The Twelve Kings
Abomey's palaces and bas-reliefs, then the road the kingdom took to the sea.
[ 7°11′ N, 1°59′ E ]Seven days through the heart of the Kingdom of Dahomey: the palaces of Abomey, the sacred hills of Dassa, the royal court of Porto-Novo and the port of Ouidah, where the kingdom met the Atlantic. Told, at each palace, by the families who keep it.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Group
- Up to 8
- Season
- Nov – Feb
- Experience
- Kingdoms & culture
- Private visit of the Abomey palaces with a descendant of the royal guard
- The bas-reliefs read symbol by symbol: chameleon, lion, shark
- Sunrise on the sacred hills of Dassa-Zoumé
- The Honmè palace and Afro-Brazilian quarter of Porto-Novo
- The Route des Esclaves walked end to end in Ouidah
The journey
- Day 1Night in Cotonou
Arrive in Cotonou
We meet you at the airport. Dinner by the lagoon and a briefing on the week.
- Day 2Night in Abomey
Porto-Novo, the quiet capital
The Honmè royal palace, the Great Mosque in its Brazilian baroque, and the ethnographic museum. Evening drive north.
- Day 3Night in Abomey
The palaces of Abomey
A full day inside the royal compound: the palaces of Ghezo and Glele, the bas-reliefs, the tombs. Lunch with a family of court artisans.
- Day 4Night in Dassa-Zoumé
Weavers and the Dassa hills
The appliqué workshops of Abomey, then the sacred hills of Dassa-Zoumé and the cave of the Virgin.
- Day 5Night in Ouidah
South to Ouidah
The road the slave caravans took. Afternoon in Ouidah: the Portuguese fort, the Python Temple, the sacred forest of Kpassè.
- Day 6Night in Ouidah
The Route des Esclaves
Four kilometres walked slowly from the auction square to the Door of No Return, with time to sit. Afternoon free on the beach.
- Day 7
Ganvié and departure
Dawn pirogue through the stilt town of Ganvié, then transfer to the airport.
Where you go
- 01Porto-Novo[ 6°30′ N, 2°36′ E ]
- 02Abomey[ 7°11′ N, 1°59′ E ]
- 03Ouidah[ 6°22′ N, 2°05′ E ]
- 04Ganvié[ 6°28′ N, 2°25′ 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.
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
- 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
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.
1 450 000 F
Other journeys
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