Ghana Tours
Ghana, Togo and Benin Experience
Ghana, Togo and Benin – the perfect way to experience the culture, history and wildlife of West Africa.
Tour Overview
If you are looking for a true adventure, then this Ghana, Togo and Benin Tour is just for you. These countries nestle closely together in the heart of West Africa. However, they offer diverse cultures and traditions, each with distinct historical pasts and varied wildlife. Therefore, a multi-country tour of Ghana, Togo and Benin is the perfect way to experience West Africa. Explore off the main tourist route at every opportunity and experience life as a local in these wonderful countries.
We mix with the locals at every opportunity and experience daily life in a truly authentic travel experience. This tour blends everyday experiences with ancient cultural sites of interest and beautiful beaches. You also learn about the dark historical past and see exceptional flora and fauna.
This tour ranges from the legacies of the Ashantis to the spiritual experience of Voodoo. It also takes in the Venice of Africa at Ganvié. In short, it offers the inquisitive traveller all they need and more from their West African adventure. Take an emotional journey through the tragic slave trade era, learning the impact of the dark colonial past. Finally, become immersed in the colourful diverse culture of these countries.
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Ghana
Our local tour guides meet you on arrival at Kotoka International Airport, Accra, and transfer you to your accommodation. After checking in, your guide will offer you "Akwaaba" (welcome) and brief you on all aspects of your trip.
Overnight in Accra
DAY 2
Makola Market, Fantasy Coffins, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Jamestown
First, visit Makola Market, one of Accra's best local markets, and try a local breakfast street food. Then see the Artist Alliance Gallery on the beachfront for traditional and contemporary Ghanaian art. After that, visit the workshops behind the "Fantasy Coffins" of Teshie Nungua, shaped like cars, cocoa pods and more. You then continue to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of Ghana's founder. Finally, spend the afternoon and evening in Jamestown, one of Accra's oldest suburbs. Here you join a walking tour of historical structures predating the colonial era.
Overnight in Accra · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3
Grand Marché, German Cathedral and National Museum of Togo
Drive to Lomé, Togo (approx. 4 hours) for lunch. Then visit the Grand Marché, a chaotic but orderly three-storey market overflowing with vendors. After that, see the Sacred Heart (German) Cathedral, built in 1905. You also visit the National Museum of Togo, founded in 1975. There is an optional visit to the Akodessewa fetish market, where vendors sell dried animal parts alongside fortune-telling. Finally, finish at the Artisans village to watch cloth weaving, carving and leatherwork.
Overnight in Lomé · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4
Cruise on Lake Togo and Transfer to Ouidah
Visit Aneho, historically known as Little Popo and an important slave-trade town. Then take a pirogue across Lake Togo to Togoville, historically the centre of Voodoo in Togo. Here you visit the Maison Royale, where a 1884 peace treaty ceding Togoland to Germany was signed. You also see local shrines, including one commemorating a reported Virgin Mary apparition. After lunch, cross into Benin to Ouidah, the birthplace of Voodoo.
Overnight in Ouidah · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 5
Portal of No Return, Sacred Pythons Temple, and Sacred Forest
Tour Ouidah, regarded as the Voodoo centre of West Africa. It was also the port from which enslaved Africans were shipped to Brazil, Haiti and the Caribbean until 1807. First, visit the historical museum. Then see the Sacred Forest, with figurines representing deities and Ouidah's founders. After that comes the Sacred Python Temple, where locals revere and protect the resident pythons. Finally, continue to Cotonou for the evening.
Overnight in Cotonou · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 6
Ethnographic Museum and Great Mosque
Visit Porto-Novo, Benin's capital, to see the Ethnographic Museum (established 1957), housing ceremonial masks and costumes. Then see the Honme Museum, the walled royal palace of King Toffa. He signed the first treaty with the French in 1863. Nearby, the Da Silva Museum showcases Afro-Brazilian artefacts in an 1870s house. In addition, the Great Mosque, a former church, offers striking photo opportunities. After lunch back in Cotonou, visit Dantokpa Marché, one of West Africa's largest outdoor markets. It covers over 20 hectares.
Overnight in Cotonou · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7
Ganvié and Agongointo
Visit Ganvié, known as the Venice of West Africa, a stilted community of over 30,000 people on Lake Nokoué. It is the largest community living on water in West Africa. Here you try your hand at fishing with a local fisherman. Then continue to Abomey (approx. 2 hours) to visit the underground dwellings of Agongointo-Zoungoudo. They were discovered in 1998 and are believed to date to the 16th-century reign of King Dakodonou. Locals used them as shelter from invaders.
Overnight in Abomey · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 8
The Royal Palaces and Historical Museum of Abomey, and Transfer to Wli
Tour Abomey, capital of the Dahomey kingdom from 1625-1900, and its royal palaces. These are clusters of buildings constructed by twelve successive kings across 47 hectares, enclosed by a 10-metre wall. Two palaces now form the Historical Museum of Abomey. It houses around 1,050 relics, including Voodoo artefacts and royal banners. Finally, continue to Wli, Ghana, for the evening.
Overnight in Wli · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 9
Wli Falls, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Akosombo
Trek through semi-deciduous forest to the Wli (Agumatsa) Falls, believed to be the highest in West Africa. There is a swimmable pool beneath and a colony of Straw-coloured Fruit Bats on the nearby cliffs. In the afternoon, visit Tafi Atome, home to an endangered True Mona monkey population. The Ewe community has protected these monkeys as sacred messengers for over 200 years. Finally, continue to Akosombo on the White Volta River.
Overnight in Akosombo · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 10
Aburi Botanical Gardens, Koforidua Beads Market and Kumasi
Drive through the Akuapem hills to the Aburi Botanical Gardens, founded by the British in 1890. The gardens have outstanding views over Accra. Then visit the Aburi craft village for traditional drums and sculptures at some of Ghana's lowest prices. Afterwards, have lunch in Koforidua, famous for its traditional bead market. Finally, continue to Kumasi, home of the Asantehene, King of the Ashanti empire.
Overnight in Kumasi · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 11
Ancient Kente and Adinkra Villages and Sokoban Krofrom
Visit the traditional Asante buildings recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are home to ten active shrines and associated with warrior queen Nana Yaa Asantewaa. Then continue to Adanwomasie, birthplace of Ghana's Kente cloth, to see traditional weavers at work. After that comes Ntonso, home of Adinkra cloth. Here you can make your own strip using symbols of personal significance. Finally, after lunch, visit Sokoban Krofrom to see traditional brass casting demonstrated.
Overnight in Kumasi · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 12
Manhyia Palace, Assin Manso and Cape Coast Castle
Visit Manhyia Palace, home of the Asantehene, and its Palace Museum. Then head south to Elmina, named by the Portuguese for the region's gold abundance. On the way, stop at Assin Manso, a checkpoint on the enslaved African trade route. Captives were bathed here before the final 32-mile march to Cape Coast Castle. Afterwards, tour Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was the largest holding point for enslaved Africans in West Africa. The tour also includes its dungeons and the "Door of No Return."
Overnight in Elmina or Cape Coast · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 13
Kakum National Park, Elmina Castle and Traditional Batik Making
Walk Kakum National Park's famous canopy walkway, with seven bridges 40 metres above the rainforest floor. The rainforest is home to over 40 mammal species. Then visit the International Stingless Bee Project to learn about the bees' ecological importance and taste local honey. In the afternoon, join a traditional batik-making workshop with Global Mamas. Here you learn wax heating, stamping and dyeing to create your own garment. Finally, visit Elmina's fishing market and traditional wooden boat builders.
Overnight in Elmina or Cape Coast · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 14
Beach Relaxation, Fort Amsterdam and Departure
Enjoy a relaxed morning at your accommodation before lunch overlooking the Gold Coast. Then, en route to Accra, stop at Fort Amsterdam in Abandze, the first fort built by the British (1631-1638). The Dutch later captured it, and it was restored in 1951. It is also believed to house the Gold Coast's first slave prison. Finally, time permitting, visit Accra Mall for souvenirs before a farewell dinner and transfer to the airport.
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
Mid-range accommodation throughout the tour – ask about higher grade hotels if required
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus fruit and snacks when available on all vehicles
Unlimited mineral water for the duration of your tour
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned vehicle for the duration of your tour
A highly experienced, full-time driver, focused on your safety and comfort
All expert guide fees
Entrance fees – all entrance and excursion fees detailed in your itinerary
What’s Not Included
International travel to the start and end point – contact us for information and flight options
Any airport taxes
Travel insurance
Any visa requirements
Alcoholic drinks and drinks not mentioned
Items of a personal nature
Tips for drivers and guides
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Dates & Prices
This is a private tour, scheduled to your requirements. So, contact us for further details, including dates for the various festivals in Ghana.
From £5,595 per person, based on two people sharing per room
£745
Good to Know
Travel Information
Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For example, it covers safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest advice for Ghana, Togo and Benin.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Ghana, Togo and Benin. You need a visa for Ghana, so apply via the Ghana High Commission website. However, dual Ghanaian-British nationals can register for a Dual Nationality card to avoid visa fees. You also need a visa for Togo. Get this before travel where possible, because on-arrival visas are limited to 7 days. Finally, you need a visa for Benin, either a short-stay or multiple-entry e-visa. You apply and pay for it online, and it is issued on arrival at Cotonou airport.
Local Laws and Customs
Ghana has strong religious and cultural values, so dress modestly in public. In addition, military-style clothing, including camouflage, is not permitted. Drug penalties are severe, and bail is rarely granted. For example, even small amounts of marijuana risk a prison sentence of over five years. Carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original safe. There is little tolerance towards LGBT+ people in Ghana. In fact, some same-sex acts carry potential custodial sentences of 3-25 years, though these are rarely enforced. Therefore, be sensitive to local attitudes. Photography near military sites or airports is strictly prohibited. Benin is one of the main centres of Voodoo practices, which remain prevalent. So, research and respect local religious and social traditions.
Health
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice. The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) publishes this on the TravelHealthPro website. There is a high risk of malaria throughout Ghana, including in Accra. In addition, some areas remain at high risk of yellow fever following a 2021 outbreak. These are West Gonja, North Gonja, the Savannah region and the northwest, including Mole National Park. Therefore, keep checking NaTHNaC for the latest advice.
What to Bring
Bring lightweight, casual, non-synthetic clothing, because cotton and natural fibres are best. It should cover the body appropriately when you are in the company of local communities. In other words, it doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to be respectful. Walking shoes or boots plus sandals are the ideal footwear.
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. You're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself. For example, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sun cream, a torch, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle and a power adapter. Finally, pack earplugs if you're a light sleeper.
While You're There
Ghana's currency is the cedi (GHC/GHS), divided into 100 pesewas. However, ATM reliability varies widely. Therefore, it's best to withdraw cash on arrival in the capital. Alternatively, ask your guide to help exchange money at Forex Bureaus or banks. Togo and Benin are cash-based societies. As a result, credit cards, especially Mastercard, are not universally accepted. Some major banks in Lomé offer ATMs dispensing West African CFA francs, but take care when using cards.
The best time to visit is October to April, the dry season. It brings lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes and better road conditions. To use your mobile phone, contact your provider in advance for international roaming. Alternatively, your guide can help arrange a local SIM card, which requires an unlocked phone. USB internet sticks are also available for laptops (around 50 cedis for a 2GB allowance). Finally, internet cafés and hotel wifi are found in most urban areas.
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