On the edge of the Atlantic Ocean
On the trail of the Slave Route, between the coconut trees of Ouidah and the sacred waters of Lake Ahemé.
Duration
7 days
From
€900/pers.
Ideal seasons
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Style
Guided tour
Comfort
classique
Travelers
Couple, Solo, With friends, senior
The spirit of travel
When summer arrives and you dream of a paradise far from home, a place where there is both sunshine and beaches, think of Bénin!
With its magnificent Atlantic coast dotted with historic and cultural landmarks, this country offers lovers of unusual travel the joy of living naturally by the sea while discovering a part of the country's rich past and cultural heritage.
Alone, with family or friends, come and relax under the coconut trees of the most beautiful beaches in Bénin and discover a fascinating and little-known country!
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Ganvié, the Lakeside City
We begin our first day of exploration with a visit to the open-air international market in Cotonou: the Dantokpa market.
This vast space has a way of turning our heads with its diverse and multiple goods: amulets, fabrics, pagnes, cult objects, etc. Likewise, food products, handicrafts and industrial goods are found side by side.
Many traders from all corners of Africa come to set up their stalls, hoping to conclude a lucrative deal. Every day, this great bazaar brings together thousands of customers and sellers.
We also visit the Zinsou Foundation, a museum dedicated to the exhibition and promotion of contemporary African arts.
We then head 25 km away towards the lake city of Ganvié.
This village is located in the middle of Lake Nokoué and has been inhabited since 1770 by the Toffin, a tribe that fled inter-ethnic conflicts and the evils of slavery.
The spectacle unfolding before our eyes is exceptional: its floating market with a thousand colors and a thousand scents, and its bamboo and straw houses on stilts.
The tour is done by pirogue.
Porto-Novo
Then we take the road to Porto, the administrative capital of Bénin. It is also the capital of The Oueme department.
This beautiful and charming port city stands out for its multiethnicity and especially for the colonial architecture of its buildings, listed as UNESCO World Heritage (such as its Great Mosque).
An African city known as the heart of the worship cults of the god Orisha, three distinct religions predominate there: Christianity, the Yoruba religion and Voodoo, and Islam.
We immerse ourselves in history and culture with a visit to the ethnographic museum. You can admire various indigenous artifacts such as masks of Identity celebration Guelede, weapons and musical instruments.
Contemplation of The great mosque of Porto. This building is a true feast for the eyes. Its multicolored facades and architectural style are reminiscent of those of churches in Salvador da Bahia in Brazil.
We finish with a tour of the old quarter of the city. The colonial houses that line its streets transport us to a completely different world.
At the edge of the ocean
Porto Novo → Grand-Popo
It is in Grand, the city that is home to the most beautiful beaches in Bénin, that we settle in for the day.
Water excursion, visit to the voodoo village, bird island, meeting point between the sea and the Fleuve Mono, we tour the notable sites of the area.
Possotome and Lake Ahemé
Grand-Popo → Possotome
Today we continue our journey and settle our luggage in the most peaceful village in the country, Possotomé, which also proves to be a true temple of animism.
We visit a temple that has been kept secret until now. The highlight of our adventures today is the pirogue ride on Lake Ahemé.
Ouidah and the Slave Route
We make this morning the short transfer to the city of Ouidah, close to the Atlantic coast.
We devote the day to long hours of wandering in this historic city and start with the Temple of Pythons. This is located opposite the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the cathedral of the city, with which it forms a striking contrast.
Then we stretch our legs by exploring The sacred forest Kpassè Zoun. It is a wooded area where hundred-year-old trees stand. We enjoy discovering its voodoo temple with its statues of voodoo deities, as well as contemplating the iroko tree of the king.
The Slave Route remains an essential circuit in Ouidah. We walk several kilometers of beach to retrace one by one the 5 stages of this trail, symbol of the slave trade in Bénin.
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- Air travel
- Visa fees
- Insurance
- Meals and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
- The extras
Included
- Accommodation
- The services of an English-speaking coordinator guide
- Transport throughout the entire stay (driver and fuel included)
- The activities mentioned
- Site entrances
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
Les informations ci-dessous concernent les voyageurs ressortissants de l'Espace économique européen (EEE), de la Suisse et du Canada se rendant au Bénin dans le cadre d'un séjour touristique. Les règles d'entrée pouvant évoluer, nous vous recommandons de vérifier les informations auprès des autorités officielles avant votre départ.
Passeport
Pour entrer au Bénin, votre passeport doit être valide au minimum six mois après la date d'entrée dans le pays et comporter au moins deux pages vierges pour les tampons d'immigration.
Le document doit être en bon état (pas de pages détériorées, déchirées ou modifiées).
Visa
Les ressortissants de l'Espace économique européen, de la Suisse et du Canada doivent obligatoirement obtenir un visa pour entrer au Bénin, y compris dans le cadre d'un séjour touristique.
Le Bénin a mis en place un système de visa électronique (e-visa), qui constitue la modalité d'entrée recommandée. Ce visa doit être demandé en ligne avant le départ, via le portail officiel des autorités béninoises. Il est délivré pour un séjour touristique pouvant aller jusqu'à 30 jours.
Il est également possible d'obtenir un visa à l'arrivée dans certains aéroports internationaux, notamment à Cotonou (Aéroport International Cardinal Bernardin Gantin), mais l'e-visa reste fortement conseillé afin d'éviter tout délai ou complication à l'entrée.
Les autorités peuvent demander :
un billet de sortie du territoire (vol retour ou continuation),
une preuve de ressources financières suffisantes pour la durée du séjour,
une confirmation de réservation d'hébergement.
Santé et vaccinations
La vaccination contre la fièvre jaune est obligatoire pour entrer au Bénin. Le certificat international de vaccination (carnet jaune) doit être présenté à l'entrée sur le territoire. Sans ce document, l'accès au pays peut être refusé ou une vaccination sur place imposée.
Il est par ailleurs fortement recommandé de :
prendre un traitement antipaludéen adapté, le paludisme étant présent sur l'ensemble du territoire,
se tenir à jour des vaccinations habituelles (hépatites A et B, typhoïde, méningite, tétanos, poliomyélite),
consulter un médecin ou un centre de vaccinations internationales au moins quatre à six semaines avant le départ.
Voyage avec des enfants
Les mineurs doivent être titulaires de leur propre passeport valide couvrant la durée du séjour, ainsi que d'un visa individuel.
Dans certains pays européens, lorsqu'un mineur voyage sans l'un de ses parents, une autorisation de sortie du territoire peut être exigée selon la réglementation du pays de résidence.
Autres nationalités
Les conditions d'entrée peuvent varier selon la nationalité. Les voyageurs concernés doivent se renseigner auprès de l'ambassade ou du consulat du Bénin de leur pays de résidence.
Pour participer à nos voyages, il est fortement conseillé d'être assuré en assistance-rapatriement et frais médicaux à l’étranger.
Votre agence locale vous encourage à prendre connaissance du contrat spécifique élaboré avec notre partenaire CHAPKA ASSURANCES et AXA ASSISTANCE.
Pour souscrire à une assurance, connaître les garanties et les tarifs, suivez le lien ci-dessous.
CAP EXPLORER : La solution d’assurance complète conçue pour vivre sereinement votre voyage !
Choisissez la formule qui vous correspond le mieux:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Spécifiques à nos voyages, nous suggérons fortement d’y souscrire.
Si vous choisissez de souscrire à l’une de ces formules, la convention détaillant l’ensemble des garanties et les modalités de déclaration du sinistre sont disponibles sur le site Internet de l'assureur.
Votre agence locale en aura connaissance, mais seul le participant est responsable du respect des procédures de déclaration de tout sinistre. Le participant doit donc conserver cette convention avec lui pendant toute la durée de son voyage.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
An e-visa is required and must be requested online before departure. Processing takes 48 to 72 hours. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your entry date. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory. The conditions for obtaining the e-visa (fee, validity period) vary depending on your nationality. We recommend that you verify the rules applicable to your situation with the consular authorities of the destination before booking your trip.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a tailor-made quality trip, plan between 120 and 210 euros per day and per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport and English-speaking guide. International flights (700-1100 euros return) are additional. Benin is an authentic destination, the birthplace of Voodoo.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We adapt every itinerary to match your travel profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed paces, family-friendly accommodations, educational and entertaining activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our local English-speaking guides know how to captivate children with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You refine every detail together until it's perfect. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) guarantee which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on the ground throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Historic South
Cultural bridge builder across West Africa, based in Bénin
We understand Benin through the colors of a market, the rhythm of a drum, and the warmth of a welcome
— Isaac
