Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Tuesday: Arrival in Dakar, Senegal. International flight arrives in Dakar in the evening; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Dakar (Hotel Novotel / Savana / Farid or similar).
Day 2, Wednesday: Dakar/Goree Island - Saint Louis (265 km; ~3˝hrs). City tour of Dakar including the colorful Kermel market; then board the ferry for Goree Island, old slavery depot for some 300 years; visit the House of Slaves and the Historical Museum; lunch on Goree, then return to Dakar by ferry and onward drive to historic Saint Louis; overnight in Saint Louis (Hotel Cap St.Louis, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 3, Thursday: Saint Louis / Parc Djoudj (60 km; ~˝hr). Excursion to the Parc Djoudj national bird sanctuary, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites, and one of the richest in birds in the world; enjoy a pirogue ride to better view the many species of cormorrants, pelicans, ducks, flamingos, various songbirds and more; you may also see crocodiles, boas and wild boars; in the afternoon, visit old colonial Saint Louis city; overnight in Saint Louis (Hotel Cap St.Louis, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 4, Friday: Saint Louis - Dakar (265 km; ~3˝hrs) - Bamako, Mali. Return drive to Dakar; airport transfer for flight to Bamako, Mali; airport-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 5, Saturday: Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs). Morning city tour of Bamako: get a panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; then visit the National Museum, the city market, and the artisans' village; afternoon drive to Segou; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 6, Sunday: Segou - Mopti (405 km; ~4˝hrs). Morning tour of Segou, Mali's second city and former colonial capital; see the intersting mix of colonial and traditional architecture; stroll through the pottery market on the waterfront; also visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; afternoon drive to Mopti; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 7, Monday: Mopti - Djenne (130km; ~1˝hr) - Mopti. Excursion to Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; stroll around the market stalls, spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque; this is the world's largest mud brick architecture, originally constructed in the XIIIth century, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, return to Mopti in time to enjoy a relaxing sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional hand-made pirogue; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 8, Tuesday: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km; ~2hrs). Drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; explore magnificent villages along the Bandiagara cliff, and see many examples of the unique traditional architecture and contemporary fetishes; exact village to be visited will depend on your walking/climbing preferences; option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance, an authentic representation of one of the Dogon people's mourning rituals; overnight in Sangha (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 9, Wednesday: Dogon country - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (330 km; ~6hrs). Depart Dogon country, driving through picturesque rural villages and cross into Burkina Faso; onward to Ouagadougou for overnight (Hotel Silmande, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 10, Thursday: Ouagadougou. Full day to explore Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital city; visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; visit the Music museum, and 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). Includes: (B).
Day 11, Friday: Ouagadougou - Tiebele - Tamale, Ghana(460 km; ~6hrs). Onward to Tiebele village, in Burkina's Gourounsi country; visit magnificent fortress-like houses and compounds, colorfully painted with traditional motifs; continue to the Ghana border, and onward to Tamale for overnight (Gariba Lodge, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 12, Saturday: Tamale - Kumasi (390 km; ~4˝hrs). Visit the Tamale market and the National Cultural Center; afternoon drive to Kumasi; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 13, Sunday: Kumasi - Elmina (240 km; ~3˝hrs). Visit Kumasi: the National Cultural Center, the Manhyia Palace, and the Kejetia market, the largest market in West Africa; afternoon drive to Elmina; enjoy a walking tour of St. George's Castle; finish with a stroll to St. Jago Hill for a panoramic overview of historic Elmina; overnight in Elmina (Elmina Beach Resort, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 14, Monday: Elmina - Cape Coast - Accra (165 km; ~2hrs). Drive to Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Castle, former bastion of the Atlantic slave trade, now a Unesco World Heritage site; drive to and overnight in Accra (Novotel Accra, or similar). Includes: (B).
Day 15, Tuesday: Accra - final departure. City tour of Accra, including the National Cultural Center, National Museum, and the Nkrumah Mausoleum; walking tour of James Town, and crafts shopping at the Trade Fair Centre; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure. Includes: (B).
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 14 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast day-room in Accra on the final day
- Private ground transportation by air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, with driver and fuel
- One-way airfare Dakar-Bamako, with airport transfers
- Ferry excursion to Goree Island
- Excursion to Parc Djoudj national bird sanctuary
- Sunset sail on the Niger River
- Experienced English-speaking guide throughout
- Airport transfers upon arrival in Dakar and departure in Accra
- All hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- All site visit, excursion and entry fees as per tour program
Price Excludes:
- International flights to Dakar, Senegal and onward from Accra, Ghana
- Tourism visas (Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana)
- Lunches, dinners, drinks/bottled water
- Tips, optional Dogon mask dance and personal expenses.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Senegal
Mali
Ghana
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Crafts Tours
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 19125
