TIMBUKTU

[SIM]

Its my missus's 40th, back end of the the year. I have always fancied going to the 'Festival of the desert' now in Timbuktu, Mali. I did think of going to Marrakesh, but selfishly I have been, and would like to go somewhere I have not been before.

I know for the last couple of year the sitution in Mali has been a bit dodgy due to the Al Qaeda, but I understand they are getting on top of the situation, also the festival has been cancelled for the last couple of years.

I wanted to know if anyone has been, how they got there, would be looking at flights with vehicular transport from Bamako because internal flights are apparently patchy

Any advise would be appreciated, thanks in advance

Simon

 

[Monsieur]

Never been but FCO advice doesn't look hopeful
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mali

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Like you I've always wanted to go to the festi but can't see myself doing it any time soon - you just missed a mini version in Berlin BTW though obviously not quite the same experience.

Anyway, stuff is still kicking off in the region THIS was only in September. Unless I knew the region well and fully understood the score I don't think I'd be risking it.

Andres

 

[SkyGod]

My advice is don`t go just yet. There are still beaucoup bad guys in that area. Give it a year or so and take a view.

Plenty of other places to go to.

 

[SIM]

Cheers fellas,

I am not one to totally agree with FCO recommendations, I know when I went to Pakistan a about 7 years ago, you could not have met nicer people as the majority always are, and has been said a million times on this site, that was a no go area, only difference now is I have 2 kids and I suppose that would now make me pretty irresponsible putting myself in such a risky situation.

The reason I started thinking off doing this trip again was that a few musicians inc. Damon Alban went over to record an album and give support to the local Mali musicians. I may have to give it a couple of years.

I noticed there was something in Berlin, apparently there was also something in M'hamid in Moroc too.

Looking like it may be Maroc (hire a car for a few days get into the atlas mountains) or Istanbul

Cheers