Tour overview

This 13-day small-group tour travels in a loop around Côte d'Ivoire, one of West Africa's least-visited countries, from Abidjan through the savannah north and the forested west to the Atlantic coast. Groups have 4 to 14 travellers, with a tour leader, drivers and local guides throughout. You stay 12 nights in hotels, nine comfortable and three simpler, most with air-conditioning and many with a pool. The tour is land-only, with international flights arranged separately.

At its heart are the mask ceremonies that still play a living part in village life. You hope to see six on this trip. They include the Goli masquerade of the Baoulé people and the acrobatic panther dance of the Senoufo Poro society. Further west come the Yacouba stilt dancers, who perform to the tam-tam drum, the Gla mask of the Guéré people and the Zaouli dance of the Gouro, in honour of a legendary goddess.

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Between the ceremonies you meet the people behind the crafts and traditions. You see attiéké, the national dish, being made, try your hand at kente weaving and watch palm wine tapping. In Fakaha, the dye painters once inspired Picasso. In Senoufo villages you see traditional iron-making and make your own clay bead, and at Niofoin you see the sacred buildings and their carved walls. You also spend time with Fulani women in their homes, and the Dozo hunters of Odienné lead an optional short walk to a sacred lookout.

Around Man, at the foot of the Toura Mountains, you visit the Zadépleu waterfall and a sacred forest where Campbell's monkeys live wild. Along the way there may be a stop at a cocoa cooperative in one of the world's largest cocoa-producing countries. In Yamoussoukro, the capital, you visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, inspired by St Peter's in Rome and once the largest church in the world.

The tour ends with a city tour of Abidjan, including the Treichville market and the National Museum, and two nights in Grand-Bassam. This former French colonial capital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site beside the beach. The physical rating is medium, with long drives on slow roads in the far north. It suits travellers who want real cultural encounters well off the usual tourist routes.

Trip highlights

  • Kente weaving, palm wine tapping and a Baoulé Goli masquerade (Day 2)
  • Senoufo villages, a clay-bead workshop and the acrobatic panther dance (Day 4)
  • The sacred buildings of Niofoin and time with Fulani women (Day 5)
  • The Dozo hunters of Odienné and Yacouba stilt dancers near Man (Days 6–7)
  • Zadépleu waterfall and a sacred forest of Campbell's monkeys (Day 8)
  • The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro (Day 10)
  • UNESCO-listed Grand-Bassam and a batik workshop (Day 12)

Your route

11 stops from Abidjan to Grand-Bassam

13-day route: Abidjan – Bouaké – Korhogo – Boundiali – Odienné – Man – Daloa – Yamoussoukro – Abidjan – Grand-Bassam
  1. Abidjan Day 1
  2. Yamoussoukro Day 2
  3. Bouaké Day 2
  4. Korhogo Days 3–4
  5. Niofoin Day 5
  6. Boundiali Day 5
  7. Odienné Day 6
  8. Man Days 7–8
  9. Daloa Day 9
  10. Yamoussoukro Day 10
  11. Grand-Bassam Days 11–12

Why choose this tour

This is a rare chance to see living mask traditions in villages across Côte d'Ivoire, with a tour leader and local guides who arrange each visit. The route covers the savannah north, the forested west, the capital and the coast, ending with time to relax by the sea in Grand-Bassam.

Best suited to

  • Travellers interested in African art, masks and traditional culture
  • Experienced travellers looking for somewhere new
  • Photographers who are respectful of local customs
  • Travellers comfortable with long drives and some simple hotels
The dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace framed by its columns, Yamoussoukro

Day-by-day itinerary

13 days from Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast

  1. Day 1 · Abidjan Arrive in Abidjan

    Arrive in Abidjan, the country's commercial capital, a city of over six million people on the Atlantic coast, known for its music and arts scene. There are no activities today, and your tour leader meets the group at 6pm in the hotel for a welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    ONOMO Hotel Abidjan Airport or similar
  2. Day 2 · Yamoussoukro, Gbomi, Bouaké Gbomi and the Goli masquerade

    Drive north past Yamoussoukro to Gbomi, where women prepare attiéké, the national dish, palm wine tappers show their craft and a weaver lets you try kente weaving. The Baoulé people are known for their carving and Goli masks, and you hope to see a Goli masquerade, a joyful ceremony of dancing and song.

    Hotel
    Mon Afrik or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Fakaha, Korhogo, Gbon Coulibaly Museum Fakaha and Korhogo

    Continue north, stopping in Fakaha to see the dye painters whose work once inspired Picasso. In Korhogo, the main city of the north, have lunch and visit the Gbon Coulibaly Museum, with artefacts telling the story of King Gbon. You arrive at your hotel with time for a swim before dinner.

    Hotel
    La Rose Blanche or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Korhogo, Senoufo villages Senoufo villages and the panther dance

    Visit a Koni village to see traditional iron-making and homes decorated with carvings. Then join clay bead makers in a Kapélé village for a workshop to make your own bead. After free time in Korhogo, watch the acrobatic panther dance of the Poro, the Senoufo secret society, and learn about its seven-year initiation.

    Hotel
    La Rose Blanche or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Niofoin, Boundiali Niofoin and Boundiali

    See the sacred buildings of Niofoin, with their carved walls and clay granaries, where the welcome is warm but sometimes wary. In Boundiali, spend time with Fulani women in their homes and learn about their daily life. Later, watch the Ngoro dance, part of the Poro initiation for young women.

    Hotel
    Iman Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Odienné, Sacred Lookout The Dozo hunters of Odienné

    Drive about four hours to Odienné, stopping at a shea butter cooperative run by women. In the afternoon, meet the Dozo, a respected hunting brotherhood of the Malinké people, who explain their way of life and traditional medicine. You can join them on a short, steep walk to a sacred lookout, or wait in the forest clearing.

    Hotel
    Hotel Les Frontières or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Toura Mountains, Man Yacouba villages and stilt dancers

    A long drive of about seven hours through the green hills of the Yacouba, or Dan, people, with their round thatched huts. You hope to see a stilt dance, as dancers emerge from the forest to the tam-tam drum. There are no restaurants on the way, so bring snacks. Your hillside hotel in Man has fine views.

    Hotel
    Hotel Les Cascades or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Man, Zadépleu Waterfall, Gbépleu Sacred Forest Gla dance and Zadépleu waterfall

    Meet the Guéré people, known for their face painting, to watch the Gla mask ceremony. After lunch in Man, visit the Zadépleu waterfall, where you can take a dip, and the sacred forest of Gbépleu, home to wild Campbell's monkeys that are revered by the Yacouba.

    Hotel
    Hotel Les Cascades or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Man, Daloa Man to Daloa

    Tour Man and its busy market, then drive about four hours to Daloa. If possible, your leader arranges a stop at a cocoa cooperative to learn about the country's most important crop.

    Hotel
    Hotel La Grâce or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Tibeheita, Yamoussoukro, Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Zaouli dance and Yamoussoukro

    Stop in the village of Tibeheita to watch the Zaouli mask dance, which honours a legendary goddess. Continue to Yamoussoukro, the capital, to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, completed in 1990 and modelled on St Peter's in Rome, with room for over 18,000 worshippers.

    Hotel
    Onyx Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Abidjan, Treichville Market, Grand-Bassam Abidjan and Grand-Bassam

    Drive to Abidjan on the Ébrié Lagoon for a tour of Treichville market, the Kava craft centre, the National Museum and the cathedral, and a drive through leafy Cocody. Continue about an hour to Grand-Bassam and your beachfront hotel, in time for a sundowner.

    Hotel
    La Taverne Bassamoise or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Grand-Bassam, National Costume Museum Grand-Bassam

    Walk around the UNESCO-listed old town of Grand-Bassam, the former colonial capital. Join a batik workshop and visit the craft centre and the costume museum. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or at a seaside bar.

    Hotel
    La Taverne Bassamoise or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Grand-Bassam Tour ends in Grand-Bassam

    The tour ends after breakfast in Grand-Bassam, and you are free to leave at any time. Abidjan's airport is about an hour's drive away.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The waterfront skyline of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Where you stay

  • Abidjan (1 night) ONOMO Hotel Abidjan Airport or similar
  • Bouaké (1 night) Mon Afrik or similar
  • Korhogo (2 nights) La Rose Blanche or similar
  • Boundiali (1 night) Iman Hotel or similar
  • Odienné (1 night) Hotel Les Frontières or similar
  • Man (2 nights) Hotel Les Cascades or similar
  • Daloa (1 night) Hotel La Grâce or similar
  • Yamoussoukro (1 night) Onyx Hotel or similar
  • Grand-Bassam (2 nights) La Taverne Bassamoise or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation — 12 nights in hotels 9 comfortable and 3 simple
  • Meals 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner
  • Transport all travel by private bus
  • Mask ceremonies and cultural visits in the itinerary, including the Goli, panther, stilt, Gla and Zaouli dances
  • Guided visits Yamoussoukro's basilica, an Abidjan city tour and a walking tour of Grand-Bassam
  • Tour leader, drivers and local guides throughout
  • Tips for local site guides and hotels

Not included

  • International flights and airport transfers
  • Visas, vaccinations and a yellow fever certificate
  • Meals not listed and drinks
  • Tips for the tour leader, travel insurance and personal spending
Aerial view of the coast at Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — international flights are not included
  • You dislike long drives — some days have four to seven hours on the road
  • You want most meals included — 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner
  • You want a beach holiday — sea swimming at Grand-Bassam is not advised because of strong currents

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Ivory Coast
Aerial view of the coast at Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Departures & prices

From £2,650 per person, twin share, tour only. 7 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Are flights included?

No. The price is for the tour only, starting in Abidjan and ending in Grand-Bassam. International flights and airport transfers can be arranged on request.

How much driving is involved?

Quite a lot. Several days involve long drives, such as about four hours to Odienné, seven hours to Man and four hours to Daloa. Roads in the far north are slower, and there are regular stops.

How demanding is the tour?

The physical rating is medium. Most walking is at a relaxed pace in towns and villages. The optional walk to the Dozo lookout is about ten minutes each way, steep in places, over small boulders.

What are the hotels like?

Nine of the twelve nights are in comfortable hotels, most with air-conditioning, a restaurant and often a pool. Three are simpler, especially in the far north, where dining options are limited.

Can I swim in the sea at Grand-Bassam?

Sea swimming is not advised because of strong Atlantic currents, but the beachfront hotel has a pool. You can also swim at the Zadépleu waterfall near Man.

What health documents do I need?

You need to arrange vaccinations, malaria tablets and a yellow fever certificate before travel. Visas are also not included.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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