The stunning landscape of Mali is home to an amazing West African cultural kaleidoscope, from blue-robed Tuareg nomads to the fascinating Dogons, known for their spirited mask dances. Explore legendary Timbuktu and medieval Djenne, cruise to fascinating villages on the Niger River, and hike among spectacular Dogon villages lost in time.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Timbuktu, the Legendary Desert Outpost

From Bamako, Mali’s capital, fly to Timbuktu, a fabled caravan town with a mystique all its own. This remote outpost encircled by the sands of the Sahara is the home of the Tuaregs, a nomadic people of Berber descent. Timbuktu was once the brilliant capital of a powerful African empire and the center of trans-Saharan gold trade from the 7th to the 14th centuries, bringing gold mined in Ghana to the Mediterranean and the capitals of Europe. Stroll the sandy streets, visit the beautiful 14th century Djinguereber Mosque as well as the ancient library and artisan markets. Take a camel ride (or walk) to a desert encampment, to hear the Tuaregs’ hypnotic music.

Days 3-5
Mopti, Medieval Djenne, and the Life-Giving Niger River

In the riverside town of Mopti, tribes from all over Mali—Bambara, Fulani, Moor, Bozo, Dogon, and Tuareg—gather along the Niger shores to trade for salt, fish, and rice. Explore the bustling harbor crowded with brightly painted fishing boats and visit the Old Quarter, with its Fulani men in broad conical hats and women with braided hair and huge gold earrings. Spend a day in beautiful Djenne, a medieval center of trade and learning, to wander the narrow, serpentine streets, appreciate the Sudanic-style architecture, and view Djenne’s famed architectural masterpiece, the “sand castle” Grand Mosqee, a huge adobe structure that dominates the entire town. On one morning in Mopti, cruise by private boat on the Niger to visit riverside tribal villages with unique forms of adobe architecture.

Days 6-8
Land of the Dogons

The spectacular homeland of the Dogon tribe, tucked into the base of the dramatic Bandiagara Escarpment, reveals a fascinating culture little changed in centuries. From your lodge in the Dogon town of Sangha, explore on foot with a specialist Dogon guide. The ancient villages are filled with temple-like structures, men’s meeting houses, fetish houses, and carved symbols that represent aspects of the complex Dogon spiritual heritage. While in Dogon country, you witness a dama, the traditional dance that tells the story of the Dogon’s revered ancestors. It is one of the most breathtaking spectacles imaginable, with the young men dancing on tall stilts and wearing elaborately carved and painted masks while the village elders sing and play drums. Return to Mopti on the afternoon of Day 8.

Days 9-11
Segou and Bamako

Country roads bring you along the banks of the Niger River as you visit Bozo and Bambara villages en route. Explore the tranquil former French outpost of Segou, with its potters, weavers, riverfront promenade, and graceful colonial architecture shaded by huge balanzan (shea) trees along the Niger. Continue on to Bamako, traditional music capital of West Africa, for a visit to the ethnographic museum and market. Depart late in the evening on Day 11.

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Optional Extensions

• Extra hotel nights at the start or end of your trip

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3, moderate. Although this trip is not particularly rigorous, it does involve walks as well as long drives over rough terrain. The shape you are in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of your trip. Participants should be fit and healthy and prepared to walk in Dogon Country (Days 7 and 8) for approximately 5 hours a day in dry, hot conditions. Most Dogon villages are set below a steep escarpment, so there is a good bit of walking up and down over rocky trails. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and rest, and breaks are taken during the hottest part of the day. There are Dogon porters available to assist with daypacks if needed.

Explanation of Trip Levels