Timbuktu and the Sahara Desert

13-day Private Journey

Starts in Bamako on October 15, 2008

Visiting Bamako, Ségou, Djenne, Mopti, Timbuktu, the Sahara Desert,
Sangha, Dogon Territory and the Bandiagara Escarpment
including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites

North Africa is a fascinating destination especially for those of us who live in North America. Every day our guests will experience things they never dreamed of. At the same time, because of the poor infrastructure and the hot, dusty desert climate Mali can present a few challenges when it comes to getting things done on your own. Consequently, we take this into account when planning what to include in the price.

For this journey we include all meals, all transportation in Mali, all hotels, all guides and drivers and driver's helpers, all group luggage-handler fees, all site admission fees as well as tour leader assistance. This approach gives our guests a more 'carefree' experience and reduces the 'hassle' factor considerably.

Meals

Breakfasts: At many of Mali's hotels you will wake up to a simple traditional French continental breakfast including bread and/or croissants, butter and jam, juice, coffee or tea. Some hotels have a larger selection.

Lunches and Dinners: Lunches are often eaten in simple restaurants while en-route from one city to another or in the hotel where the group is staying. Most dinners are eaten in the hotels.

All meals are included in the price of the tour.

Transportation

We include all transportation whenever the group moves from one place to another. This includes comfortable minibus or vans, simple riverboats, ferries, camels and 4x4s.

Transfers

Unlike many companies, we include all transfers – arrival transfers from the airport to your hotel and final departure transfers from hotel to airport.

Guides and Drivers

The assistance of reliable guides and safe drivers help to make your journey the best it can be.

Hotel Accommodation in all locations

We include all hotels along the way. For specific hotel information click Our Hotels.

Entrance fees, boat fees and other charges for all sites included in your tour

With some of the world's most sought-after historical and World-Heritage sites, Mali has much to offer. The cost of visiting these sites can often be prohibitive for the individual traveller; however, for our guests these fees are all included in the price of the journey.

TrailFinders Documentation and Support

About three months prior to departure we distribute a Trip Planning Guide to all guests. This document will help prepare you for all eventualities and includes health recommendations, a packing list, detailed information on sites to be visited, maps and much more. During the trip we also provide maps and other information of interest.

Plus we include the full support of the TrailFinders' Tour Leader from the moment you arrive in Bamako to the time you leave for Canada.

Pre-Paid Extras

There are two additional items which are pre-paid at time of booking.

• The Visa fee for Mali

• Group tips to guides and drivers along the way.

TrailFinders will obtain the Mali visa on your behalf prior to departure. During the journey, TrailFinders staff will handle all group tips on behalf of our guests thereby freeing them from the hassles of finding the appropriate funds to give to guides, drivers, luggage handlers and officials each day.

What's not included?

 

We do not include the following specific items in the price of our land tour.

• International airfare between Canada and Africa. We are experts in international airfares and can help you decide which routing and airline would be best for you. A few popular options are included on our "Price" page. Please call us at 613-789-1900 or 888-765-7662 and we can discuss the options with you.

• Travel Insurance premium

• Visit to Travel Medicine clinic and any vaccines or tablets

As on any trip you will of course be expected to pay for your own personal expenses such as drinks, any extra meals not mentioned in the itinerary, laundry, any personal tips to waiters or bellhops and any other items of a personal nature.

 

For full details on these costs please click "Extra Costs". (You need to have Adobe acrobat reader to view this)

 

If you have any questions at all concerning these costs please call us.