On arrival at Bamako's Sénou International Airport you are met and transferred to the hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Situated on the banks of the Niger River, Mali's capital is quite a lively place and home to over 1.3 million people. There are often excellent live music acts in the city over a weekend, with such renowned African artists such as Salif Keita, Bassekou Kouyate and Toumani Diabaté regularly playing. The lively Route de Bla Bla also offers an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars. We also get together sometime this evening for a group meeting, where you meet your Peregrine tour leader and your other fellow travelling companions.

This morning we depart Bamako for a three-hour drive to Ségou (235 km). After a brief visit to Segou for refreshments, we head to Boubacar Doumbia's atelier. Boubacar is the leading Bogolon (mud cloth) artist in Mali. He, or one of his staff, will give us a demonstration on how mud cloth is made from start to finish. You can then have your own hands-on experience of making a sample piece which you will get to keep. There is also the opportunity to purchase some of the Bogolon products, which make for an original, quality souvenir of Mali. Driving for another two hours we reach the village of Niamana, where we lend support to the tremendous work that is being done by Mali Initiative Projects in providing education facilities for the local people. We meet the mayor of the village and get briefed on the community developments that are taking place. We are then escorted to a home where we get to be guests of a local family for the night and enjoy a home-cooked meal with them. This is a unique opportunity for cross-cultural interaction and is sure to be a memorable encounter.

An early departure takes us to Pays Dogon. The Pays Dogon is an area where the vibrant local people still live as they have for centuries. The area is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural and cultural significance, with a 200 kilometre length of escarpment. The area is still the object of study by anthropologists around the world. Our first stop will be to visit the village of Songo (55 km), famous for its picturesque setting and rock paintings at the site of circumcision. We will then continue to the village of Dourou (60 km), situated on the edge of the plateau with sweeping views of the Bandiagara escarpment. After lunch in Dourou and time to visit the village, we begin our trek down the escarpment through a breathtaking gorge. The trek takes 2 to 3 hours, over rocky terrain, and at times can be strenuous; however the rewards are worthwhile as the glorious sands of the Sahel stretch before us to the horizon as we descend the escarpment. A further walk on flat, sandy terrain (approx 90 minutes) takes us to the village of Nombori where we will spend the first trekking night. Whilst trekking we will sleep each night on the rooftops of the chief's compound. Tents can be hired locally if preferred but the normal practice is to sleep on mats on the roof. You will be woken at first light by the resident roosters and donkeys - part of the Dogon experience! However, you will not mind as the opportunity to watch the light of sunrise bathe the rocky escarpment in a golden glow is spectacular. After some time exploring the village we continue walking for an hour to Amani where we enjoy lunch and a visit to a crocodile pond, important locally as the crocodile is the first symbol of the Dogon. After lunch we shelter from the heat of the day on a visit to the springs and the Hogon in Indjeli Gotagna. In the late afternoon we trek a further 90 minutes along flat ground to the village of Tireli. On the morning of day 5, we are treated to the sights and sounds of the incredible Dogon Masked Dance Ceremony – an energetic, ritual dance featuring elaborate masks and dancers on stilts, it is truly a privilege to witness. We trek the remainder of the way to the village of Ireli – which has some of the best-preserved examples of the habitats of the Tellem and Dogon peoples. Here we spend our third night camping on the roof of the chief’s compound. The trek is along flat, sandy ground and takes us amongst the surprisingly lush vegetable gardens of the Dogon people, who are particularly known for their onion exports to other parts of the country. The trek is not strenuous, however temperatures in the Dogon region can be quite high and there is the option to take an ox or cow-cart for part or all of the way if you so choose.

To begin our final morning of the Pays Dogon trek we spend time visiting the village of Ireli before we begin the walk up to Sangha. The walk up to the top of the escarpment takes us through a beautiful valley with many Tellem houses before reaching the village of Sangha, where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we depart for Djenné, driving a distance of 270 kilometres which takes approximately four to five hours. Djenné is the sister town of Timbuktu and one of the oldest towns in west Africa. It is built on an island in the Niger River Delta and we must take a ferry to get there. Djenne is a great place for self-discovery as we can just lose ourselves amid the winding alleyways. Watching the sun set over the impressive mosque from one of Djenné’s ancient rooftops yet another experience to behold! Our accommodation whilst in Djenné is quite basic, as we stay in a local 'campement' (simple hostel). However the location of our 'campement' is unbeatable - it is in the heart of this fascinating town and one of only three located within the town walls.

Monday is market day and the most interesting day to visit Djenné. This market sells an incredible array of goods from exotic fabrics to various spices, billy goats and watermelons. With the street stalls selling delectable local treats, this market is sure to dazzle all of your senses! We also go on a walking tour to visit the famous Grand Mosque. The first mosque was built in 1280, when the 26th king, Djenné Were Koi Komboro, converted to Islam. The current mosque is estimated to be about 100 years old and each year its facade is painstakingly restored after the rainy season. We also walk through the narrow, winding streets to see the beautiful architecture of the clay houses that make Djenné such a unique and original city. In the afternoon we depart for the river port town of Mopti, situated along the confluence of the Niger and Bani Rivers.

This morning we take a tour of Mopti's main sights including the Ladies' Market, Old Town and the Harbour. Here we can see the big slabs of salt that come from the far north, carried across the Sahara Desert by the Tuareg camel caravans to Timbuktu, where they are loaded on to 'pinasses' (large traditional canoes) and sailed down the Niger River to Mopti to be bought and sold. We also see the many different faces of Mali selling and buying in the market – Peul, Bozo, Fulani, Dogon, Moors, Tuareg and Songhai. In warm light of the late afternoon, we take an excursion along the Niger River by 'pinasse' (traditional dugout canoe). We drift past fishing villages and watch the sun set over Mopti.

This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Bamako. Upon arrival we are met and taken to our hotel to freshen up before enjoying a city tour. Our afternoon tour of Bamako includes the Grande Marché, which contains a veritable rabbit warren of food stalls, clothing and household goods, spread over several city blocks. Whilst not for the faint-hearted, a visit to the fetish stalls is sure to guarantee unforgettable and bizarre sightings. We visit to the exceptional Musée National (National Museum), with its stunning collection of masks, textiles and ancient artefacts. Set amid tranquil, leafy grounds the museum is an excellent introduction into Malian life and also houses a wonderful bookshop and restaurant.

Today is the final day of your tour and you are transferred to Bamako Sénou International airport to meet your flight home. For those of us flying out this evening the remainder of the day is at leisure to do some further sightseeing or last-minute shopping. A day room has been booked for our collective use at our Bamako hotel. This will enable us to freshen up prior to our transfer to the airport for our flight home.