Tour overview

This 14-day small-group trip explores Togo and Benin, two of West Africa's least-visited countries, where voodoo is a living religion and the arrival of visitors is still a celebrated event. Groups have 4 to 16 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader throughout. You stay in simple hotels and guesthouses, including one night in a very basic stilt guesthouse on a lake. Breakfast is included daily, with nine lunches and two dinners. The trip starts and ends in Lomé, Togo, and is land-only. Selected departures coincide with Benin's voodoo festival season.

After a tour of Lomé and the artisans' centre at Kpalimé, a guided walk with a butterfly expert leads through the forested hills. That evening in Sokodé you witness an elaborate fire dance. Heading north, you meet the Bassar people, known for their clay houses and traditional iron smelting. In the Atakora mountains you visit the Tamberma, whose fortified clay homes, built by hand like small castles, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the blacksmiths of the Kabye region.

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Crossing into Benin, you visit the village of Taneka, with its round houses topped by clay pots, accompanied by a fetish priest. On the long drive south you stop at a Fulani herding camp and a Dankoli shrine. In Dassa you see the Sacred Hill used for royal funerals. The Royal Palaces of Abomey, capital of the old Kingdom of Dahomey, tell the story of its kings and its army of women warriors. Nearby, Egun and Gelede mask ceremonies bring the spirits of the ancestors to life.

A boat takes you to Ganvie, the largest stilt village in Africa, founded by the Tofinou people fleeing the slave traders. You are welcomed by singing and drumming and spend a night on the lake. In Cotonou you see Africa's longest graffiti mural, and in Ouidah, the spiritual home of voodoo, you walk the Route des Esclaves to the Door of No Return on the coast. On the Mono River estuary a small boat passes salt-making villages and mangroves, followed by a final Zangbeto mask ceremony. Back in Togo, a stop at Aného may include a voodoo ceremony.

Expect heat, long drives and simple rooms. This trip suits curious, open-minded travellers who want to experience West African culture and ritual at first hand.

Trip highlights

  • A fire dance in Sokodé (Day 3)
  • The fortified clay houses of the Tamberma in the Atakora mountains (Day 5)
  • The village of Taneka with a fetish priest (Day 6)
  • The Royal Palaces of Abomey and the Egun and Gelede mask ceremonies (Days 8–9)
  • A night in the stilt village of Ganvie (Day 10)
  • Ouidah, the spiritual home of voodoo, and the Mono River estuary (Days 11–12)

Your route

14 stops from Lomé to Aného

14-day route: Lomé – Kpalimé – Sokodé – Kara – Natitingou – Dassa – Abomey – Ganvie – Ouidah – Grand Popo – Lomé
  1. Lomé Days 1 & 13
  2. Kpalimé Day 2
  3. Atakpame Day 3
  4. Sokode Day 3
  5. Kara Days 4–5
  6. Taneka Day 6
  7. Natitingou Day 6
  8. Dassa-Zoumé Day 7
  9. Abomey Days 8–9
  10. Ganvie Day 10
  11. Cotonou Day 11
  12. Ouidah Day 11
  13. Grand Popo Days 11–12
  14. Aného Day 13

Why choose this tour

Few trips go so deep into the culture of Togo and Benin, with six mask and voodoo ceremonies and time in remote villages. A small group and an experienced leader make it easier to meet people and to understand rituals that few visitors ever see.

Best suited to

  • Travellers fascinated by African culture, religion and ritual
  • Experienced travellers looking for somewhere new
  • Photographers who are respectful of local customs
  • Anyone happy with simple accommodation and long drives
A traditional ceremony in Benin

Day-by-day itinerary

14 days from Lomé, Togo to Lomé, Togo

  1. Day 1 · Lomé Arrive in Lomé

    Arrive in Lomé, the lively capital of Togo. If you arrive in time, meet your tour leader and group at 6pm, with the option of dinner together afterwards.

    Hotel
    Onomo Hotel Lomé or similar
  2. Day 2 · Lomé, Kpalimé Lomé and Kpalimé

    A guided tour of Lomé shows you its markets and faded colonial buildings and explains its place in the history of the slave trade. Then drive to Kpalimé and visit its artisans' centre.

    Hotel
    Hotel Parc Residence or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Kpalimé, Atakpamé, Sokodé Butterfly walk and fire dance

    Hike for about two hours through the forested countryside with a butterfly expert, on mostly flat but humid trails. Continue north to Sokodé, where you witness an elaborate fire dance in the evening.

    Hotel
    Hotel La Mirell or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Bassar, Kara The Bassar people

    Travel towards Kara, stopping to meet the Bassar people in their large clay houses with conical roofs and learn about their traditional iron production.

    Hotel
    Hotel Kara or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Atakora Mountains, Koutammakou, Kara Tamberma and the Kabye blacksmiths

    Head into the arid Atakora mountains to meet the Tamberma, whose fortified clay houses, built by hand layer by layer, are among the finest examples of traditional African architecture. Return via the blacksmiths of the Kabye region.

    Hotel
    Hotel Kara or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Taneka, Natitingou Into Benin: Taneka

    Cross into Benin and visit the hilltop village of Taneka, with its round houses topped by clay pots, guided by a fetish priest. Continue to Natitingou in the uplands.

    Hotel
    Totora Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Dankoli, Dassa-Zoumé Fulani camp and Dankoli shrine

    A long drive south with stops at a Fulani settlement, where the men herd cattle and the women make butter, and at the Dankoli shrine, one of Benin's most important voodoo fetishes.

    Hotel
    Hotel Jeko or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Dassa-Zoumé, Abomey Dassa and the palaces of Abomey

    Explore Dassa, once the capital of an ancient kingdom, and its Sacred Hill. Then visit the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about the Kingdom of Dahomey and its army of women warriors.

    Hotel
    Bis Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Abomey, Cové Egun and Gelede masks

    Visit Abomey's Chameleon temple and a church, then watch an Egun mask performance in nearby Cové, where dancers embody the spirits of the ancestors, and a Gelede ceremony honouring women and mothers.

    Hotel
    Bis Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Ganvie, Lake Nokoué Ganvie stilt village

    Travel by road and boat to Ganvie, the largest stilt village in Africa, founded by the Tofinou people fleeing slave traders in the 16th century. You are welcomed with singing and drumming and spend the night on the lake.

    Hotel
    Stilt guesthouse (very basic)
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Cotonou, Ouidah, Grand Popo Cotonou and Ouidah

    Travel by boat and road to Cotonou to see the statue of the warrior queen Tassi Hangbe and Africa's longest graffiti mural. In Ouidah, the spiritual home of voodoo, visit the Python Temple and walk the slave route to the Door of No Return. Continue to Grand Popo on the coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel Awale Plage or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Mono River, Grand Popo Mono River and Zangbeto masks

    Explore the Mono River estuary by small motorboat, passing villages where salt is still made the traditional way and crossing the lagoon through mangroves. Later, watch a Zangbeto ceremony, whose masked guardians are believed to keep the night watch.

    Hotel
    Hotel Awale Plage or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Aného, Lomé Aného and back to Lomé

    Cross back into Togo and stop in Aného, a village of thatched houses and shrines, where there may be a chance to watch a voodoo ceremony with dancers entering a trance. Continue to Lomé.

    Hotel
    Onomo Hotel Lomé or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Lomé Trip ends in Lomé

    The trip ends after breakfast at the hotel in Lomé, and you can leave at any time. Luggage storage is available for later flights.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Ceremonial figurines and offerings in Cotonou, Benin

Where you stay

  • Lomé (1 night) Onomo Hotel Lomé or similar
  • Kpalimé (1 night) Hotel Parc Residence or similar
  • Sokodé (1 night) Hotel La Mirell or similar
  • Kara (2 nights) Hotel Kara or similar
  • Natitingou (1 night) Totora Hotel or similar
  • Dassa (1 night) Hotel Jeko or similar
  • Abomey (2 nights) Bis Hotel or similar
  • Ganvie (1 night) Stilt guesthouse (very basic)
  • Grand Popo (2 nights) Hotel Awale Plage or similar
  • Lomé (1 night) Onomo Hotel Lomé or similar

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights in simple hotels and guesthouses, including a night on stilts in Ganvie
  • Meals 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Transport road transport throughout, boats to and from Ganvie and a motorboat trip on the Mono River
  • Ceremonies a fire dance and Egun, Gelede and Zangbeto mask ceremonies
  • Visits a Lomé city tour, a butterfly walk, the Bassar, Tamberma, Kabye, Taneka and Fulani communities, Abomey, Cotonou and Ouidah
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to and from Lomé
  • Visas for Togo and Benin and border fees
  • Airport transfers, unless pre-booked
  • Meals not listed, and optional activities such as the after-dark floating market in Ganvie
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Women in colourful dresses walking along a street in Lomé, Togo

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — they are not
  • You need comfortable hotels every night — rooms are simple, and Ganvie is very basic
  • You dislike long drives — several days involve long journeys on rough roads
  • You want most dinners included — only two dinners are included

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Benin · UK FCDO travel advice for Togo
A traditional ceremony in Abomey-Calavi, Benin

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,800 per person, twin share, tour only. 11 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. You fly to and from Lomé in Togo. Airport transfers are not included unless pre-booked.

Do I need visas?

Yes, for both Togo and Benin for most nationalities, and there may be border fees. Visas are not included, so check the rules for your passport before booking.

What is the Ganvie guesthouse like?

Very basic, with simple rooms on stilts over the lake. It is one night and a memorable experience. Some other hotels have few twin rooms, so single or double rooms may be allocated.

Will I see a voodoo festival?

Selected departures are timed for Benin's voodoo festival season. Every departure includes a fire dance and several mask ceremonies.

What meals are included?

13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 2 dinners. Other meals are at your own cost.

Can I take photos at ceremonies?

Usually, but always follow your leader's guidance and ask permission first. Some shrines and rituals do not allow photography.

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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