photo by cultrvultr

The Festival au Desert is held every January in Essakane, two hours from Timbuktu in the African country of Mali. The festival started in 2001 originally as a way for the local Touareg communities to share information. It’s now open to musicians from other African countries as well as artists from Europe.

Getting to the festival isn’t easy on your own. It’s highly recommended that you book with a tour company or at least hire a private Malian tour guide and driver. The festival itself also offers tour packages that will allow you to make the most of this fascinating trek into the Sahara. On the second day of the festival you can even enjoy a camel race.

The three-day festival features traditional African music as well as European influences. You'll see handmade instruments made of animal skin and gourds alongside shiny brass and electric guitars. Lounge on a sand dune and sleep under the stars while beautiful African music floats on the air. Culturally, it’s a vivid experience. Not many Westerners make it out to Essakane except during this festival, so you’ll see Malian life mostly uncorrupted.