Did you ever wonder where Timbuktu is? The city is synonymous with the expression "far away," but "far away" from where?

Officially, Timbuktu is a city in the Northwest African nation of Mali. Though it is an impoverished city today, it was once a thriving desert metropolis, and the busiest Saharan trading center east of Cairo.

Though the days of caravans are mostly over, the uniqueness of life in the Sahara is still evident in Timbuktu. The Touareg peoples, who have eked a life out of the Desert of Deserts for centuries, are skilled craftsman who are able to do a lot with a little. Their handcrafts (especially items made from silver, leather, and textiles) are impressive.

Most people come to Mali and Timbuktu in search of desert adventures. Sure, trips via camel or Range Rover are exciting (though better booked in Bamako, the capital of Mali, than in Timbuktu), but there is plenty of culture as well. Mud brick architecture is everywhere, hearkening back to earlier times. Malian music is quite famous in Europe and America. Various instruments are for sale and it might even be possible to find lessons.

Mali is a francophone country, so a bit of French will go a long way, though a few words in Bamanakan or Touareg will also be helpful.