The Grand Tour of Benin
Fourteen days, the whole country: the coast, the kingdoms, the Collines, the Atakora and both national parks.
[ 9°21′ N, 2°37′ E ]The journey we built the company for. Two weeks from the Atlantic to the Niger river: Ganvié and Ouidah, the palaces of Abomey and the masks of Kétou, the sacred hills of Dassa, the Bariba horsemen of Parakou, the Tata Somba of the Atakora, Pendjari and the W. Nobody else sells it, because nobody else drives it.
- Duration
- 14 days
- Group
- Up to 6
- Season
- Nov – Mar
- Experience
- The whole country
- Every region of the country in one itinerary, south to north and back
- Ganvié, Ouidah, Abomey, Kétou, Dassa, Parakou, the Atakora, Pendjari, the W
- Four nights in the parks, driven by the parks' own rangers
- A night in a Tata Somba and a night on Lake Ahémé
- Internal flight back from the north when the schedule allows
The journey
- Day 1Night in Cotonou
Cotonou
Airport meeting, the Fondation Zinsou, dinner by the lagoon.
- Day 2Night in Porto-Novo
Ganvié and Porto-Novo
The stilt town at dawn, then the capital's Afro-Brazilian quarter and the Honmè palace.
- Day 3Night in Kétou
Kétou
The Yoruba kingdom on the Nigerian border and the Gèlèdé mask tradition, with the society that keeps it.
- Day 4Night in Abomey
Abomey
The royal palaces and bas-reliefs, the appliqué workshops.
- Day 5Night in Dassa-Zoumé
The Collines
The sacred hills of Dassa-Zoumé and the yam country around Savalou.
- Day 6Night in Parakou
Parakou
The crossroads of the north: the big market and the Bariba horsemen.
- Day 7Night in W park camp
The W
North-east to the W National Park and the Niger river's bend. Evening game drive.
- Day 8Night in W park camp
The W, full day
Dawn and dusk drives along the river.
- Day 9Night in Koussoukoingou
West to the Atakora
The long road west through Kandi and Natitingou to Tata Somba country.
- Day 10Night in Koussoukoingou
Koutammakou
A day among the fortified houses with the families who build them.
- Day 11Night in Pendjari lodge
Tanougou and Pendjari
A swim at the falls, then into the park by the Batia gate.
- Day 12Night in Pendjari lodge
Pendjari, full day
The Pendjari river, the Mare Bali and the lions when they allow it.
- Day 13Night in Grand-Popo
South to the coast
Flight or drive to Cotonou, then the coast road to Grand-Popo.
- Day 14
Ouidah and departure
The Route des Esclaves, the beach, and the airport.
Where you go
- 01Cotonou[ 6°22′ N, 2°25′ E ]
- 02Ganvié[ 6°28′ N, 2°25′ E ]
- 03Porto-Novo[ 6°30′ N, 2°36′ E ]
- 04Kétou[ 7°22′ N, 2°36′ E ]
- 05Abomey[ 7°11′ N, 1°59′ E ]
- 06Dassa-Zoumé & the Collines[ 7°45′ N, 2°11′ E ]
- 07Parakou[ 9°21′ N, 2°37′ E ]
- 08W National Park[ 11°54′ N, 2°36′ E ]
- 09Koutammakou & the Tata Somba[ 10°10′ N, 1°06′ E ]
- 10Tanougou falls[ 10°48′ N, 1°26′ E ]
- 11Pendjari National Park[ 10°54′ N, 1°33′ E ]
- 12Grand-Popo[ 6°17′ N, 1°49′ E ]
- 13Ouidah[ 6°22′ N, 2°05′ E ]
Nights along the way
Chosen for where they are and who runs them. Rooms are confirmed with your dates; we tell you the exact houses when you book.
CotonouA five-star hotel on the marina
The first and last night of most journeys, with the Atlantic on one side and the lagoon on the other.
Terraced stone balconies over a long pool, a lobby hung with Beninese painting and sculpture, a bar under a glass chandelier, a spa and tennis courts. Close enough to the airport to arrive late and leave early without losing the day.
Dassa-ZouméUnder the hills
A small hotel at the foot of the sacred hills, with the rocks lit at sunrise.
The stopover on the road north: a garden, cold drinks, and the hills of Dassa framed from the terrace. Nothing to do after dark, which is the point after a long day of driving.
The AtakoraA night in a Tata Somba
The fortified earth houses of Koutammakou, hosted by the family who built theirs.
You sleep on the roof terrace under the granary towers, as the family does in the dry season. Water is drawn, food is cooked on the fire, and the night is the darkest you will have seen. One night, by design.
PendjariA lodge inside the park
Bungalows by the river, so the first game drive starts at the door.
Inside the park boundary, with the Pendjari river below and the Atakora cliffs behind. Elephants come to the water at dusk. Rooms are fan-cooled and simple; dinner is early because the morning drive is earlier.
The lagoonsA lodge over the water
Wooden decks on stilts, a shower under the trees, pirogues at the step.
Small lodges built out over the lagoon, where the day starts with fishermen going past and ends with the water gone still. Rooms are simple and cool; the food is grilled fish and what the market had that morning.
OuidahA guesthouse with a courtyard
A quiet house a short walk from the Route des Esclaves, run by a family.
Red earth, a mango tree, a long table where dinner is cooked for the house. Rooms open onto the courtyard. This is where the Return journey sleeps, because the days are heavy and the evenings should not be.
- Private driver throughout, English and French speaking
- All road transport in an air-conditioned 4×4 with driver
- Accommodation as described, breakfast included
- All entry fees, permits and ceremony contributions
- Airport meeting and transfers in Cotonou
- Round-the-clock support from our Cotonou office
- Park fees and four days of game drives
- Internal flight from the north when scheduled
- International flights
- E-visa fees
- Travel insurance, which we require
- Lunches and dinners unless stated
- Tips and personal purchases
Departures
Scheduled small-group departures. Private departures run on any date from two travellers.
Good to know
Is fourteen days too long for Benin?
It is the minimum to see the whole country without rushing. Most of the kilometres are in the north, and we break the long days in two. If you have ten days, we suggest The Twelve Kings plus North to Pendjari instead.
How do I pay?
A 30% deposit confirms your dates. Pay in FCFA by MTN or Moov mobile money, or in euros by card. The balance is due 45 days before departure.
Can I travel on other dates?
Yes. Every journey runs privately on request, from two travellers. Private departures carry a small supplement outside the dry season.
Is Benin safe?
The south and centre are calm and welcoming. For the far north we follow the latest government advice and adapt routes with our local partners; we will tell you plainly if a leg has to change.
3 600 000 F
Other journeys
The Twelve Kings
From 1 450 000 F≈ €2,210 · 7 days
Abomey's palaces and bas-reliefs, then the road the kingdom took to the sea.
Learn more
Return
From 980 000 F≈ €1,495 · 5 days
Ouidah, the Route des Esclaves and the Door of No Return, walked slowly with people who can hold the silence.
Learn more
North to Pendjari
From 2 300 000 F≈ €3,505 · 9 days
Tata Somba country, the Atakora hills and West Africa's last great lion and elephant park.
Learn more