If you'll do whatever it takes to hear the world's best music, start making tracks for the Festival in the Desert, in Essakane, Mali, during the second weekend in January. In a remote patch of the Sahara, half a day's Jeep ride from Timbuktu (or three days by camel), this musical meet has featured big names such as Robert Plant, as well as local musicians.
During the day you can browse craft tents and watch camel racing and, as the sun goes down, you can order a beer from what is supposedly the world's most remote bar as the music gets going. But if you're looking for a slightly easier good time...
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