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What to Do in Gao
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& Festivals
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Desert Camel Treks
Niger River Trips
Great Spots Near Gao
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Visit the On-line Gao Photo Gallery.
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Gao
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More Info? Links!
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Other Great Places to
Visit in Mali
Timbuktu
Dogon Country
Mopti
Djenn�
Mud Mosque
Bamako & S�gou
Learn About Mali
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Mali Today
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Gao Tourist Center
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Note: Timbuktu can also be reached by air once per week using CAM, which makes the journey between Gao and Timbuktu in 1 1/2 hours every Tuesday.
Timbutku - Mysterious, Remote, World-Renowned
Centre of Islamic Scholarship
What could be better than being able to tell your
friends that you made it all the way to Timbuktu? Those who visit this
world-renowned city will
clearly never feel the same way again about the phrase "way out in
Timbuktu".
Timbuktu, like Gao, is the home of mostly Songha� and Tuareg peoples. It is locate approximately 800 Km from Bamako, approximately 400 Km from Mopti, and approximately 400 Km from Gao.
There's lots to do once you get to Timbuktu. There are camel rides out into the desert. There are mosques and libraries of ancient Muslim scholarship to visit...and, of course, there are all of those phone calls to place where when the connection goes through you say, "you'll never guess where I am". Visitors to Timbuktu usually get there by one of three methods.
- By 4x4 - Tourists usually depart with their 4x4 from Mopti / Sevar� and then head north to Timbuktu after reaching Douenza (approximately 8 hours total). Other less frequented, but perhaps more scenic and interesting routes include north along the river from Gao to Timbuktu (approximately 10 hours) and also from Bamako north from S�gou through Niono (approximately 10 hours, dry season only).
- By Boat - Pinasse trips are a popular way to reach Timbuktu either from Mopti or Gao (both trips usually 4 days and 3 nights). The Malian government runs a larger ferry service (September - January, depending on rainfall) that operates weekly between S�gou and Gao passing through Timbuktu on its way.
- By Air - A new, weekly intra-Malian air service is now offered through the Compagnie Aerienne du Mali. Flights from Bamako or Sevar� to Timbuktu leave on Tuesdays and Saturdays while air service from Gao to Timbuktu is on Tuesdays only.
Issakane, located a few hours north of Timbuktu, is also the site of the the annual Festival au Desert, billed as the world's most remote music festival. The festival is held every January and has drawn such performers as Robert Plant as well as almost all Malian performers of note.
Best Tourist
Sites in
Mali Other Than Gao
Timbuktu
Dogon Country
Mopti
Djenn� Mud Mosque
Bamako &
S�gou