Benin · Festival

10-Day Ganvié FeSCAN Festival Tour with Lake Culture in Benin

10 Days Round trip from Cotonou Moderate pace
The Lake Festival
Women on her boat
Women boating with baskets
Floating Market
Floating Market
View all 15 photos

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Commence with the Official Launch Ceremony of FeSCAN4
  • 02 Engage in traditional dancing and singing on the lake
  • 03 Participate in group fishnet throwing
  • 04 Try individual fishnet casting
  • 05 Experience a presentation of lake Voodoo
  • 06 Witness female and male boat races among villagers
  • 07 Take part in single and double rowing sports
  • 08 Enjoy open-water swimming among villagers

Join the annual Festival of Lake Sports, Arts and Culture (FeSCAN) in Ganvié, Republic of Benin, an event held every year since 2021 by the Ganvié Association of Rowing Sports (AGSN). Entirely organized on Lake Nokoué in Ganvié, this festival brings together sports activities with the lake's arts and culture. Over 10 days, experience ceremonies, performances, competitions, village visits, and cultural encounters centered on life on the water.

Join the annual Festival of Lake Sports, Arts and Culture (FeSCAN) in Ganvié, Republic of Benin, an event held every year since 2021 by the Ganvié Association of Rowing Sports (AGSN).

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Abomey Calavi, Ouidah, Cotonou, Ganvié, Abomey
Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Cotonou and Transfer to Abomey-Calavi

  • Transfer to the hotel in Abomey-Calavi.
  • Hotel check-in and welcome snacks.
  • Night stay.
2
Day 02

Abomey-Calavi to Ganvié and FeSCAN4 Opening Events

  • Attend the official launch ceremony of FeSCAN4.
  • Authority speeches.
  • Fishnet throwing.
  • Women's and men's semi-final boat dance competitions.
  • Women's boat race competition.
  • Voodoo performance in a boat.
  • And much more.
  • Continue to the hotel in Ganvié for a night's stay.
3
Day 03

Ganvié, Lake Villages, and FeSCAN4 Fashion Show

  • Explore other partial villages of Sô-Ava.
  • Attend the FeSCAN4 lake fashion show.
  • Dances.
  • Local fashion.
  • Beautiful coloured lights.
  • Back to the hotel for a night stay.
4
Day 04

Ouidah Excursion and FeSCAN4 Evening Events

  • Departure to Ouidah.
  • Visit the sacred forest.
  • Visit the Python Temple.
  • Explore the slavery road and visit the Door of No Return.
  • Witness the salt-making process.
  • Back to Ganvié for FeSCAN4 evening events.
  • Locals performing music.
5
Day 05

Ganvié Family Visit and Festival Events

  • Explore Ganvié and visit a local family, where you will learn everything about the twin dolls.
  • Attend the daytime FeSCAN4 event.
  • Back to the hotel for the night's stay.
6
Day 06

Cooking Experience, Festival Events, and IFA Priest Visit

  • Visit another local family to learn how to cook a typical meal and share the meal with the family.
  • Attend the daytime FeSCAN4 event.
  • Continue to an IFA priest who has talking Voodoo dolls to witness the power of Voodoo.
7
Day 07

Floating Market, Adjarra, and FeSCAN4 History Night

  • Visit the early floating market.
  • Continue to Adjarra.
  • Visit the drum market of Adjarra.
  • Visit the black river and continue to Avrankou to witness the process of Sodabi (local gin) making.
  • Back to Ganvié.
  • Attend FeSCAN4 history night.
  • Back to the hotel for the night's stay.
8
Day 08

Abomey Royal Town Excursion

  • Transfer to Abomey, the royal town in Benin.
  • Visit the place Goho.
  • Visit the palace.
  • And much more.
  • Back to Ganvié for the night's stay.
9
Day 09

FeSCAN4 Closing Ceremony and Finals

  • Attend the last-day ceremony.
  • Authority closing speeches.
  • Final of fishnet throwing.
  • Final boat dancing.
  • Final of open-water swimming.
  • Musicians performing.
  • And much more.
  • Back to the hotel for a night's stay.
10
Day 10

Cotonou Market Visit and Tour End

  • Explore the international market of Cotonou.
  • Visit the artisan center of Cotonou.
  • End of the tour.
  • Goodbye to the guests.
Ganvié on Lake Nokoué, floating market, Door of No Return

Where this trip takes you

Ganvié on Lake Nokoué, floating market, Door of No Return

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Cotonou 5 cities · 10 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Transfer to and from the airport.
  • Transportation.
  • Accommodation (double room sharing).
  • Entrance fees.
  • All mentioned activities.
  • Breakfast.
  • Mineral water.
  • Guides.

What's Not Included

  • Personal needs.
  • Meals (lunch and dinner).

What to bring

  • Your personal effects.
  • Camera and drone, if necessary.

Know before you go

  • No air-conditioned room in Ganvié.
  • All the events of FeSCAN - Ganvié are held on the water.
  • Possibility of local accommodation with a 10% reduction.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Aéroport de Cotonou-Cardinal Bernadin Gantin, Ave Jean-Paul II, Cotonou, Bénin
Tour start
Cotonou, Bénin
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 10 days finish where they began, in Cotonou.

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