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Mali

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to the provinces of Tombouctou, Kidal, Gao and Mopti, and parts of the provinces of Kayes, Koulikoro and Segou. All but essential travel to the rest of Mali is also warned against. Click here for more information.

Like an exquisite sandcastle formed in a harsh desert landscape, Mali is blessed by an extraordinary amount of beauty, wonders, talents and knowledge.

Yet for now, its landscapes, monuments and stories are off-limits, sealed from tourists by a conflict that is threatening the very culture of Mali.

The heart of the nation is Bamako, where Ngoni and Kora musicians play to dancing crowds from all ethnicities, while in the Dogon country villages still cling to the cliffs as they did in ancient times.

Further west, Fula women strap silver jewelry to their ears and their belongings to donkeys, forming caravans worthy of beauty pageants as they march across the hamada (dry, dusty scrubland).

And in the northeast, the writings of ancient African civilizations remain locked in the beautiful libraries of Timbuktu, until a new dawn comes for Mali, and they – and it – can be rediscovered by travelers.

Explore Mali

  • Grande Mosquée

    Djenné's elegant Grande Mosque was constructed in 1907, though it's based on the design of an older Grande Mosquée that once stood on the site. Famous…

  • Sankoré Mosque

    Timbuktu's three great mosques - all inaccessible to non-Muslims - are nothing much to look at, but serve as reminders of its great past. The youngest of…

  • Mopti Port

    Mopti's port is a lively place, where boats from up and down the river unload their cargoes. You'll see slabs of salt from Timbuktu, dried fish, firewood,…

  • D
    Dyingerey Ber Mosque

    Timbuktu has three of the oldest mosques in West Africa. While not as visually stunning as some in Mali, they're still extremely impressive and represent…

  • G
    Grand Marché

    Every Monday, the wide open area in front of the mosque is transformed into the clamorous Monday Market, which has barely changed since the days when…

  • M
    Massina

    From the pleasant Fula village of Massina, you can start a trip along the Niger by public pinasse (large canoe). A good first stop is Diafarabé, where…

  • L
    La Dune Rose

    Gao's premier tourist attraction is a sunset trip to La Dune Rose, known locally as Koïma, a wonderful sand dune on the right bank of the Niger, visible…

  • H
    Heinrich Barth's House

    Heinrich Barth's incredible five-year journey began in Tripoli and took him first to Agadez, then through Nigeria and finally, in September 1853, he…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Mali.

  • See

    Grande Mosquée

    Djenné's elegant Grande Mosque was constructed in 1907, though it's based on the design of an older Grande Mosquée that once stood on the site. Famous…

  • See

    Sankoré Mosque

    Timbuktu's three great mosques - all inaccessible to non-Muslims - are nothing much to look at, but serve as reminders of its great past. The youngest of…

  • See

    Mopti Port

    Mopti's port is a lively place, where boats from up and down the river unload their cargoes. You'll see slabs of salt from Timbuktu, dried fish, firewood,…

  • See

    Dyingerey Ber Mosque

    Timbuktu has three of the oldest mosques in West Africa. While not as visually stunning as some in Mali, they're still extremely impressive and represent…

  • See

    Grand Marché

    Every Monday, the wide open area in front of the mosque is transformed into the clamorous Monday Market, which has barely changed since the days when…

  • See

    Massina

    From the pleasant Fula village of Massina, you can start a trip along the Niger by public pinasse (large canoe). A good first stop is Diafarabé, where…

  • See

    La Dune Rose

    Gao's premier tourist attraction is a sunset trip to La Dune Rose, known locally as Koïma, a wonderful sand dune on the right bank of the Niger, visible…

  • See

    Heinrich Barth's House

    Heinrich Barth's incredible five-year journey began in Tripoli and took him first to Agadez, then through Nigeria and finally, in September 1853, he…

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Mali with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.