Explore Benin, Togo & Ghana in 12 Days

Your journey begins with your arrival at Cotonou International Airport. After meeting your guide, you will be transferred to your hotel to settle in and prepare for the cultural exploration ahead.

The day begins with breakfast followed by a morning excursion to Ganvie, the so-called “African Venice.” You will take a motor canoe to meet the local people and learn about their unique daily lives on the water. After the visit, we drive to Porto Novo, Benin’s colonial-style capital, to explore its fascinating Brazilian quarter.

After breakfast, your morning features an excursion along the Black River, a body of water sacred to Voodoo worshipers. Following the navigation, we will experience a traditional Gelede masquerade, recognised by UNESCO. After lunch in Porto Novo, you will spend the afternoon touring the local market and visiting the distinct Afro-Brazilian style mosque.

You will begin the morning with breakfast and a drive to Abomey, Benin’s historic royal capital. Along the way, you will stop at an Ike or Holi tribal village to meet the last generation of traditionally tattooed women. After lunch in Abomey, you will visit the UNESCO-listed royal palaces before proceeding to the tranquil setting of BOPA.

After breakfast, you will experience a powerful morning Voodoo ceremony involving Shango (God of Thunder & Iron) and a Zangbeto masquerade. Following this unique ethnographic experience, you will proceed to the Togo border. Once formalities are complete, you will continue to Togoville, the Voodoo capital for the Ewe people, to meet priestesses and experience an animistic ceremony before arriving in Lomé.

The day begins with breakfast and a full day to discover Togo’s captivating capital. We start at the Sacred Heart Cathedral with its German Neo-Gothic architecture and continue with a walk through the central market. The afternoon features a visit to the Palais de Lomé, a colonial gem turned contemporary art gallery and the National Museum. We wrap up the day at the abandoned Hotel de La Paix, a striking example of post-colonial brutalist architecture.

After breakfast, we drive to the Ghana border. Following the crossing, we head to Akosombo on the scenic shores of Lake Volta. Here, you will visit a traditional Krobo chief at his palace to learn about local heritage and may have the opportunity to meet young women participating in the Dipo initiation rites.

The morning starts with breakfast followed by a canoe ride to a traditional Krobo fishing village to observe daily life on the lake. Upon returning to the mainland, we visit a glass beads factory to see local artisans at work. After lunch, the day concludes with a traditional Krobo female dance performance in a local village before returning to the hotel.

After breakfast, we leave the Volta region for Ghana’s thriving capital. We visit the triumphant arch commemorating Ghana’s 1957 independence before beginning a city tour. We explore James Town, the historic old quarter now home to many artists, and in the afternoon, visit a specialised coffin atelier to see the world-famous “fantasy” coffins being handcrafted.

The day begins with breakfast and a drive along the Slave Coast to visit colourful Posuban shrines. You will learn how these sacred concrete fortifications serve as both military and religious posts for the Asafo groups of the Akan tribe. After reaching Cape Coast to visit the old town and local market, you will spend the afternoon exploring the colonial quarter and the historic slave fort of Elmina.

Following an early breakfast, you will set out for a morning excursion to Kakum National Park, home to the last coastal forest in West Africa and several endangered species. After lunch, the afternoon is reserved for uncovering the “hidden secrets” of Elmina, including its local shrines and the vibrant, bustling fishing port.

Your final day begins with an early breakfast before we drive back to Accra. A day-use room will be available so you can enjoy last-minute visits and shopping. When the time comes, you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight back home.