National Geographic's Best New Trips 2008 - Mali: Time for Timbuktu

Go LuxeMali is this year's Mozambique, an underappreciated African nation deemed ready—and ridiculously cool—by the travel vanguard. The landlocked Saharan state sits at an ancient crossroads, producing a startling mix of North and West Africa in music and architecture. Absolute Travel's newly developed trip launches this winter. Its focus: customization. The outfitter can arrange a concert and personal meeting with singer Oumou Sangare, the "songbird of Wassoulou," or a private viewing of Timbuktu's famous gold-scripted ancient Arabic texts. You'll trek through villages and famous markets and see nomadic Tuareg—the "blue men of the desert"— read more