7 Days in Togo
Trip Overview
This week-long journey slices through Togo's raw contrasts. Begin in Lomé, the Atlantic port where peeling colonial facades lean over spice-choked markets, then push north through dripping forests to the UNESCO-listed Koutammakou region where mud tower houses stand like chess pieces across the hills. You'll burn your tongue on fiery akple with okra soup, catch talking drums rolling through valleys, feel red earth crack under your sandals, and watch Lake Togo turn molten gold at dusk. The rhythm alternates between deep cultural dives and lazy beach hours, between market chaos and quiet village afternoons.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$80-120 per day
Best Seasons
November to March (dry season)
Ideal For
First-time visitors to West Africa, Cultural travelers, Photography enthusiasts, Food lovers, Beach seekers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Lomé Arrival & Grand Marché Colors
Lomé
Dive straight into Togo's capital with its chaotic markets and Atlantic breezes
Morning
Explore Grand Marché de Lomé
Squeeze through shoulder-width passages lined with kente cloth bolts, scarlet palm-oil pyramids, and stiff towers of dried fish. Traders shout deals in Ewe and French while hibiscus perfume mingles with the smoke of corn roasting over coals.
Lunch
Le Béninois on Rue des Narcisses
Afternoon
National Museum and Independence Monument
Dig into Yoruba bronze weights and chipped German colonial relics. The museum's shaded courtyard drops the temperature ten degrees under mango branches, and the Atlantic crashes just beyond the wall.
Evening
Sunset drinks at Hotel Sarakawa beach bar
Order a cloudy Tchoukoutou beer while painted pirogues slide in with their silvery haul
Where to Stay Tonight
Beach Road area (Hotel Cote Sud or similar)
Walking distance to both markets and beach, easy to navigate first day
See all Togo accommodation options →Pack small CFA bills for market buys - most vendors can't break large notes
Day 1 Budget: $85
2
Lake Togo & Slave Route
Lake Togo & Agbodrafo
Cruise across Lake Togo then walk the haunting path of the slave trade
Morning
Lake Togo boat crossing and Togoville visit
Slide across mirror-calm water in hand-painted wooden boats, past drifting hyacinth and pelicans preening on logs. In Togoville, a fetish priest breaks kola nuts and pours palm wine while explaining how voodoo still shapes daily life.
Arrange boat from Hotel du Lac in Aneho
Lunch
Chez Maman Rose in Togoville
Afternoon
House of Slaves in Agbodrafo
Step into stone cells where chains once clinked. The walls sweat history. Outside, a breadfruit tree throws deep shade over the courtyard where visitors sit quietly, letting the silence speak.
Evening
Beach dinner at Coco Beach Lodge
Grilled lobster with coconut rice as waves lap beneath the stilted restaurant
Where to Stay Tonight
Agbodrafo beach (Coco Beach Lodge)
Right on the sand, good for early lake departure next morning
See all Togo accommodation options →Bring a sarong - makeshift changing room for lake swimming
Day 2 Budget: $95
3
Coffee Mountains & Kpalimé Crafts
Kpalimé
Wind into Togo's highlands for coffee plantations and artisan workshops
Morning
Drive to Kpalimé via Atakpamé
Wind upward through hills wrapped in morning mist, coffee bushes glittering with dew. Pull over for finger-sweet roadside bananas and watch women balance towering firewood bundles as if they weighed nothing.
Leave early to avoid afternoon mountain fog
Lunch
Hotel Aurore terrace
Afternoon
Mount Agou hike and coffee plantation visit
Push through bamboo to Togo's roof at 986m. The summit wind carries the scent of distant cooking fires. Drop down to a plantation where coffee beans lie drying on blue tarps, releasing waves of dark chocolate aroma.
Bring rain jacket - mountain weather changes quickly
Evening
Artisan market browsing
Watch woodcarvers create masks from iroko trees, pick up painted calabash bowls
Where to Stay Tonight
Kpalimé town center (Hotel Aurore)
Central location, mountain views, reliable hot water
See all Togo accommodation options →Buy coffee directly from plantation - half the price of Lomé shops
Day 3 Budget: $110
4
Craft Villages & Fetish Markets
Kpalimé region
Meet artisans in mountain villages and explore voodoo markets
Morning
Visit Kloto craft village
Under mango shade, weavers work narrow-strip kente on creaking wooden looms. Indigo stains their fingertips as the click-clack beat answers back to gossiping birds overhead.
Arrive by 8am to see full weaving process
Lunch
Mama's Kitchen in Kloto
Afternoon
Assahoun fetish market
Thread between stalls hung with dried chameleons, porcupine quills, and leopard pelts. Medicinal herbs bite the air alongside incense coils. A healer crushes monkey bone to powder, promising strength to those who dare.
Photography requires permission and small payment
Evening
Traditional dance performance
The village cultural center lights up at night with drum circles that pull visitors into the dance
Where to Stay Tonight
Kpalimé (Same as previous night)
No need to change hotels, allows late market return
See all Togo accommodation options →Carry small gifts like soap or batteries for craftspeople - simple gestures build real connections
Day 4 Budget: $90
5
Savanna Crossing to Sokodé
Sokodé
Cross into central Togo's savanna region, home of the Tem people
Morning
Drive to Sokodé via Atakpamé
Drop from cool highlands into blistering savanna where baobabs throw long shadows across white sky. Women pound millet in wooden mortars, the steady thump-thump keeping time over sorghum fields.
Sit on left side for better views
Lunch
Restaurant La Paix in Sokodé
Afternoon
Sokodé central market and mosque
Thread through lanes stacked with leather sandals and indigo bolts. The muezzin's call ricochets off mud walls while charcoal smoke curls from street stalls grilling spicy brochettes.
Evening
Dinner at hotel restaurant
Try tchapalo - local millet beer served in calabash bowls
Where to Stay Tonight
Sokodé center (Hotel Central)
Near transport hub for tomorrow's Koutammakou journey
See all Togo accommodation options →Buy shea butter in Sokodé market - pure and cheap
Day 5 Budget: $80
6
Koutammakou - Land of the Batammariba
Koutammakou UNESCO region
Enter the extraordinary world of mud tower houses and ancient traditions
Morning
Drive to Nadoba village
Cross into the UNESCO World Heritage zone where two-story mud towers called 'takienta' rise like red fortresses from the savanna. Goats kick up dust past granaries on stilts. A village elder traces the spiritual map of each tower level with a gnarled finger.
Hire driver through your Sokodé hotel
Lunch
Village homestay lunch
Afternoon
Takienta climb and traditional dance
Climb rough wooden ladders into tower rooms polished smooth by generations. From the roof, watch women haul water in clay jars while boys chase cattle. Join the yabyala dance as drums hammer rhythms that seem to shake the ground itself.
Bring small gifts for dancers - kola nuts or fabric
Evening
Sunset from tower roof
Watch the takientas glow amber as women light evening cooking fires
Where to Stay Tonight
Nadoba village (Basic village guesthouse)
Real feel, sleeping in actual takienta tower
See all Togo accommodation options →Sleep on the roof for cool breezes and memorable stargazing
Day 6 Budget: $95
7
Return to Lomé via Kara
Lomé
Complete the circuit with final shopping and beach time
Morning
Kara market and departure
Dig through northern stalls selling indigo cloth and traditional remedies. Grilled corn competes with the tang of leather curing pits. Load up on shea butter and hand-woven baskets.
Leave Nadoba by 6am for good market timing
Lunch
Highway restaurant near Blitta
Afternoon
Return drive to Lomé
Drop from savanna through forest back to the coast. Pause for dripping pineapple at roadside stands, juice running down wrists in the thick heat.
Book front seat for comfort on long journey
Evening
Farewell dinner at La Belle Époque
Beachfront French-Togolese fusion, good for reflecting on your week
Where to Stay Tonight
Lomé Beach Road (Onomo Hotel or similar)
Near airport for departure, modern amenities after village stay
See all Togo accommodation options →Keep CFA for airport departure tax - they'll accept leftover coins
Day 7 Budget: $100
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Jump in shared taxis between cities (cheap, cramped) or arrange a private driver through your hotel ($50-80/day). Motorcycle taxis handle short hops inside towns. Roads stay smooth Lomé-Kpalimé-Sokodé but turn brutal toward Koutammakou.
Book Ahead
Reserve your Koutammakou village stay through Nadoba tourism office (call +228 90 11 45 67). Lock in Lomé hotel for first and last nights if you're flying in or out over weekends.
Packing Essentials
Pack light clothes for the heat, one warm layer for highland nights, a rain jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent, CFA cash (cards flop outside Lomé), a sarong for towel or changing screen, and small village gifts.
Total Budget
$650-850 for the week excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Stick to shared taxis, sleep in basic guesthouses ($15-25/night), eat street akume and grilled plantain, skip private guides - total cost drops to $400-500.
Luxury Upgrade
Hire a private driver for the full week, upgrade to Hotel 2 Fevrier in Lomé and Hotel Kara up north, add private dinners and spa sessions - budget jumps to $1500-2000.
Family-Friendly
Swap the Koutammakou village stay for Hotel Kara's comfort, add beach hours at Hotel du Lac, include Lake Togo swimming, and pick restaurants that serve international dishes kids will eat.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Togo
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Togo.
See All Togo Tours on Viator