Festival on the Niger Tour 2011 / Segou Festival (Mali)

Saga Tours of Mali - West Africa Adventure Travel
Tel/Fax +223.2020.2708
Fax +223.2020.9002
sagatours@sagatours.com

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Festival on the Niger Tour 2011
featuring Segou and the Festival on the Niger
plus Bamako, Djenne, Mopti, the Niger River and Dogon country

01 - 11 February 2011

11 days / 10 nights all-hotel accommodation

The fourth annual Festival on the Niger will be held in Segou, MALI, on 1 - 6 February 2011. This cultural celebration will feature traditional music and contemporary musicians, arts and crafts expositions (textiles, pottery, sculpture, jewelry), traditional dance troupes and puppet troupes, pirogue races on the river, and more !

01 February 2011: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)

02 February 2011: Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs) / 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)
with Breakfast

03, 04, 05 February 2011: Segou / Festival on the Niger
Full days of festival activities: speakers, demonstrations, artisan expositions, films, story-tellers, puppets, as well as traditional and contemporary music and dance; overnight in Segou (hotel)
with Breakfast, three days

06 February 2011: Segou - Djenne (335 km; ~4hrs)
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)
with Breakfast

07 February 2011: Djenne - Dogon country (230 km; ~3½hrs)
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)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08 February 2011: Dogon country
Walking tour of Sangha, comprised of 10 distinct Islamic and animist villages; see beautiful examples of traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishes; descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit Dogon villages along the cliff; option to 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)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

09 February 2011: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs) / Niger River
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, Songhay 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)
with Breakfast

10 February 2011: Mopti - Bamako (640 km; ~7½hrs)
Return drive to Bamako, with sightseeing en route; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
with Breakfast

11 February 2011: Bamako - final departure
City tour of Bamako, including the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the 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

NB: private departures only, this is not a group tour.

Tour package includes:

10 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast
day-room in Bamako on the final day
2 lunches and 2 dinners in Dogon country; excluding drinks
private ground transportation by air-conditioned vehicle, with driver and fuel
sunset sail on the Niger River
4-day Festival on the Niger; entry fee priced separately (subject to change)
experienced 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

Tour package does not include: international flights to/from Bamako; Mali visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; tips and personal expenses.

Optional traditional Dogon mask dance in a village - upon request

Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.

Before reserving, please see our Terms and Conditions

The Festival on the Niger in Segou, Mali— a unique cultural celebration of West African music, dance, theater, arts and crafts !