Togo & Benin — 6-Day West African Journey
Six days and five nights across two West African nations — from the bustling markets and colonial grandeur of Lomé to the sacred forests and slave routes of Ouidah. Explore voodoo temples, the stilt village of Ganvié, Dahomey warrior monuments, UNESCO heritage sites, and the Door of No Return, before returning to Accra. A round trip from Ghana through Togo and Benin and back.
- Lomé, Togoville & the House of Slaves at Aného (Togo)
- Ganvié — the stilt "Venice of Africa" on Lake Nokoué
- Ouidah's Sacred Forest, Python Temple, Door of No Return & Slave Route
- Porto-Novo, the Amazone Monument & a farewell dinner in Cotonou
- Private A/C vehicle with professional driver — all 6 days
- Hotel pickup in Accra (Day 1) & drop-off (Day 6)
- 2 nights at Travellers Hotel, Lomé (Togo)
- 3 nights at a hotel in Cotonou (Benin)
- Breakfast daily & lunch daily (Days 1–6)
- Farewell group dinner in Cotonou (Night 5)
- All listed site entry fees & boat rides (Togoville & Ganvié)
- Border-crossing assistance at all four crossings
- English-speaking guide throughout (translates in French)
- Cotonou night-life accompaniment (Nights 2 & 3)
- Bottled water & snacks in vehicle throughout
Early-morning pickup from your hotel in Accra. Breakfast is served in the vehicle as the guide briefs the group on documents, border procedure, and what to expect in Lomé. Cross into Togo at the Aflao–Cinkassé border — one of West Africa's busiest crossings — where the guide handles all group procedures.
Explore Lomé's vast central Grand Marché — multiple levels of fabrics, spices, clothing, and crafts, and home of the famed Nana Benz Wax-fabric traders. Continue to the Independence Monument, Togo's most iconic landmark, and the beautifully renovated Palais de Lomé cultural centre. Lunch at a trusted local restaurant. All entry fees included.
Check into Travellers Hotel, Lomé, your base for Nights 1 and 2. Dinner is at own arrangement — the hotel restaurant or nearby dining. A relaxed first evening in Togo.
After breakfast, a boat ride across Lake Togo brings you to Togoville — where Chief Mlapa III signed the 1884 German protectorate agreement, and where voodoo heritage and a Catholic basilica stand side by side. Continue to Aného, Togo's former colonial capital, for the historic House of Slaves — a sobering reflection on the transatlantic slave trade. Lunch en route. Entry fees and boat ride included.
Cross the Hillacondji–Kraké border into Benin (the guide handles all procedures) and drive into Cotonou, Benin's economic capital on the Atlantic coast. After checking in and freshening up, the guide leads the group into Cotonou's lively night scene — beach bars, live music, and open-air restaurants around the Haie Vive district. Dinner at own arrangement; guide accompanies throughout. Night 2 in Cotonou.
After breakfast, visit the striking Amazone Monument honouring the Agojie — the all-female warrior regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey, made famous by the film 'The Woman King'. Continue to the Graffiti Wall of Arts, Cotonou's open-air street-art corridor of large-scale murals spanning Beninese history, mythology, and Afrofuturism. Lunch at a local Beninese restaurant.
Reach Ganvié by traditional pirogue from the Abomey-Calavi shore — an extraordinary stilt village of up to 30,000 people built entirely on Lake Nokoué, founded in the 17th century by the Tofinu people fleeing Dahomey slave raiders. A living lakeside community of homes, schools, markets, and churches on stilts, and a UNESCO-recognised heritage site. Boat ride included. Return for a second evening of Cotonou night life (Night 3); dinner at own arrangement, guide accompanies.
The most historically and emotionally profound day. Drive 45 minutes west to Ouidah, the spiritual capital of the Vodun faith. Visit the Sacred Forest (Forêt Sacrée), a grove of ancient trees housing shrines to Fon and Yoruba deities, then the Python Temple, where sacred royal pythons are kept as living deities and visitors may hold them. Lunch in Ouidah. Respectful dress required. Entry fees included.
Stand at the Door of No Return on Ouidah's beach — the exact point where millions of enslaved Africans boarded ships and left Africa forever, memorialised in 1992. Then walk the 4km Route des Esclaves the enslaved were forced to march, lined with sculptures and memorials, as the guide narrates the history at each point. Return to Cotonou in the early evening — a quiet dinner and rest are strongly encouraged. Night 4 in Cotonou.
Drive east to Porto-Novo, Benin's official capital. Visit the Royal Palace Museum (Musée Honmé) of Yoruba and Fon royal artefacts, the stunning Brazilian-style Grande Mosquée built in 1910 by returning Afro-Brazilians, and the colonial-era streets and Musée Ethnographique. Lunch in Porto-Novo. A relaxed, culturally rich capital with strong Brazilian and Portuguese heritage.
Return to Cotonou for a well-earned afternoon of beach relaxation on the Atlantic coast — cold drinks, grilled seafood, and coconuts from vendors (follow the guide's advice on currents). The day closes with a special farewell group dinner at a top Cotonou restaurant — fully included — celebrating five extraordinary days across two nations. Night 5, the final night in Cotonou.
Final hotel breakfast and check-out, with time for last-minute shopping. Cross the Kraké–Hillacondji border back into Togo, drive west along the scenic coastal road, then cross the Cinkassé–Aflao border back into Ghana — the guide assists at every crossing. A final 2.5–3 hour drive brings you to Accra for hotel drop-off. End of an unforgettable 6-day journey through Togo and Benin.
IMPORTANT — for all guests: • Carry a valid passport or ECOWAS national ID at all times — required at every border crossing. • A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory at all borders. No certificate means no entry. • ECOWAS citizens (including Ghanaians) do not require a visa for Togo or Benin. • West African CFA Francs (XOF) are required in both Togo and Benin — Ghana Cedis are not accepted. Bring the equivalent of at least GHS 1,500–2,000, with USD or Euros as backup (easily exchanged in Lomé and Cotonou). • The Ouidah sites on Day 4 are sacred and historically sensitive — respectful dress (shoulders and knees covered) and quiet behaviour are required. • Atlantic beach swimming requires caution — currents can be strong; always follow the guide's advice. • Ganvié (Day 3) involves a pirogue boat ride on Lake Nokoué — guests with mobility concerns should inform the guide in advance. • Grand Marché in Lomé is closed on Sundays — please flag if your dates include a Sunday. • Travel insurance for a 6-day international trip is strongly recommended.
Free cancellation up to 14 days before the Day 1 departure. This is a 6-day, 3-country international trip — every guest must carry a valid passport or ECOWAS national ID card and a yellow fever vaccination certificate, mandatory at all four border crossings. Personal shopping, alcoholic drinks, dinners on Nights 1–4, travel insurance, and optional tips are not included.