Saturday 29th January – Bamako

Morning

• Arrive at your convenience into Bamako – the largest and capital city of Mali which is well connected from many countries within Africa and most of Europe.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 8:30am to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Begin the your Mali adventure by visiting the Rose Market of Bamako which will give you an idea of the hustle and bustle of the Malian capital.
• Explore the National Museum of Mali – an astounding collection of masks and traditional outfits.
• Visit the Tower of Africa – the tallest tower in Mali

Afternoon

• Lunch at Bating Restaurant providing incredible local dishes such as Poulet Yassa
• Ascend to the top of Point G Hill – a French military hospital was built on top of this hill between 1906 and 1913 offering fantastic views over Bamako.
• Dinner at a local joint in the city popular with locals
• Bamako being the largest city in Mali offers somewhat of a nightlife – we’ll head out and see what we can discover!
• Overnight at hotel in Bamako

Sunday 30th January – Bamako – Segoukoro – Segou

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin drive to Segou (4 hours) – a town built on the banks of River Niger.
• Before arriving at Segou we’ll stop at the town of Segoukoro – the former capital of the Bambara Kingdom.
• We have an appointment with none other than the village chief, who is a direct descendant of the kings of old. You’ll have tea with him and he’ll help answer all of our questions about the history of Segou and its royalty.
• The King’s descendants will show us the rebuilt vestibule, where the king used to receive his guests.
• Explore the village, home to four mosques, the most famous being the waterfront one which the local famous King Biton Coulibaly built for his mother.
• Depart Segoukoro by a pinasse – the Malian boat of choice. You’ll cruise along the Niger River, the third largest river of Africa. You’ll see the lifestyle of the people on the riverbanks, most of them being from tribes of nomadic fishermen.
• During your cruise we’ll stop at one of the fisherman villages to say hello and then stop again in a village of potters

Afternoon

• Continue cruising down the river with lunch on the boat
• Arrive into Segou and explore an old neighbourhood to meet with a local family who’ll will cook us a classic Malian dish of peanut sauce
• Further explore a Somono neighbourhood – this area has the oldest adobe buildings, a traditional architectural style house found mostly in Segou that help keep the family inside cool during intense summers. Here you’ll also take part in a traditional Malian tea ceremony.
• Head to the centre of the town and seek out Segou’s culinary scene, stopping by a local restaurant and later check out Segou’s nightlife.
• Overnight at the Hotel L’Auberge

Monday 31st January – Segou – Djenne

Morning

• Visit a nearby plantation for breakfast
• For Group B members visiting Burkina Faso – we will stop by the consulate downtown at the opening times so that your visa will be processed throughout our stay in Sogou.
• Visit the Monument to the Kings located at the entrance of the city – previous King that had Segou
• Explore artisan villages located in the outskirts of Segou where you’ll see how calebasse bowls are made and a village of blacksmiths.

Afternoon

• Lunch in town and collect group B members passports from the consulate
• Begin 5 hour drive to Djenne – also known as the capital of mud as the buildings and streets constructed within the city are made entirely out of mud.
• Climb the top of a structure for a grand view of Djenne’s Great Mosque – the world’s largest mud building. The inside of the Mosque can only be visited by Muslims.
• Dinner at a local restaurant that specifically opens for us since the local economy has collapsed.
• Assist our team with setting up our tents for the evening within a family’s compound.
• Overnight camping, for those group members opting for single supplement may stay at a nearby hotel.

Tuesday 1st February – Djenne

Morning

• Breakfast by the camp
• Visit Koranic schools and drop by the Museum of Djenne’s manuscripts – here a single man protects the documents of days gone by.
• Inspect a sacred well – it is said that the ancestors of the town used this wall to consult the spirits to plan their next moves.
• Explore the Shrine of Tapama – a young virgin was sacrificed here to appease the bad spirits of the town.

Afternoon

• For your lunch you’ll experience the local speciality of Djenne, the Tion Tion – a delicious fish fried rice
• Adventure out of the walled city and into various villages each profoundly different from the others as they were built by different tribes. You’ll experience the Bozo, Fulani, Bambara and Songhai tribes – they have very own culture and ways of life. Our own horse and cart will be provided for these trickier roads.
• Head back to town with dinner hosted by our families
• Overnight camping, with single supplement available for those who wish to stay at a nearby hotel.

Wednesday 2nd February – Djenne – Mopti

Morning

• Breakfast in town and head 4 hours further north to Mopti  – located directly under the security corridor established by the UN Forces
• Along the way we’ll stop to grab lunch

Afternoon

• Spend the afternoon exploring Mopti and its bustling street life. There is a magnificent mud mosque similar to the one we saw in Djenne, and a women’s market.
• Trip highlight – Later in the afternoon we’ll board a boat and explore the busy port of Mopti. This is where the Bani and Niger River meet. The port is an important hub of transportation in Mali with people here embarking on the dodgiest 3-day trip aboard a shabby pinasse to Timbuktu of all places! This boat ride is one of YPT’s favourites around the world!
• Dinner and overnight at our hotel

Thursday 3rd February – Mopti – Dogon Country

Morning

• Breakfast at a nearby market and make our way to Dogon Country – the first stop being the town of Songo.
• Once arriving you’ll experience the traditional Dogon Village. The villagers here previously lived further up the rocks to keep their animistic beliefs and flee persecution from Muslims.
• Visit the area where the village arranges the circumcision ceremony for the surrounding villages. There’s a large rock painting retelling the stories of the villages as well as the circumcision ceremony. Our guide will explain to us all about the ceremony, which lasts more than a week.
• Climb the nearby mountain for an impressive view of the town

Afternoon

• Lunch is arranged in Bandiagara – the largest town in the area
• Our 4WD drops us in Aindelou where we’ll walk 4km to the isolated village of Dogon
• Arrive in Begnimatu – YPT’s favourite Dogon three-village-in one. One with a Muslim, a Catholic and a Christian neighbourhood. The village is perched on the mountains in the canyon and sunsets here are a sight to behold.
• Farewell dinner with the locals as they prepare a feast. We’ll be staying with the Christian neighbourhood which allows us to party with the locals.
• Camp overnight in Begnimatu on the houses’ rooftop under a very starry sky

Friday 4th February – Dogon Country – Ouahigouya

Morning

• Trip highlight – After breakfast by the camp, we are invited to a traditional Dogon mask ceremony. This is where the elders of the village chant in order to chase bad spirits while the very sacred Dogon masks are taken out of their sacred places to be worn for the dance. All members of the community, Muslims, Catholics and animists alike unite to re-enact ancestral dances.
• Once the ceremony concludes, it’s time for us to trek down the rocks stopping by the villages of Doundiourou and Bagourou. Here you can see traditional Dogon Justice Halls. The halls are built with ceilings too low for people to stand, are where family elders meet to discuss and solve issues peacefully.

Afternoon

• Arrive in Ende for lunch
• Group A members – begin 4 hour drive to the town of San, dinner and overnight
• Group B members – begin drive towards Burkina Faso. We’ll cross the border and go through necessary car and immigration formalities. Arrive in Ouahigouya – the third largest town in the country. Dinner and overnight.

Saturday 5th February

Group A Members: San – Segou – Bamako (Mali)

• Breakfast at hotel, visit the outside of the adobe mosque and explore the rest of the village.
• Begin the long journey back to Bamako, stopping in Segou for lunch
• Arrive in Bamako, check into hotel to refresh and head out for dinner
• Tour concludes with airport drop-off arranged according to your flight details – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.

Group B Members: Ouahigouya – Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

• Breakfast at hotel and head towards Bobo Dioulasso – the second largest city in the country
• Along the way stopping in Yako – the birthplace of Thomas Sankara, the Che Guevara of Africa. His time in power was abruptly ended by the treason of his best friend and subsequent murder. Although Sankara was incredibly ruthless, he did focus on education and the empowerment of women. He’s mostly remembered fondly in these parts.
• Arrive in Bobo Dioulasso and head out for dinner
• Visit the maquis, typical Burkinabe open-air bars which turn into nightclubs
• Overnight in Bobo Dioulasso

Sunday 6th February – Bobo Dioulasso

Morning

• Breakfast in town
• Explore the old neighbourhood and grasp the feeling of what life was like in old Burkina Faso, or as it was known during the colonial times – the Upper Volta.
• Followed by a short drive and a 1km hike to Dafra – known for the famous pilgrimage site in Burkina Faso where people come from far to sacrifice animals to the local catfish. Things get very real as we get up close to those animist rituals. Please note that it is taboo to wear red clothes and take photos on this site.
• Visit the Sudanese-style mosque

Afternoon

• Lunch in town and begin our horseback journey to the countryside. If prefer the comfort of our 4WD this option is still available.
• Set up our camping site in the bush.
• Delicious dinner is arranged here on our very own campfire – you’ll be surprised what our local friends can whip up on a campfire and drinks are included.
• Overnight camping

Monday 7th February – Bobo Dioulasso – Sindou

Morning

• Enjoy a bush breakfast
• Visit the nearby maternity clinic where a local doctor will introduce the healthcare situation in Burkina Faso
• Ride your horse back into town and hop into your 4WD to head to Sindou – 3 hours

Afternoon

• Once arriving in Sindou we’ll have lunch and check into your hut to refresh
• Drive out of Sindou and visit Kawara – a village of potters known for performing a traditional pottery dance.
• Return to Sindou and explore the village and the impressive rock formations for which it is renowned for. It is the highest point of Burkina Faso. People used to live here as it was an easy to defend location. Each rock formation has a story which our local guide will share whilst we enjoy the sunset.
• Dinner arranged by our local contacts
• Overnight in huts

Tuesday 8th February – Sindou – Banfora

Morning

• Breakfast in town
• Begin driving journey to Banfora – here you’ll visit the Fabedougou Domes. The natural rock formations which have to be seen to be believed. This area was used to hide from neighbouring tribes.
• Hike 1.5km to the Karfiguela Falls

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch by the falls and a dip in the refreshing water
• Board a boat to go hippo spotting. Although hippos are known for being dangerous and territorial, here the hippos are sacred animals and the locals live in harmony with these large wild animals. It’s possible to get close and have a real close encounter with a few!
• Head back to Banfora
• Dinner in town with plenty of options from local maquis to nice and cosy French restaurants
• Overnight in Banfora

Wednesday 9th February – Banfora – Ouagadougou

Morning

• Breakfast in town and begin our largest road trip yet of expected 7 hours.
• We’ll make scenic stops and a lunch break along the way to stretch our legs including a last stop in Bazoule – a sacred crocodile pond. Here the locals are at peace with the crocs. The crocodiles are never hunted, harmed or killed. In exchange, the crocs do not eat the locals. As crazy as this sounds it is possible to play with the crocodiles.

Afternoon

• Arrive in Ouagadougou – the capital of Burkina Faso.
• Trip highlight – While its successors have tried to erase any trace of him, the memory of Thomas Sankara is still very much alive in the people of the city, this is why we’ll spend the day touring the city along with friends and relatives of Thomas Sankara, who will be there to tell us about the man himself. We’ll also make sure to visit his brand new statue.
• Explore Ouaga 2000 – the weird futuristic city project where you’ll visit two monuments of great importance: the Monument to National Heroes and the Monument to the Martyrs. If you’ve visited North Korea, you’d feel that these monuments would fit right into Pyongyang.
• Visit the roundabout of the Second of October – commemorating the day Sankara announced the revolution
• Farewell dinner at a phenomenal restaurant and experience the nightlife of the city’s busiest maquis
• Overnight in Ouagadougou

Thursday 10th February – Ouagadougou

• Tour concludes with airport drop-off arranged according to your flight details – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights. For those departing later, YPT can arrange visits to the National Museum, Music Museum and handicraft market of Ouagadougou.
• Group members apart of our Togo and Benin tour board flight to Lomé, the capital of Togo – flight not included in tour price