Friday 26th January – Bamako

• Arrive at your convenience in Bamako – Mali’s largest and capital city, which is well connected from many countries within Africa and most of Europe. Boasting bustling markets, a beautiful Mosque and an enormous national museum, it’s a perfect place to kick things off.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at 6:00pm in the lobby of Hotel Relais (or similar) to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide, including those joining from our earlier Mauritania tour.
• Head out into the heart of Bamako to a lovely local restaurant for authentic Malian cuisine and to get to know each other better.
• Depending on the time, we can visit a traditional puppet maker’s workshop. The oldest and richest puppet traditions in Africa!
• Then we will explore Bamako’s notorious live music scene, mingle with some locals, and maybe have a few drinks.
• Overnight at a hotel in Bamako.

Saturday 27th January – Bamako – Segou

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel, and set off to explore the city, with a first stop at the bustling Rose Market in the heart of the town. We can also check out the vantage point and see it from the city above. The sheer size of the city is mind-blowing!
• Visit the Tower of Africa – The tallest structure in Mali at 80 meters in height, this is no drab grey city skyscraper.
• Drop by the Grand Malian Independence Monument and admire the impressive marble-plated pillar with gilded ornaments.
• Explore the National Museum of Mali – With a collection of items 10,000 strong, ranging from traditional masks and costumes to textiles, old photos and many videos, this is a great place to dip your toes in Malian culture before getting stuck in for the rest of the tour.

Afternoon

• Lunch at Bating restaurant – here they serve a famous Timbuktu cuisine and a delicious ginger juice .
• Continue our journey to Segou – a town built along the banks of the Niger River.
• Before arriving, we will stop in Segoukoro – the former capital of the Bambara Kingdom. Here you’ll meet the village chief and will invite us for tea. He will explain the history of Segou, its royalty and answer any questions.
• Arrive in Segou
• Dinner at a local restaurant located in the town centre and later explore Segou’s nightlife.
• Overnight at Djoliba Hotel (or similar)

Sunday 28th January – Segou – San

• After breakfast, it’s time for more exploration of Segou and its Somono neighbourhood – a place filled with adobe (mud-brick) buildings.
• We’ll then be stopping off at the Soroble Bogolan (mud-cloth) centre. This traditional cotton fabric is dyed with fermented mud, representing one of Mali’s most influential cultural practices.
• Visit the nearby Calabash village. Here the locals will teach you the process of making fruit into large bowls and percussive musical instruments.

Afternoon

• After lunch, our journey continues onwards in a pinasse – the Malian boat of choice. We’ll be cruising along the Niger River, the third-largest river in Africa.
• We’ll be invited to a local fishing village to have a further insight to daily chores by the families and the fishermen.
• Drive onwards to San – we’ll visit a stunning adobe (mudbrick) mosque. The interior can only be visited by Muslims, but the sheer style and artistry of the building is equally appreciated on the outside.
• Overnight in San Hotel (or similar).

Monday 29th January – San – Djenne – Mopti

Morning

• Early morning breakfast with a 6:00am departure to Djenne – known as the ‘capital of mud’. The entire architecture from the streets to the buildings is made from mud brick, often resulting in fascinating, and unique designs.
• Take a stroll through the old town, stopping by Koranic schools and mud structures.
• Stop by the centre of Islamic scholarship, a Quranic school and the Museum of Djenne’s manuscripts – here a single man protects these ancient, irreplaceable artefacts
• Visit the Djenne’s Great Mosque – the world’s largest mud building and a UNESCO world heritage site. The inside of the Mosque can only be visited by Muslims but is none the less most impressive outside with its grand size and unique design.
• For another vantage point we’ll visit the sacred well – Tapama’s tomb. Here you can climb to the rooftop for a stunning view of the Great Mosque.

Afternoon

• Lunch in town will be served by none other than the wife of our esteemed local guide, the regional specialty ‘Tion Tion’, a delicious fish fried rice dish.
• Back on the road and continue to YPT’s favourite city in Mali – Mopti, which is more than a “gateway” to major highlights. Instead, the fourth largest city in Mali is a vibrant port where we’ll board a boat and ride through it.
• Explore the city and see the Mosque of Mopti – the Malian Government listed this as a national monument in 2005.
• Climb an adjacent building to watch a stunning sunset over the mosque
• Dinner and drinks in town
• Overnight in Mopti hotel (or similar)

Tuesday 30th January – Mopti – San

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and head out to the busy fish market
• Visit two Adobe Mosques – which are among the finest architectural expressions in Africa.
• Now is a perfect opportunity to sample a famous local dish found only in Mopti that consist of shallots. These are loved by the locals due to their sweet and unique flavour.
• Wander through the High Library of Manuscripts and the explorers’ house – a high level of civilization attained by West Africans during the Middle Ages which provides irrefutable proof of a powerful societies.

Afternoon

• Lunch in town before our journey returns us back to San. The Bobo people mainly inhabit the area, an animist ethnic group – if time persists we can arrange a stop to a local village to learn more about their way of life.
• Dinner on arrival in San – we recommend the “Jollof rice” which is rice with tomatoes, and meat.
• Overnight in hotel

Wednesday 31st January – San – Sikasso

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and today’s drive to Sikasso – located right on the border of Burkina Faso. It’s known for their vibrant outdoor markets that features fabrics, numerous vegetables and fruits (especially mangoes).
• Visit the symbolic Mamelon Hill – King Tieba Traore established his palace to defend against the attacks of enemies, including the French colonial army.
• Explore the fortified Wall of Tata, the Regional Museum, and the tomb of Babemba Traoré who was the brother of king Tieba!

Afternoon

• Siakasso has some of the best street food in Mali. Cheap, tasty, and tender bowels of vegetables and meat.
• Visit the Grand Marché – one of the largest markets in town. Also a perfect opportunity to buy any last minute gifts from Mali.
• Explore the Faramissiri Cave – a sacrificial cave used by both Muslims and Animists. The cave offers the perfect spot to admire a lovely sunset over Sikasso.
• Farewell dinner and overnight in Siksasso.

Thursday 1st February – Sikasso – Bamako

• Breakfast at hotel and begin the 350km drive back to Bamako.
• Tour concludes on arrival in Bamako with drop offs arranged at your chosen accommodation or at the airport. We can arrange post-tour accommodation for €100
• For those continuing onto Burkina Faso with us we will cross the land border at Sikasso to Bobo Dioulasso. The border process is efficient, fast and one of the better ways to enter Burkina Faso.

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