Tour in Mali - Burkina Faso - Benin - Togo with Timbuktu

Culture and History tour in Ouagadougou

Tour Price : 3600 USD per persons Duration : 17 days Languages: English, French

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Bamako. Arrival, reception at the airport and transfer at the Grand hotel or a Similar. Includes: (D).

Day 2: Bamako-Sigou After breakfast, departure from Bamako to Sigou, the capital or city of 4444 Balanzan considered as a mythic tree which is leafy in dry season and no leaves in the rainy season; the Balanzan “acacia albilda’ signify the bravery and the courage of the citizen of Sigou. Capital of the Bambara Kingdom of Sigou during the reign of Biton Coulibaly from 1712-1755. Sigou is Conquest in 1862 by the Toucouleur El Hadj Omar Tall and occupied by the French colonist Archinard in 1891. The Bambara ethnic is very proud of theirs culture and tradition showed by the dance step (the “Bara” and the “Bondjalan”. The 4th administrative region of Mali with around 1 675 358 inhabitants composed of Bambara, minianka, bwa and Soninke, Fulani, maure, somono and bozo shared in an area of 60 947 km2. By the way we will visit Sekoro the see the King’s Biton Tom, its vestibule and the mosque, Arrival in Segou and visit of the Bogolan center, the colonial building and overnight at Hotel Esplanade or a Similar. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 3: Sigou - Djenne-Mopti After breakfast drive to Djenne the city classified as World Heritages because of its architecture. The city considered as the twin of Timbuktu because of its attachment on Islam. Founded around the 10th century by Soninke, a religious city considered as one of the oldest city in Africa. The visit of children learning in Coranic School is worthy. Djenne is very famous by its biggest mud monument in the world. Arrival and we will visit the mosque, the virgin Tomb and the former Djenne Djene Djeno, then continuation to Mopti, arrival visit of the mosque, Overnight at Hotel Flandre or a Similar. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 4: Mopti - Dogon Country After breakfast, visit of the city the market, the handicraft market, the fishing port and drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country. Being among of the most enigmatic people of Africa, the Dogons are living in stones and mud houses and granaries built up high on the narrow edges of the cliffs. The Dogons are animists, worshipping their ancestors and the spirits of nature. Having preserved their traditions through the centuries, the Dogon architecture is certainly the most well known element by external world, along with other practices such as mask dances (to request to a deceased spirit to leave the village and then rejoin the ancestors) or the fox divinatory game. The Dogons are farmers cultivating their fields either high on the cliff, in the plain or down of the cliff. The Dogons fled the advancing of Arabs coming from the north, and found shelter in one of West Africa's most inhospitable areas difficult to reach. This difficulty contributes to Dogon’s isolation even between them, and in time each village developed its own dialect, un-comprehended by the neighbours. Today, there are about fifty of idioms in spoken Dogon language. First we’ll visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto, and then continue to Sangha, on the edge of the Bandiagara escarpment, where we stay overnight. Overnight: Campement Hotel Guina, Sangha (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 5: Dogon Country This morning we descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit the village of Banani, where the ancient Tellem Cave dwellings in the cliff face, further the Ireli Village, Amani, where we will visit the sacred crocodile sanctuary, and Tireli. See the caves of Deguimbere and other small but interesting villages on the escarpment edge, continuation to Bandiagara, arrival and overnight at hotel La Falaise or a Similar. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 6: Dogon Country-Timbuktu Depart from Bandiagara to reach the legendary city of Timbuktu, the city of 333 holy, the mysterious city or the doorway to the desert founded around the 11 th century by the touareg Imagcharen. In Timbuktu the tradition says: “gold comes the south, salt comes from the north, money comes from occident, but the speeches of God, holy things, wonderful stories can be found only in Timbuktu. The 6 th administrative capital of Mali, Timbuktu attracts many tourists who like to discover an exceptional cultural heritages, adventure landscape and fabulous histories of the city. Timbuktu has maintained many ancient monuments you will d visit Timbuktu city: the mosques, the museum and archives. The Mosque of Djinguareyber, built in 14th century by emperor Kankou Moussa on his way from the Pilgrimage; the mosque Sankore of the 15 th century which hosted many intellectuals from its University; the Mosque of Sidi Yahia built at the end of the 15 th century by an old woman of the city. Overnight at Hotel La Colombe. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 7: Timbuktu Breakfast and Visit of the old Islamic manuscripts in the Baba Ahmed Institute, the houses of exploratory Gordon Laing, Henri Barth, Mongo Park, and Rene

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