Ghana Tours
Ghana, Togo and Benin Group Tour
Explore Ghana, Togo and Benin on this small group tour.
A Cultural Journey Through Ghana, Togo and Benin
Embark on an exciting 15 day journey through the heart of West Africa with this Ghana, Togo, and Benin tour. This experience offers a rich blend of history, spirituality, and living traditions. From coastal ceremonies to forest kingdoms, each destination reveals a unique layer of cultural heritage.
Along the Atlantic coast, the influence of Voodoo remains strong. In towns and villages across southern Togo and Benin, spiritual practices continue to shape daily life – these ceremonies are not staged performances but living traditions, where participants enter deep spiritual states through rhythmic drumming and symbolic rituals, believed to be moments of divine connection.
Travelling inland, the landscape shifts to savannah and rocky highlands. In northern Togo, the Kabye people live in mountainous terrain shaped by generations of farming knowledge, while further north the Tamberma people are known for their distinctive multi-storey clay dwellings, resembling miniature fortresses and built entirely by hand. Crossing into Ghana, the journey leads to the Ashanti kingdom around Kumasi, where the royal court maintains centuries-old customs including festivals, drumming rituals and symbolic dress.
The final leg takes travellers to the former Gold Coast, where imposing castles stand as reminders of a complex past – once trading posts for gold and other goods, they became central to the transatlantic slave trade, and are today preserved as historical sites offering thoughtful reflection on this history.
This tour is more than a sightseeing trip – it's a journey into the living heritage of West Africa, ideal for travellers who value cultural depth and meaningful experiences.
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Togo – Gulf of Guinea
Arrive in Lomé, the capital of Togo, and transfer to your hotel after immigration for an evening to unwind and settle into the rhythm of West Africa.
Overnight in Hotel Onomo, Lomé
DAY 2
Lomé, Togo
Lomé is the only African capital colonised by Germany, Britain and France, giving it a distinctive character reflected in its architecture and diverse population. Visit the central market, dominated by the renowned "Nana Benz" women trading vibrant pagne fabrics, the administrative quarter's colonial buildings, and the fetish market's array of spiritual items. Later, visit a gallery of a contemporary Togolese artist exhibited internationally.
Overnight in Hotel Onomo, Lomé · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3
Voodoo Traditions – Lake Togo to Aneho
Explore Voodoo, a spiritual tradition deeply rooted in southern Togo, Benin and parts of Ghana, beginning in a village where daily rituals are performed at a shrine surrounded by thousands of wooden pegs, each representing a prayer or promise. Continue to Aneho, Togo's first capital, for lunch and a boat tour of its estuary, then Glidji, the most sacred village in southern Togo, to meet white-robed priestesses adorned with ancient glass beads. Later, attend a Voodoo ceremony where dancers enter trances believed to be spiritual possessions by deities such as Sakpata, Heviesso and Mami Water.
Overnight in Hotel du Lac, Agbodrafo · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4
Afro-Brazilian Heritage – Agbodrafo to Ouidah
Cross into Benin, witnessing the Zangbeto mask dance en route, a Fon ritual of straw-covered masks representing protective spirits. Continue to Ouidah, once a major slave port under the Dahomey Kingdom, with Afro-Brazilian architecture, the Python Temple of the Dangbé cult (active since the 17th century), and the Catholic Cathedral opposite. Walk the historic "slave road" to the beach, known as the door of no return.
Overnight in Hotel Casa del Papa, Ouidah · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5
Village on Stilts – Ouidah to Abomey
A motorboat ride across Lake Nokwe reaches Ganvié, the largest village on stilts in Africa, home to around 35,000 people whose lives revolve around fishing and dugout canoes, remaining ecologically balanced despite centuries of habitation. Return to the mainland and drive to Abomey, exploring recently discovered caves linked to 16th-century slave trade conflicts, plus the Abomey Museum or local blacksmiths continuing traditional metalwork.
Overnight in Hotel Tennessee or Hotel Bis, Abomey · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 6
Sacred Masks and Cultural Encounters
Visit a settlement where Yoruba and Fon communities live side by side to witness the vibrant Gelede mask dances, celebrating Mother Earth and promoting fertility through mime, movement and moral tales. Continue through rocky hills to a Fulani encampment, meeting pastoralist herders known for facial tattoos and cheese-making. In the afternoon, attend the Egun mask ceremony, where initiates dressed in vivid, multi-coloured garments embody the spirits of the departed.
Overnight in Hotel Jeko · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7
Royal Encounters and Northern Landscapes
Travel north through Benin, pausing at the Dankoli Shrine in Savalou, a sacred site of daily offerings and prayers. Meet His Majesty Atchiba II, a respected leader of the Anii people, for a formal royal audience in a circular council hall with elders in traditional attire. Continue through hilly terrain to the Togo border at Soudou and on to Kara, the cultural centre of northern Togo.
Overnight in Hotel Lumen Valley or Hotel Kara · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 8
Adobe Architecture and Animist Traditions
Explore the remote Tamberma Valley, where communities have built fortified adobe dwellings for centuries to protect against slave raids – miniature castle-like homes with phallic shrines guarding the entrances, built entirely by hand, described by Le Corbusier as "sculptural architecture." With residents' permission, enter these homes to learn about a way of life recognised by UNESCO for its sacred baobabs and animist shrines.
Overnight in Hotel Lumen Valley or Hotel Kara · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 9
Iron Age Traditions and the Fire Dance
An included breakfast in the bush with two young rescued elephants that roam freely near the local community. Continue through the mountains to meet the Kabye community, living in soukala dwellings of adobe huts joined by a protective wall, where women practise wheel-free pottery and men forge iron using ancient stone techniques. In Sokodé, home to the Kotokoli and Tem communities, visit a Tem village after dinner to witness the fire dance, where dancers leap into embers and handle burning coals.
Overnight in Hotel Solim or Hotel Lamireille, Sokodé · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 10
Horsemen and Forest Markets – Sokodé to Kpalimé
Watch the Kotokoli people's ceremonial horse riding, influenced by North African Fantasia, with riders in traditional attire guiding horses to drumbeats. Stop in Atakpamé, a hillside market town where artisans weave large Kente fabrics on small looms, before continuing to Kpalimé, a former colonial cocoa and coffee trading town – walk the surrounding hills learning about traditional herbal medicine with a local expert.
Overnight in Hotel Résidence Parc or Jess Hotel, Kpalimé · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 11
Bead Making and Scenic Landscapes – Kpalimé to Koforidua
Cross into Ghana via Kpadape into the lush Volta Region to meet the Krobo community, renowned for glass bead craftsmanship – visit a workshop to see beads made from ground recycled glass, fired in clay moulds, and try making your own. Travel through tropical forests and rolling hills to Koforidua, a colourful town in southeastern Ghana.
Overnight in New Capital View Hotel, Koforidua · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 12
Ashanti Funerals and Cultural Celebration – Koforidua to Kumasi
Travel to Kumasi, the historical and spiritual centre of the Ashanti Kingdom, once one of Africa's most powerful states, still led by the respected Asantehene (King). Explore Kumasi's sprawling central market, one of Africa's largest, for Ashanti crafts including leather goods, pottery, beads and Kente cloth, with lunch at Jofel restaurant. If the timing allows, you may attend a traditional Ashanti funeral, a festive celebration of the deceased's transition into an ancestral protector.
Overnight in Hotel Lancaster, Kumasi · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 13
Royal Heritage and Village Traditions – Kumasi to Obuasi
Visit the Ashanti Cultural Centre, housing artefacts in a recreated Ashanti-style building, and the Royal Palace Museum, displaying gold regalia worn by the Ashanti court. Visit nearby villages known for Adinkra textiles, hand-printed with symbolic motifs, and skilled woodcarvers – if timed to coincide with the Akwasidae Festival, the itinerary will be adjusted to include this celebration of Ashanti heritage. Drive south to Obuasi, a town with a gold mining history, for the evening.
Overnight in Hotel Mawuli, Obuasi · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 14
Rainforest Canopies and Coastal Castles – Obuasi to Elmina
Visit Kakum National Park to walk the canopy bridge suspended 120-150 feet above Ghana's rainforest for breathtaking treetop views. Continue to the coast, once known as the Gold Coast and dotted with over 50 forts and castles from the gold, ivory and slave trade. Arrive at Elmina Castle, built by the Portuguese in 1482, the oldest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site, then board a boat to explore the lively fishing harbour opposite.
Overnight in Golden Hill Parker Hotel, Elmina · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 15
Coastal Shrines and Capital City Life – Elmina to Accra
Visit the colourful Posuban shrines of the Asafo companies, adorned with full-sized statues reflecting the legacy of Fante warrior groups. Drive to Accra, exploring the colonial-era administrative district and James Town, the historic Ga neighbourhood facing the ocean, plus the recently renovated National Museum and a workshop specialising in globally recognised "fantasy coffins." In the evening, transfer to the airport for departure (hotel day-use available until 6pm).
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
Assistance at airport upon arrival (Day 1) and departure (Day 15) – extra fees apply for arrival outside of these days
Transfers and tours in air-conditioned recent Toyota minibuses/microbuses
English speaking tour guide
Tours and visits as per the programme
Accommodation in standard rooms, as per the itinerary
All meals as described – breakfast, lunch and dinner
Mineral water in the bus/car during visits (bring your own reusable bottle)
Entrance fees to parks, concessions, protected areas and cultural sites
All service charges and taxes
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
Fees for personal photos and videos
Costs related to delayed or lost luggage
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Dates & Prices
Each tour departure operates to coincide with a regional festival – Togo's Kpetatrotro Voodoo festival, the Ashanti Akwasidae Festival in Ghana, or the Egun Masks and Yam Festival celebrations in Benin. The tour operates with a minimum of 6 travellers and a maximum of 16.
Prices shown are per person, based on double or twin room occupancy. Get in touch if you’d like to check availability or discuss a private departure on different dates.
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: 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 a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Ghana, Togo and Benin. You need a visa for Ghana (apply via the Ghana High Commission website – dual Ghanaian-British nationals can register for a Dual Nationality card to avoid visa fees), a visa for Togo (get this before travel where possible, as on-arrival visas are limited to 7 days), and a visa for Benin (a short-stay or multiple-entry e-visa, applied for and paid online, issued on arrival at Cotonou airport).
Ghana has strong religious and cultural values – dress modestly in public, and military-style clothing including camouflage is not permitted. Drug laws are strict, with possession of even small amounts of marijuana risking a prison sentence of over five years. Keep a photocopy of your passport with you and store the original securely. Some same-sex acts are criminalised in Ghana, carrying potential custodial sentences, though enforcement is rare – LGBTQ+ travellers should be aware of the limited social acceptance. Photography near military sites or airports is strictly forbidden. Benin is a centre for Voodoo practice, an integral part of its cultural identity – visitors are encouraged to learn about and respect local religious customs.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. There is a high risk of malaria throughout Ghana, including in Accra. West Gonja, North Gonja, the Savannah region and the northwest, including Mole National Park, remain at high risk of yellow fever following a 2021 outbreak – keep checking NaTHNaC for the latest advice.
What to Bring
Lightweight, casual, non-synthetic clothing (cotton and natural fibres are best) that appropriately covers the body when in the company of local communities – 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; a soft wheeled bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sun cream, a torch, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, a power adapter, and earplugs if you're a light sleeper.
While You're There
Ghana's currency is the cedi (GHC/GHS), divided into 100 pesewas. ATM access varies widely – it's best to withdraw cash on arrival in the capital, or ask your guide to help exchange money at Forex Bureaus or banks. In Togo and Benin, cash remains the primary payment method – credit cards, especially Mastercard, are not widely accepted, though some major Lomé banks offer ATMs dispensing West African CFA francs.
The ideal time to travel is October to April, the dry season, with lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes, and easier-to-navigate roads. To use your mobile phone, contact your provider in advance for international roaming, or your guide can help arrange a local SIM card (requires an unlocked, compatible phone). USB internet sticks are available for laptops, and internet cafés and hotel wifi are found in most urban areas.
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