Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Bamako, Mali

International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 02: Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs)

Welcome to West Africa ! Bamako city tour: start at Point G for a panoramic overview of the sprawling city of Bamako; than visit the National Museum, the city market and the artisans' village, where you will see local craftsmen at work: silversmiths, woodcarvers, weavers, and leather workers; in the afternoon, scenic drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 03 & 04: Segou - Djenne - Mopti (465 km; ~5½hrs)

Onward drive to Djenne, to see the huge, colorful weekly market, and the magnificent Great Mosque—originally constructed in the XIIIth century, this is the world's largest mud brick architecture and one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; onward drive to Mopti for overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 05: Mopti / Niger river

City tour of Mopti, called the Venice of Mali for its location at the confluence of the Bani and the Niger rivers; see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque and the fishing port, bustling commercial center; enjoy a tranquil sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 06 & 07: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km; ~6hrs)

After breakfast, depart Mopti and drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, at the edge of the Sahara Desert ! overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 08: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert

Visit the mythical city of Timbuktu: see the ancient mosques (built in the XIVth century) and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the city market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert—historically, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, excursion into the Sahara Desert by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes; the Tuareg people are known as the Princes of the Desert; return to and overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)

with Breakfast

Note: due to security concerns we do not go deep into the desert.

Day 09, 10 & 11: Timbuktu - Dogon country (625 km; ~7hrs)

Return drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 12: Dogon country

Visit the architectural wonders that are Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment: Banani (note the ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff face), Ireli, Amani (visit the sanctuary of sacred crocodiles, totem animal of the Dogon people), and Tireli village; witness a fascinating traditional Dogon mask dance—this authentic representation is one of the Dogon people's traditional funerary rites; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 13, 14 & 15: Dogon country - Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso (560 km; ~7½hrs)

Breakfast, then depart Mali and drive through picturesque rural villages, to Burkina Faso; overnight in Bobo Dioulasso (Hotel Auberge, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 16: Bobo Dioulasso / Banfora (85 km; ~1hr)

Visit Bobo Dioulasso ("house of the Bobo merchants"), Burkina's second largest city; see the old mosque and visit the old Kibidwe artisans' district, where you will see blacksmiths, potters, and dyers at work; in the afternoon drive to Banfora to visit Lac Tengrela; return to Bobo Dioulasso for overnight (Hotel Auberge, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 17 & 18: Bobo Dioulasso - Ouagadougou (355 km; ~4hrs)

Onward drive Ouagadougou; en route, cross the Deux Bales National Parc and perhaps see elephants along the road; check into your Ouagadougou hotel; in the afternoon, city tour of Ouagadougou: visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; also visit the crafts markets at the Artisans' Center, where you will find basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, jewelry, leatherwork and bronze castings; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 19 & 20: Ouagadougou - Niamey, Niger (500 km; ~6hrs)

After breakfast, depart Burkina Faso for Niger; observe the Sahelian countryside and rural villages as you drive northward, toward the great Sahara Desert; overnight in Niamey (Grand Hotel, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 21: Niamey

City tour of Niamey, including the National Museum, the large city market, and the artisans' village Wadata; optional excursion to Koure to see one the last remaining herds of giraffes in West Africa; overnight in Niamey (Grand Hotel, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 22, 23 & 24: Niamey - Parakou, Benin (620 km; ~7½hrs)

Depart the Sahel today, for the greener tropics; see the countryside change as you cross into Benin and continue south; overnight in Parakou (Hotel Majestic, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 25: Parakou - Abomey (300 km; ~3½hrs)

Onward to Abomey, city of Benin's former Danhomey kings; check into your hotel, and begin to explore Abomey, as time permits; overnight in Abomey (Motel d'Abomey, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 26: Abomey

Visit Abomey, former capital of the Danhomey kingdom; visit the Royal Palace and Museum, site of the ancient palaces of the twelve kings of Abomey (Unesco World Heritage site), who reigned from 1620 through 1900; visit the artisans' center, renowned for traditional tapestries and bronze castings, formerly reserved for the royal court only; in the afternoon, explore the Dahomey Trail with its unrestored palaces and fetish temples; overnight in Abomey (Motel d'Abomey, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 27: Abomey - Ouidah (120 km; ~1½hr)

Drive to Ouidah, the voudou capital of West Africa, and an important traditional religious center and ancient slave depot, which sent thousands of slaves to the new world; visit the Museum in the old Portuguese fort, the temple of pythons, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Kpasse sacred forest; trace the route of the famous "Slave Road" which leads to the slavery memorial of Zoungbodji; perhaps also witness a traditional voodoo ceremony featuring the spirits of departed ancestors; overnight in Ouidah (Hotel Oasis, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 28: Ouidah - Cotonou (40 km; ~½hr)

Drive to Cotonou, capital city of Benin; city tour of Cotonou, including the fish market and the international Dantokpa market, with its fetish market and handcraft center; overnight in Cotonou (Hotel du Lac, or similar)

with Breakfast

Day 29: Cotonou / final departure (110 km; ~1½hr)

Enjoy a pirogue excursion to Ganvie village, built on stilts over the lagoon (Lake Nokoue); remainder of day at leisure, for last-minute shopping, or just relax at your hotel before you onward flight; evening transfer to the airport for your final departure

with Breakfast

1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops

Suggestion: you may wish to add-on a few days at the end of the tour, to relax on the beach. If so, just let us know and we will re-program your airport transfer for the day of your choice.

Please note: during the rainy season (July/Aug/Sep) the visit to Parc Djoudj in Senegal is replaced by the Langue de Barbarie bird sanctuary, as Parc Djoudj is closed.

Level:
All tours are typical African road travel. Fairly comfortable. Though hot and dusty at times, the rewards of such a tour are substantial. Tourist infrastructure is unpredictable in these places, Venture Travel try our best to give the best accommodation, but travellers should understand we are in Africa, therefore be flexible to accept the odd delay or change of plan, then the tour can be a fantastic experience.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Our rates normally has the below items as included and excluded from the program rates. Each and every program has its own distinct included & excluded items.

Generally included items:

Not included: