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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Feb 11, 2027
Lome
Lome
2027-02-11
End
Feb 19, 2027
Cotonou
Cotonou
2027-02-19
Duration
9 days
Price
EUR2095.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
There is a stretch of the West African coast where the everyday and the unseen sit side by side without apology. Markets sell both fresh fish and dried animal parts used in ritual. Temples stand open to the street. Night guardians in raffia costumes still patrol villages after dark. This is the Voodoo Coast, and this nine-day journey through Togo and Benin is built to let you feel that overlap rather than simply observe it.
Lomé hits first with its heat, its traffic, and the famous Akodesawa Fetish Market — a place that smells of dried skin, herbs, and wood smoke, where the boundary between commerce and belief feels paper-thin. From there the road climbs into cooler highlands around Kpalimé, then drops toward Sokodé where fire-dancing still draws crowds who treat the performance as both spectacle and serious tradition. Crossing into Benin, the atmosphere shifts again: the powerful presence of the Dankoli Voodoo Temple, the weight of history at Abomey’s royal compounds, and the quiet strangeness of the Chameleon Temple rising like something half-dreamed.
The stilt village of Ganvié on Lake Nokoué offers a completely different rhythm — life lived on water, canoes instead of cars, a community that once fled slave raiders and never fully returned to solid ground. Further along the old Slave Coast, Ouidah carries its heavy past in the long walk to the Door of No Return and the living practice at the Python Temple, where sacred snakes are handled with casual reverence. Cotonou closes the loop with the sprawling, overwhelming energy of Dantokpa Market and the slightly calmer Afro-Brazilian streets of Porto-Novo.
This focused nine-day Voodoo Coast tour travelling from Lomé in Togo to Cotonou in Benin is designed for travellers who want a deep immersion in the living Vodun culture and history of the Guinea Coast.
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
For anyone looking to expand their exploration of this region in Africa, this tour can be joined onto The Best of Nigeria February Tour , making up The Best of West Africa Tour: Benin, Togo & Nigeria , which can also be preceded by our West Africa Sahel Tour: Mali, Burkina Faso & Niger to make up an epic six-country tour: West Africa & Sahel Combo Tour: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Benin & Nigeria .
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels, breakfast included, except when other accommodation is mentioned in itinerary |
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Transport as per itinerary |
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Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary) |
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Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 400
What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fee (everyone is eligible for an evisa) |
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Meals other than breakfast |
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Transport to Lome at the start and from Cotonou at the end of tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Explore the fetish market in Lomé
Visit the Dankoli Voodoo Temple in Savalou
Take a boat to the stilt village of Ganvié
Itinerary
Day 1Thu Feb 11
Lomé, Togoville, Lomé
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Today we begin exploring the city of Lomé the beating heart of Togo.
- First up, we will head to the famous Akodesawa Fetish Market where we will be experiencing the vodoun religion which is where we get voodoo from. This market is filled with all kinds of dried animals, all of which need to have died from natural causes to be able to be used in natural medicine.
- After we finish buying all our voodoo items, we will head to Lake Abodrogo to cross on canoe to Togoville. Togoville is where Togo gets its name from, after the signing of the treaty between the local rulers and the Germans.
- After a trip to Togoville we will head back to Lomé, to see some of the amazing architecture of Lomé including the ECOWAS Development Bank building and the cool Independence Monument.
- In the afternoon we will take a trip to the National Museum before hitting up the Grand Marché, the largest in the city. Nearby the market we will also check out the Lomé Cathedral with its cool and interesting spires and great stain glass windows. The Grand Marché is a great place to pick up any Togo-themed souvenirs.
- After sightseeing, we will check out one of the many beachside BBQ places and settle in for a relaxing drink on the beach.
- Overnight in Lomé.
Day 2Fri Feb 12
Lomé, Kpalimé
- In the morning, we will head north to the town of Kpalimé. Here we will be up in the highlands of Togo. This area is the premier eco tourism part of the country, with lush rainforest covering the hills.
- After arriving we will go for lunch before heading to the surrounding areas to take in the scenery.
- We will make our way to Cascade de Womé where we will have a chance to have a dip, a reprieve from the hot humid weather.
- We will then head to check out the local Grand Marché of Kpalimé to take in some local life.
- We will head out to a local restaurant for dinner and then overnight in Kpalimé.
Day 3Sat Feb 13
Kpalimé, Sokodé
- Once again we are heading further north through Togo to the city of Sokodé, a city famous for its fire dancing.
- Fire dancing comes from voudon traditions and involves dancers playing with fire and entering a hypnotic state with drums and embers. It’s absolutely incredible to witness.
- If we have time we will head to the Sokodé Regional Museum to learn about the local Tem ethnic group.
- Dinner and overnight in Sokodé.
Day 4Sun Feb 14
Sokodé, Savalou (Benin)
- Today we are leaving Togo and heading to our second country of the trip, Benin!
- In the morning, we will leave Sokodé to begin the border formalities into Benin at the Prakete border stop. We will then continue on to Savalou, where we'll spend our first night in Benin.
- Arriving in Savalou we will be visiting some of the secret villages of Dankoli. The Dankoli Voodoo Temple is one of the most famous voodoo temples in all of West Africa and has a giant wooden fetish omen that is believed to represent powerful spirits.
- We will also check out the Royal Museum of Savalou which is all about the local monarchy.
- Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in Savalou.
Day 5Mon Feb 15
Savalou, Abomey
- Heading further south back towards the coast we will be stopping in Abomey, the centre of the once great Dahomey Empire that used to control this area and was one of the most powerful empires in African history.
- In Abomey, we will begin our visit to the UNESCO site of the Royal Palace which showcases royal artifacts such as sculptures and thrones of one of Africa’s most powerful kingdoms.
- Later on, we will go to see the amazing Chameleon Temple if it is open. Even if it's not open, we'll check it out from the outside, which is probably the most interesting part of it anyway. This impressive 10-metre-high Chameleon-shaped building is truly impressive and should not be missed. The Chameleon is the symbol of the Dahomey King and is an important symbol in voudon that acts as a messenger between he human and spirit worlds.
- Dinner and overnight in Abomey.
Day 6Tue Feb 16
Abomey, Ganvie, Cotonou
- We begin the day by heading further south again back, to the Atlantic. On the way (about 2 hours) we will stop on the shores of Lake Nokoué where we will see many people engaging in local fishing practices. We will board a boat and then head to the largest lake village in all of Africa.
- Originally this village started when African people fled to the lake to flee slavers in the 1700s. Here we will explore the colourful village and even stop for some amazing fresh fish. People in Ganvie are super friendly and the town itself is a really interesting mix of cultures and religions with voodoo, Islam and Christianity all mixing together.
- After our visit to Ganvie, we will head to Cotonou.
- Arriving in Cotonou we will have a chance to go for a nice dinner and check out some of the amazing local nightlife or even just go for a walk along the beach.
- Overnight in Cotonou.
Day 7Wed Feb 17
Cotonou, Ouidah, Cotonou
- In the morning, we will drive 45 minutes to the heartland of Vodoun, to the town of Ouidah.
- Once we arrive, we will check out some of the architecture of the town as well as see the 4km path from Chacha Square to the Door of No Return, which is an important memorial for the slaves who went from Ouidah to the Americas. During the slave trade this area of the coast is where approximately 2 million slaves left the shores for the Americas, making it one of the biggest slave trading places in the world.
- We will then head to the famous Python Temple which was newly renovated in 2025. Here we will learn about some of the rituals that take place and be able to interact and hold the scared royal pythons.
- We will then enjoy lunch in Ouidah before visiting the old fort which is now the Ouidah History Museum.
- In the afternoon we will drive back to Cotonou for a relaxing afternoon.
- Dinner and overnight in Cotonou.
Day 8Thu Feb 18
Cotonou, Porto Novo, Cotonou
- In the morning we will explore some of Cotonou, beginning with the Dantokpa Market, the largest open-air market in all of West Africa, which covers more than 20 hectares. After the market we will make our way to the impressive 30m high Amazon statue dedicated to the once feared Amazon female warriors of the Dahomey Kingdom. Along the way we will also get to see some amazing street art at Africa’s largest outdoor mural.
- After exploring the chaotic streets of the market we will head to the capital of Benin, Porto Novo. Located only 30km away from Cotonou this smaller city is the seat of government in the country and also houses the Royal Palace.
- We will take a visit to the Royal Palace, often called the Palace King Toffa to learn about the past royal history of Benin.
- In the centre of Porto Novo, we will visit the Temple Zangbeto Kpakliyao which is the headquarters of the secret society of the voodoo night guardians.
- Later on, we will take a visit to the interesting architecture of the Porto Novo grand Mosque, which is one of the only mosques in the world done in an Afro-Brasilian style.
- In the afternoon we will return back to Cotonou for our last dinner together in Benin, before we head to Nigeria tomorrow.
- Overnight in Cotonou.
Day 9Fri Feb 19
Cotonou, End of Tour
- And sadly this brings us to the end of this two-country adventure. If you'd like to add Nigeria to your trip though, check out our The Best of West Africa Tour: Benin, Togo & Nigeria .
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