Mali

Named after the 14th century empire of the same name (emperor Mansa Musa is thought to be one of the wealthiest individuals in history), Mali is a fascinating country, with a population mostly concentrated in the south away from the harsh Saharan north. The best place on earth to see traditional mud architecture, the capital Bamako is also home to dramatic brutalism and remnants of a colonial past. Mali is widely known as an ancient centre of knowledge and culture, with the legendary city of Timbuktu home to one of the world’s oldest and still active universities.

The tour begins in Bamako, where you can see the city’s layered mixture of historic architecture, visit the national museum and walk through bustling markets. From here, the tour takes in the dramatic adobe mosque of San and the vibrant town of Mopti, known as “the melting pot of Mali.” Tours of the mosque of Komoguel and fishing port await, before driving to Segou and taking in the quaint fishing villages of the Niger river shoreline with added overnight camping.

We also offer an occasional extension to the fabled city of Timbuktu.