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Sand & Mud in Marvelous Mali!
Location: MaliDuration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Rating: Standard
3,273
from per person
Discover Mali and visit its mysterious Timbuktu, experience the desert with a night with the Touareg or the 'blue men', learn about mud constructions in the museum of architecture in Mopti, admire the picturesque mosques in Dogon country and be awed by the renowned Djenné Mosque. A truly marvelous adventure!
- Visit the mysterious Timbuktu
- Overnight with the Touareg in the desert
- Experience daily life on a trek in Dogon country
- Witness the incredible mud constructions in Timbuktu, Mopti, Dogon country and Djenné
- Take an exciting pinasse excursion near Segou to the village of pottery
After a quick stop in Bamako, this trip actually starts at the gate to the desert, Timbuktu. A domestic flight will bring you to this legendary city at the border of the Sahara, founded by nomadic Touaregs at the beginning of the 12th century, who used it as a storage centre for their property and grain whilst they were in the desert. At this time it was no more than an oasis for travellers crossing the desert. After having visited the highlights of this amazing town you will experience that same desert with its inhabitants while having dinner in a Touareg camp. Ancient stories will be told by the fire, before spending the night under a million stars.
While appreciating the savannah landscape - and the dust that comes with it, the 4-wheel drive will bring you to another important but more recent trade center of Mopti. This city also began as a small Bozo fishing village but developed into an important urban center. Situated at the confluence of the rivers Niger and Bani, it gives a wonderful occasion to experience daily life along the river. This will happen during your afternoon river cruise in a pinasse, the traditional canoes that are still used to transport people and goods.
From Mopti, we dive into the daily life of the Dogon people by trekking from village to village. We will spend the night on the roofs of the mud houses under the stars, to awake to the sights and sounds that mark the beginning of the day here: braying donkeys, cackling chickens and the stamping of the mortar and pestle of indefatigable women preparing local dishes.
Before heading back to Bamako, we make two other stops and overnights in two very different but as interesting cities. The first one is Djenné, known for its biggest mud construction in the world, the Big Mosque, and the second is Segou, another important Malian city along the river Niger. Here again the pinasse will take you on the river to an interesting village, called Kalabougou, where you will be able to follow closely the making of pots, so often used in Malian daily life.
Back in Bamako, you will visit the National Museum, an interesting way to end this amazing journey full of new impressions.
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