Hostels in Mali Hostels in Mali

You are looking for hostels in Mali? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Mali hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Mali.

All Cities in Mali

We list every single hostel in Mali and the world. In total, we have 2 cities in Mali for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All Mali hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Mali. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Mali

The Republic of Mali is situated in West Africa. The eighth largest country of the continent, it covers 480,000 square miles (1,240,000 square kilometers) that are home to fourteen and a half million inhabitants. Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district. Its capital city is Bamako.

The country has a very volatile recent past. After a coup in 1991, a new constitution was drafted as Mali became a multi-party, democratic state. Since then, there have been moments of political upheaval due to the Tuareg rebellion which staged two coups in 2012 and took over control of some of Mali’s land. The country together with the aid of France regained control of most of the territory, and a new election took place in 2013. Nonetheless, unrest continues and tourists are warned to check the political situation of any region before visiting the country.

Mali is one of the poorest nations in the world. Its economy relies mostly on agriculture and fishing. The vast majority of the citizens work in the agricultural sector, with a minority finding jobs in the service sector. Cotton is the country’s largest export. Since 1999, the government has eased up on restrictions on mining, so the country is now the third largest African producer of gold. The land also contains a lot of uranium, phosphate, kaolinite, salt and limestone.

Due to French colonial rule in the late nineteenth century, Mali’s official language is French. Eighty percent of the population also speaks Bambara. In addition, there are tens of other African languages spoken among the inhabitants.

Travelers can access the region via one of the numerous airports. There is also a railway connecting the country to the neighboring nations. Within Mali’s borders, tourists can move about using taxis, renting cars, or via public transportation.

The budget-minded visitor can find a handful of hostels and other inexpensive accommodations within cities including Bamako, Mopti, Timbuktu, and Ségou. The average hostel in Mali is very affordable, clean, guarded and safe. Although electricity is not provided to all of the inhabitants, you can expect to have electricity in your hostel. Even those accommodations found in the sparsely inhabited areas have electricity via solar panels. Many locations even provide wifi. Since the region is one of the hottest in the entire world, many hostels and hotels provide a cold pool for cooling off. Other amenities may include a restaurant on the premises as well as a friendly atmosphere with music.

There are quite a lot of adventures to add to your Mali itinerary. You can opt to take a camel ride, see hippos in the Niger River, and marvel at beautiful mosques such as the Great Mosque of Djenné, a magnificent architectural creation made of mud and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. In the capital, you can visit the national park, zoo, and museum.

To experience the authentic charm of the country, you can take a trek off the beaten path to the Dogon Country in Mopti. Once you have made it past the unpaved, rocky paths, be sure to have a guide take you around to provide you with native insight as well as steer you away from sacred areas that are off-limits. Hiking tours as well as four-wheel-drive excursions are available to show you the magic of this unique landscape and people. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and breathable clothing. Do not carry unnecessary belongings. You will visit many different villages, each with its own charm. In Tirelli, you will be treated to a beautiful mask dance. In Hombori, the women might present you with another type of dance. You can view the painted walls in Songo and see a natural tunnel in Bongo. Do not miss the chance to admire the houses inside the cliffs along the Bandiagara Escarpment. Day after day, you will experience the culture, art and beauty of different villages. By nighttime, they will invite you to sleep on their rooftops under the stars. The welcoming fee you pay to each village will be used for good causes such as the local schools. You further can support the people by purchasing some of their indigo crafts, wooden sculptures, and other art, all of which make ideal souvenirs along with your unforgettable memories.

expert for Mali hostels

Handwritten by local expert for Mali hostels Jakob Lombardi

Travel Tips for Mali - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Mali. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Mali. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in Mali

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in Mali?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in Mali here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

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Safety and Packing

Are hostels in Mali safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

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