Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport receives flights from several West African capitals and from Paris. Overland, bush taxis connect Niamey to other towns in Niger and to neighbouring countries.
For onward travel to Gao in Mali, buses run three times a week. The bus stops overnight at the border and arrives the following day; the fare is about 8,000 CFA. Take water with you — the river is not navigable all the way, so a boat is not an option.