tourhq

Explore the world with tourHQ

tourhq
7-Day Tour To The Highlights Of Benin From Lome City
  • Tour Category

    Group Tour

  • Tour Types

    Religious, Rural Experience, Culture

  • Duration

    7 Days

  • Activity Level

    Easy

  • Language

    English

Description

Explore the best of Benin in this 7-day cultural tour and learn more about the Voodoo religion and its traditional beliefs. Start from the city of Lome and learn more about the Davedi community and its Ewe culture. Learn about the transatlantic slave trade at the Wood Slave House and meet a Voodoo priest at the Python Temple. Also, indulge in the Zangbetor and Gelede Mask dance and enjoy a canoe ride on the Black River.

Highlights
  • Get a chance to understand the famous Voodoo beliefs 
  • Marvel at the twin dolls ceremony at Davedi, an ecotourism community 
  • Visit the Wood House, a hidden slave dungeon
  • Enjoy the Gelede masks and Zangbetor dance 
  • Pay your respects at the Python Temple and meet a Voodoo priest/priestess
  • Go on a canoe ride on the Black River
  • Day 1: Lome expand_more
    •  Arrive at the Lome airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.
  • Day 2: Lome City Tour expand_more
    • After breakfast, start with a Lome city tour that takes you to Lome's big market, the fetish market, the place of independence.
    • Visit Davedi, an ecotourism village, to learn about the Ewe culture. You will be taken through the farmlands to see pineapples which are the cash crop of the people. In the village, you will assist twin doll rituals by the older women and possibly learn about how they process palm oil.
    • End the day with a cultural dance by the women association in the village.
    • Have a traditional Ewe local dish for lunch.
  • Day 3: Benin - Agbedrafo - Zalive expand_more
    • Travel to Benin. Stop at Agbedrafo for a guided tour of the wood slave house to learn about the thought-provoking transatlantic slave trade.
    • Our next stop is at Zalive, a vibrant voodoo community across Lake Togo. 
    • Enjoy a voodoo performance there.

    Cross the border to Benin and stay overnight at Possotome.

  • Day 4: Ouidah expand_more
    • Start the day with a Zangbetor performance in the nearby village; it is an important practice and religion in most parts of south Benin. It is a traditional rural community where you can learn more about the Fon and their belief.
    • Visit the famous Voodoo dolls carver (Atavi) to have an exchange.
    • On arrival in Ouidah, visit the Python Temple and meet a Voodoo priest or priestess. The city is considered the voodoo capital of Benin, and very often, voodoo celebrations take place on weekends.

    Overnight stay in Ouidah.

  • Day 5: Ganvie - Ketou expand_more
    • Explore Ganvie, the largest stilts village in West Africa located on Lake Nokoue; the Tofinou people had founded the village in the XVII century for safety purposes. Therefore, Dahomey soldiers could not pursue them on the water. They live on fishing and petit trading. However, tourism brings extra income for some members.
    • Continue to Ketou, about 150 km north of Cotonou. 
    • Enjoy the Gélédé masks' dance that will be performed in the late afternoon. It is the famous voodoo cult among the Nago-Yorouba communities.

    Overnight stay in Ketou.

  • Day 6: Cotonou expand_more
    • Visit the Ida Royal Palace and the old palace with its sacred doors before heading back to Cotonou.
    • Enjoy a canoe ride on the Black River, the most tranquil ecosystem in southern Benin, surrounded by raffia palms. The visit will give you an overview of the daily activities of the people living along the river.

    Overnight in Cotonou.

  • Day 7: Dantokpa Market expand_more
    • In the morning, visit the Dantokpa market and Zinsou Foundation, an NGO specialising in art exhibitions. (optional)
    • Relax or shop before your final flight in the evening.
What's Included
  • Car rental  
  • Fuel and tolls 
  • English-speaking Benin tour guide 
  • Listed activities 
  • Bed and breakfast
What's Excluded
  • Food and beverages 
  • Souvenirs
  • Tips and gratuities to your guide and driver
  • Air tickets and insurance
What to bring
  • Sunscreen
  • Cups 
  • Umbrellas depend on the seasons
  • Long trousers to visit voodoo places
  • Sanitisers and face masks
Know before you go
  • Benin offers an e-visa which you must get at least seven days before departure to Lome. However, it is possible to obtain Togo's visa on arrival.
  • Covid test is compulsory on arrival (costs approximately 100 dollars)
Meeting Point

Lomé, Togo

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price Details
Persons
1 To 4 USD 2400 Per Person

This is a group tour

Starting From

Fromss

see details
USD 2400 / person