Sample Itinerary forBenin, Togo, Ghana
Activity Level
EASY (click to see rating scale)
Day 1: Arrival in Cotonou
- Meals Included: Dinner
- Arrival at Cotonou International Airport.
- Meet your English-speaking driver and transfer to the hotel.
- Evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel BKBG Benin or similar (Standard Room)
Day 2: Exploring Cotonou & Porto-Novo
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Visit Porto-Novo, known for its Afro-Brazilian heritage.
- Stop at the vibrant Porto-Novo Market.
- Explore the Grand Mosque (formerly a church in Brazilian style).
- Tour the 300-year-old Palace of King Toffa.
- Take a boat ride along the Black River at Adjara.
- Visit a local distillery to learn about palm nut liquor production.
Accommodation: Hotel BKBG Benin or similar (Standard Room)
Day 3: Cotonou - Ganvié - Ouidah
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame and Dantokpa Market in Cotonou.
- Explore Ganvié, the “Venice of Africa” – a 500-year-old stilt village.
- Visit the Zinsou Foundation en route to Ouidah.
Accommodation: Djegba Hotel or similar (Standard Room)
Day 4: Ouidah & The Slave Route
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Visit the Route des Esclaves and Place Chacha (former slave auction square).
- See the L’arbre de Retour (Tree of Return) and the Sacred Forest.
- Explore the Afro-Brazilian House.
- End at the Door of No Return on the Gulf of Guinea.
- Experience a traditional Zangbeto Ceremony (Night watchmen ritual).
Accommodation: Djegba Hotel or similar (Standard Room)
Day 5: Ouidah - Lome (Togo)
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Stop at a Fon village to learn about Vodoun culture and pottery making.
- Boat ride to Togoville, the heart of Togo’s voodoo tradition.
- Visit the German Cathedral and the King’s Museum in Togoville.
Accommodation: Hotel Robinson Plage Lome or similar (Standard Room)
Day 6: Discovering Lome
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Tour the Palais de Lome (now an arts & culture center).
- Explore the Grand Marché, home of the famous Nana Benz fabric traders.
- Visit Art Street for local crafts and artisans.
Accommodation: Hotel Robinson Plage Lome or similar (Standard Room)
Day 7: Lome - Mount Agou - Kpalime
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Trek through villages around Mount Agou or opt for a vehicle ride to the peak.
- Arrive in Kpalime and check into your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Parc Residence or similar (Standard Room)
Day 8 – Kpalime - Ho - Liate Wote (Ghana)
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Morning walk in Kouma Konda to meet local artisans.
- Guided hike up Mount Kloto with stunning botanical views.
- Cross into Ghana and head to Amedzofe for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Liate Wote Lodge or similar (Standard Room)
Day 9: Liate Wote - Wli - Atimpoku
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Hike Mount Afadja (Ghana’s highest peak).
- Visit the Wli Waterfalls, crossing nine rivers to reach the falls.
- End the day with a drumming and dance cultural session in a local village.
Accommodation: Liate Wote Lodge or similar (Standard Room)
Day 10: Liate Wote - Akosombo - Accra
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Morning hike to Mount Gemi with views of Volta Lake.
- Scenic boat ride along the Volta River.
- Evening visit to Osu Night Market for local street food and crafts.
Optional Activity: Canopy walkway near Ote waterfalls.
Accommodation: GILLBT Guest House or similar (Standard Room)
Day 11: Accra - Elmina
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Walking tour of Jamestown (Accra’s oldest district).
- Participate in a traditional cooking demonstration.
- Visit coffin makers crafting symbolic coffins.
- Travel to Elmina for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Golden Hill Parker Hotel or similar (Standard Room)
Day 12: Elmina - Kakum National Park
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Walk the canopy walkway over Kakum’s rainforest.
- Stop at an oil palm plantation and local factory.
- Afternoon tour of the Elmina Castle and colonial-era landmarks.
- Optional: Relax on the beachfront in the evening.
Accommodation: Golden Hill Parker Hotel or similar (Standard Room)
Day 13: Elmina - Accra
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Visit Kotokuraba Market and the Cape Coast Castle (UNESCO site).
- Return to Accra with an optional visit to the Arts Centre for National Culture.
- Evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Somewhere Nice or similar (Standard Room)
Day 14: Cultural Day in Accra
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Walking tour through Nima Market to explore local spices and culture.
- Visit homes within the community to experience daily life and taste local snacks.
- Tour Independence Square and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Mausoleum.
- End at the Artists Alliance Art Gallery for contemporary African art.
Accommodation: Somewhere Nice or similar (Standard Room)
Day 15: Departure from Accra
- Meals Included: Breakfast
- Check out and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Included Services
- English-speaking guides and drivers.
- Group transfers and transportation.
- Accommodation in standard rooms at listed or similar hotels.
- All meals as specified.
- Cultural activities, hikes, and site visits as per the itinerary.
Exclusions
- Airport Taxes
- Any visas required
- Services not mentioned in the itinerary
- Late check out at hotels
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks with included lunches and dinners
- Tips for leaders, guide and driver
- Expenditure of a personal nature
- Personal Insurance
- Optional activities
UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Goal 4: Quality Education
Cultural tours, museums, historic sites (slave route, palaces, markets) promote education about history, cultural heritage, and local practices.
Goal 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Visiting local markets, distilleries, craftspeople, and artisans promotes local entrepreneurship, sustainable tourism, and community-based economies.
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Engagement with diverse communities (Afro-Brazilian, Fon village, Ganvié stilt village) fosters cultural understanding, inclusivity, and respect for marginalized groups.
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Exploring traditional villages, historic towns, and community projects enhances awareness about preserving cultural heritage and local traditions sustainably.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Local craft demonstrations, palm nut liquor production, and visits to oil palm plantations encourage appreciation for sustainable local production practices.
Goal 15: Life on Land
Visits to Kakum National Park, hiking Mount Kloto, Mount Afadja, and natural sites emphasize biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism practices.
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
- Hospitality & Tourism
Cultural site visits, guided tours, and interactions with local tourism industries (hotels, markets, museums). Exposure to tourism management, sustainable travel, event planning, and guest services. Opportunities to observe the economic and cultural impact of tourism. - Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
Engagement with local artists (Art Street, Artists Alliance Gallery), cultural ceremonies (Zangbeto, drumming/dance sessions). Exploration of storytelling, traditional arts, fashion (Nana Benz traders), and symbolic coffin-making. Hands-on experience with creative expression and cultural communication. - Manufacturing
Visits to distilleries, palm oil production, pottery making, and local craft production. Insight into small-scale manufacturing, product development, and traditional techniques. - Human Services (Culinary Arts & Community Services)
Participation in cooking demonstrations and visits to local homes and markets. Exposure to nutrition, food safety, and cultural culinary practices. - Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Visits to rainforests, plantations, and protected natural areas (Kakum National Park). Emphasis on biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism. - Business Management & Administration
Observation of market economies, entrepreneurship (craftspeople, artisans), and informal trade. Learning about global business, trade, and local economic systems.
