Mali & Festival in the Desert

Mali sits at the base of the vast Sahara Desert and for centuries was criss-crossed by caravansaries carrying salt, gold and slaves. Instead of camels, your 4x4s will take you across this exotic, remote, rugged land, to see the best Mali has to offer.   You’ll visit U.N. World Heritage sites like the world-famous sand mosque in Djenne, then enjoy the ritual of bartering with locals in the market in front. You’ll take a leisurely pirogue sail on the Niger, then experience colorful towns on its banks, like Mopti, called the Venice of Mali. You will wander the streets of legendary Timbuktu, and visit the turban-maker to select your fabric from hundreds of hues, then be instructed on how to wind it as protection from wind and sand. You will be led on a hike through the Falaise de Bandiagara and down its escarpment with its breathtaking views and ancient Dogon cave dwellings.    A highlight of your trip is being immersed in the world’s most remote music festival  – the Festival in the Desert  – a three-day gathering outside of Timbuktu that is a joyous mix of traditional, modern, and western music. Trades will be made, differences settled and marriages arranged, the days will be full of traditional Malian games and camel races and the nights filled with the best music of West Africa.   Before the festival, you will work on a volunteer project in the fascinating Dogon Country.  The 150-kilometer-long sandstone escarpment has served as home to the Dogon people, believed to be one of the oldest surviving African cultures. We'll donate and plant fruit trees at a school garden. The children will care for the trees and sell the fruit to earn money to buy school supplies. It's a joyous gift that keeps giving.   Ring in your new year with a sense of purpose and a feeling of global rhythm, bringing home pictures, videos, and mementos of your musical journey, and the satisfaction of knowing you have made a difference in this ancient land.