Day 1: Arrival in Bamako
Bamako, Mali’s capital, is the country’s major city and a frenetic urban centre boasting some two million people. Our driver and guide will meet you upon your arrival at Bamako‘s international airport. International flights usually arrive in the evening or during the night, so you will be brought to Tounga B&B, your accommodation and a quiet spot in Bamako, for a good first night’s rest.

-Meals: If you are still hungry at arrival, you will be able to eat something in one of the restaurants in the neighbourhood.
-Transport: The 4wheel-drive that will take you through Mali will wait for you at the airport. See description in 'additional disclosures'.
-Accommodation: The quiet and clean Tounga B&B, with 5 different rooms. See description in 'additional disclosures'.

Day 2: Bamako – Segou
We depart from Bamako in the morning, taking a scenic drive through the savannah landscape to arrive in time for lunch in the city of Segou, located in the south-central region and situated along the Niger River. Once the capital of the former Bambara Empire, today Segou is at the centre of the pottery industry, and much of the pottery found throughout the country originates here, as evidenced by the pottery markets next to the river. We will spend the afternoon at the Soroblé bogolan  (mud cloth) workshop. Expert clothiers will take us through the different stages of bogolan making, including the spinning process, preparation of natural colors, dyeing, artistic design and sewing of the cloth into a final product. After the visit, enjoy a beautiful view of the Niger River from the workshop’s rooftop terrace. We will spend the night in Segou, in the specially decorated Espace Bajidala, which is both a hotel and a centre for contemporary art. 

-Meals: In the morning you have a nice breakfast with homemade Malian juices in the Tounga B&B. At lunchtime your guide will help you to choose a good restaurant in the town of Segou. For dinner you'll join the interesting 'table d'hôte' in your hotel. Today breakfast and dinner are included in the price.
-Transport: 4wheel-drive
-Accommodation: Hotel Bajidala, Segou, a standard hotel with rooms with private bathroom and airconditionning.

Day 3: Segou – Mopti 
The distance between Segou and Mopti (pronounced “Mohti”), is about 400km, meaning quite some time in the car en route, but also a phenomenal opportunity to enjoy the Malian natural landscape and the gentle transformation from flat, expansive savannah to the desert sahel that typifies the north. Along the drive, keep an eye out for traditional mud villages, where stops will be made and legs can be stretched. 

Mopti, known as the ‘Venice of Mali, is an island city linked by a series of dykes, similar to its Italian counterpart. Comprised of three islands surrounded by water, the city is situated between the Bani and Niger rivers. In the later afternoon, we will explore the city by pinasse (a type of canoe), which will bring us to the point where the rivers converge. As the day comes to a close, we will enjoy a beautiful African sunset on the river.

-Meals: Breakfast is as every day included and you will take it in your hotel. Depending on how the drive moves on (you might want to stop a lot for pictures or prefer to head along immediately for Mopti) you will have lunch either in San or in Mopti. Also in the evening the guide will point out some lovely restaurants in Mopti for dinner.
-Transport: 4wheel-drive
-Accommodation: Hotel Y a pas de Problème, Mopti, a good standard hotel with rooms with private bathroom and airconditionning. The hotel also has a swimmingpool and a nice restaurant on the roof.

Day 4 - 5: Dogon country
On our fourth day, we journey to the fascinating escarpment of Bandiagara. The escarpment, a collection of naturally carved plateaus and cliffs 200 kilometres long and 200 meters high and complimented by traditional architecture, is home to the Dogon people and an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name of the settlement, which means “large eating bowl,” refers to the large, communal bowls in which meals are traditionally served.

The Dogon settled the area in the 15^th century after leaving the Mandingue country to escape from Islam and settled themselves in the cliffs. Upon arrival, the Dogon people encountered the Tellem, pygmy hunters and gatherers who collected fruits and lived in the cliff’s caves. After two centuries of living in peaceful proximity to one another, the Dogon drove the Tellem away, but preserved their houses as places for offerings. Since then, the Dogon have isolated themselves and have encountered few outside influences and as a result have successfully maintained their culture and many of their traditions.

Our walking tour of different Dogon villages will take us to Djiguibombo, a beautiful village on the plateau where we can see the first tounga, or “discussion hut,” and the house of the traditional medicine. We will also visit Kani Kombole, with its beautiful contemporary mosque, known as “the small mosque of Djenné;” Teli, a beautiful village built on the slope of a rock, and Begnematou, a village offering a beautiful view and authentic scenes of village life and where Islam, Christianity and animism are practiced together in peace.

During this cultural trek, we will pay special attention the variety of textiles made and worn by the Dogon. We will see the weavers at work in their special place in the village and indigo workshops.

We complete this amazing adventure with a night in the villages spent under the stars. We will sleep on the roofs of mud hunts (under mosquito net), to be awoken in the morning by the early noises of Dogon families. While the conditions are basic, the experience is a unique  glimpse into a centuries-old settlement and way of life.

-Meals: During this Dogon trekking all meals are included and will be eaten in the villages. For breakfast you will have bread and jam with coffee or thee. Lunch and dinner can be rice, couscous or spagetti with tomato or onion sauce and chicken.
-Transport: 4wheel-drive and walking
-Accommodation: You will spend two night in the the Dogon villages. The accommodations here are basic; electricity and running water are not available. We will sleep on the roofs of the houses under a mosquito net. While some villages offer toilets and showers, in other villages there is the opportunity to wash oneself with a bucket.

Day 6: Dogon country – Djenné
From the Dogon region we will continue to the marvelous town of Djenné, another protected  World Heritage site. Every building in the town’s centre is constructed of earth, including the beautifully imposing Djenné mosque, the largest mud construction in the world.

Walking through the town, our guide will show and describe the architectural remnants of the Moroccan occupation and the famous grave of Tapama, the girl called who sacrified her life to save the city from flood.

To fully experience the earthen splendour of Djenné, we will spend three nights in Hôtel Djenné Djenno, an elegant mud hotel. The hotel is a modern interpretation of traditional Malian style; it was decorated by its owner Sophie Sarin, a Swedish artist and interior designer who incorporated the ancient West African bogolan textile tradition into the hotel’s charming interiors. After the walk into town you can have a rest and cool drink in the spacious and flourishing garden.

-Meals: In Djenné you have the opportunity to have lunch and dinner either in a restaurant in town or in the hotel.
-Transport: 4wheel-drive
-Accommodation: Hotel Djenné Djenno, Djenné, is a good standard hotel with rooms with private bathroom and airconditionning.

Day 7 – 8: Djenné: bogolan workshop
Next to the Hôtel Djenné Djenno is the studio where we will take part in a two-day mud painting course taught by local artisans. Known as bogolan, which means “mud painting,” the process involves painting cotton fabric dyed with local vegetable dyes using a river of mud. Because of the simple and straightforward bogolan process, no previous textile printing or dyeing experience is required to participate in this workshop, and you can look forward to a memorable experience creating textiles to take home to remember your time in Djenné.

-Meals: During these 2 days of bogolan-workshop all meals are included and will be served in the hotel.
-Transport: 4wheel-drive
-Accommodation: Hotel Djenné Djenno, Djenné, is a good standard hotel with rooms with private bathroom and airconditionning.

Day 9: Djenné – Bamako
From Djenné, we return to Bamako with new experiences and amazing images from around Mali. In Bamako, if there is some time and energy left, our last excursion will be to the National Museum, which houses an exhibition section dedicated to Malian textiles. 

You will have the opportunity to freshen up and take a shower before we take the road to the airport for your return home.

-Meals: You will have breakfast in the hotel in Djenné. For lunch you can choose a restaurant in Segou, and for dinner one of the many restaurants in Bamako.
-Transport: 4wheel-drive

The following are included in the price:

• Airport transfers (to and from Bamako Airport)
• Private transport (4-wheel-drive vehicle) with driver and fuel included (max. 6 pax per car)
• An experienced guide throughout the entire 9-day trip
• Local guides as support and a porter in Dogonland
• Accommodation and breakfast
• Lunch on Day 4, 5, 7 and 8; dinner on Days 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8
• Tourist taxes
• Costs for the following excursions and workshop: visit to Soroblé center in Segou; pinasse trip in Mopti; bogolan workshop in Djenné

Not included are:

• Flights to and from Mali
• Vaccinations and medical costs
• Passport and visa fees
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Souvenirs and personal spending
• Meals not mentioned above
• Drinks
• Tips

Your driver and guide will wait for you at the Bamako - Senou airport.

• Walking shoes, sandals
• Light clothing, preferably cotton (long-sleeved shirts are recommended to keep mosquitoes away in the evening) 
• A light raincoat if travelling during the rainy season
• A sweater in the evening if travelling during the rainy season or the cold season
• Conservative clothing, such as light clothes that cover the legs (Mali is a predominantly Islamic country, and ensuring positive contact with local people requires respecting this local habit)
• Light duvet or bedsheet
• Mosquito net
• Sunglasses and hat or scarf to protect against the sun
• Pocket torch and spare batteries
• Pen knife
• Film rolls, batteries and cassettes for all your cameras

Passports and Visa
A passport (valid for at least six months after arrival) and visa are required for travelling to Mali.

Health and vaccinations
A certificate proving that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever is an entry requirement in Mali. Please consult with your medical provider for information on advisable additional vaccinations (Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, typhoid, meningitis) and/or preventive medicines (malaria) for your travels to Mali.

Communication
Internet cafes can be found Mali’s major cities, including Bamako, Segou, Mopti, Bandiagara and Timbuktu. The connection is generally very reliable, although slow.  

Money
The local currency is Franc CFA: 655 CFA equals 1 Euro.
This currency is also used in the neighbouring countries of Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin.
Coming with cash money (Euro, rather than US dollar) is the most practical. 
Credit cards (VISA is highly recommended) work most often in Bamako, Segou and Mopti.
Traveller Cheques cannot be used in Mali.

Languages
The official language of Mali is French, but local languages are also widely spoken: In the region of Bamako this is Bambara; other languages spoken in Mali are Fulfulde (the Fulani), Sonrhai, Dogon (numerous dialects), Tamacheq (Touareg), Senoufo and Sarakole. Arabic is also widely spoken.

Every season has its own characteristics.
Rainy season: from end of June till October
- An Ideal period for a riverboat trip from Mopti to Timbuktu
- Perfect time to see green landscapes
- Heavy rains demonstrate the power of nature and afterwards leave a cool, fresh temperature
- Travelling is possible in rainy season, as it seldom rains everyday or an entire day and  there is less dust
- The harvest at the end of the season
- Temperature ranges: 
Bamako - min: 21° to 22° C, max: 31° to 35° C
Timbuktu - min: 22° tot 26° C, max: 36° tot 39° C

Cold season: from November till February
- Popular season for tourism
- Harvest season
- A pleasant climate, with warm days interspersed with cooler moments and cool nights
- Temperature range:
Bamako - min: 16° to 20° C, max: 33° to 36° C
Timbuktu – min: 12° to 17° C, max: 29° to 35°C

 Warm season: from March till June
- Very hot and very dry climate, and as such not ideal for travelling
- Harmattan period characterized by desert winds
- Temperature rangekjhhhh:  
Bamako - min: 22° to 26° C, max: 35° to 40° C
Timbuktu - min: 18° to 28° C, max: 36° tot 42° C

• drinks
• lunch on day 2, 3, 6 and 9
• dinner on day 3, 6 and 9
• souvenirs and personal spending

The Tounga Bed & Breakfast in Bamako is a two-building accommodation  offering five rooms. The first building has three large rooms that have air-conditioning and a fan. One of these rooms has a private bathroom, while the two others share one bathroom. The adjacent building, located in the garden area, has two smaller rooms with fan available, and they share a bathroom in the same adjacent building. The allocation of the rooms will be based on the order of registration.

Travellers in general good health can do the Dogon-trekking. The itinerary followed in Dogon country is flexible and depends on which villages that groups would like to visit and the physical condition of groupmembers. The itinerary for this portion fo the trip will be discussed together with you and your guide.

The accommodations in Dogon country are basic; electricity and running water are not available. We will sleep on the roofs of the houses under a mosquito net. While some villages offer toilets and showers, in other villages there is the opportunity to wash oneself with a bucket. Drinks (mineral water and others) can be bought in the villages.

No previous textile printing or dyeing experience is required to participate in the bogolan workshop in Djenné.

The trip price is based on the use of one 4-wheel-drive vehicle for one to six travelers. Please note that this means if 5 or 6 people are traveling, 4 people will have comfortable seats (one next to the driver and three behind them) while 2 people will sit in the less comfortable seats in the back next to the guide. If you are a group of 5 or 6 people who would like to travel with 2 vehicles, or if you would like to book a larger group, please make a request and we will do out utmost to tailor the trip transport to your wishes.