Travel
| INFORMATION |
About Mali:
Mali, officially the Republic of Mali (French: République du Mali), is a landlocked nation in Western Africa. Mali is the seventh largest country in Africa, bordering Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west.
Consisting of eight regions, Mali's borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara, while the country's southern region, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Senegal rivers.
Malian musical traditions are derived from the griots, who are known as "Keepers of Memories". Malian music is diverse and has several different genres. Some famous Malian influences in music are kora virtouso musician Toumani Diabaté, the late roots and blues guitarist Ali Farka Touré, the Tuareg band Tinariwen, and several Afro-pop artists such as Salif Keita, the duo Amadou et Mariam, Oumou Sangare, and Habib Koité.
Passport & Visa:
Non-Malian tourists who want to visit Mali must have a valid passport and a Visa obtained from the Malian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
How to arrive to Bamako, Mali:
DIRECT FLIGHTS
* CAM - Compagnie Aerienne du Mali
* Air France
* Point Afrique [France Low Cost]
* Go Voyages [France Low Cost]
NON-DIRECT FLIGHTS
* Royal Air Maroc [by Casablanca]
*
Tunis Air [by Tunis]
*
Mauritania Airways [by Nouakchott]
*
Kenya Airways [by Dakar]
*
Afriqiyah [by Tripoli]
*
Air Algerie [by Algier]
ATTENTION: The festival organization is not providing flight arrangements.
Travel Recommendations:
Money
The national currency is the Franc CFA.
1 Euro - 656 FCFA, 1 USD - 477 FCFA (updated October 14, 2008)
Click here for real-time currency exchange rates
Health
Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory. Please don't forget to bring with you the international vaccination card when entering Mali.
Temperature
In the Tombouctou region, during the month of January, temperatures range from 30° Celsius/86° Fahrenheit during the day to 5° Celsius/41° Fahrenheit during the night.
Insurance
We recommend you to buy travel insurance. Festival Au Desert will not be held responsible for your belongings and your health.
What to bring with you
A good all season duvet (the desert at night can get really cold!), a warm suit, a light suit, walking shoes, a lamp, sun glasses, all the necessary batteries you'll need to make your electrical equipment work.
General considerations
Attending the Festival au Desert has been considered by most participants a magic experience. However, conditions in the desert are not easy and logistic challenges are such that, despite our best efforts, the Festival au desert remains a demanding destination.
BOOKINGS
IMPORTANT
The best way to attend the Festival Au Desert is by booking both your ticket and transportation. We highly discourage trying to reach the festival on your own, as it can be difficult and potentially hazardous traveling alone without an expert guide or driver. Customized tours are available for a safe and unforgettable experience.
Market Place
The Hub of the Travel Agencies Partner of the Festival will be open on the 6 septembre at 20:00 GMT+2.
A Travel Agency Partner of the Festival matches the following criteria:
- It has a valid agreement with the 'Office Malien du Tourisme et de l'Hotellerie' (OMATHO)
- It has signed an engagement with the Festival for the respect of a number of conditions.
The Travel Agencies Partners benefit of an organized open space within the Festival Site with water and electricity and they have visibility on the Hub where they can present their Tours.
If you are a Travel Agency, please read the
following information
For the 2011 edition of the Festival, the Management of the Festival proposes a new form of partnership with the Malian Travel Agencies that are interested.
The deadline to send you partnership request is the 1st of September 2010. Send your request to hub@festival-au-desert.org joining:
- Name and contacts (phone and email adress) of the manager
- Copy of the agreement with OMATHO
- Copie of the Commercial Roster (registre du commerce - RC - )