15-Nights Ghana, Togo & Benin Cultural Discovery from $7,995

MT Sobek: Ghana, Togo & Benin Cultural Discovery

Day 1 Arrive in Accra, Ghana
Welcome to Accra, the vibrant capital of Ghana. Meet your English-speaking guide outside the airport and transfer to your hotel in Osa — a leafy suburb of the city. You'll have time to explore the area before enjoying a welcome dinner with your group tonight.
Accommodation: La Villa Boutique Hotel
(D)

Day 2 Explore Historic Accra
4-hour private van transfer
1-hour easy walking city tour
Start the day with a one-hour guided walk through the historic, ocean-facing neighborhood of Jamestown. A unique treat awaits next: a visit to the Fantasy Coffins workshop, a place that specializes in handcrafted coffins shaped like fruit, animals, fish, cars, airplanes — you name it! The coffins, also known as FAVs (fantastic afterlife vehicles), are made by specialized carpenters only in the Greater Accra region. These unique pieces are collected worldwide and showcased in museums. Next, explore the National Museum for an introduction to Ghana's history and culture. After lunch, make a stop in Anomabo and take an easy walk in Old Town to discover the elaborate posuban, colorful shrines of the Asafo companies. Explore the lively alleyways of Old Town, then continue along the coast to the hotel.
Accommodation: Coconut Grove Beach Resort
(B, L, D)

Day 3 Castles, Dungeons & Slave Trade History in Elmina
1.5-hour private van transfer
1.5-hour easy walking tour
Soak up the palm-fringed coast on the way to the lively trading town of Elmina and its pretty harbor, bobbing with wooden fishing boats. Explore the UNESCO-listed 15th-century Elmina Castle, an infamous location in the history of the slave trade. Elmina Castle was used by European colonialists as a warehouse to trade gold, ivory, and humans, for over five centuries. Entering the slave dungeons and witnessing the "Door of No Return" is a profound and moving experience. Depart the castle and explore the market and fishing village on an easy walk past colorful boats and through the winding fish market, then return to the hotel for an afternoon of relaxation on the beach.
Accommodation: Coconut Grove Beach Resort
(B, L, D)

Day 4 Discover Kumasi, Capital of the Historic Ashanti Kingdom
5-hour private van transfer
45-minute easy walking tour; 1-hour traditional ceremony
Enjoy a drive across a tropical forest region and arrive in Kumasi, the historical and spiritual capital of the old Ashanti Kingdom — one of pre-colonial Africa's most powerful nations. Explore Kumasi's colorful market and its elaborate array of crafts. Marvel at the Ashanti Cultural Center, with a fascinating collection of artifacts on display. Witness a traditional Ashanti funeral, where relatives and friends gather to celebrate the deceased, who is believed to join a long line of ancestors via the ceremony. Chiefs and their courtiers arrive under the shade of colorful umbrellas, while drums accompany the dancers. It's a highly symbolic and special ceremony in which to participate. This evening will include an optional city tour with live band performances, nightlife, and local contemporary music.
Accommodation: Lancaster Kumasi City Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 5 Participate in The Akwasidae Festival
3-hour private van transfer
Akwasidae Festival
Join in the festivities of celebrating the Ashanti King — one of the most traditional ceremonies to survive into the modern day. Witness the colorful processions, the ceremonies surrounding this ancient rite, and absorb the rhythms of dances. The splendors and the rituals are quite intense and vivid, including gold and magnificently colored cloths. Soak it all up as the grand monarchs are honored by their people.
Accommodation: Lancaster Kumasi City Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 6 Meet Glass Artisans in the Volta Region
6-hour private van transfer
Cultural Connection, Beadmaking
Rise early today for a scenic journey into Ghana's verdant Volta Region, the ancestral homeland of the Krobo people—master artisans famed for their vibrant, handcrafted glass beads. Travel deep into this colorful tradition with a visit to a local bead-making community, where the spirit of craftsmanship has been passed down through generations. Here, watch in awe as discarded glass bottles are given new life. Step by step, witness the ancient process unfold, from kiln to string—each one a small, shimmering story of culture and resilience. For those drawn to the craft, there's a chance to roll up your sleeves and create a bead of your own, creating a keepsake that captures Krobo artistry and the human connection at the heart of this experience.
Accommodation: Royal Senchi Resort
(B, L, D)

Day 7 Cross into Togo & Walk in the Highlands
3-hour private van transfer
Boat Excursion, 1-Hour Walk
This morning, embark on a tranquil boat journey across the shimmering waters of Lake Volta, Africa's largest man-made lake. From there, travel off the beaten path on a dusty track as you cross the border into Togo to your destination, Kpalimé, nestled in the lush highlands. Once a hub of colonial influence, this lively town is now the heart of the region's cocoa and coffee trade. Lace up your boots for a walk through the fertile hills surrounding Kpalimé, where scenic trails lead past small farms and traditional villages, toward the edge of dense forest. Accompanied by a local entomologist, delve into the wonders of this biodiverse ecosystem, learning about native plants, brilliantly colored butterflies, and the fascinating insect life that thrives in this tropical paradise. It's a day of discovery, full of nature's quiet marvels and the enduring rhythms of rural life.
Accommodation: Hotel Parc Residence
(B, L, D)

Day 8 Witness the Tem Fire Dance & Visit Kente Cloth Weavers
5-hour private van transfer
Kente Weaving demonstration
Today journey northward, traversing Togo's heartland. En route, pause in Atakpamé, a charming hill town and the land of Kente weaving. Observe the skilled artisans work traditional looms to create bold, brilliantly colored fabrics, each piece a tapestry of cultural pride and heritage. Continuing along the road, catch a glimpse of traditional palm alcohol distilleries that transform palm sap into potent local spirits using age-old methods. This evening, meet up with the Tem people for the remarkable Fire Dance. In the village center, flames leap into the night sky, casting flickering shadows as drummers summon a rhythmic spell. Dancers move in trance-like harmony before stepping into the fire itself—handling glowing embers, running coals across their limbs, even placing them in their mouths—yet emerging unscathed, and seemingly immune to pain. This unforgettable encounter will leave you awed and intrigued, long after the last drumbeat fades.
Accommodation: Hotel Lamirel
(B, L, D)

Day 9 Spend Time in Kabye & Tamberma Mountain Communities
Light Walking, Cultural Connections
Light Walking, Cultural Connections
Set out on a scenic mountain walk to meet the Kabye people, whose hillside villages reveal a way of life rooted in centuries-old tradition. Here, women craft pottery without wheels, while men forge iron tools with heavy stones—echoes of the earliest days of the Iron Age. Observe daily life in a village shaped by tradition and the skilled artisans producing these crafts through the generations. In the afternoon, venture into the land of the Tamberma, their ancestral lands listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their distinctive fortified clay dwellings. Resembling sculpted castles, these striking homes embody both artistry and cosmology, with spaces symbolizing the cycles of life and death. Discover a living architecture so inspiring it captivated Le Corbusier, and with the blessing of village elders, step inside to learn more about traditions in the heart of the Atakora Mountains.
Accommodation: Hotel Kara
(B, L, D)

Day 10 Arrive in Benin & Visit Dankoli Shrine
6-hour private van transfer
Light Walking, Cultural Connections
Cross into Benin and travel toward rural city of Dassa, pausing at lively roadside markets bursting with colorful fruits and everyday village life. Being Friday, the road is filled with the rhythms of devotion as locals make their way to mosque for prayers. Near Dassa, visit Dankoli Fetish, one of West Africa's most powerful animist shrines. Here, thousands of wooden sticks pierce the sacred mound—each a prayer for harvest, health, or fortune. Traces of sacrifice linger in the air, vivid reminders of promises made and kept, offering a rare glimpse into traditions that remain deeply alive today.
Accommodation: Hotel Jeko
(B, L, D)

Day 11 Explore Egun Mask Dances & the Ancient Kingdom of Dahomey
3-hour private van transfer
1.5-hour walking tour & 1.5-hour Egun Dance
Start your day watching an elaborate Egun mask spectacle with men wearing masks symbolizing the dead. They emerge from the forest performing a bull fight designed to create fear and respect then form a street procession. Later, join your guide on an informative walk through the historic streets of Abomey. The ancient capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to 19th centuries, the city was the site of 12 royal palaces from each succeeding king, most now in ruins. You will meet families descended from Dahomey lineages, learn about the symbols of the ancient Dahomey Kingdom, and discover its history and economy. They operated the slave trade but also challenged the powerful armies that came to colonize the African continent. Note: The Abomey Royal Palace Museum, which was previously part of this itinerary, is currently closed for renovation with no confirmed completion date.
Accommodation: Residence Celine
(B, L, D)

Day 12 Marvel at Gelede Mask Dances & Meet a Yoruba King
2-hour private van transfer
45-minute palace visit & 1.5 hour masked dances
Today explore Ketou, the capital of an ancient and prestigious Yoruba kingdom. Visit the palace and be received by the Oba (King) Adedu Loye, 51st Alaketu and his dignitaries. You'll have the opportunity to see the dazzling Gelede mask dance, with more than 20 singers and dancers performing short stories to educate as well as entertain the village. Clapping hands, swirls of color, and drumbeats make for a fascinating mix of street theater and an ancient secret society's rituals. Following this heady experience, drive to the former capital city of Benin, Porto Novo, for a relaxing evening.
Accommodation: Residences Ouadada
(B, L, D)

Day 13 Visit Lake Nokwe’s Stilt Village
3-hour private van transfer
2-hour boat tour
Feel the hustle and bustle of Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, as thousands of zemidjans (moto-taxis) buzz about, driven by their purple- or yellow-uniformed drivers. From here, head to the boat dock and enjoy a ride across Lake Nokwe to Ganvie, the largest and most beautiful African stilt village. Inhabitants of the Tofinou ethnic group build their huts on teak stilts and cover the roofs with a thick leaf layer. Watch the local Tofinou people fish using traditional methods, and admire the way they managed to preserve their traditions and the lush natural environment. See idyllic daily life revolve around the canoes that men, women, and children guide with ease, using brightly colored poles.
Accommodation: Casa del Papa
(B, L, D)

Day 14 Explore Ouidah, Capital of African Voodoo
1-hour private van transfer
2-hour temple and fort visit; 45-minute villa visit; optional kayaking and boat cruise
Today delve right into Benin's Ouidah, where African Voodoo thrives. Conquered in the 18th century, it was one of the main slave-shipping harbors. Take in the city's unique blend of Afro-Brazilian architecture and its Voodoo Python Temple. Learn about the comparison between African and Caribbean Voodoo and walk along the "slave road" to the beach, leading to the "Door of No Return," where captives used to board the trade vessels to the Americas. Visit Villa Adjavon, built in 1922 in Afro-Brazilian architectural style, and see its exhibit of contemporary African Art. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing at the hotel's shady beach bar or swimming pool, or heading out for kayaking or a boat cruise on the lagoon.
Accommodation: Casa del Papa
(B, L, D)

Day 15 Venture into the Land of Voodoo
3-hour private van transfer
3-hour boat cruise and village visit
Cruise by pirogue along the Mono River, reaching an amazing estuary as the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Discover small villages where women still extract salt using ancient techniques. Enjoy pristine, white-sand beaches and navigate through lagoons lined by small mangrove forests. Admire the large and artistically sculptured pirogues used by local fishermen. Take in a Zangbeto mask dance performance in a village. These large masks covered by colored straw represent non-human spirits, the forces of nature and the night. Cross the border to Togo and join a Voodoo ceremony in a remote settlement. Witness this age-old complex religion that is still fervently practiced in Africa today, a spectacular sight to behold.
Accommodation: Hotel 2 Fevrier
(B, L, D)

Day 16 Discover Lomé & Depart from Togo
2-hour guided city tour
Wander Togo's vibrant capital of Lome with your guide taking in the central market where colorful pagne fabric is sold to all over West and Central Africa. These cuts of boldly patterned textiles are traditionally used as wrapped clothing. Explore the colonial history, still very present in the administrative quarter, and see the largest fetish market in Africa. Search for eclectic ingredients for love potions or magical concoctions. You will have lunch and the use of your hotel room until 6:00 pm Dinner is on your own before heading to the airport in the evening. We suggest departing after 9:00 pm Bid farewell to West Africa!
Accommodation: Hotel 2 Fevrier
(B, L)