West Africa vacations & tours
Sixteen countries pack into West Africa – you’ve got desert behemoths like Niger and Mali, then there are the cluster of smaller countries on the coast: Togo, Benin and Ghana slotted like library books, each containing volumes. There’s so much culture to absorb here, from animist festivals to dining traditions: barbecue, fufu and competing recipes for the best jollof rice.
Our West Africa vacations combine different countries, both big and small, so you can discover the traditional clay hut villages of Ghana’s Dagomba people, delve into the mysteries of voodoo at Ouidah’s annual festival in Benin, and lose yourself in the costumes, music and stories at Burkina Faso’s Bwa Mask Festival. However you choose to explore the region, our vacations work closely with tribal elders to ensure that your presence is welcome, and that your visit benefits small communities.
Our West Africa vacations combine different countries, both big and small, so you can discover the traditional clay hut villages of Ghana’s Dagomba people, delve into the mysteries of voodoo at Ouidah’s annual festival in Benin, and lose yourself in the costumes, music and stories at Burkina Faso’s Bwa Mask Festival. However you choose to explore the region, our vacations work closely with tribal elders to ensure that your presence is welcome, and that your visit benefits small communities.
Our top West Africa vacations
West Africa explorer tour, Marrakech to Cotonou
From
£17699 to £19699
8 weeks
ex flights
An epic journey from Morocco to the voodoo coast of Benin
Small group2026: 9 Nov, 2027: 4 Mar, 8 Nov, 2028: 2 Mar, 28 Oct
West Africa tour, Bissau to Cotonou
From
£9899 to £11199
4 weeks
ex flights
Voodoo heartlands, traditional storytellers and lush islands
Small group2026: 6 Dec, 2027: 4 Mar, 5 Dec, 2028: 2 Mar, 24 Nov
Ghana,Togo and Benin experience tour
From
£5995 to £6850
14 days
ex flights
Experience the culture, history and wildlife of West Africa
Tailor made
Ghana, Togo and Benin vacation, gold and magic
From
£3699 to £4065
14 days
ex flights
Traditional villages and voodoo in Ghana, Togo and Benin
Small group2026: 20 Oct, 10 Nov, 22 Dec, 2027: 2 Feb, 16 Mar, 20 Jul, 10 Aug, 31 Aug, 22 Oct, 23 Nov, 28 Dec, 2028: 15 Feb, 28 Mar, 1 Aug, 12 Sep, 17 Oct, 5 Dec, 27 Dec
Ghana, Togo & Benin tour, Ouidah voodoo festival
From
£3999 to £4249
15 days
ex flights
The magic of Benin's voodoo festival, plus Ghana and Togo
Small group2027: 6 Jan, 2028: 5 Jan
Voodoo Festival tour in Benin, Togo and Ghana
From
US $6495
14 days
ex flights
Experience the annual Ouidah Voodoo Festival
Small group2026: 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 22 Sep, 6 Oct
West Africa Explorer, Guinea Bissau & Senegal
From
£4049 to £4249
14 days
ex flights
Historic towns, vibrant tribal culture & the Bijagos Islands
Small group2026: 31 Oct, 26 Dec, 2027: 30 Jan, 20 Mar, 17 Apr, 30 Oct
West Africa river cruise
From
US $1990 to US $3490
8 days
ex flights
Gambia and Senegal yacht cruise, Dakar to Dakar
Small group2027: 16 Jan, 30 Jan, 6 Feb
Ghana, Togo and Benin vacation
From
£4395
16 days
ex flights
Culture, landscapes and Ouidah Vodoun Festival
Small group2026: 27 Dec, 2027: 6 Jan, 2028: 8 Jan
See all our West Africa vacationsContact Us
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West Africa map & highlights
Most of our West African vacations take advantage of these tightly clustered borders to visit more than one country on a 10-day or two-week trip. One classic combination is Ghana, Togo and Benin – for Vodun (voodoo) culture and gorgeous coasts, as well as the opportunity to discover both Anglo- and Francophone Africa. The other combo is Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, with brief excursions across the river into Mauritania. If you’d rather stay in one place, Ghana and Senegal both offer ample attractions for a fortnight’s break. Alternatively, lengthier overland tours cross the Sahara, before reaching the lusher southern regions and finally the Atlantic. Organised tours – whether small group or tailor made – give access to these little visited corners of the world, with expert guides, local insight – and opportunities to encounter many local people along the way.
Benin
1. Benin
The ancient and misunderstood religion of Vodun (voodoo) casts a powerful spell over this little country, with festivals and temples to learn about. Explore a village in the middle of a lake, track big game in a national park, and meet the Somba – who live in impressive clay fortresses. The history of slavery still shadows this region, marked by the tragic Door of No Return.
Burkina Faso
2. Burkina Faso
A little-visited nation marooned in a sea of sand, Burkina Faso has been left to its own devices to preserve its own culture beautifully. This is perhaps most evident in the incredible Festival of the Dancing Masks, which takes place every two years. But don’t fret if you miss it; there are nomadic Tuaregs and Bella merchants to meet, marimba music to tap your feet to, and stunning mud villages to explore.
Ghana
3. Ghana
As one of the only Anglophone countries in the region, and with political stability, Ghana is an easy introduction to this vibrant region for English-speakers. The coast has idyllic beaches, slave forts and tropical forests; or head north for the elephants of Mole National Park, and classic scenes of ochre-painted villages against a backdrop of baobabs.
Guinea-Bissau
4. Guinea-Bissau
A little Portuguese slice of West Africa, Guinea-Bissau today remains virtually unexplored by tourists, even by West African standards. But that’s not for a lack of places to explore. There are the tropical Bijagos Islands, which form Africa’s largest archipelago and shelter elusive, saltwater hippos. Discover the “ghost town” of Bolama, remote villages within a flooded forest, and meet the animistic Pepel tribe – with no other tourists in sight.
Senegal
5. Senegal
A country of two halves – quite literally, as it is virtually bisected by the Gambia – Senegal is seriously cool, with buzzing bars in Dakar, the Saint Louis Jazz Festival and French-West African fusion food. Take a multi-day cruise up the Senegal River, which forms the border with Mauritania; meet the semi nomadic Fulani people; or take a ferry to the lush Casamance region, with its sacred forest.
Togo
6. Togo
Best visited as part of an overland tour that criss-crosses Benin and Ghana, Togo acts as the filling in a particularly scrummy West African sandwich. Laidback Lake Togo is a hub of traditional culture, with voodoo sculptures, and wooden canoes to cruise in. Visit the artisan villages of the Kaby Mountains, with round houses arranged in a ring, and admire the towering mud forts of the Taberma in Koutammakou.
Our Vacations in West Africa reviews
4.1
36Vacations in West Africa reviews
Mary MCCULLIGH18 Mar 2026
Impossible for me to choose. We had such amazing guides and the group was second to none. I can’t possibly pick a highlight. 5 stars.read more
Jane Gray07 Feb 2026
Meeting the local people and hanging out with them! Learning about the history, traditions and cultures of the 3 countries and the difference despite the close proximity! It was actually very relaxing despite all the traveling - met some fabulous people and traveling overland always gives you a better feel for a country!read more
Kathleen Dose-Koehl22 Apr 2025
It was amazing, and Kofi Norbert (guide) and Sam (driver) were excellent. Kofi answered all of our many questions honestly and accurately. He knew the ins
and outs of border crossings, villages, and local areas, and kept us safe. The cultures in Togo, Benin and Ghana were so diverse, and so amazing. We even had
the special experience of having champagne with a king!read more
