Benin, Togo · Religious & Spiritual

12-Day Benin and Togo Cultural Tour with Voodoo Ceremonies

12 Days Round trip from Ave Jean-Paul II Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Ganvié's stilt village on the water
02 Follow Ouidah's Slave Road to the Point of No Return
03 Attend a Zangbeto Voodoo ceremony in Grand-Popo
04 Discover Tata Somba and Koutammakou villages in Benin and Togo
05 Witness traditional Horse Dance and Fire Dance performances in Sokodé

Embark on a 12-day cultural exploration through Benin and Togo, diving into vibrant traditions, historical landmarks, and local communities. From Ganvié's stilt village and Ouidah's sacred sites to Dassa, Natitingou, Kara, Sokodé, Kpalimé, and Lomé, this journey reveals the captivating heritage of West Africa. Explore Koutammakou and Tata Somba villages, witness Voodoo ceremonies and traditional performances, and discover markets, museums, waterways, and mountain landscapes along the way.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 12 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Natitingou, Ouidah, Sokode, Kara, Cotonou, Lome, Kpalime, Ganvié, Dassa-Zoumé, Grand-Popo

Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Cotonou and Hotel Transfer

Arrival, meet and greet, then transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Cotonou.

Day 02

Cotonou Landmarks and Adjarra Community

Visit the Amazon (Agodjie) Statue.
Tour the Bio Guerra Statue.
Explore Place des Martyrs.
Visit the Great Mosque.
Tour the Adjarra community.

Overnight in Cotonou.

Day 03

Ganvié Stilt Village and Ouidah Heritage

Explore Ganvié Stilt Village.
Visit the Casa-do-Brazil Museum.
Tour the Sacred Forest.
Journey along the Slave Road.
Visit the Point of No Return.

Overnight in Ouidah.

Day 04

Grand-Popo River Excursion and Voodoo Ceremony

Enjoy a boat ride on the Mono River.
Visit Bird's Island.
Explore Salt Village.
Attend the Zangbeto Voodoo Ceremony in Grand-Popo.

Overnight in Ouidah.

Day 05

Dassa Voodoo Encounters and Guelede Dance

Depart for Dassa.
Meet the Voodoo Pope.
Experience the Guelede Dance in Agonlin.
Witness gari processing in Dassa.
Visit the gari market in Dassa.

Overnight in Dassa.

Day 06

Dankoli Shrine, Taneka Village, and Natitingou

Visit Dankoli Shrine.
Tour Taneka Village.
Transfer to Natitingou.

Overnight in Natitingou.

Day 07

Tata Somba, Koutammakou, and Kara

Explore Tata Somba Village.
Visit the powerful Boukoumbe Voodoo priest.
Tour Koutammakou Village.
Transfer to Kara.

Overnight in Kara.

Day 08

Traditional Dances in Sokodé

Witness the Horse Dance.
Enjoy the Fire Dance.

Overnight in Sokodé.

Day 09

Mt. Klouto Hike and Kpalimé Waterfalls

Hike on Mt. Klouto.
Visit Kpalimé Waterfalls.
Explore the Kpalimé food market.

Overnight in Kpalimé.

Day 10

Lomé Markets, Museum, and Heritage Sites

Visit the Grand Marché.
Explore the German Cathedral.
Tour the National Museum of Togo.
Visit the Artisanal Village.

Overnight in Lomé.

Day 11

Lake Togo Cruise and Return to Cotonou

Enjoy a cruise on Lake Togo to visit Togoville.
Explore the Agbodrafo Slave Home.
Transfer to Cotonou in Benin.

Overnight in Cotonou.

Day 12

Cotonou Craft Market and Departure

Relax at the hotel and visit the Cotonou Craft Market.
Transfer to Cotonou Airport for departure.
Depart for home.

Where this trip takes you

Ganvié Stilt Village, Point of No Return, Mono River boat ride, Tata Somba Village

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Ave Jean-Paul II 10 cities · 12 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Water
Snack
Accommodation
Transportation with air conditioning
Fuel
Excursion fees
Guide
Driver

What's Not Included

Flight
Visa
Travel insurance
Beverages (soft drinks, beer, whisky, wine)

What to bring

Long clothes
Insect or mosquito repellent
Sun protection cream/spray
Comfortable trainers/sneakers

Know before you go

Visas: Most travellers planning to visit Benin, Togo, and Ghana will need to obtain a visa before travel. Depending on the specific requirements of the embassy where you apply, you may also need an invitation letter. We can assist by providing the necessary invitation letter if required. However, visa regulations are subject to change, so it is advisable to contact your nearest embassy for the most current and accurate information.
Health and vaccinations: We are not medically qualified and cannot provide advice on recommended vaccinations. It is important to consult your doctor or nearest health professional for personalised recommendations based on your specific health condition and travel plans. They will be able to assess your individual needs and provide guidance on necessary vaccinations to protect against potential health risks at your destination. For further information and guidance on vaccinations, you can also visit the Fit for Travel website. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry to Benin, Togo, and Ghana, and you must bring this with you.
Insurance: It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they cover, but at a minimum, you need medical and health cover for the whole time you are away. Most policies also include cancellation cover, which will protect you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend obtaining your insurance as soon as you book your trip. Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, so you should check this with your insurance company.
Money: The local currency in Ghana is the cedi, while in Togo and Benin it is the West African CFA, a currency shared with many other countries in the region. It is not, however, the same as the Central African CFA, and the two are not interchangeable. It is best to bring Euros for exchange purposes, as the CFA is not obtainable outside the region. It is not difficult to change money here, either at banks or hotels, and your guide can assist with this. There are also an increasing number of ATMs in larger towns. However, these are not always reliable, so it is best to think of them as a backup rather than a main means of obtaining money. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and better restaurants, usually in larger cities only, but are not commonly accepted elsewhere. You should also be aware that credit card fraud is not uncommon in the region and, should you choose to use one, do bear this in mind.
Local conditions: When travelling to some of the destinations we offer, you need to bear in mind that things will not always work here as we are used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be to the standard we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and we thank you for your patience.
Travel advice: We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing, the FCO does not advise against travel to any parts of Benin, Togo, or Ghana that we visit. This relates to advice from the British government - other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments. Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date, we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Updated July 2023.

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