Sample Itinerary forBenin, Togo, Ghana
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
- Agriculture
- Culinary Arts
- Economic Development
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Music & Dance
- Visual & Theatre Arts
- World History
