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Road distance to Tomboctou Road distance to Tomboctou
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 13 Jan 2010
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Road distance to Tomboctou
What are the recommended routes to go and return to Tomboctou?

How much of it are non paved roads? What kind of surface?
...thinking about going with a roadbike. As far as there are not rocks, it is fine.
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Old 13 Jan 2010
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We did the trip from UK (via Spain) to Timbuktu in 2005. Our itinerary is shown at:
Destinations

On the way out we went to the end of the Route de l'espoir at Nema and then 3 days off road via Nampala (photos on website: NOMADINTENT). (Others travel further north from Nema along Lac Fabuguine but I believe that is rather sandy and hard work on a bike; also further into the "danger zone").

The return route from Timbuktu was via Douentza, then asphalt all the way to Bamako; now it is asphalt all the way from Bamako back to Europe.
We found Timbuktu something of an anti-climax, but it was worth it to see all the stuff along the way, particularly the Pays Dogon.

If you are interested, there is a link to my photo book of the journey on the website, but if you want some more practical advice, get Chris Scott's Sahara Overland.

Have a great trip.
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  #3  
Old 13 Jan 2010
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Thank you Nomadintent.

Have a nice day.
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Old 13 Jan 2010
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When I took a 4WD trip there in 07 from Mopti there was effectively no road after Douentza.

We just belted across the sahel/desert for about 8-12 hours.

Sure there were tracks but as there was a fair bit of sand drivers tended to choose their own tracks to avoid getting bogged. Our driver averaged about 80km/hr which was dangerous with 12 pax and a top heavy vehicle.

I wouldn't take a road bike on this route.
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Old 15 Jan 2010
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Hi,

The piste from Douentza to TBKT is very corrugated. One of the worst that I've ever encountered. If you are not in a worry, it could be better to ride outside the main piste, but it not always possible to do this.

An alternative route is via Ninono-Nampala-Lere-Niafunké. The piste is smooth and the landscape fantastic (in many occasions you go very close to the Niger river). In the last kms (Niafunké to TBK) the piste was being repaired in 2007, and I would guess that by now the stretch after Goudan should be paved.

Cheers,
José
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Old 15 Jan 2010
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This link might be helpful: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...timbuktu-47305
Chris
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Old 15 Jan 2010
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Thank you all. Now is time to sit and study the map
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