Mopti, Segou and Bamako in 3 Days: Mosques, Markets and City Tour with Niger River Cruise

Tour the fascinating cities of Mopti, Segou, and Bamako on a three-day tour across central Mali. Get a glimpse of the locals' ways of living, meet the many different faces of the country at the bustling marketplaces, try your hands at making mud cloth with the help of a famous Mali artist, cruise the Niger River, and so much more.

What to Expect

Day 1: Mopti - Segou

After a morning pick up from your hotel, enjoy a town tour of Mopti, visiting its bustling harbor, marketplace, old town, and mosque. Nicknamed as the "Venice of Mali", Mopti is known for its port linking all of Mali’s towns and villages along the Niger River. Here, you'll see big slabs of salt that come from the far north, carried across the Sahara Desert by the Tuareg caravans to Timbuktu where they are loaded onto pinasses that sail down the Niger, and then eventually end up in Mopti to be bought and sold.

At the marketplace, you'll see the many different ethnic people of Mali - Bozo, Dogon, Moors, Tuareg, and Songhai - interacting, selling, and buying. You will also see the famous Fulani women wearing their iconic big gold earrings, as featured on national postage stamps and posters all over the country. Depart from Mopti after lunch and take a 5-hr drive to Segou. If time permits, you will also visit the town's port and colonial buildings before dinner.

Day 2: Segou

After breakfast, swing by Boubacar Doumbia’s atelier, Mali's leading Bogolon or mud cloth artist. Try your own hands at making a sample piece which you can keep as a souvenir as Boubacar Doumbia himself or his staff demonstrates how mud cloth is made.

When the afternoon heat subsides, hop on a traditional boat that will take you on a cruise along the Niger River and to a local village. You'll return to Segou in the evening after a beautiful sunset river cruise. 

Day 3: Segou - Bamako

Travel to Bamako in the morning, stopping for a quick visit of Ségou-Koro, the former seat of the Bambara Empire where the body of the late King Biton Coulibaly lies. Get to meet the village chief and see two ancient mosques; one was older than the village and the other was built by the King and given as a gift to his mother when she converted to Islam.

Continue your trip to the capital and upon arrival, explore Bamako’s National Museum, recycling market, and Grand Marchee. If it is a clear day, you will drive up to Point G for a panoramic view of Bamako and the Niger River.

Includes

• Niger River cruise
• Professional local guide 
• Fuel
• Hotel accommodation
• Entrance fees to Bamako National Museum, recycling market, and Segou atelier 
• Fee for rooftop panoramic view of Mopti mosque/old town and to photograph Fulani women
  
• Segou-Koro village tax
  

• Visa and visa application fees
• Travel insurance and immunizations
• Meals, beverages, and snacks
• Tips and gratuities
• Personal expenses