Introduction
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What to Do in Gao
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Niger River Trips
Great Spots Near Gao
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Gao Fast Facts
What Will My Vacation Look Like?
Visit the On-line Gao Photo Gallery.
Planning Your Trip
Getting to Gao
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Gao
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Gao
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Other Great Places to
Visit in Mali
Timbuktu
Dogon Country
Mopti
Djenn�
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Gao Tourist Center
Meet the Staff
Contact Us
Getting to Gao might seem like an adventure in and of itself - one look at the map and you might think - "how can we ever get there"...but the magic of modern-day travel as well as recent improvements in Mali's infrastructure means you can be climbing the Pink Dunes in a much shorter amount of time than you might guess just by looking at the map.
Just think - from late December through March, you can have dinner in Marseille and then hike up the Pink Dune with children tagging along the next afternoon.
By Air - Flying Directly to Gao
There are now two reliable methods to reach Gao by air. The first is
the seasonal, tourist-friendly charter service offered by Point-Afrique.
These flights originate in Milhous (northern France) and pass through
Marseille on their way directly to Gao. Point-Afrique also serves as a
travel agency, so your complete trip can be booked with them.
Point Afrique - France
www.point-afrique.com
+33 820/000 154
Gao Point Afrique Representative - Sidi Haidara at Amawal Voyages - (223)
603-17-96
There is also a new intra-Malian air service called Compagnie Aerienne du Mali (known as CAM). CAM flies into Gao once per week - Tuesday with arrival and departure on the same day. The flight leaves from Bamako and passes through Sevar� / Mopti, Timbuktu, and then Gao. Flights can be purchased between any of these points.
Compagnie Aerienne du Mali
Bamako CAM Representative - (223) 222-26-26, (223) 222-24-24
Gao CAM Representative - Idrissa Haidara at Hotel Atlantide
(223) 605-25-55
By Air - Flying to Bamako
There are several major carriers that provide regular air service to Mali flying into Bamako's S�nou airport.
Air France
www.airfrance.com
Royal Air Maroc
www.royalairmaroc.com
Air Senegal International
www.air-senegal-international.com
Point-Afrique
www.point-afrique.com
+33 820/000 154
Ethiopian Airways
www.flyethiopian.com/
Air Ivoire
www.airivoire.com
Note: Continuing
unrest in the Ivory Coast means that booking with Air Ivoire carries the
added risk that flights may be abruptly stopped or cancelled based on the
current security situation.
By Ground - Traveling to Gao Overland
There are two normal ways to get to Gao overland - either by using
public or private transport. Remember that almost all pre-booked
circuits (for instance, Point Afrique trips) include private transport between
sites during the voyage.
Private
4x4 Rental
Private 4x4 rental can be somewhat an expensive affair (generally 50,000
CFA / day for the vehicle and driver plus gas) but is a much more convenient,
faster,
and flexible way to travel. Arrange 4x4 rental either through agencies
or ask at your hotel when arriving in Bamako. If you have a guide for
your trip, they can also arrange 4x4 rental for you.
Bus Service from Bamako / Southern Mali to Gao
Sure, Gao is a long way from Bamako, but you won't have to take one of
those shaky-looking green bach�s to get here. Gao is serviced daily by
three major bus-lines. They all have daily departures (at least one,
sometimes two) from Bamako to Gao and all leave Gao for Bamako daily as
well.
Prices have fluctuated recently but the one-way trip from Gao to Bamako is, as of May 2006, 15,000 CFA. The length of the voyage varies, but generally takes between 16-20 hours.
Since the road between Gao and Bamako is the main east-west road in Mali, it is extremely easy to use these public bus companies to visit Gao, Mopti / Sevar�, Dogon Country, Segou, San, and with just one transfer Timbuktu as well.
Check out our tourist visitor map to find the location of the various bus stops in Gao.
Bani Transport
Bamako Phone Number - (223) 220-60-81
Gao Phone Number - (223) 282-04-24
Bink� Transport
Bamako Phone Number - (223) 220-33-19
Gao Phone Number - (223) 282-05-58
SONEF Transport
Gao Phone Number - (223) 282 - 03 - 91
Email: [email protected]
Bus Service from Gao to
Niamey, Niger
There are a several companies providing onward bus service to Niamey,
Niger from Gao, but in our experience the most reliable are run by SNTV
and SONEF (information listed above) with
departures twice weekly.
SNTV Transport
Gao Phone Number - 282-03-95
Important Note about Public Bus Transport - There are other companies that travel between Gao and Bamako as well as between Gao and Niger. The companies listed above run on regular schedules using reliable, professional equipment. Other bus companies may use less reliable equipment, run on less predictable schedules and may take a substantially longer amount of time to complete the journey.
By the Niger River - Taking a Boat to Gao
Check out the link
Niger River Trips for more details on how to travel between Gao and Timbuktu, Mopti, S�gou, Niamey,
etc. Niger River trips can be done with either public or private
pinasse transport.
Planning
Your Trip
Getting to Gao
Travel Agencies
Tour Guides
Best Times to Visit
Visas / Who Cards