• Day 1: Arrival in Niamey, transfer from the Niamey international airport to a hotel in town.
• Day 2: Early departure from Niamey by jeep, arrival in Agadez at the end of the evening, over night in a hotel in town.
• Day 3: Departing from Agadez we will head towards Elmecki and spend the night at the oasis of Timia.
• Day 4: Departing from Timia toward Tchintoulouss where the explorer Henri Barth stayed during his expedition in Sahara; over night in the valley of Zagado where the caravan of camels awaits the expedition.
• Day 5: Departing from Zagado on camel back, over night in Ingal.
• Day 6: Departing from Ingal on camel back, over night in Kogo.
• Day 7: Departing from Kogo on camel back, over night in Arakao.
• Day 8: Departing from Arakao on camel back, over night in Issaouane.
• Day 9: Departing from Issaouane on camel back, over night in Illakane where our jeeps await the expedition.
• Day 10: Departing from Illakane toward Izane, passing by Adrar Chiriet, Farès, Tezirziet; over night at Temet, the highest dune in the Ténéré.
• Day 11: Departing Temet toward Iferouane passing by Talak, arrival in Agadez; over night at a hotel in town.
• Day 12: Visit to the Sultan of Agadez's palace where we will meet the Sultan himself (if he is available); visit to the livestock market and the artisans' village where Touareg artists work with leather, silver and gold; over night in a hotel in town.
• Day 13: Early departure from Agadez, arrival in Niamey late in the evening; over night at a hotel in town.
• Day 14: Visit to the Grand Marché in Niamey, the National Museum, zoo and artisanal village of Wadata. Cocktails on the terrace of the Grand Hôtel at sunset with a magnificent view of the Niger river; after dinner departure for the international airport in Niamey.

Our desert expedition will begin in the mysterious city of Agadez-the “city of a thousand wonders”-on board four-wheel-drive jeeps as we cross valleys and villages nestled in the Aïr Mountains, Azel, Dabaga, Elmeki and Egandawel, which are inhabited by Tuareg pastoralists, farmers and artisans. The expedition will stop here for a glass of tea with the villagers, to experience the legendary hospitality of the “Blue Men of the Desert,” the Sahara's last nomads.

All of our expeditions are accompanied by Tuareg guides and drivers who have perfect knowledge and mastery of the region. Their job is to look after your needs and to respond to all of your questions; among the Tuareg, tradition teaches us to adore those who are our guests. The guides will explain the names and history of the valleys, villages, mountains and historical cities such as the ruins of the ancient village of Assodé which was once the Tuareg capital of the Ténéré. After visiting the impressive ruins at Assodé, a few hours of zigzaging between the hills will bring us to Tchintoulousse; the picturesque village where the German explorer Henri Barth stayed during his Saharan adventure. Next, we will cross the valley known as Zagado where we will spend the night at a Tuareg camp under the magnificient starlit sky. We will sample homemade goat-milk cheese and drink tea by the fireside in the middle of the Saharan desert.

The méharée portion of our journey will begin here: each member of the expedition with have his or her own well-trained, docile camel in addition to the other camels that will carry our bags, food and water supply. The méharée will slowly but surely makes its way toward the village of Kogo which lies at the door to the vast Ténéré desert where gorgeous mountains of blue and white marble meet powdery sand dunes. From here on, one's gaze seems to travel endlessly along the horizon. This vast opening onto the apparently infinite sand dunes announces the beginning of the Ténéré desert. Further along, the valley of Arakao imposes its splendid beauty where gazelles jump to and fro, and camels graze on grass. All of a sudden, the famous “Crab claw” appears in the middle of the desert where immense dunes of white sand are surrounded by gigantic rocky mountains. This site makes for a splendid campsite, a “thousand star hotel” unlike any other in the world! A place where all dreams are welcome, the absolute silence is only interrupted by the singing of grasshoppers at sunrise which is a fabulous experience, not to be missed! After breakfast, the caravan will make its way toward the valleys of Issaouane and Illakane where the vehicles are awaiting the expedition.

Throughout the entire journey nature will never cease to amaze: we will see mountains of marble surrounded by powdery dunes, antelopes and gazelles sauntering along our route as well as chance encounters with Tuareg pastoralists who will greet us as they follow their herds in search of water or pastures deep in the heart of the Sahara. The chain of mountains and dunes leads to Adrar Chiriet which is considered among the most impressive sites in all of the Sahara. The expedition will stop in Farès where water is abundant and those who wish may bathe in this spring of cool, fresh water. The next leg of the journey will take us towards Terirzeit, the site of rock engravings that testify to the ancient presence of humankind in this area where the natural environment is no longer the same today as it once was.

We will return to Agadez where we will spend the night in a hotel in town. The next day, we will visit the palace of the sultan of Agadez (if his schedule permits) as well as the livestock market and artisanal village where craftspeople fashion leather, silver and gold into magnificient works of art. We will leave Agadez early and arrive in the capital city of Niamey in the late afternoon where we will spend the night in a hotel. During the day, we will visit the Grand Marché, the national museum, the zoo and the artisanal village of Wadata. There will be cocktails on the terrace of the Grand Hotel during the magnificent sunset on the Niger river followed by dinner and then transportation to Niamey's international airport.

• Hotel accomodations and three meals a day
• Full lodging while during the desert expedition
• All entrance fees to museums, zoo, etc.
• Gratuities

• Airfare
• Airport taxes
• Travel or health insurance