Itinerary

1. Day 1: Cotonou

   • Pick-up from the airport and transfer to the hotel.

2. Day 2: Cotonou – Ganvié – Cotonou

   • Transfer by car and canoe to the marshlands of Sô Ava and Ganvié, the ‘Venice of Africa’. 

   • Discover the local birdlife. 

   • Have lunch and return to Cotonou for dinner and overnight stay.

3. Day 3: Cotonou – Bohicon

   • Head to Abomey, which is the town of Kings.

   • Visit the surprising underground village of Agongouinto, which served as a hiding place for warriors. 

   Have dinner and overnight at the hotel.

4. Day 4: Abomey – Possotomé

   • Take a guided tour of the ancient royal palace of Abomey, listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage. 

   • Transfer to the shore of lake Ahémé. 

   • Have lunch at Possotomé beach and discover the traditional use of plants for medicinal and food purposes. 

   • Enjoy the programme with legends and stories in the evening. 

   Overnight stay at the eco-guesthouse.

5. Day 5: Possotomè

   • Take a boat trip on the lake Ahémé with its changing colours to take part in fishermen's daily life and practice throwing a net.

   • Go on a voodoo hike and learn about the divinities of the village. 

   • Spend your evening with some music.

   Overnight stay at the eco-guesthouse.

6. Day 6: Possotomè – Kpétou – Possotomè

   • Track the Mona monkeys in the sacred forest of Kpétou. 

   • Have lunch in the homestay.

   • Participate in the womens' activities like mat-weaving and market gardening. 

   • Return to Possotomé for dinner and overnight stay.

7. Day 7: Possotomè – Avlo

   • Travel to Avlo, a magnificent fishing village enclosed between the river Mono and the Atlantic ocean. 

   • Take a boat ride to the 'Boca del Rio' where the river meets the ocean. 

   • Enjoy a swim and tour the village in the afternoon.

   Overnight stay at the ecolodge at Avlo beach.

8. Day 8: Avlo – Ouidah – Cotonou

   • Visit the town of Ouidah, where captured slaves started their journey to the New World. 

   • Proceed to the museum at the old Portuguese fort.

   • Follow the slave road that was walked by chained men, women and children to the 'Gate of No Return’'. 

   • Continue to Cotonou and visit the enormous market of Dantokpa and the Centre of Promotion of Artisan work.

   • Get transferred to the airport.