From the famous Royal Palaces of Abomey to the Slave Route in Ouidah, you will never cease to be transported by history; and each time it will be a same wonder whether it is the splendid fortresses of the Otammari Country (tata), the magnificent falls of Tanongou. The breath of fresh air on the hills of Dassa and the surfing of your boat on Lake Ahémé will certainly make you lose your mind.
International Airport “Cardinal Bernardin Gantin” (Google Map)
3 Hours Before Flight Time
This is what the Ecotour tour offers you through:
Evening arrival at Cotonou International Airport.
Welcome by a member of ECO-BENIN.
Transfer to the BTA Centre (Business & Tourism Academy).
Dinner and overnight on site.
Breakfast.
Transfer to Abomey the city of kings.
Lunch. In the space of 300 years, 12 palaces were built in the capital of the kingdom of Abomey, since the new sovereign had to build a new palace next to that of his predecessor. A gigantic royal city has been built up on more than 40 hectares.
With the visit of the historical museum of Abomey, former royal palace classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Conquests of the territory, resistance, colonization, cults and traditions, all the historical aspects of Benin will be discussed in order to better understand what it is today.
Return to Bohicon, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Visit to the tropical fruit drying centre.
Transfer to Koussoukoingou in the somba country. This site nestled in the heart of the Atacora chain to the discovery of the Tatas.
Lunch on the way.
Arrival and installation at the Otammari lodge.
Dinner and night at the Otammari lodge or in Tata under the stars.
Breakfast.
Three hours of walking will allow us to discover the hidden beauties of the small valley near Koussoukoingou: river where women came to draw water, granary of ancestors, Tatas scattered in the savanna.
Lunch made with local products by the restauratrices of the association la Perle de l’Atacora.
We leave for two hours of visit in the heart of the village to apprehend the lifestyle of the Bètammaribè and their exceptional know-how in the design and construction of the Tatas: these small castles are a harmonious marriage of aesthetics and functionality. The small boxes
Fortified, called «Tata» constitute the ingenious habitat of the Bètammaribè, people of outstanding builders.
Dinner and night at the Otammari lodge.
Breakfast.
Hike 4 to 5 hours from Koussoukoingou to Boukombé, via the vegetable garden of Takouanta.
The Atacora chain delivers its secrets of life to the rhythm of seasonal activities.
Lunch. Afternoon, free area. Traditional dance show.
Dinner and night at the lodge or traditional tata.
Breakfast.
Transfer to Kota Falls. Kota Falls form a series of waterfalls east of the Atacora Range in Benin. They are part of the protected areas of Benin and are located in the district of Kotopounga, about twenty kilometers from Natitingou.
Departure for Tanéka Béri. Lunch in the village.
The stop in Tanéka Béri is surprising: this village with huts nestled under the baobabs has retained all its authenticity: traditional healers are dressed in simple animal skins and smoke a sacred pipe.
Transfer to Djougou.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Former large caravan crossroads
Breakfast.
Meeting with local artisans who realize real wonders.
Transfer to Koko in the municipality of Bantè. Lunch on the way.
Arrival and installation at the Koko lodge.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Breakfast.
Discovery of beekeeping techniques practiced locally then meeting with the Shakaloke, a people of therapists for bone traumas.
Visit and night at the refuge CPN the butterflies.
Hiking in the hills and departure for Possotomé
Breakfast.
The superb view of the 41 hills through this morning hike will be a real dope for the next destination that is Possotomé to the discovery of the Xwédah, Kotafon and Saxwè peoples.
Installation at the cottage of Possotomè whose rooms are simple equipped with shower and internal toilet.
Dinner at the campsite at Préfet and night at the cottage.
Breakfast.
Boat on calm waters, swimming and experimenting with fishing techniques used by villagers, and what types of fish they allow to catch.
Discovery of the water deities «Tô vodou» and the role of protected areas dedicated to the divinity Avlékété, as well as the history of the unique hippopotamus of the lake. Swimming possible.
In the afternoon, Traditions and Culture circuit which is a walk through Possotomé and the villages of Okomé and Sèhomi. It will be punctuated by the presentation of voodoo deities and their temples, the role of the Tolegba, rituals and ceremonies as well as the importance of the sacred forest. We will also be introduced to the barter market in Sehomi, where women meet at the end of the afternoon to exchange their products.
Dinner and night at the Gîte.
Discovery of the village of Kpétou
Breakfast.
Transfer to Kpétou. The morning will be devoted to the exploration of the sacred forest to the discovery of a population of Mona monkeys in their natural habitat.
Picnic and nap under coconut trees. Meeting with women and weaving a mat.
Transfer to Avlo, village located between river and sea in the commune of Grand Popo.
Installation at the Avlo beach lodge whose rooms are simple equipped with internal shower and external toilet.
Dinner and overnight on site.
Mouth of the Roy Excursion
Breakfast.
Boat ride to the Bouche du Roy where the Mono River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Carbon action in the Roy’s mouth reserve to offset our gas emissions.
Lunch. Afternoon, relaxation by the sea.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Breakfast.
Departure for Ouidah for a pilgrimage. Relive the last moments of a slave before his departure for the New World with the visit of the old Portuguese fort, from the Slave Route to the Gate of Non-Return.
Return to Cotonou for the discovery of the Zinsou Foundation and the Centre for the Promotion of Crafts
Transfer to Cotonou airport in the evening. Departure.
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