Nigeria 7-Day Itinerary 2026

Lagos → Ibadan → Oshogbo → Obudu Mountain Resort → Calabar → Cross River National Park

Morning

Arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Take a Bolt or Uber (₦8,000-15,000) to your hotel on Victoria Island. After settling in, walk along the Bar Beach promenade and get oriented. Breakfast at The Moorhouse Ikoyi or a local buka for fresh akara and pap.

Afternoon

Visit the Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, a five-storey building packed with over 8,000 works by Nigerian artists. The gallery is free to enter. Afterwards, head to the Lekki Conservation Centre to walk Africa's longest canopy walkway — 401 metres of suspended bridge through the treetops. Entry costs ₦1,000.

Evening

Dinner at Terra Kulture on Tiamiyu Savage Street for contemporary Nigerian cuisine and live performances. Alternatively, try Buka Restaurant for authentic amala and ewedu. Budget ₦5,000-15,000 per person depending on the restaurant.

Stay: Victoria Island — Budget: Radisson Blu Anchorage (from ₦45,000/night) | Mid: The George Hotel (from ₦80,000) | Luxury: Eko Hotel & Suites (from ₦120,000)

Morning

Depart Lagos early to beat the traffic. Take the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway — the drive takes 1.5-2 hours without traffic. If using public transport, the new Lagos-Ibadan railway runs several times daily (₦3,000 economy, ₦6,000 business class, 2.5 hours). Stop at Abeokuta to climb Olumo Rock, the historic granite fortress with panoramic views (₦1,000 entry).

Afternoon

Continue to Ibadan, Nigeria's largest city by area. Visit the University of Ibadan campus with its beautiful gardens and the zoological garden. Drive past Cocoa House, the first skyscraper in tropical Africa, built in 1965. Browse Dugbe Market, one of West Africa's biggest open-air markets.

Evening

Explore Ibadan's food scene at Jevinik Restaurant or Amala Skye for traditional Yoruba cuisine. A plate of amala with gbegiri and ewedu costs ₦2,000-4,000.

Stay: Ibadan — Budget: Best Western Plus Ibadan (from ₦25,000) | Mid: Premier Hotel Ibadan (from ₦35,000) | Luxury: De Blue Roof Hotel (from ₦50,000)

Morning

Drive 1.5 hours north to Oshogbo. Head straight to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 75-hectare forest along the Osun River is filled with shrines, sculptures and artworks dedicated to the Yoruba goddess Osun. Entry costs ₦2,000 for foreigners. Allow 2-3 hours to explore the winding paths and discover the art of Austrian-Nigerian artist Suzanne Wenger, who helped preserve the grove.

Afternoon

Visit the Oja Oba (King's Market) in central Oshogbo for local tie-dye (adire) fabrics and handicrafts. The city is the centre of Yoruba textile art. If visiting in August, you may catch the famous Osun-Osogbo Festival, a massive annual celebration attracting hundreds of thousands of worshippers and tourists.

Evening

Return to Ibadan for the night or stay in Oshogbo. Local restaurants serve pounded yam with egusi soup for ₦2,000-3,500.

Stay: Oshogbo — Budget: Heritage Hotel (from ₦12,000) | Mid: Leisure Spring Hotel (from ₦20,000)

Morning

Drive back to Ibadan or Lagos for a domestic flight to Calabar (1.5 hours, from ₦45,000 one-way on Air Peace or Ibom Air). Driving from Oshogbo to Obudu directly would take 10+ hours, so flying is strongly recommended.

Afternoon

From Calabar Airport, arrange a car to Obudu Mountain Resort (5-6 hours by road, ₦25,000-40,000 for a private car). The road climbs through tropical forest into the highlands. Alternatively, the resort can arrange a helicopter transfer during peak season.

Evening

Arrive at the resort perched at 1,576 metres. The temperature is a refreshing 15-22°C compared to the lowland heat. Check into your chalet and enjoy dinner at the resort restaurant. Try the fresh grilled catfish.

Stay: Obudu Mountain Resort — Budget: Standard chalet (from ₦30,000) | Mid: Premier chalet (from ₦50,000) | Luxury: Presidential lodge (from ₦100,000)

Morning

Ride the Obudu Cable Car — one of the longest in Africa at 4 km — for breathtaking views of the Becheve Valley. At the top, hike the Grotto trail through mountain forest. The air is crisp and you may see endemic bird species.

Afternoon

Swim in the natural mountain pools, visit the waterfalls, or try the canopy walkway. The resort also offers horse riding, mountain biking and a water park. The Becheve Nature Reserve has several hiking trails of varying difficulty.

Evening

Dinner at the resort. The night sky here is spectacular — minimal light pollution means you can see the Milky Way clearly. Relax by the fireplace in the cooler mountain air.

Activities cost: Cable car ₦5,000 | Canopy walkway ₦2,000 | Horse riding ₦3,000 | Swimming pool ₦1,500

Morning

Drive back down to Calabar (5-6 hours). Calabar is one of Nigeria's cleanest and most relaxed cities, with a fascinating colonial and slave trade history.

Afternoon

Visit the Calabar Slave History Museum at the Old Residency building, which documents the transatlantic slave trade through Calabar. Walk along the Marina Waterfront and explore the colonial architecture of Old Calabar. Visit the Drill Monkey Ranch to see endangered drill monkeys being rehabilitated.

Evening

Dinner along the waterfront at Freddy's or Tinapa Resort. Calabar is famous for its seafood — try the fresh pepper soup or native chalk fish. If visiting in December, the Calabar Carnival is Africa's biggest street party.

Stay: Calabar — Budget: Axari Hotel (from ₦18,000) | Mid: Transcorp Hotel Calabar (from ₦35,000) | Luxury: Tinapa Lakeside Hotel (from ₦55,000)

Morning

Take an early morning trip to the Cross River National Park (Oban Division), about 1 hour from Calabar. Walk the forest trails with a ranger guide, looking for primates including the rare Cross River gorilla. The park is one of Africa's oldest rainforests with incredible biodiversity.

Afternoon

Visit the Cercopan Primate Sanctuary near Calabar to learn about primate conservation efforts. Then head to the Calabar Botanical Garden before transferring to the airport for your return flight to Lagos (1.5 hours) or onward connection.

Evening

Fly back to Lagos or continue to your next destination. If you have a late flight, grab a final meal at the airport or pick up souvenirs at the Calabar craft market.

Prices based on 2026 rates. Exchange rate approximately ₦1,600 = $1 USD.

The ideal months are November to February (dry season). Roads are passable, skies are clear for mountain views at Obudu, and temperatures in the south are 25-32°C. Avoid June-September when heavy rains can make the Obudu road treacherous and flood some Cross River trails.

If you want to combine this itinerary with a festival, plan for December to catch the Calabar Carnival (Africa's biggest street party) and the Obudu Mountain Race (November).

• Flights: Book domestic flights 2-3 weeks ahead on Air Peace, Ibom Air or United Nigeria Airlines. Prices spike during holidays.
• Obudu Resort: Book at least 1 month ahead during peak season (November-January). The resort fills up quickly.
• Visas: Most nationalities need a visa for Nigeria. Apply at least 4 weeks before travel through the nearest Nigerian embassy.
• Currency: Carry some cash (Naira) for markets and smaller establishments. ATMs are available in Lagos, Ibadan and Calabar but can be unreliable.
• SIM card: Buy an MTN or Airtel SIM at the airport for data (₦2,000-5,000 for 10GB).
• Transport: Use Bolt or Uber in Lagos. For inter-city travel, hire a private car with driver (safer and more comfortable than public transport).

• Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
• Distance: ~1,400 km
• Budget from: ₦370,000 ($230)
• Best months: Nov-Feb
• Internal flights: 1-2