My Birthday .. Timbuktu or Bust

Well as you might know I plan on going to Timbuktu for my 50th Birthday. The reason that most things don't happen is because we don't plan.  I have a year and half to go. It seems so far but really it's not. My orginal plan was to fly to Dakar Senegal and drive to Timbuktu. After studying a map I decide I would spend to much time on the road. Since I probably will only have at the most 12 days I must make the most of my time. So leaving JFK for Paris overnight in Paris with a diner cruise down the Seine River......Birthday cake and Bon Voyage Party time (Hosted by my friend Simone)...next day the fun begins  for me.... Paris to Bamako Mali . My sister Jane hopes to be able to escort me to Mali. I hope you can join me to Timbuktu if not at least come to Paris and a enjoy the party  and stay for the sights for few days  before going home. I have not set the dates  yet... just Sept. 2013 so hold the date or at least keep it in mind.

ITINERARY
Day 1
Sunday Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; overnight

Monday Bamako – Mopti (640 km; ~8hrs)
After breakfast, begin my African journey with a scenic drive through the heartland of Mali, to the port city of Mopti; sightseeing en route

Day 3
Tuesday Mopti / Niger River
City tour of Mopti, sometimes called the Venice of Mali because it is surrounded by the waters of the Niger and the Bani rivers: see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market; your boat crew will purchase supplies, and at mid-morning embark on your river boat and begin sailing the Niger River to Timbuktu; overnight camping on the river bank

Day 4
Wednesday Niger River
Full day of sailing; visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way; you will also see Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river; meals and overnight camping on the riverbank

Day 5
Thursday Niger River – Timbuktu
Final day of sailing to take in the tranquil sights and sounds of the Niger River, and arrive in Timbuktu by day's end; transfer from the port to your hotel in town; overnight in Timbuktu

Day 6
Friday Timbuktu – Sahara Desert
Visit the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert: see the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — here, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, begin your own desert excursion by 4-wheel drive vehicle, and experience the vast majesty of the great Sahara Desert; visit a Tuareg camp; enjoy dinner and tea on the dunes, and overnight camping with our Tuareg hosts, the Princes of the Desert

Day 7
Saturday Sahara Desert – Timbuktu
Goodbye to your Tuareg hosts and return to Timbuktu; rest of the day at leisure to further explore this ancient city; optional Takamba (Tuareg dance) in the evening; overnight in Timbuktu

Day 8
Sunday Timbuktu – Djenne (510 km; ~7hrs)
Depart Timbuktu; interesting drive across the Sahel ecosystem, and onward to Timbuktu's historic sister-city Djenne, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; overnight

Day 9
Monday Djenne – Segou (335 km; ~4½hrs)
Visit Djenne on its colorful weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best; see the magnificent Great Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world, originally constructed in the XIIIth century; stroll through the narrow streets and alleys, and visit the tomb of the young girl sacrificed to appease the spirits; in the afternoon, onward drive to Segou; overnight

Day 10
Tuesday Segou – Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
Visit Segou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center; admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port and the pottery market; and onward to Bamako! en route, visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; arrive and overnight in Bamako

Day 11
Wednesday Bamako / final departure
Bamako city tour: get an overview of this sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the
airport to Paris..connecting home to JFK


I  will be working with Saga Tours of Mali for the land arrangements in Mali and Virgin Atlantic Vacations for Paris and Flights. This is just a tentative plan as a I  do more research I will tweak it . I hope you can all join me if not for Timbuktu but at least for a long week-end  in Paris for my Birthday Party and Bon Voyage Party!!!