Mali15
Festival au Desert
Mali Explorer including the Timbuctoo Festival
DAYS
FESTIVAL AU DESERT Mali is the diamond in West Africa’s crown with its legendary towns spread along the banks of the mighty Niger River. The most remarkable – and remote – of these towns is Timbuctoo, whose reputation was forged by 19th Century explorers – and still remains today In the dunes about 65 km from this fabled town takes place the most unique musical event in world music – the Festival au Desert. ‘’The day is taken up wandering around the site, listening to impromptu music, looking around local craft stalls, and watching the various activities of the desert Tuareg - whether singing, dancing or charging around on their camels. The music starts on the main stage in the early evening, continuing on until the early hours of the morning. The standard is high and many of the groups are from around the Timbuktu/Gao area. It is incredible that there is so much talent around these small villages. There are acts from Burkina and other West African countries, as well as from further afield. It would be hard to imagine a comparable mix anywhere else on earth. In the heat of the day nothing beats spending an hour or so sitting with a cold beer in one of the open bars, watching the comings and goings of life around the camp, and when the evening concert kicks in, the desert comes alive with the rhythms of West Africa." This tour also takes in the major attractions of Mali including trekking to the Dogon villages along the Bandiagara Escarpment, visiting Djenne on market day, with the great mud-built mosque forming an amazing backdrop to the market, and Mopti, the bustling port on the banks of the River Niger. Day 1: Arrive BAMAKO. Arrival in Bamako and transfer to hotel. Bamako defies its role as the capital city of one of the poorest countries in the world, and is a brash cacophony of music, noise and colour with people buying and selling their wares. It is a bustling place, full of life with the Grande Marche being the centre of things. Overnight at Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. Day 2: BAMAKO / DJENNE. To Djenne, a 14th century trading centre on the Bani River dominated by the largest mud mosque in the world. For much of the year Djenne is an island, since it lies on the confluence of the Bani and the mighty Niger River. Overnight at Campement de Djenne on bed and breakfast basis. Days 3 & 4: DJENNE / BANI RIVER / MOPTI. We go by boat on the Bani river northward to Mopti, arriving morning day 4. Camping day 3, hotel day 4. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Day 5: DOGON COUNTRY. An early start for the drive to Dourou in the heart of Dogon country. We start our hike to Nombori, follo-
FESTIVAL AU DESERT wing the escarpment with stunning views of villages, gardens and sand dunes - an interesting mix! Overnight camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Days 6 & 7: DOGON COUNTRY. An early start to see the sunrise over the escarpment. We spend the morning trekking through Dogon villages and in the afternoon have a more in-depth tour around Tireli village, known as the village of masks. Overnight camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Day 8: DOGON COUNTRY / MOPTI. After breakfast we take a short climb to the edge of the escarpment, with spectacular views, and meet up with our transport. We continue on to Mopti, and wander around its animated port with all its sights. Overnight hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. Day 9: MOPTI / DOUENTZA / TIMBUCTOO. 5 to 6 hours driving through the desert and savannah will take us to Timbuctoo, This fabled city and ancient place of learning was at the very crossroads of North, West and Sub-Sahara African. trade. It was said to be a place of untold wealth and gold. The reality was not the city that the great European exlorers of the 19th Century expected to find, but it has retained its feeling of remoteness, mystique and adventure, and the feeling of the early pioneers who made it here -and many didn’t- remains in the air. Overnight at Hotel La Colombe on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 14: DOUENTZA / MOPTI / SEGOU. On to Segou, stopping at San for lunch, overnight in hotel in Segou on bed & breakfast basis Day 15: SEGOU / BAMAKO / Departure. An asphalt road will take us to Bamako, where we will arrive by lunchtime. Free Afternoon. Late evening transfer to the airport.
Long version 14 days January 7, 2013
Days 10, 11 & 12: FESTIVAL AU DESERT ESSAKANE. The Festival au desert takes place amongst the dunes north of Timbuctoo. It is a celebration of Malian music and Touareg traditions and now attracts performers from around West Africa and worldwide- as its reputation spreads. It is a unique event and one of the great occasions to experience. Meals at own expense. Overnight camping.
Price*: $2.550
Day 13: TIMBUCTOO / DOUENTZA. Returning along the piste to Douentza, we will rest up at the campement, where we can reflect on our festival experience and prepare for tomorrow's drive along the tarmac to Segou. Overnight at campement with breakfast.
Price*: $2.100
Single supplement: $350 Local payment: $450 2-3 pax suppl: + $700 (* excluding international flights)
Fly in 7 days January 7, 2013
Single supplement: $350 Local payment: $450 2-3 pax suppl: + $450 (* excluding international flights)
FESTIVAL AU DESERT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE: Djenne: mosque / market. Mopti: port / market. Dogon: villages / market / escarpment / trek. Timbuctoo: history / desert / camels. Segou: colonial architecture / Niger River / Bogolan fabric. Essakane: Festival au Desert / world music / Touareg / camels / traditions. Entrance fee to Festival included. LEVEL: Though hot and dusty at times, the rewards of such a tour are substantial. Tourist infrastructure is unpredictable, hotels not of a consistent standard (such as the occasion when there was a goat in my bathroom...), but if traveller is flexible to accept the odd delay or change of plan, then this tour can be a fantastic experience - one of the trips to experience. TRANSPORT: As outlined in itinerary minibus, 4 x 4, boat, trek. GUIDE: English / French speaking guide. For any other language please contact us. GROUP SIZE: 4 to 16 pax. Also possible to arrange for private groups. SUGGESTED FLIGHTS - Royal Air Maroc, Air France. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: - Personal travel insurance. - Sleeping bag. - All airport taxes and visas. - All personal expenses and toiletries; e.g. mineral water, toilet tissue, laundry, telephones, beverages, tips, portage, etc. VISA: Visas are required for this tour. We can take care of most Visas please contact us for the latest information.
LOCAL PAYMENT: The local payment together with the tour price form the overall price of the tour. The local payment is paid in Euros cash to your tour leader on day 1 of the tour rather than being prepaid with your tour price. In some cases this is used for a specific purpose but in most cases it is used by the tour leader to cover a proportion of the local operating costs. ACCOMMODATION: Hotel x 6 nights, Camping 8 nights (Dogon country, boat and Festival Desert). Good quality hotels used when available. Accommodation is based on twin share. Single travellers are required to pay a single supplement. If you would prefer to share we will try to match you with another single traveller of the same sex. If we find a suitable sharing partner for you the single supplement will be refunded. MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast only in hotels. Full board in Dogon village and boat trip. Meals at own expense at Festival. While we endeavour to cater for special dietary requirements we do ask clients to be understanding, since the choice of food available is often limited. Please advise us at the time of booking of your special dietary needs.