3-Day Djenné Mosque and Market Tour from Bamako

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore the Monday Market of Djenné
• 02 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grand Mosque, the biggest dried mud building in the world
• 03 Stroll through Djenné's narrow streets lined with ancient Sudanese-style mud buildings
• 04 See the cultural heritage of Djenné-Djeno at the Mission Culturelle museum

Located halfway between Bamako and Timbuktu, Djenné is an ancient town surrounded by impressive Sudanese-style mud buildings. Famous for its mud-brick mosque, Djenné is also a market centre and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. On this 3-day tour, see the best of this peaceful oasis in the middle of the Niger River Delta, its lively Monday Market, and its remarkable architecture.

Located halfway between Bamako and Timbuktu, Djenné is an ancient town surrounded by impressive Sudanese-style mud buildings.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Mopti, Timbuktu, Bamako, Djenné

Languages English, French, German, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Bamako to Djenné via Mopti Excursion

• Enjoy a scenic 7-hour ride from Bamako to Djenné, said to be the sister of Timbuktu and one of the oldest towns in West Africa. Situated on an isle created by the Niger River Delta, you must cross on a ferry to reach it.
• Once checked in at your hotel, walk around the ancient town and visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grand Mosque, the biggest dried mud building in the world. It was built in 1280 when the 26th king of Djenné, Koi Komboro, converted to Islam.
• Then, stroll through the narrow, winding streets of Djenné to see the ancient Sudanese-style mud buildings that make this ancient town a must-visit when in Mali.
• In the afternoon, take a 2-hour ride to Mopti for a quick city tour before returning to Djenné, where you will be spending the night.

2

Day 02

Djenné Monday Market and Cultural Visit

• Explore the Monday Market of Djenné. In front of the Grand Mosque is a large square that turns into a market every Monday, where locals from different corners of Mali gather to sell, buy, and exchange local produce, art pieces, animals, and much more.
• Then, visit Djenné's Mission Culturelle, which houses the plan of Djenné-Djeno, the ancient settlement of Djenné dating back to 250 BC, along with some excavated artefacts.

3

Day 03

Return from Djenné to Bamako

• After breakfast, depart from Djenné and take the route back to Bamako in an air-conditioned vehicle. Your 3-day adventure ends with a transfer back to your hotel.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional Mali tour guide
• Fuel
• Ferry ride
• Hotel accommodation for 2 nights

What's Not Included

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

Know before you go

• Our trips are private, with no fixed departure dates (except our Festival group tours), fully guided and scheduled upon request. These personalized departures are for your party only.
• In addition to these standard itineraries, we can also customise a private tour to fully meet your aspirations. For a customized itinerary, see our Tour Request page, fill in the pertinent items, and then click to submit.
• Please note: our prices are digressive-lower per person as the size of your party increases. A trip for a single traveller will be a bit costly, as there is no cost-sharing with fellow travellers.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Bamako, Mali

Tour start

Bamako, Mali

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.