbul: from 600 EUR (usually purchased on your own. We advise on purchasing tickets)
Estimated cost of the flight Paris – Bamako – Paris: from 600 EUR (usually purchased on your own. We advise on purchasing tickets)

Single supplement: EUR 400 (provided throughout the entire itinerary)




TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO MALI


Day 1. June 5, 2024 (Wednesday). Bamako

Arrival in Bamako with international flight, pick-up from the airport transfer to the hotel for rest. There is nice swimming pool in the hotel to fresh yourself after the long way.

* Recommended flights:
– from Moscow with Ethiopian Airlines, via Addis Ababa (stopover 4 hours 40 minutes), departure from Moscow at 22:00 on June 4, departure from Addis Ababa at 10:40 am June 5, arrival in Bamako on June 5 at 14:40, or
– from Moscow with Air Algerie, via Algiers (layover 9 hours 50 minutes), departure from Moscow at 4:10 am on June 5, departure from Algiers at 16:55 on June 5, arrival in Bamako on June 5 at 20:10, or
– from Moscow with Royal Air Maroc, via Casablanca (layover 11 hours 5 minutes), departure from Moscow at 7:35 am on June 5, departure from Casablanca at 22:30 on June 5, arrival in Bamako on June 6 at 1:05 am, or
– from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, direct flight, departure from Istanbul at 20:15 on June 4, arrival in Bamako on June 5 at 0:15 am (an extra night in a hotel in Bamako is required),
– from Paris with Air France, direct flight, departure from Paris at 16:00 on June 5, arrival in Bamako on June 5 at 19:40,
– or any other flight with arrival in Bamako any time on June 5.

Accommodation: Hotel Columbus
Meals included: no


Day 2. June 6, 2024 (Thursday). Bamako – Sekoro – Ségou (235 km, 3 – 4 hours drive)

Morning drive to Segou. Visit the ancient village of Sekoro (Segoukoro) on the way and get a look at the beautiful adobe mosque of Biton Coulibaly's mother, as well as his own tomb and former Palace. At midday the sun rays blaster the space of the palace and you will take your best pictures. We will start our visit of Sekoro with the meeting the king (chief).
Arrival in Segou, visiting the bagolan factory and French colonial heritage buildings designed in Sudanese style.
Sunset walk across on the Niger quay where you can catch beautiful pictures. The final activity is a dinner and musical evening in the hotel in appropriate atmosphere after an emotional day.
Night in the hotel with swimming pool.

Accommodation: Hotel Esplanade
Meals included: breakfast


Day 3. June 7, 2024 (Friday). Ségou – San – Bla village of Bozo – Ganga village of Bobo – Mopti (395 km, 6 – 7 hours drive)

After early breakfast departure for Mopti – the Venice of Mali.
Short stop on the bridge over the Bani river in the village of Bla, where we can meet Bozo people – traditional fishermen of Mali.
After passing through San city where we can have early lunch, halte in Ganga village. Here we will get into acquaintance with Bobo people, who are pejoratively called "dog eaters". Being animists, Bobo live in traditional dwelling built among beautiful granaries, hidden graveyards, mud brick common houses and mighty baobab trees.
Arrival in Mopti well before sunset and drive directly to the harbor area. Boat trip along the Bani and Niger rivers until sunset. We will see Sudanese style mosque made of banko in one of the small villages on the opposite bank, and thousands of traditional boats. Today you will come up with an idea why we call it "Malian Venice".
Late swim in the pool, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel Flandre or similar
Meals included: breakfast


Day 4. June 8, 2024 (Saturday). Mopti – Sevare – Djenne (165 km , 2 – 3 hours drive)

After breakfast, early check-out from our hotel and short drive to the Mopti city center, before it gets hot.
Visit Mopti – «the melting pot» of Mali. This beautiful city attracts many visitors with its river port which remains an inevitable crossroads for trade. Visiting canoe workshops and see the process of making pirogues by the local's hands. Walking across the river port and the bustling fish market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay. Visit to the Djuma Mosque of Mopti – one of the fines examples of adobe architecture. We can also see it from one of the neighboring roofs of the local houses.
After lunch we will attend the Dogon mask dance in a small village or on the hillside near Sevaré.
Bandiagara is not safe, that is why Dogon perform their Dogogo dance here.
Dogon being named "people from the Sirius" is one of the most unique tribes in Africa. Their animistic beliefs and masks and costumes are one of the most remarkable in the world and look really extraterrestrial. You will see very special dance and will be explained about all masks that participate.
Then continuation to Djenne (135 km), Arrival in Djenne, check-in at the hotel. Lunch in the restaurant nearby the river.

Accommodation: Welingara Hotel or similar
Meals included: breakfast


Day 5. June 9, 2024 (Sunday). Djenne

Today we explore the ancient city of Djenne. Djenne was one of the first commercial centers of the Sahel region: it was the meeting place of the nomads from the Sahara, the local farmers and cattle herders, and the fishermen from the inland delta of the Niger.
Exploring the Market and strolling around the ancient alleys and narrow streets. We'll see the oldest house in Djenne, dating from the 12th century and one of UNESCO World Heritage sites – the magnificent Great Mosque, the true masterpiece of Sudanese style architecture! It is the world's largest mud brick architecture, originally constructed in the 13th century.
We will see the tomb of Tapana Djenepo, the Koranic schools, the well of Nana Wangara. A real trip back in time!
In the afternoon we visit some Peuhl (Fulani) villages around Djenne. You will have the chance to meet the Fulani nomadic women with beautiful adornments and distinctive scarification and tattoos on their faces. You will hear the stories about Fulani and Rimaibe, their slaves, and will get to know that the slavery in Djenne still exists….
Return to Djenne in the evening.

Accommodation: Welingara Hotel or similar
Meals included: breakfast


Day 6. June 10, 2024 (Monday). Djenne – San – Segou – Bamako (580 km, 8 – 9 hours drive)

After breakfast, farewell to the adobe historical city of Djenne and long (full day) drive back to the capital. We drive through the beautiful Sahel landscapes, with huge baobab trees and conical roof's dwellings of Bobo villages. We can stop in the Somo or another village of Bobo tribe to take picture around the enormous baobab.
Proceed to San. Visit the local market shortly and the mosque of San, one more beautiful mosque in Sudanese style. San city is famous for its Sangue Mo annual festival, which normally takes place in early June when locals from different areas come with their own baskets to catch the biggest fish in the drying lake. We could visit it if it coincides with our schedule (the final date of the festival is determined closer to the date, depending on actual weather conditions).
Late lunch en route in Segou in hotel Esplanade on the bank of Niger river.
After lunch, continuation to Bamako. Late arrival and overnight in hotel Columbus with the swimming pool.

Accommodation: Hotel Colombus
Meals included: breakfast


Day 7. June 11, 2024 (Tuesday). Bamako – Dogodouman – Fanssira village – Bamako (90 km, 4 – 6 hours driving)
After breakfast in the hotel, departure for Dogodouman in the suburbs of Bamako, one of Bambara villages, to witness Bambara traditional mask dance. We will see different Bambara masks which symbolize various occasions, such as initiation, welcoming harvesting season etc.
We will reach very photogenic place – the shores of Niger River in the suburbs of Bamako to see how local Bozo tribe extracts sand for construction in a traditional way.
Back to Bamako to visit the city center, famous fetish market the artisanal market for masks and other souvenirs. Lunch in Bamako.
We drive to the north from the capital, to Beledougou district, where the village of Fanssira we will witness Tiebletié dance. This dance is not that old, but is performed in masks and based on great acrobatic techniques. The villagers get around in the shade under the huge tree to stare the dance and listen to traditional balafon music.
Comeback to Bamako in the evening.

Accommodation: Hotel Colombus
Meals included: breakfast


Day 8. June 12, 2024 (Wednesday). Bamako – Timbuktu – Bamako (1 hour flight)

Breakfast and transfer to Bamako airport for the flight to Timbuktu.
Departure at 9 to 10 in the morning. After 1 hour flight, we arrive in the mysterious city of Timbuktu. Reception by our local guide and the security escort of police and gendarmerie.
Nowadays, like centuries ago - the city is surrounded by a heavy mist of mystery. Almost no tourists get there anymore since the Tuareg started demanding their own independent country.
Visit the city of 333 saints: the great Djigareiber mosque and Medrese of Sankoré, Koranic school and architectural houses of Timbuktu.
We take a walk along the old streets, meet Songhai and Touareg people, and end up in Hamed Baba cultural center. Here we have quick lunch with traditional Songhai dishes and quick but colorful Touareg dance of Takamba.
We stay in Timbuktu for at least 4 hours and will be brought directly to the airstrip to fly back to Bamako around 4 to 5 pm.
Evening arrival in Bamako and transfer to the hotel

Accommodation: Hotel Colombus
Meals included: breakfast, lunch


Day 9. June 13, 2024 (Thursday). Bamako – Siby (50 km, 1.5 hours drive)

After breakfast, we drive to Siby, visiting on the way French cafe with very tasty ice cream and the viewpoint of Koulouba, from where we can see all the city of Bamako.
Reach Siby town, Malinke (or Mandinka) Country. The Malinke are descendants of Mali Empire that extended from present day Senegal to Niger.
Check-in in the hotel Kamadjan with basic conditions (AC and private bathroom available) and take a walk in the village.
While lunch, between the Mandingo Mountains and the mango tree, you will have the opportunity to learn the history of the king who founded the empire of Mali.
After lunch, we explore natural wonders, such as the Arch of Kamadjan and the Consultation Cave. We do small hike to the arch, the panoramic point, and the sacred caves under the arch of Kamadjan.
We will attend the Yuguba mask dance of Mandinka people. This dance will be performed in front of famous Arch of Kamadjan until sunset, with the possibility of taking best panoramic photos.
Dinner and night in Siby.

Accommodation: Hotel Kamadjan
Meals included: breakfast


Day 10. June 14, 2024 (Friday). Siby – Bamako – Return flight (50 km, 1.5 hours drive)

Early breakfast and return to Bamako directly to the airport for those who have early flight.
The others can be transferred to Columbus hotel to have a drink and chill around the swimming pool, waiting for the later international flight.
Return international flight.

Accommodation: no
Meals included: breakfast

* Recommended flights from Bamako:
– to Moscow with Ethiopian Airlines, via Addis Ababa (stopover 2 hours 30 minutes), departure from Bamako at 11:00 am on June 14, departure from Addis Ababa at 23:30 on June 14, arrival in Moscow on June 15 at 7:40 am, or,
– to Moscow with Turkish Airlines, via Istanbul (stopover 3 hours 30 minutes), departure from Bamako at 1:05 am on June 15, departure from Istanbul at 14:15 on June 15, arrival in Moscow on June 15 at 18:10, or,
– to Moscow with Air Algerie, via Algiers (layover 18 hours 25 minutes), departure from Bamako at 21:10 on June 15, departure from Algiers at 20:30 on June 16, arrival in Moscow on June 17 at 3:10 am (an extra night in a hotel in Bamako is required), or,
– to Moscow with Royal Air Maroc, via Casablanca (layover 16 hours 15 minutes), departure from Bamako at 2:05 on June 16, departure from Casablanca at 22:35 June 16, arrival in Moscow on June 17 at 6:25 am (an extra night in a hotel in Bamako is required), or,
– to Paris with Air France, direct flight, departure from Bamako at 22:10 on June 14, arrival in Paris on June 15 at 8:45 am,
– or any other flight with a departure from Bamako not earlier than at 11:00 am on June 14.


* The operator reserves the right to change the order of executions, visits and activities of the program subject to keeping of all activities if possible. It would mainly depend on the flights schedule, weather conditions, actual security situation, as well as market days, ceremonies and festivals availability (if any).

** If the expedition is finally carried out without visiting Timbuktu, the cost will be reduced by 350 EUR per person.