This exciting trip in Mali includes a two-day dye workshop with a famous textile designer, the mysterious Dogon country, a mudcloth-painting class, the musical extravaganza called "Festival sur le Niger," a fascinating archaeological site, and many other unique artistic and cultural experiences.

Planned to take advantage of cool weather, this trip begins in the capital city of Bamako. We continue to Ségou, Mopti, and Djenne, then we fly to the fabled town of Timbuktu; finally we return to Bamako at the end of the adventure.

Our dye workshop will take place in Bamako at the beginning of the trip. We will first shop in the market for white damask fabric, and then we will visit some specialty workshops to see the dye processes. Then we spend two days with experienced dyers-stitching, wrapping, tying and dyeing various samples of fabrics-before producing our final creations.

In Ségou, we attend the fabulous Festival on the Niger (River), an event that features performances by some of Malians internationally renowned musicians. For this festive event, a barge has been set up riverside, and the audience sits on the banks; sunset performances are especially wonderful. We will also observe mudcloth artists decorating traditional bogolan fini at a modern workshop, and then paint our own creations with the iron-rich mud dye. An optional activity near Ségou is a pinasse riverboat tour on the Niger River.

We will drive, then hike, to visit a traditional village to meet the Dogon people of the Bandiagara Escarpment and to learn about their culture and art. With enormous jutting cliffs, massive baobab trees and amazing adobe architecture, Dogon country is unlike any other place on earth!

We continue on north, to tour the mysterious and ancient archeological site of Jenne-Jeno and see the enormous, sacred mosque at nearby Djenne. Djenne, the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa was founded by merchants around 800 AD, near the site of Jenne-Jeno, which dates from around 250 BC. In 1988, the old town of Djenne and its enormous mosque were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There we will meet Peuhl women wearing big golden earrings, which represent their wealth and status. Later, we visit the bustling market town of Mopti, and fly the next day to Timbuktu, on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

This is guaranteed to be the kind of trip where you "meet the people!" Our trip leader, Sékou Samaké, is from Ségou, and he speaks French and Bambara, the traditional language of 80% of Malians. (Sekou is Cynthia's brother-in-law and she will translate for you.) Sekou's acquaintances and family ties act as an entry into all sorts of situations and places that we couldn't experience otherwise. He knows great people throughout the country and has extended family everywhere, waiting to welcome us. Expert Malian guides in specific areas, such as Jenne-Jeno and the Dogon country, will also join us. Accommodations will be in modest, pleasant, small hotels with fans. Meals will be in a variety of local restaurants with savory, typical cuisine, such as delicious Peanut Stew with rice, called Tigadigé. This trip is planned to take advantage of the coolest time of the year, however you should be prepared for very warm, dry weather.

TOUR PRICE: $2495. Includes ALL accommodations (15 nights hotel; double rooms) and ALL meals except two dinners. Airfare from US and departure taxes not included. (Incoming luggage limited to ONE MEDIUM suitcase.) Single supplement $350. See also our trip information section.

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