FESTIVAL OF THE DESERT, 11-13 January, 2007, Essakane, Mali

Every year since 2000 travelers have made the trek to the world's most remote music festival to gather in the style of the "blue men for the desert," or Taureg people -- nomads from Mali and Niger. Artists like Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant have shared the stage, nestled among white sand dunes, with Taureg guitar bands and African legends like singer Oumou Sangare. The audience is made up of foreigners from the world over, but it's mostly turbaned Taurags who arrive by camel and set up camp in traditional tents.

For more information: www.festival-au-desert.org