Ultimate 3-Day Timbuktu Itinerary: Best Things to Do & See

Start your visit at the iconic Djingareyber Mosque. Built in 1327 and crafted from sun-baked mud bricks, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a symbol of Mali’s golden age and still serves as a center of worship and learning.

Djingareyber Mosque

Next, explore the fascinating Ahmed Baba Institute. This modern research center preserves thousands of priceless manuscripts that reveal Timbuktu’s role as a medieval center of learning and scholarship.

Ahmed Baba Institute

Enjoy traditional Malian cuisine at Restaurant La Maison de Koyra, known locally for its delicious rice dishes, grilled meats, and relaxed Saharan courtyard setting.

Restaurant La Maison de Koyra

Begin at the Manuscripts of Timbuktu (Private Libraries), where you can arrange a visit to a family-owned library to see ancient texts and hear stories of their preservation from the descendants of Timbuktu’s scholars.

Manuscripts of Timbuktu

Immerse yourself in the bustling Grand Marché de Timbuktu (Central Market), where you can browse vibrant stalls filled with spices, Tuareg handicrafts, indigo fabrics, and the daily pulse of local commerce.

Grand Marché de Timbuktu

Savor a local dinner at Restaurant Le Campement, a welcoming spot where you can enjoy Malian specialties like “maafe” and relax to the sound of Saharan music under the stars.

Restaurant Le Campement

Visit the revered Sankoré Mosque, famed for its ancient university and distinctive pyramidal minaret, representing the spiritual and intellectual heart of old Timbuktu.

Sankoré Mosque

Discover the unique Maison des Artisans, where you can meet local craftsmen creating leatherwork, engraved calabashes, and beautiful Tuareg jewelry—perfect for authentic souvenirs.

Maison des Artisans

End your adventure with a sunset camel ride into the dunes with Azalaï Desert Expeditions, where you can experience the mesmerizing silence of the Sahara and sip tea with Tuareg guides as the sky blazes with color.

Azalaï Desert Expeditions