Togo, Benin & Ghana Tour – 12 Days
An immersive 12-day journey through Togo, Benin, and Ghana, exploring royal kingdoms, sacred Vodun heritage, UNESCO-listed sites, vibrant traditions, coastal landscapes, and authentic West African cultural experiences.
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN LOME
Assistance at the airport and transfer to the hotel
Day 2: VISIT OF LOME
Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo, located on the Atlantic coast, in the far west of the country, near the border with Ghana. It is a major economic, political and cultural center. The city is known for its beaches lined with coconut trees with fine sand, especially those along the Gulf of Guinea and countless bars where a good part of the population of Lomé goes every evening and especially on weekends to unwind before going back to work the next day. Lomé is also a cultural melting pot with a strong influence of Togolese traditions, but also a significant presence of other communities. The large central market animated by the Nana Benz and which houses the magnificent cathedral “Sacré cœur Junior”, is an emblematic place to discover local crafts, fresh products and traditional fabrics. The city offers a mix of modernity and heritage, with modern administrative buildings and residential areas, while retaining aspects of its colonial history. One of the birthplaces of Voodoo, Togo is home to the largest fetish market in its capital. The fetish market is a place where ingredients for the practices of traditional religion are sold under the name of voodoo. The fetish market is a place par excellence for the introduction of the voodoo religion.
Day 3: AGBODRAFO - OUIDAH
Ouidah is a historic city located on the Atlantic coast of Benin, about 40 kilometers west of Cotonou, the largest city in the country. Its attractions include: the slave route that leads to the door of no return, the Portuguese fort that once played an important role in the slave trade, now converted into a museum, tracing the history of the city at that time. Ouidah is an important center of Vodou, a traditional religion widely practiced in Benin. The city is home to several Vodou temples including the famous Temple of Pythons, a religious site that is one of the most emblematic places of the Vodou religion and every year, it organizes festivals dedicated to this culture including the International Vodou Festival which is now celebrated every second Friday of January. Ouidah is an important place of memory, where tragic history, spirituality and living culture blend together, offering travelers an immersive experience in the past and traditions of Benin.
Day 4: OUIDAH-GANVIE-DASSA
Ganvié is a lakeside village located in Benin, often nicknamed “Venice of Africa”, because it is built on Lake Nokoué, near the city of Cotonou. This unique village is distinguished by the fact that it is entirely built on the water with houses on stilts. Ganvié is one of the largest lakeside communities in the world, an exceptional site that attracts many visitors. The village is accessible by pirogue and visitors can explore its canals and discover the daily life of the inhabitants. The houses on stilts, the floating markets and traditional activities such as fishing by pirogue create a very special atmosphere.
Day 5: DASSA - DJOUGOU
Dankoli is an important sanctuary of prayer par excellence in Savalou in Benin where voodoo followers especially from various backgrounds come to make their prayers and offerings to thank the spirits of the Dankoli fetish. The villages of Taneka are located in the Taneka mountain near Copargo and Dougou. This population has lived on an archaeological site for centuries. The first inhabitants would be Kabyè who came from the north of Togo since the 9th century. Thus, other populations joined them forming a great mix while each keeping their cults and initiatory rites. One of the characteristics of the Taneka is that they succeeded in creating common religious and political institutions.
Day 6: DJOUGOU - SOKODE
Once a town developed in pre-colonial times as a trading hub on the cola route between Ghana and Benin, Sokodé is today a fascinating destination for those wishing to explore another side of Togo, far from the coast. The mix of culture, history, nature and a great ethnic diversity offers visitors an authentic and enriching experience with the unmissable fire dance.
Day 7: SOKODE / TAMALE (284 km / 6 hrs)
Meeting with Dagomba. They build round clay huts with thatch roof. The village chief’s house is characteristic as it is the largest and the only one with a central pole supporting the roof. It is where the elders’ council meets. The entry is nicely framed with pieces of coloured burnt clay. If we are lucky, we may have access to one of last witches’ villages in Ghana. All exiled from their villages because found guilty of terrible events such as the death of a teenager, a mysterious disease or a bad harvest…they now live all together in a specific place.
Day 8: TAMALE / TECHIMAN (270km / 5hrs)
Visit the sacred monkey forest of Fiema Boabeng in Brong Afo region. The villagers consider the Mona and black and white Columbus monkeys as their totem, the reincarnation of their ancestors, and therefore respect them as protective spirits. Consequently, it is home of the largest concentration of these two species in the world. Throughout the gigantic trees of this forest, we should encounter many of them.
Day 9: TECHIMAN / KUMASI (149km / 3hrs)
Drive to Kumasi, where two highlights of our trip await us, transporting you to another world. We should arrive there in time for lunch. It’s one of the largest cities in Ghana, but more importantly, it’s the historical and spiritual capital of the ancient Ashanti kingdom. This people represented one of the most powerful nations in Africa until the end of the 19th century, when the British conquered the territory and incorporated it into their Gold Coast colony. We’ll visit the cultural center, which offers a beautiful collection of works of art housed in a superb reproduction of an Ashanti house. We’ll then attend the funeral ceremony. The mourners are draped in magnificent red and black fabrics. We officially call this ceremony a “funeral,” but it’s actually a festive occasion, as the deceased is always considered a permanent member of the family. Friends and family gather in memory of the deceased, the Chief arrives surrounded by his court in the shade of a giant parasol, while percussionists set the rhythm for the dancers, whose complex choreography is highly symbolic.
Day 10: KUMASI - Akwasidae Festival
The Ashanti (or Asante) are an Akan people living primarily in the Ashanti Region of central Ghana. They are one of the most powerful and culturally rich ethnic groups in the country. Their society is renowned for its centralized political structure, its king (the Asantehene), and its deeply rooted traditions. The Akwasidae Festival is one of the most important cultural and spiritual events for the Ashanti. After breakfast, we will attend the colorful and elaborate Akwasidae Festival, celebrated to ensure the continued protection of the guardian spirits and to strengthen the unity of the people. During this celebration, the King, seated under a spectacular colored umbrella, wears colorful clothing and antique solid gold jewelry (Ashanti gold jewelry and masks are considered among the finest works of African art), and is surrounded by advisors, all under the authority of the royal orator, who holds the symbols of power in his hands. Facing the King are the dignitaries and ceremonial personnel: sword and knife bearers, armed guards, bearers of beautiful ostrich feather fans, etc. The ceremony then includes storytellers reciting the history of the Ashanti dynasty, battlers, and trumpeters blowing ivory horns. Portly dancers wearing red robes perform a spirited dance. The Queen Mother sometimes joins the ceremony along with other members of the family. This celebration allows visitors to experience the colors and atmosphere of the great monarchies of yesteryear.
Day 11: KUMASI / ELMINA (218km / 4h10min)
Visit to Fort St. George (Elmina). Fort St. George in Elmina is the most impressive and oldest fort in sub-Saharan Africa. Arguably the best known, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest permanent structure in sub-Saharan Africa. It was built by the Portuguese in the 15th century and was used for the trade of gold, ivory, and slaves. Elmina, a name linked to the history of West Africa, but also to history itself. In 1482, Christopher Columbus and Bartolomeo Diaz landed here with about ten caravels to build a castle under Portuguese rule. The site was considered a gold mining area, and thus the beginning of Elmina’s history…
Day 12: ELMINA TO ACCRA OUT (155km / 3h44min)
Jamestown, one of the oldest districts in Accra, dates back to the colonial era and played a key role in Ghana’s history. Home to the Ga people, Jamestown is known for their rich traditions and connection to the sea. We will follow the coast, passing by Independence Square, to land in one of the workshops of the makers of coffins with fanciful shapes representing fruits, fish, animals and others. Lunch and then time to freshen up in a few hotel rooms before leaving for the airport.
Price per person
6+ people
2 921 €
4-5 people
3 382 €
2-3 people
3 923 €
Your journey starts here
Discover the cultural and historical richness of Togo, Benin, and Ghana on this 12-day immersive journey blending royal heritage, sacred traditions, coastal landscapes, and authentic West African experiences. .