At the end of the Earth, dusty light hallows corridors of clay. Figures walk by in indigo robes and white turbans, smiling, laughing, singing, and praying. At the end of the Earth, musty tomes, centuries old, describe ancient histories, themselves but mysterious transcriptions of tales told to children, handed down to generation after generation. And a fantastical temple rises up, studded and turreted with hand-sculpted mud, forged anew each year for the last thousand years.

This is Timbuktu—poised at the edge of the Sahara, as far away as the imagination can peer, as legendary as El Dorado . . . and now as close as you wish it.

In the long centuries before Magellan, Timbuktu was the destination of camel caravans, bearing salt from the Sahara in exchange for gold, jewels, and precious ivory. It rose to prominence as a scholarly center of Arab Africa before a long period of decline, with the sand dunes inexorably closing in. Only in 1828 did the first European traveler return from Timbuktu. Almost nowhere else is a place so fabled and so prominent in history and myth also so isolated from the rest of the world.

Do you seek an experience beyond your familiar borders? Do you wonder about ancient landscapes and cultures rooted to the fabric of human history?

Because for us, Timbuktu is merely the beginning of a journey—into the heart of West Africa, where myriad cultures and natural wonders will leave you breathless.

The Road to Timbuktu winds through the 19th-century French colonial town of Segou en route to Djenne, home to the famous Grand Mosque, the greatest mosque in West Africa and the largest mud-brick structure in the world. Admire this otherworldly Sahel-style structure before driving through lonely landscapes of epic beauty to Mopti, a bustling city known for its trade in carved wood sculptures and dramatically colored fabrics. Explore the mystical Dogon region, where a complex animistic cosmology reigns, inspiring mask ceremonies, vibrant rock paintings, and mystical cliff dwellings. Unlike most pilgrimages to Timbuktu, a short flight will transport us to this most legendary of cities, bypassing a lengthy and arduous drive for your comfort and convenience.

Sub-Saharan civilizations are only half the story of West Africa. After our exploration of the Dogon region and Timbuktu, we’ll continue our journey aboard the 34-guest Callisto, an elegant private yacht hailed for its wonderful combination of superb cuisine, impeccable service, and intimate ambience, for a dazzling cruise down the Casamance, Gambia, and Saloum rivers of Senegal and The Gambia. You will be surrounded by the extraordinary wildlife of the Casamance, Baobolong Wetland Reserve, Kiang West National Park, and Abuko Nature Preserve—a completely different experience of nature than in the well-trodden safari routes of Kenya and Tanzania. Kingfishers swoop, baboons howl, and warthogs rut and snuffle along the banks; marsh mongoose and roan antelopes dart through isolated expanses of woodland and grassland. An aweinspiring display of bird life, with hundreds of species from carmine bee-eaters to yellow-billed storks and paradise flycatchers, will amaze champion and neophyte birdwatchers alike. Dock at traditional villages and take excursions to historic towns—including M’lomp, with its banco houses and silk-cotton trees, and Jufureh, famous for its Mandinka culture and griots. Conclude in Dakar, the musical capital of West Africa, for a pilgrimage to Goree Island, creating a comprehensive educational experience in the natural and cultural history of this unbelievably varied region.

Highlights: Enjoy a spectacular private performance of Dogon Mask dances Learn how ancient manuscripts are preserved during a visit with the director of the Ahmed Baba Library in Timbuktu Drive to the desert encampment outside of Timbuktu for a ceremonial Tuareg performance Join the chief of the Sangawatt Museum in the Senegalese village of Djembereng as he leads you on a private tour and explains the culture of the area Explore the Gambia's pristine and privately owned Makasutu Culture Forest with its rich wildlife Attend a private lecture on historic Goree Island given by the curator of the Slave Museum Meet with community leaders in Senegal's Casamance

Day 1: USA
Depart the United States on a flight to Bamako, Mali.

Day 2: BAMAKO, MALI
Arrive in Bamako, the capital of Mali, this evening and transfer to the Hotel Sofitel l’Amitié Bamako.

Day 3: BAMAKO
Visit the National Museum, housing one of the best ethnographic collections in West Africa. Enjoy lunch at the San Toro Restaurant, which features a gallery of traditional Malian art. Later, explore Bamako’s artisan market.
(B, L, D)

Day 4: BAMAKO | MOPTI
On a private flight, fly to Mopti, located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers, and see the impressive mud-brick mosque and local markets. Enjoy a sunset boat ride on the Niger River. Overnight at the Hotel Kanaga.
(B, L, D)

Day 5: MOPTI | DJENNÉ | MOPTI
Little has changed since the 14th and 15th centuries when Djenné profited from the trans-Sahara trade. The main feature of Djenné is the Grand Mosque, the world’s largest mud-brick structure, which dates back to the 13th century but is repaired and rebuilt each year after the rainy season. Also visit the colorful market and the Bogolon mudcloth workshop.
(B, L, D)

Day 6: MOPTI | DOGON REGION | MOPTI
Tour the villages of the Dogon Region, built along the cliffs of an escarpment, and renowned for their unique architecture and elaborate art forms. Enjoy a spectacular Dogon mask dance performance.
(B, L, D)

Day 7: MOPTI | TIMBUKTU | BAMAKO
On a private flight, fly from Mopti to Timbuktu, once one of the wealthiest cities of Africa and a center of scholarship. During a walking tour, see the 15th-century Djingareyber and Sankore mosques; the explorers’ houses; and the Ahmed Baba Library of ancient Arabic writings and books. Fly to Bamako and overnight at the Hotel Sofitel l’Amitié Bamako.
(B, L, D)

Day 8: BAMAKO | DAKAR, SENEGAL | EMBARK
Fly from Bamako to Dakar and embark Callisto. Sail in the evening.
(B, L, D)

Days 9: SALOUM RIVER | DJIFFERE | JOAL-FADIOUT, SENEGAL
In the morning, Callisto will enter Senegal’s Saloum River and sail through scenic waterways and small islands to the village of Djiffere. Drive to the fishing village of Fadiout, one of Senegal’s most fascinating sites: the island is composed entirely of shells that have accumulated over the centuries. Everything here is made of shells—they are on the walls of the houses, and they cover the narrow pathways. In the evening, Callisto will enter the River Gambia and sail to the village of Tendaba, located 55 miles upriver.
(B, L, D)

Days 10: TENDABA | KIANG WEST NATIONAL PARK | BAOBOLONG WETLAND RESERVE, RIVER GAMBIA, THE GAMBIA
From the village of Tendaba, situated on the south of the riverbank, explore two of The Gambia’s most important wildlife reserves. In the morning, drive to the Kiang West National Park, where mangroves, creeks, and mudflats alternate with dry woodland and grassland. Kiang West is notable for its more that 250 species of birds. In the afternoon, board local boats to navigate the waterways and maze of islands that comprise Baobolong Wetland Reserve, a notable bird sanctuary and a wonderland of mangroves, some of which are over 60 feet tall.
(B, L, D)

Day 11: KUNTAUR | WASSU STONE CIRCLES, RIVER GAMBIA
Early in the morning, Callisto will leave Tendaba to navigate deeper into the River Gambia. The river beyond Tendaba narrows, and its banks are covered with tropical forest. Passing by remote villages with grass-thatched huts, we arrive in the village of Kuntaur. As the ship navigates the twisting river, look for hippos that frequent this part of the river. In Kuntaur, set on a beautiful bend of the river, visit the colorful weekly market, where many tribes gather to sell their wares, and explore the nearby Wassu Stone Circles, the remnants of an ancient Senegambian culture, dating to about A.D. 750. Afterwards, we are greeted in the village by a traditional ceremony of local music and dance.
(B, L, D)

Day 12: RIVER GAMBIA NATIONAL PARK | JANJANBUREH
Board local motorized pirogues in the morning to discover the five mid-river Baboon Islands that constitute the River Gambia National Park. The islands also house the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust, the longest running such project in Africa, set up in 1969. Look for monkeys and other wildlife as our boat cruises by the lushly forested islands, and continue to the town of Janjanbureh, also known by its colonial name of Georgetown, once an important trading post for the British. Explore the quaint old town, where most of the buildings date from the 19th century, and shop for local crafts. Janjanbureh’s woodlands and leafy riverfront house a large number of bird species, and you will have the opportunity to take a nature and bird watching walk. Return to Callisto late in the afternoon and spend the night aboard anchored in Kuntaur.
(B, L, D)

Day 13: THE RIVER GAMBIA
Sail from Kuntaur in the morning on our downriver journey en route to Banjul, enjoying river views and life along the way. Time and river conditions permitting, we may stop at one of the villages along our route. Arrive in Banjul late in the evening.
(B, L, D)

Day 14: BANJUL | ABUKO NATURE RESERVE | MAKASUTU CULTURE FOREST | BANJUL
Founded by the British early in the 19th century, Banjul is the capital and commercial center of The Gambia. Disembark in the morning and drive to the Abuko Nature Reserve, one of the last surviving examples of tropical riverine forests in the country. Within its confines are about 300 species of birds, as well as red colobus and callithrix monkeys. Continue to the Makasutu Culture Forest, a private nature habitat with beautiful woodland and waterways. Enjoy lunch at the reserve. Return to Banjul to visit the National Museum, whose exhibits illustrate the history and culture of the country.
(B, L, D)

Day 15: DAKAR | DISEMBARK | GORÉE ISLAND | DAKAR
Disembark in Dakar. Visit Gorée Island, first settled by Europeans in the 15th century, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Dakar to visit the IFAN Museum, one of West Africa’s best, then explore the Marche Soumbedioune, a craft market with the best variety of artisan workmanship. Transfer to the Hotel Sofitel Teranga for dinner and accommodations until your evening flight. Transfer to the airport for return flights to the United States. (B, L, D)

Day 16: USA
Arrive in the United States.