Mali Dogon Country Tour in 8 days

Bamako International flight arrives at night in Bamako where you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel or Laico El Farouk Sleeping Camels (BB)

Bamako - Ségou Today drive to Segou, Mali’s second largest city and former colonial administrative center. Tour the city of Segou. The port, the pottery market, the place where they make local brew. Visit Sekoro, the “old Segou” and former capital of the Bambara kingdom. Visit the Ndomo the place where you will learn and practice the process of dying mud clothes. Keep your sample as souvenir. In the afternoon cruise to the pottery village of Kalabougou and see how pots are made of argil, dried and kilned. Overnight in Segou at Auberge (BB)

Segou – Djenne – Mopti Breakfast and 8 AM drive to Djenné. Founded in the fourth century, Djenné has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages and, as you stroll through the streets and the bazaar you will be transported back into medieval times. A definite highlight is the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud-brick architecture in the world and one of UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also visit the local museum and have time to wander through the narrow streets of Djenné to admire this architectural gem. Have lunch in Djenne and in late afternoon drive to Mopti for a short tour of the city time permitting. Overnight in Mopti at Kanaga Flandre (BB)

Mopti – Dogon Morning drive to Dogon Country. Stop to visit Songho and its circumcision grotto on the way. Explore the Dogon Country with its architecture, culture, custom, believes. Dogon Country is considered to be one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Please note that the road to Dogon Country is rough, dusty and unpaved. Built up high on the narrow ledges of the cliffs are the villages of the Dogon people. In the 11th century, the Dogons fled the advancing Arabs coming from the north, and found shelter in one of West Africa’s most inhospitable areas. This is such a unique place that the United Nations has declared it a World Heritage site. Visit the interesting cultural sites and have a special visit to the Dogon spiritual leader “Le Hogon”. Visit the Bandiagara escarpment and some villages. This evening you overnight in the relatively basic Hotel in Sangha. Hotel Guina or La Falaise (FB)

Dogon Country Spend the whole day discovering Dogon country and its marvels. Overnight in Badiangara at La Falaise (FB)

Dogon – Segou Visit other villages such as Niogonon reknown to be the most beautiful Dogon village; and stop at points of interest on your way back to Segou. Arrive early evening and overnight Auberge (FB)

Segou – Bamako After breakfast, we drive to Bamako. Arrive about 11 AM and go on Bamako city tour. There is nowhere better to see the colourful diversity of Mali than in the streets and markets of Bamako. Bamako has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewellers and metal workers exhibit your wares and skills. Another highlight of your tour is the Grand Marche, or ‘Great Market’, where you can spend hours exploring the hundreds of stalls. From carvings and cassettes, to fabrics, beads, brass and gold, the variety of goods is staggering. One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you’ll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments. After the market, visit the national museum that is one of the most important museums in Africa. Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel or Laico El Farouk Sleeping Camels (BB)

Bamako – Depart This morning drive to Kirina and assist a Manden dance. Return to Bamako where you await your transfer time to the airport to get your onward flight.