| Festival in the Desert | | | | many great local and regional headliners have |
| Although landscaped with sand dunes and rugged | | | | graced its stage, including Toumani Diabate, Baba |
| terrain, the region near Essakane, Mali is no cultural | | | | Salah, Sekouba Bambino and Saharawi, along with |
| desert. This is the site of one of the world’s | | | | the late great Ali Farka Toure. |
| most unique musical events, Festival in the Desert | | | | Accommodations for Festival in the Desert are |
| or Festival au Désert as it is know in French. | | | | provided in basic tents. Visitors feast on Saharan |
| Located two hours from the legendary Timbuktu, | | | | cuisine prepared on site at the Mali desert festival. |
| the area welcomes visitors who travel to Festival | | | | This is all a part of the unique three day cultural |
| in the Desert from distant lands to witness | | | | extravaganza. |
| culture, history and the arts. Although this soiree | | | | A tour of Festival in the Desert can be combined |
| began in 2001, it is a Tuareg festival that is | | | | with other Mali tours. Mali travel details can be |
| rooted in the rich history of these people. Tuaregs | | | | found on |
| gather from surrounding areas to trade their | | | | An overland Festival in the Desert excursion |
| wares, play games, race camels, and display their | | | | provides the traveler with a perfect opportunity |
| poetic and dancing skills. | | | | to tour Bamako, Mopti, Dogon Country, Djenne, |
| Since its inception, this Mali music festival has | | | | Segou and Timbuktu. Art and culture lovers from |
| grown tremendously, attracting renowned | | | | all over the world are now booking their flights to |
| Western artists, such as Jimmy Buffet and Led | | | | Festival in the Desert for January. |
| Zepplin. Known also as the Timbuktu Festival, | | | | |