Viamigo

02 February 2010: Arrival in Bamako, MALI

International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

03 February 2010: Bamako - Segou 235 km Festival on the Niger

Drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial center; check into your hotel, then enjoy the festival activities (masks, puppets, music, and more); overnight in Segou (hotel)

04, 05 February 2010: Segou Festival on the Niger

Full days of festival activities: speakers, demonstrations, artisan expositions, films, story-tellers, puppets, traditional and contemporary music and dance; overnight in Segou (hotel)

06 February 2010: Segou – Djenne 335 km

Enjoy the final festival activities, then drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's ancient sister-city and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites, overnight in Djenne (hotel)

07 February 2010: Djenne - Dogon country 240 km

Visit Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see hundreds of market stalls spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque—this is the world's largest mud brick architecture, originally built in the XIIIth century; in the afternoon, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in Sangha (hotel)

08 February 2010: Dogon country

Walking tour of Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Islamic and animist villages; see beautiful examples of traditional Dogon architesture and contemporary fetishes; descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit Dogon villages along the cliff; witness a spectacular Dogon mask dance, performed in a village—this is one of the Dogon people's traditional funerary rites; return to and overnight in Sangha (hotel)

09 February 2010: Dogon country - Mopti 120 km

Visit Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys ages 9-14; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families. Onward drive to Mopti, the Venice of Mali: see the fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï and Hausa); visit the beautiful mosque, the fishing port and the bustling market, where you can shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leatherwork, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool; in the evening enjoy a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River; overnight in Mopti (hotel)

10 February 2010: Mopti - Teriyabougou

Breakfast in the morning and departure for Teriyabougou which means (La case de l’amitié) founded by Father Bernard Vespiren at the border of Bani river one of Niger River affluent. Teriyabougou is real eco-tourism. Visit Terya village and overnight at the Hotel.

11 February 2010: Teriyabougou Bamako

In the morning, depart from Teriyabougou to Bamako, Mali’s capital city, arrival; farewell lunch in a typical African restaurant; check into your hotel to freshen up and city tour of Bamako, including the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the fetish market for tradtional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure

Tour includes

• 09 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast

• day-room in Bamako on the final day

• private ground transportation by air-conditioned vehicle

• sunset sail on the Niger River

• Dogon mask dance in dogon village

• expérience English-speaking guide throughout

• airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako

• all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes

• all touring, site visit, excursion and entry fees as per tour program