INTERNATIONAL DESERT MUSIC FESTIVAL IN THE SAHARA 2009 Mali
in the white sand dunes of Essakane (near Timbuktu)

5 - 12th January 2009 – Mopti/Mopti - 8 days 7 nights
Mopti – Dogon Country – Timbuktu – Festival in the desert – Tuareg culture

Day 1 : Monday 5 january 2009 : Paris – Mopti (Dinner)
Arrival by charter flight in Mopti airport. Welcome by our team. Mopti city tour : the busy fishing port, the colourful bustling markets, the Komoguel old quarter. Afternoon river cruise. Dinner and overnight in hotel or guest house in Sévaré.

Day 2 : Tuesday 6 january : Dogon country (B, L, D)
Departure towards Bandiagara and the fascinating Dogon country. Your local Dogon guide show you the cliff hanging villages : Djigui Bombo, Kani Kombole, Teli (the best preserved troglodyt of the ancient tellem) and Ende (capital of the traditional cottonfabric Bogolan). Back to Sévaré for dinner and overnight in hotel or guest house in Sévaré.

Day 3 : Wednesday 7 january : Sévaré – Timbuktu (B, L, D)
Drive towards Douentza (175km 2h30). Track across the Gourma desert (200km 5h) towards Timbuktu. Ferry across the Niger River (1 hour). Dinner and overnight in hotel or guest house in Timbuktu.

Day 4 : Thursday 8 january : Timbuktu – Essakane DESERT MUSIC FESTIVAL (B, L, D)
Visit the mythic city. Sand track towards Essakane (60km 2,30hrs).
DESERT FESTIVAL official opening ceremony with music concerts…
Desert Camp in Essakane (mattresses and traditional tents shared by 4 persons provided).

Days 5 and 6 : Friday 9 and Saturday 10 january : DESERT MUSIC FESTIVAL (B,L,D)
Camel races, artefacts exhibits …The evening : traditional singing, dancing, music concerts.
Desert Camp in Essakane (mattresses and traditional tents shared by 4 persons provided).

Day 7 : Sunday 11 january : Essakane – Sévaré (B, L, D)
Whole day drive back to Sévaré. Picnic on route. Dinner and overnight in hotel or guest house in Sévaré. End of the tour.

Day 8 : Monday 12 january 2009 : Mopti – Paris (B)
Breakfast and airport transfer included. Return flight.

Price per person : 1080 Euros

The price includes :
- the Festival entry pass (around 150 Euros per person)
- 7 nights in hotel or guest house, camping (mattresses and touaregs tents shared by 4 provided in Essakane)
- full board : meals from day 1 dinner to day 8 breakfast, (B : breakfast, L : lunch, D : dinner)
- 1 bottle of mineral water at meals per person
- an english speaking tour leader guide
- the 4WD vehicule with a french speaking driver, (4/5 passengers + driver + guide),
- the petrol, road tolls and ferries,
- the river cruise in Mopti,
- the Dogon guide in Dogon country,
- the cook and cooking equipment in Essakane,
- the village taxes and entries on the sites.

The price doesn’t include :
- the international flight and airport taxes, the entry visa costs, the drinks (apart from 1bottle of water/person/meal), the tips, phone calls or personal expenses, the single room or tent supplement

PLEASE NOTE :
- This tour is not a luxury holiday but a unique cultural experience that requires adapting to local conditions
- Festival fees have not been decided by the festival organisation so our price might vary
- Your registration will be confirmed and guaranteed after payment of a 30 % deposit, the balance amount will have to be paid by bank transfer 30 days before arrival in Mali (cancellation fee 30% 30 days before departure, full price 15 days before departure)
- There are no hotels, no hot water or European shower in Essakane (3 nights)
- Bring a sleeping bag (nights are quite cold 5°c or 40°F), soft luggage (suitcases are not appropriate), summer clothing for daytime, a warm outfit for the morning and evenings
- Meals are prepared on the site by our cook with local products (pasta, couscous, rice, not too many vegetables on the market in Mopti and Timbuktu)
- Our agency is not responsible for any changes in festival dates, venues on the program during the festival (we are not part of the organisation of the festival). We reserve the right to change the itinerary if it becomes necessary to do so depending on local conditions.
- We don’t handle international or national air reservations and ticketing. Please contact and buy as soon as possible your airline ticket with the French company Point Afrique (only one flight a week on monday from Paris direct to Mopti 5,30 hours) www.point-afrique.com
- Yellow fever immunization required (certificate to be shown at the airport)
- Bring only cash in Euros (no $ no £). No credit cardds no travellers cheques accepted nowhere.