Day 01: Arrive Bamako
On arrival in Bamako we are met and transferred to our hotel.  Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.  Bamako defies its role as the capital of one of the poorest countries in the world.  It is a brash cacophony of music, noise and color with people buying and selling their wares under the hot sun.  It is a bustling place, full of like with the Grand Marche being the center of things.
Overnight: Hotel Le Compagnard, Bamako

Day 02: Bamako/Djenne (Drive)
Today you will arrive to Djenne, a 14th century trading centre on the Niger River dominated by the largest mud mosque in Mali.  Djenné is often missed by travellers because it lies off the main route between Bamako and Mopti but is well worth the visit. It lies on the Niger River delta and is particularly picturesque in the rainy season when it becomes an island surrounded by water. Djenné  claims to be the oldest city in West Africa and it appears that little has changed in centuries. Djenné has elevated the childish past-time of mud-pie making to an art form; they've built an entire town from the stuff! The mud houses with their thatched roofs and wooden window shutters and doors decorated with paint and metal objects give the town its otherworldly charm. The much-photographed Djenné Mosque intensifies this air of strangeness. Built entirely out of mud, complete with turret-like projection, it rises from the desert floor like an over-achiever's sandcastle. It is, not unnaturally, the largest mud structure in the world and is one of the finest examples of Sudanese architecture. The only drawback is that it tends to melt in the rain and major mud-pie sessions are required after the rainy season to keep it from disintegrating. Unfortunately, non-Muslim visitors were banned from the interior after a fashion photographer and a horde of models ran amok inside but you can still get an excellent view of the outer walls from the roof of the Petit Marché opposite the mosque. Djenné is about 400km (248mi) from Bamako and can be reached by bus or pinasse (large motorised canoe).  The Campement de Djenne is the best accommodation that can be found in Djenne. It is basic, but adequate and there is a restaurant that serves simple food.
Overnight: Camp, Djenne (B)

Day 03 & Day 04: Djenne/Bani River/Mopti (Boat)
We continue by boat on Bani River (one night camping on the river bank) to Mopti, arriving there the next day in the morning. We visit the mosque, the largest mud building in the world and wander through the old part of town with its mud brick houses and narrow streets.
Overnight: Hotel Sevare, Mopti (B, L)

Day 05: Mopti/Nombori (Drive/Trek)
An early start for the drive to Dourou in the heart of Dogon country. We start our hike to Nombori, following the escarpment with stunning views of villages, gardens and sand dunes –- an interesting mix!
Overnight: Camp, Nombori (B, L, D)           

Day 06 & Day 07: Nombori/Tirelli/Banani (Trek)
An early start to see the sunrise over the escarpment. We spend the morning trekking through Dogon villages and in the afternoon have a more in-depth tour around Tirelli village, known as the village of masks.
Overnight: Camp, Banani (2 nights) (B, L, D)          

Day 08: Banani/Hombori (Drive)
After breakfast we take a short climb to the edge of the escarpment, with spectacular views, and meet our cars. We continue by car to Fatimas Hand, which is the famous mountain known as Licke Meka in Mali to view the alpine.   Onto Hombori –- home of the biggest camel market in Mali.
Overnight: Camp, Hombori (B, L)  

Day 09: Hombori/Timbuktu (Drive)
5 hours driving through the desert will take us to Timbuktu, in French "Tombouctou", means, "well of the woman named 'Bouctou'. And "Bouctou" is a word that means, "belly button". This was the meeting place for tradesmen who would travel across Africa from the North, East and South, to barter their goods with the West Africans.
Overnight: Hotel La Colombe, Timbuktu (2 nights) (B)

Day 10: Timbuktu
Our camels await us today to take us to a Tuareg camp where we will spend time with these nomadic people observing their lifestyle. The ride will take about 1 hour in each direction. (B)

Day 11: Timbuktu/Mopti (Drive)
Return drive to Mopti.
Overnight: Hotel Sevare, Mopti (B)

Day 12: Mopti/Segou (Drive)
Mopti began its transition from small Bozo fishing village to the commercial hub of central Mali and the capital of the country's fifth region at the start of the 19th century. Today it lives in the present rather than the past. Its commercial importance and ideal river location mean that life is dominated by the daily activity around the busy port, which is the essence of Mopti. The small settlements on the other side of the river are Bozo fishing villages. They can be reached by pirogue from the port or various points along the Mopti side of the river. In the same way that Mopti inherited Djenne's trading functions, it also tried to emulate its neighbor's beautiful architecture. These attempts are best viewed in the quarter of Komoguel, which has retained many of the traditional banco houses typical of Djenne. The town's main mosque is also in Komoguel.
Overnight: Hotel Independence, Segou (B)

Day 13: Segou/Bamako (Drive)
An asphalt road will take us to Bamako, where we will have time to visit the town before transfer to the airport for the departure flight. (B)