9-day Nigeria, Benin, Togo & Ghana tour with castles

The route traces the transatlantic slave trade through four countries, from Lagos to Elmina Castle.

A 9-day guided tour starting in Lagos and moving through Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana, visiting Badagry's slave museums, Benin's royal palaces and sacred forests, and Ghana's coastal castles at Cape Coast and Elmina. The tour includes hotel accommodation, an air-conditioned vehicle, a live guide in English, Spanish or French, and meals. You travel overland across three border crossings and spend time in communities, markets and historical sites tied to the African diaspora and colonial history.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Lagos arrival

• Visit Nike Art Gallery
• Explore Lekki Conservation Centre
• Tour Makoko floating village

Day 2: Abeokuta-Ogun state

• Climb Olumo Rock
• Visit Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library
• Shop at Osoba Adire/Kampala Market

Day 3: Lagos - Benin

• Tour Badagry Slave Museum
• Visit Badagry Heritage Museum
• Cross Seme Border to Benin
• See Amazon Statue in Cotonou
• Explore Centre de Promotion de l'Artisanat
• Visit Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Cotonou

Day 4: Ganvie - Abomey

• Tour Ganvié Stilt Village
• Visit Royal Palaces of Abomey
• Explore Temple Caméléon

Day 5: Benin-Togo

• Visit Musée de la Fondation Zinsou
• Take Ouidah Slave Route Tour
• Explore Sacred Forest of Ouidah
• Visit Togoville town
• Tour Slave House of Togo
• Shop at Grand Marché in Lomé

Day 6: Togo- Accra Ghana

• Cross Aflao Border
• Drive 3.5 hours to Accra
• Visit night market in Osu

Day 7: Accra city Tour

• See Black Star Gate
• Explore Accra Arts Centre
• Visit Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
• Tour National Museum of Ghana
• Explore James Town neighborhood
• Visit W.E.B. Du Bois Center

Day 8: Cape coast

• Tour Cape Coast Castle
• Visit Elmina Castle
• Explore Kakum National Park
• Visit Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park

Day 9: Accra return/Departure

• Visit Aburi Botanical Gardens
• Tour Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm

The experience

How do you move through four countries in nine days without losing the thread? This tour strings together the major sites of West African history: the slave trade routes, the kingdoms that preceded colonialism, and the independence movements that followed. You start in Lagos, moving through Nigeria's art galleries and nature reserves, then cross into Benin to walk through Ganvié's stilt village on Lake Nokoué and tour the Royal Palaces of Abomey. The route continues into Togo and ends in Ghana, where you spend two days at Cape Coast and Elmina, standing inside the castles where enslaved Africans were held before the Atlantic crossing.

Each stop is built around a named place and a specific history. In Badagry you visit the Slave Museum and Heritage Museum. In Ouidah, Benin, you walk the Slave Route to the "Door of No Return" and explore the Sacred Forest tied to Vodun spiritual practice. In Togo you see the Slave House in Agbodrafo and browse the Grand Marché in Lomé. Ghana's leg includes the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, the W.E.B. Du Bois Center, and both Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle: two of the oldest European structures in sub-Saharan Africa. You also spend time in James Town, Accra's oldest neighborhood, and visit Kakum National Park's canopy walkway above the rainforest.

The tour moves by air-conditioned vehicle with a live guide who speaks English, Spanish or French. Hotel accommodation is included each night. You stay in named hotels in Lagos, Abeokuta, Cotonou, Ouidah, Lomé and Accra. The itinerary crosses the Seme Border between Nigeria and Benin, the Aflao Border between Togo and Ghana, and includes a 3.5-hour drive to Accra. WiFi is available at accommodations, and fuel surcharge is covered. You'll need a valid passport and any required visas for each country. Border crossings involve customs checks and some waiting time, especially during peak hours.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation for nine nights.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the tour.
• live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• WiFi at accommodations.
• fuel surcharge.
• entry to named museums, castles, palaces and parks including Badagry Heritage Museum, Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, Royal Palaces of Abomey, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Kakum National Park.

Options for this experience

2 options

Nine-day four-country tour of Nigeria, Benin, Togo and GhanaGuide in English, Spanish or French · 19 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00Air-conditioned saloon car for transport, with pickup included

Full PackageGuide in English, Spanish or French · 08:00Twin-bed hotel rated 3-4 stars, suitable for 2 people, for 9 days, with breakfast; travel by 4x4 SUV; entrance fees to all sites listed in the tour are covered; pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day20 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Evans Aguiyi

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to spend nine days moving through the sites and stories of the African diaspora and West African independence, with a guide who can explain the history at each stop. The fixed itinerary and shared vehicle mean you travel with other guests and follow a set schedule. If you prefer to move at your own pace or explore fewer countries, a shorter regional tour may suit you better.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

7 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What are the Badagry museums actually about?

The Badagry Slave Museum and Heritage Museum are housed in historic colonial buildings and hold artifacts, documents and exhibits that narrate the stories of enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade. Both sites focus on the region's role in the trade and the resilience of those affected.

Can I actually walk inside Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle?

Yes. Elmina Castle, built by the Portuguese in 1482, features dungeons, a chapel and the "Door of No Return". Cape Coast Castle, built by the Swedes in the mid-17th century and later used by the British, also has the "Door of No Return" and interactive exhibits. Both offer guided tours through the structures.

What is Ganvié and why is it called the Venice of Africa?

Ganvié is a stilt village on Lake Nokoué near Cotonou, Benin, built entirely on stilts by the Tofinu people who have lived on the water for centuries. It is a UNESCO-recognized settlement where houses, markets and transport are all built over water, making it resemble Venice.

Do I need visas for all four countries?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. You will need a valid passport for all four countries. Check with each country's embassy before booking to confirm whether you need a visa. The tour crosses three borders: Seme (Nigeria to Benin), and Aflao (Togo to Ghana), so have your documents ready at each crossing.

What happens at the Sacred Forest in Ouidah?

The Sacred Forest of Ouidah is a spiritually significant site linked to the Vodun religion, home to ancient trees, sacred shrines and spiritual relics. You can walk through the forest and learn about the traditional beliefs and rituals still practiced there, which connect to the region's history and the Vodun faith.

Is Kakum National Park's canopy walkway safe?

Kakum National Park features a canopy walkway made of suspension bridges that lets you walk high above the rainforest floor. The walkway is a major attraction of the park. The tour includes access to it as part of the Cape Coast leg, allowing you to see the forest and its wildlife from above.