 Saturday: |
Midnight
departure from JFK - New York for overnight flight to Benin. |
| Sunday: |
Arrive
at Cotonou in the evening. Transfer to hotel with dinner and overnight
in Cotonou. |
| Monday:
|
Morning:
City Tour of Cotonou, including major landmarks and the statue of Martin
Luther King, Jr. on the New Bridge. After lunch, depart for Ganvié
for a tour of the stilt village on the water - "The Venice of West Africa".
Overnight in Cotonou. |
| Tuesday:
|
Morning
departure for Abomey with visits to the Royal Palace Museum and the King
of Abomey. Mid-afternoon, travel to Aladja to see the birthplace of Toussaint
Louverture, the liberator of Haiti. Late afternoon return to Cotonou. Dinner
and overnight in Cotonou. |
| Wednesday: |
Morning
departure for Porto Novo. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Brazilian
Church and the 300 year-old Palace of King Toffa. Enjoy a performance of
the 'Guardians of the Night' spirit dancers. |
Thursday:
|
Travel
to Ouidah, former slave trading post and birthplace of Voodoo. An unforgettable
visit takes you to the Voodoo Museum, the Sacred Forest, the Cathedral
and the Temple of the Pythons. Walk the "Road of Slaves", to the awe-inspiring
memorial. Continue to the place of the common grave, the tree of forgetfulness
and the 'Gate of no Return'. Welcome reception from Dagbo Hounon, high
priest of the voodoo cult. late afternoon - return to Cotonou and overnight. |
| Friday: |
Travel
to Ketou to visit the Royal Palace and witness a performance of Yoruba
Geledi dancers. Late afternoon return to Cotonou and overnight. |
| Saturday: |
A day
in Cotonou: Visit Dantokpa Market and the Artisans Center. The balance
of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Cotonou. |
| Sunday: |
The
day at leisure in Cotonou. Relax on a beach or do last minute shopping.
Early dinner with hotel checkout and depart for airport to board the 8:20
PM flight back to New York. |
| Monday: |
Arrive
JFK - New York at 8:00 AM |
