Itinerary
- Day 1
Accra
You'll arrive in Accra, Ghana's capital, where modern development sits alongside colonial heritage. The administrative area has elegant 19th-century villas mixed in with contemporary structures. A welcome dinner kicks off your tour, so you'll get a chance to meet other travelers and start getting oriented to the city.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner)
- Day 2
Lomé
Head to Lomé, Togo's capital, which has a unique history as the only African city colonized by Germans, British, and French. You'll check out the central market to see the Nana Benz women who control the trade in expensive pagne cloths from Europe. After that, walk through the administrative quarter to see the colonial architecture, then browse the fetish market with its traditional ingredients and items used in local practices.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit central market and meet Nana Benz women traders
- Explore colonial buildings in administrative quarter
- Browse fetish market
- Day 3
Ganvié
Start at Dantokpa Market in Cotonou, one of West Africa's largest, where you'll see the full range of goods and activity. Later, head to Fidjrosse Beach to relax a bit, then visit the Artisanal Center for local handicrafts and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy. In the afternoon, take a motorized boat across Lake Nokwe to Ganvié, an African village built on stilts with around 45,000 Tofinou residents who maintain their fishing traditions and lifestyle in wooden huts on teak stilts.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Dantokpa Market
- Stroll at Fidjrosse Beach
- Visit Artisanal Center
- Visit Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy
- Motorized boat crossing of Lake Nokwe
- Visit Ganvié village on stilts
Landmarks/POIs Dantokpa Market Fidjrosse Beach Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy Ganvié - Day 4
Abomey
Walk through the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a UNESCO site showing the Kingdom of Dahomey's history from 1625 onward. You'll see bas-reliefs, royal thrones mounted on human skulls, and voodoo ritual items. Visit the Dahomey Royal Museum to learn about the kingdom's all-female military unit, the Dahomey Amazons. Pay respects at Goho Square where a statue of King Béhanzin stands, and browse the Fetish Market to understand traditional beliefs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Palaces of Abomey
- Explore Dahomey Royal Museum
- Visit Goho Square and Statue of King Béhanzin
- Browse Fetish Market
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palaces of Abomey Dahomey Royal Museum Goho Square Statue of King Béhanzin - Day 5
Ouidah
Take a day trip to Ouidah, a significant voodoo center and former slave port. Visit the Python Temple to see pythons that are revered as god representations and considered sacred in voodoo. Then go to the Gate of No Return, a sobering reminder of Ouidah's past as a major slave port where countless enslaved Africans departed for the New World. It's a mix of spiritual and historical significance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Python Temple
- Visit Gate of No Return
Landmarks/POIs Python Temple Gate of No Return - Day 6
Porto-Novo
Explore Porto-Novo's cultural heritage starting at Musée Honme, the former Royal Palace and residence of King Toffa, displaying artifacts and personal effects. Visit the Great Mosque with its Afro-Brazilian architecture, then tour a cathedral with intricate stained glass and beautiful stone facades. Finish at the Alexandre Sènou Adandé Ethnographic Museum, established in 1957, which has a comprehensive collection showing Benin's cultural heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Musée Honme (Royal Palace)
- Visit Great Mosque of Porto-Novo
- Visit cathedral with stained glass windows
- Visit Alexandre Sènou Adandé Ethnographic Museum
Landmarks/POIs Musée Honme Great Mosque of Porto-Novo Alexandre Sènou Adandé Ethnographic Museum - Day 7
Cotonou to Accra
Drive back to Accra from Cotonou, spending your time thinking back on everything you've seen in Benin. You'll recall the busy colors and variety at Dantokpa Market, quiet time at Fidjrosse Beach, and the cultural insights from your time in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 8
Accra
You have a free day in Accra to go at your own pace. Relax on one of the city's beaches, enjoy the sun and local food vendors, or check out contemporary and traditional African art at galleries. Walk around popular streets with shops and restaurants, or experience the nightlife. Massages are available if you want one, but those are on your own cost.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax on Accra's beaches
- Visit African art galleries
- Explore shops and restaurants
- Waterfall massage or beach massage
- Day 9
Elmina - Kakum National Park
Visit Cape Coast Castle, built in 1555 as a Portuguese trading post and later developed by the Swedish in 1653 before becoming central to the slave trade. Then see Elmina Castle, built by the Portuguese in 1482 as the first European structure in Sub-Saharan Africa. From there, head into Kakum National Park for a walking tour through the forest where you might spot birds, butterflies, and possibly monkeys or forest elephants. The canopy walkway is the highlight, a 1,000-foot aerial walkway with seven bridges offering views from platforms over 150 feet high.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cape Coast Castle
- Visit Elmina Castle
- Walking tour through Kakum National Park forest
- Canopy walkway at Kakum National Park
Landmarks/POIs Cape Coast Castle Elmina Castle Kakum National Park - Day 10
Accra
Return to Accra for final cultural stops. Start at the W.E.B. Du Bois Center honoring the Pan-Africanist who chose to live and work in Ghana. Visit Independence Square, Accra's ceremonial grounds for national celebrations, and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Museum where Dr. Nkrumah declared Ghana's independence. Later in the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit W.E.B. Du Bois Center
- Visit Independence Square
- Visit Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Museum
Landmarks/POIs W.E.B. Du Bois Center Independence Square Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Museum
