 | Timbuktu Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 13 |  |
Popular Transportation | Other Transportation Tips | All Tips (13) The most reasonable way to visit Timbuktu is by plane. You can get in and out in a day or so and not spend a week just getting there and back. I believe that the only feasible air service originates in Bamako. Check ahead for flight availability and schedules.
We were able to charter a plane, so we went from Bamako, to Timbuktu to Mopti and it conformed to our schedule and needs. Obviously, solo travelors are going to be left adjusting their schedules to that of the airlines.
I have heard some people rave about the boat journey from Mopti to Timbuktu. I agee that it sounds like fun, slowly motoring up the grand Niger River passing by villages. But it is a couple days journey and the accomodations in the boat (pinasse) are likely to be spartan and perhaps crowded. Certainly, a boat provides for a more "authentic" experience. The question is whether the time commitment and conditions of such a boat trip make this authentic experience worthwhile. Leave a Comment Theme: Airplane
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Arriving at Timbuktu is an adventure, because there aren't roads to Timbuktu (only hard tracks). You´ll need a land-rover.
There're public land-rovers to/from Timbuktu.
When I was in Timbuktu It was possible to arrive at Mopti from Timbuktu in the same day (dry season) because the track had been recently repaired.
In September-2004 the price was 15.000 CFAS each, but you'll have to haggle over very hard. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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Another good option is going to/from Timbuktu by tourist pinasse. It's more expensive than ordinary pinasses but more comfortable. You'll need about three days.
Despite if you travel alone it can be difficult and too expensive to get a pinasse. Then the best option is joining a group.
We chartered a pinasse to carry 4 persons from Mopti to Timbuktu and we paid 250.000 CFAS (food not included) for a 3-days trip.
The trip is relaxing and interesting. Birdwatching is possible across the Niger river and if you're lucky you can see hippopotamus in some stretches of the river.
You can read or play cards as well during the trip. Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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Reaching Timbuktu is sometimes hard and it's part of its charm. But once you are there, the way back can be a little hard and have lost its charm once you have done it before.
So I thought it would be a good idea to reserve a flight back to Bamako with MAE. I don't regret, believe me. Reaching Bamako could be 3-4 days minimum overland, by plane is just a couple of hours (it stops in Mopti to pick up passengers).
The one way ticket is 150 euros. You can reserve the ticket online (see www below) and pay it once you arrive in Bamako. No credit cards accepted.
2-3 filghts weekly. Leave a Comment
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There are no public buses from the airport to the center, which is some 6 kms away. To get to the airport from Timbuktu I hired a motorbike who picked me up at the hotel and took me there in 10 minutes for about 2-3 euros. Ask at the hotel you are staying in, in advance. Leave a Comment Theme: Airplane
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The fastest overland way to get to Timbuktu is on a 4x4 vehicle. It is the most expensive, but will take tou there in 10 hours, instead of 3-4 days that take the pirogues by river. You have to ask in hotels, guides, people in the street... if there is some car leaving next day, and then bargain the price. Dependeing on how many people travelling, the car... it might go from 30 to 80 euros. The car leaves at 8-9 and arrives there in the evening. Be sure to reach the river before sunset, if not you will have to wait for the ferry (that crosses to the Timbuktu side of the river) till the following day... Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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It's possible to get a fligt to Timbuktu from Bamako or Mopti, although the price must be high and not suitable to backpackers and there aren't flights every day Leave a Comment Theme: Airplane
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A good and fascinating way to go to this town in the desert is - no joke! - by boat. If there is enough water in the Niger river, you can leave Mopti with a pinasse and reach the port of Timbuktu within 2 or 3 days. Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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Despite what you hear from others, it is perfectly possible to get to Timbuktu in 2wd cars - people who say differently have obviously not tried it.
We decided to take the hard route from Nema (Mauritanea) across to Nara, Leere Sokolo then Timbuktu. We managed this in just over 4 days. This was not to be done without planning. Some of the guys in 2 wheel drive cars had listened to rumours, and were too scared to take the hard route . They travelled down to Bamako first, to make more of the journey on sealed road. The route from Bamako to Timbuktu (via Sokolo and sandy tracks) took them 2 days with a guide and they arrived ahead of us in Timbuktu.
Timbuktu is a common tourist destination, as its name is well known. Anyone who expects miracles upon arrival has obviously not done their homework. There are plenty of Hotels but it's not a cheap place to stay.
Timbuktu has it's own charm, but nothing that deserves more than a day or two. There are a big mix of populations, which is evident if you take the time to look properly. Various different types of dwellings can be seen and these relate to the different roots of the population in history.
The modern buildings do not have the charm of historical Timbuktu, but there are still enough mud-brick houses and the mud-Mosque to remind you what it was like hundreds of years ago.
It is well worth to get a guided tour as you will quickly see the history of the town from places and items that you may not have noticed. The view from the top of the 3 story market building is not to be missed as you can make out soft sand on the horizon in all directions, and then look down on the bustling and noisy market streets.
We left Timbuktu towards Dogon country. The road was 200km of corrugations, which was quite wearing but far superior to the tracks we'd been on previously.
After 200km from Timbuktu we were on tarmac again - so the run through Dogone country was easy. We visited Mopti and Djenne and arrived at Bamako 2 days after leaving Timbuktu.
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COMANAV is the "Malian Company of Navigation". It has a big boat that sails the river from Koulikoro to Gao only in wet season (june to october). It has no fix schedules, so you have to ask and be lucky. I saw it just when I was arriving to Timbuktu, but didn't sail on it. Another traveller told me she had, and that it was a "too rough" experience... it can take 3-4 days to reach Timbuktu. It's definetly the cheapest way to reach Timbuktu. Cabins are small and hot, and there is no cafeteria on board, so if you decide to take the risk (sorry, I meant trip), be sure to have plenty of food, toilet paper, sleeping bag... just in case. Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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