Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lome

   •  Arrive at the Lome airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.

2. Day 2: Lome City Tour

   • After breakfast, start with a Lome city tour that takes you to Lome's big market, the fetish market, the place of independence.
   • Visit Davedi, an ecotourism village, to learn about the Ewe culture. You will be taken through the farmlands to see pineapples which are the cash crop of the people. In the village, you will assist twin doll rituals by the older women and possibly learn about how they process palm oil.
   • End the day with a cultural dance by the women association in the village.
   • Have a traditional Ewe local dish for lunch.

3. Day 3: Benin - Agbedrafo - Zalive

   • Travel to Benin. Stop at Agbedrafo for a guided tour of the wood slave house to learn about the thought-provoking transatlantic slave trade.
   • Our next stop is at Zalive, a vibrant voodoo community across Lake Togo. 
   • Enjoy a voodoo performance there.

   Cross the border to Benin and stay overnight at Possotome.

4. Day 4: Ouidah

   • Start the day with a Zangbetor performance in the nearby village; it is an important practice and religion in most parts of south Benin. It is a traditional rural community where you can learn more about the Fon and their belief.
   • Visit the famous Voodoo dolls carver (Atavi) to have an exchange.
   • On arrival in Ouidah, visit the Python Temple and meet a Voodoo priest or priestess. The city is considered the voodoo capital of Benin, and very often, voodoo celebrations take place on weekends.

   Overnight stay in Ouidah.

5. Day 5: Ganvie - Ketou

   • Explore Ganvie, the largest stilts village in West Africa located on Lake Nokoue; the Tofinou people had founded the village in the XVII century for safety purposes. Therefore, Dahomey soldiers could not pursue them on the water. They live on fishing and petit trading. However, tourism brings extra income for some members.
   • Continue to Ketou, about 150 km north of Cotonou. 
   • Enjoy the Gélédé masks' dance that will be performed in the late afternoon. It is the famous voodoo cult among the Nago-Yorouba communities.

   Overnight stay in Ketou.

6. Day 6: Cotonou

   • Visit the Ida Royal Palace and the old palace with its sacred doors before heading back to Cotonou.
   • Enjoy a canoe ride on the Black River, the most tranquil ecosystem in southern Benin, surrounded by raffia palms. The visit will give you an overview of the daily activities of the people living along the river.

   Overnight in Cotonou.

7. Day 7: Dantokpa Market

   • In the morning, visit the Dantokpa market and Zinsou Foundation, an NGO specialising in art exhibitions. (optional)
   • Relax or shop before your final flight in the evening.