8-day Lagos to Accra tour: Slave trade history and markets

Trace the slave trade across four countries, from Lagos to Cape Coast

An 8-day tour starting in Lagos that moves through Benin, Togo and Ghana, visiting slave castles from the 15th and 16th centuries, sacred forests, traditional markets and rural communities. The itinerary includes Badagry, Ouidah, Abomey, Lome, Accra and Cape Coast, with an English or French-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, fuel and border crossing permits all included. Children from age 6 are welcome.

The experience

The tour opens in Lagos with either a same-day orientation or a full city tour the next morning, depending on your arrival time. From there you move west into Benin, crossing into Cotonou and Ouidah to visit the Python Temple, sacred forests and the sites connected to the transatlantic slave trade. The route then turns north to Abomey before heading into Togo, where you'll see the slave house in Agbodrafo, the national museum and the Artisans village in Lome. Throughout, you stop at open-air markets and pass through traditional rural communities where you encounter local music, dance, costume and food.

Days 6 through 8 take you from Togo into Ghana. You arrive in Accra for a night's rest, then travel to Cape Coast and Elmina to walk through the castles themselves. The physical structures where captives were held before shipment across the Atlantic. The final day returns you to Accra for a city tour before departure. An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group throughout. Your guide speaks English or French and handles all logistics including fuel, tolls and the permits needed to cross borders by car.

What’s included

• Letter of invitation for visa applications.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• guide fees in English or French.
• fuel and tolls.
• border crossing permits for the vehicle.
• hotel pickup on arrival in Lagos.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (20 to 36 years) · Senior (38 to 63 years) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Child (10 to 14 years) · Infant (6 to 9 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ucomeafrik-Tours

Is this one for you?The tour departs from Lagos with hotel pickup included, so you don't need a car or need to arrange your own transport to the starting point. If you're flying into Nigeria and staying in the city, you're picked up and the eight-day route unfolds from there.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years); Child (10 to 14 years); Infant (6 to 9 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Python Temple in Ouidah?

The Python Temple in Ouidah is a sacred site where pythons are kept and venerated as part of local spiritual practice. The temple is one of the cultural landmarks the tour visits on Day 4 in Benin.

Do I need a visa to travel through Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana?

Visa requirements depend on your passport country. The tour includes a letter of invitation for visa applications, which you can use when applying to the relevant embassies before departure.

What happens if I arrive in Lagos in the afternoon on Day 1?

If you land in the afternoon, you'll check into your hotel and rest. A full Lagos orientation tour happens the next morning before the group departs for Benin, so you don't miss the city.

Are meals included in the 8-day tour?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are not included in the tour price, though you'll visit markets and pass through communities where food is available. You arrange and pay for your own meals throughout the eight days.

Can the tour start in Ghana and end in Nigeria instead?

Yes. The itinerary can run in reverse, starting in Ghana at Cape Coast and ending in Lagos, Nigeria. Let the operator know your preferred direction when you book.