Dates: March 17 – 26, 2026

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:

• 3 890 EUR subject to 11 – 12 participants,
• 4 050 EUR subject to 9 – 10 participants,
• 4 250 EUR subject to 8 participants,
• 4 450 EUR subject to 7 participants, based on DBL accommodation.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before September 17, 2025)

Everything is included, except for:
— international flight to Kano (Nigeria) and return flight from Lagos,
— Nigerian visa (we assist to arrange business visa "on arrival" at 400 EUR incl. visa fee and pre-visa PDF document to be sent before departure and to be used for boarding),
— international medical insurance,
— lunches.

Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Kano and Lagos – Moscow: 950 – 1200 EUR (to be bought on your own. We consult you).
Estimated cost of international flight Cairo – Kano and Lagos – Cairo: 550 – 600 EUR (to be bought on your own. We consult you).

Single supplement: 650 EUR (provided in hotels throughout the entire itinerary).
* In Nigeria, TWIN rooms (with 2 separate beds) are not available in most hotels, apart from Lagos. Travelers who do not share a double room (with 1 bed) are strongly advised to pay the single supplement.



TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to nigeria

Day 1. March 17, 2026 (Tuesday). ARRIVAL IN KANO

Arrival in Kano. Meet the guide at the airport and transfer after clearing immigration requirements.
From the airport we will proceed to Dala Hills, the origin of Kano. From there, we will continue to the Kurmi market, one of the oldest markets in West Africa dating back to 15th century. From the market, we will proceed to our hotel and check in for the night.
Dinner and overnight at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar

* Recommended flights:
— with Ethiopian Airlines with 3 hours 40 minutes stopover in Addis Ababa, departs from Moscow on March 16 at 21:30, arrives in Addis Ababa at 5:40 am on March 17, departs from Addis Ababa at 9:20 am on March 17, arrives in Kano (Nigeria) at 12:25 pm on March 17,
— with Egypt Air with 13 hours 45 minutes stopover in Cairo (the Egypt Air provides free hotel, transfer and visa for transfer passengers), departs from Moscow on March 16 at 15:45, arrives in Cairo at 20:10 pm on March 16, departs from Cairo at 9:55 am on March 17, arrives in Kano (Nigeria) at 13:30 on March 17,
— any other flight with arrival in Kano (Nigeria) no later than at 13:00 pm on March 17.


Day 2. March 18, 2026 (Wednesday). KANO – DAMBE BOXING

After breakfast, we go on a city tour of Kano starting from the Emir’s palace and the adjourning Gidan Makama museum, which houses the history of Kano and the Hausa tribe anthropology.
From the palace, we will visit the Grand Mosque, and then we will touch base at Gidan Dan Hausa museum, a superb example of early 20th-century Hausa architecture with a fine collection of old artefacts in its interior. Here we will introduce Hausa culture and architecture.
After lunch, we will visit the ancient Kofar Mata Dye pits, the origin on indigo dying whose tradition has been passed among generations. After some time at the pits, we will proceed to have a “Dambe” experience. Dambe is a local boxing contest between young men and it is a sport that is as old as Kano itself.
From the boxing arena, we will return to our hotel and prepare for dinner. Overnight at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 3. March 19, 2026 (Thursday). EID-UL-FITR AND DURBAR FESTIVAL IN KANO – HAUSA HYENA MEN IN GABASAWA – KANO (85 km, 2 hours drive)

Today is Eid Ul Fitr – the end of Ramadan and a day of prayers and celebration. We will witness the procession to the Eid prayers and a mini Durbar upon return from the Eid ground.
Today is the day the Durbar festival is expected to start*.
Between 9 and 10 am Durbar parade is happening right on the streets of Kano where we can encounter the Hausa aristocracy in full regalia: Hausa chiefs with the warriors parading horsebacks head towards the palaces and the big square of prayer. All day different rites can be witnessed everywhere.
In the evening and the next day, the Durbar ceremonies continue and we will also attend. It is normally 3 or at least 2 days of ceremonies and festivals in Kano and Dutse Emirates.
In the afternoon, we will depart for Gabasawa after an early breakfast. At Gabasawa, we will visit the Gadawan Kura – Hausa Hyena men, a group of street performers who earn their living by exhibiting their hyenas, baboons, pythons and other wild animals. We’ll spend the day exploring their village and enjoying their displays and performances.
After about 2 hours performance, we return to Kano.

* Durbar Festival normally implies 3 days (sometimes 2 days) of ceremonies and takes place according to Lunar calendar (depending on the date of Eid Ul Fitr). The exact dates of Durbar will be set closer to the date, but most probably it will start on March 19 (however may start on March 18 or March 20, according to the moon). In any case, we schedule our visits to Durbar Festival places in Kano and Dutse on any dates from March 18 to March 21 it may take place.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 4. March 20, 2026 (Friday). KANO – DUTSE – FULANI VILLAGE – DUTSE (150 km, 2.5 hours drive) 

Today will be a royal visit day where we will be treated to a feel of royalty at the palace of the Emir of Dutse with its beautifully decorated buildings and inner chambers. The palace is one of the unique royal residences in northern Nigeria.
From the palace, we will have lunch and proceed to the Dutse rocks range. Here we will interact with local Fulani villagers and spend some time exploring their culture before proceeding to Dutse.
If this is the day of Durbar festival, we will for sure attend it in Dutse. In Dutse the scale of parades is smaller than in Kano, but we may also attend shows of men who play with hygiene, the fetishists in Kano or towards Dutse, the Bori or other opportunities that the Durbar Festival provides.
Overnight at Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar


Day 5. March 21, 2026 (Saturday). DUTSE – KAFIN MADAKI – SUMU WILDLIFE PARK – BAUCHI (220 km, 4 hours drive) 

After breakfast, we depart to Bauchi founded in 1809 by Yakubu Germa, a commander under the orders of Usman dan Fodio during his Islamic Jihad campaign in the early 19th century. Bauchi (which means 'pagan' in the Hausa language) soon became a center for the marshaling of slaves to the north, and quarters with elaborate architecture, mosques and madrasas flourished in the city. The city was also the birthplace of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a central figure in the country's struggle for independence, who became Prime Minister in 1960.
On the way, we make a stop at Kafin Madaki, to admire its ancient palace, a magnificent example of traditional Hausa architecture, and at Sumu Wildlife Park, for a safari in search of giraffes, zebras and elands.
Arrival in Bauchi, lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to the Emir's palace and meet with dignitaries.
Overnight stay at Deno Hotel or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Deno Hotel or similar


Day 6. March 22, 2026 (Sunday). BAUCHI – VILLAGE OF ZULAWA TRIBE – SHARO CEREMONY IN PEULH VILLAGE – DUTSE (240 km, 4 hours drive) 

After breakfast, we depart to a traditional Zulawa tribal village, which is particular for its facial tattoos of these animists (now only found on the faces of the elderly) and a unique 'dance of the mirrors', which we will witness.
Return to Bauchi for lunch in a restaurant. Heading north towards Jigawa, we make a stop at a Peulh (Fulani) village, where we can witness the violent Sharo initiation ceremony, where boys are beaten with wooden sticks to test their strength and endurance.
Arrival in Dutse and accommodation at the hotel. Dinner in a private house and overnight stay in double rooms with services. Overnight stay at the Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar


Day 7. March 23, 2026 (Monday). DUTSE – KANO (130 km, 2 hours drive)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Kano. We are back in Kano – second-oldest Hausa Emirate. We can stroll the walled city that can still bring the traveler back to the medieval ages, when this place was one of the Global commerce centers. Visit to artisanal market and shopping for souvenirs.
Farewell dinner and overnight stay at BON Hotel Hano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 8. March 24, 2026 (Tuesday). KANO – LAGOS

This morning, we have breakfast and transfer to Kano airport in time for our flight to Lagos.
Morning flight from Kano to Lagos – economical capital of Nigeria.
Upon arrival in the southern Nigeria, Lagos city, we will be picked from the airport and afterwards, proceed to visit the Kalakuta museum, found after the name of Fela Kuti, famous Nigerian musician and political activist of 20th century. Later checking in at our hotel.
Depending on the time of arrival in Lagos, short city tour.
At night, optionally, we can visit the African Shrine of Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti. We spend some time dancing to various Afrobeat songs before retiring back to your hotel.
Overnight stay at IBIS hotel, or IKEJA hotel or similar.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: IBIS hotel, or IKEJA hotel or similar


Day 9. March 25, 2026 (Wednesday). LAGOS

Today, we will visit Makoko, the floating village of fishermen and a large low-income community with half the population on water and half on land. A third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. Makoko is also referred to as the “Venice of Africa” owing to its waterways. The waterfront part of the community is largely harbored by the Egun people who migrated from Badagry and the Republic of Benin. We will have a canoe tour and a walking tour around the area.
Then proceed to visit the remarkable National Museum, which houses an array of artifacts and antiquities from all over Nigeria.
From the Museum, we will continue to the Lekki Conservation Centre for an encounter with nature, embarking on a trail via the wooden routes and the canopy walk. It is a very refreshing experience. From the conservation center, we will proceed to have lunch, before proceeding to the Elegushi International Crafts Market.
Finally, visit to the Nike Art Gallery, arguably the largest collection of art works in Africa.
After the gallery, we will return to our hotel and get refreshed and pack our bags in readiness to be transferred to the airport.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: IBIS hotel, or IKEJA hotel or similar


Day 10. March 26, 2026 (Thursday). LAGOS – RETURN FLIGHT 

After breakfast in our hotel, transfer to the airport of Lagos for catching return international flight back home.

Alternatively, for those WHO CONTINUE TRAVELLING TO BURKINA FASO, flight to Ouagadougou via Lome.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no

* Recommended flights to Moscow:
— with Ethiopian Airlines with 2 hours 15 minutes stopover in Addis Ababa, departs from Lagos on March 26 at 13:40, arrives in Addis Ababa at 21:00 on March 26, departs from Addis Ababa at 23:15 on March 26, arrives in Moscow at 7:50 am on March 27,
— with Egypt Air with 11 hours 20 minutes stopover in Cairo (the Egypt Air provides free hotel, transfer and visa for transfer passengers), departs from Lagos on March 26 at 14:45, arrives in Cairo at 20:50 on March 26, departs from Cairo at 8:10 am on March 27, arrives in Moscow at 14:45 pm on March 27,
— with Royal Air Maroc with 12 hours 25 minutes stopover in Doha (Morocco does not require visa for Russian citizens), departs from Lagos on March 26 at 5:10 am, arrives in Doha at 9:55 am on March 26, departs from Doha at 22:20 on March 26, arrives in Moscow at 6:35 on March 27,
— with Qatar Airways with 3 hours 5 minutes stopover in Doha, departs from Lagos on March 26 at 19:20, arrives in Doha at 6:00 am on March 27, departs from Doha at 9:05 am on March 27, arrives in Moscow at 14:45 on March 27,
— any other flight to any city departing from Lagos any time on March 26.

* Recommended flight to Ouagadougou:
— with ASKY Airlines with 4 hours 50 minutes stopover in Lome, departs from Lagos on March 26 at 9:15 am, arrives in Lome at 9:15 am on March 26, departs from Lome at 14:05 on March 26, arrives in Ouagadougou at 15:50 am on March 26.
— any other flight departing from Lagos any time on March 26 and arriving in Ouagadougou any time on March 26.


* The order of visits and excursions, as well as logistics of the expedition, can be modified according to external local conditions (i.e. schedule of festivals or ceremonies, state of security, state of roads, etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.

** The participant of expedition to Nigeria must be motivated to be respectful to the culture of local tribes and peoples, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on external local conditions, security conditions and any other reasons, be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.