| Duration: | 16 Day(s) - 15 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
DAY 1: ACCRA, GHANA
Arrive in Accra; meet assist and transfer to your hotel.
Meal(s) Included: No
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Accra or Similar
DAY 2: ACCRA CITY TOUR
City tour of Accra. Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and museum, a tribute to Ghana's first President; the National Cultural Center, an Arts & Crafts Market; Independence Square, Accra's open-air ceremonial grounds; the National Museum, featuring both historical artifacts and exhibits of modern life; and Makola Market to experience the hustle and bustle of traditional Ghanaian markets.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Accra or Similar
DAY 3: ACCRA – ODUMASI KROBO – ACCRA
After breakfast, drive to visit a Beads Making Factory to observe the intriguing bead-making process. Watch the centuries-old process of bead-making from start to finish.
Continue to visit an African Dance Institute for two exciting hours of drumming and dancing lessons with the experts. Learn several cultural and artistic traditions, values, and aspirations of African communities.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Accra or Similar
DAY 4: ACCRA/ELMINA
Depart Accra for Elmina in Ghana’s Central Region. Arrive in the early afternoon and go on a tour of Cape Coast Castle and the Castle Museum for a guided tour. Cape Coast Castle is a restored UNESCO World Heritage Site and was one of the departure points for Africans being sent to the Americas. The castle is home to the infamous Door of No Return.
Continue to Elmina Castle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1482. This castle was the first European structure in sub-Saharan Africa. The rest of the day is free to relax on the beach.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Beach Front Resort in Elmina or Similar
DAY 5: ELMINA
Early morning, visit Kakum National Park. Kakum is one of Ghana’s most famous parks. Take a brief walking tour on the forest floor to experience the Kakum canopy walkway, Africa’s only aerial walkway through the tree canopy, which is about 1000 feet long and a seven-bridge walkway with viewing platforms that reach heights of over 150 feet above the ground. Learn firsthand the cultural and medicinal values of the flora and fauna in the forest.
The rest of the day is free to relax on the beach.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Beach Front Resort in Elmina or Similar
DAY 6: ELMINA/ KUMASI
After breakfast, depart to Kumasi, the realm of the Ashanti Kingdom. Stop to visit the village of Mesomagor to see the Nyamebekyere Kukyekukyeku Orchestra play traditional music on handmade bamboo instruments. Experience village life in Ghana to share experiences and ideas.
Continue on a scenic drive to Kumasi and arrive by mid-afternoon. Proceed to visit the Manhyia Palace Museum which was built by the British in 1925 to receive Asantehene (ruler of the Ashanti people) Prempeh I when he returned from exile in Seychelles to resume residence in Kumasi. Visit the nearby Okomfo Anokye Sword, an important symbol of Ashanti unity that marks the spot where the Golden Stool "descended from the sky" and has been in place for 300 years. Legend says the Ashanti Kingdom would collapse should the sword ever be removed.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Kumasi or Similar
DAY 7: KUMASI
In the morning, depart for Obuasi, the single richest Gold mining center in the world, to visit stop to visit the Anglogold Ashanti gold mine where most of Ghana’s gold comes from, and see the raw gold ore. You will be taking on a site-seeing tour of the Gold mines and be driven into the mines by a site guide to witness how this precious and most sought-after jewel is extracted from its ores.
In the evening, visit the Kumasi Central Market (also known as Kejetia Market), the largest open-air market in West Africa, where more than 10,000 vendors sell their wares. Here you will find just about everything, food, fabric, beauty products, handmade crafts, and even large animals
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Kumasi or Similar
DAY 8: KUMASI
This morning, visit Ejisu Besease to visit an Ashanti ancestral shrine to explore the beliefs, history, and bravery of the traditional African Religion. The Shrine was built around 1850 and is one of the few remaining examples of traditional Ashanti architecture. You will be captivated by the Ashanti historic oral account as it is told by an old and knowledgeable Ashanti traditional priest or a linguist.
Visit a few Ashanti craft villages starting with Bonwire, where the famous Kente cloth is handmade on looms in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. You will see the Kente weavers in process of creating Kente cloth in various styles, and have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs or gifts.
Our next stop is the village of Ntonso where artisans hand-stamp patterns on a cotton cloth to make Adinkra textiles. Black-on-black and black-on-red Adinkra cloth is worn for funerals and other solemn occasions. You will learn how the black dye is made in the village from the bark of trees, and create your own Adinkra sash to take home. You may also purchase large pieces of Adinkra cloth handmade in the village. Our final village is the woodcarving village of Ahwiaa, known for the talented craftsmen who fashion royal stools, walking sticks, and fertility dolls from wood. You will have the opportunity to purchase hand-carved items of all kinds.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Kumasi or Similar
DAY 9: KUMASI/TAMALE
Depart Accra after breakfast for Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, with a stop to visit Kintampo Waterfalls. Drive through the forest belt and past several food-producing villages into the transitional forest to grassland vegetation zone. Notice the gradual change in architecture, vegetation, and human activities.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 2-Star Hotel in Tamale or Similar
DAY 10: TAMALE/KARA, TOGO
After breakfast, cross the Ghana – Togo border to enter Togo. Visit a Bassar village where Bassar iron has always been processed. The original inhabitants were in the sacred forest of Kibre. Then visit a Moba tribe, a warlike group that practiced female circumcision, the day will end in Kara, for an overnight stay.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 2-Star Hotel in Kara or Similar
DAY 11: KARA/ NATINTINGOU, BENIN
Today we cross the border to Benin next to the place where the tribes live Tabema and Sombat, who built their fortified houses very close together, especially in the 18th century to protect themselves from slave hunters and Dahomey fighters. Then go north to Natitingou for overnight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 2-Star Hotel in Natitingou or a Similar
DAY 12: NATINTINGOU/ABOMEY
Travel down south to Abomey, the former capital of the kingdom of Dahomey. The Kingdom lasted for 300 years and was a big rival to the Ashanti Kingdom. Both two kingdoms built their power to capture prisoners and sell them into slavery. Along the way, you see the traditional blacksmiths, weavers, and the preparation of local wine. Overnight in Abomey
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 2-Star Hotel in Abomey or Similar
DAY 13: ABOMEY - COTONOU
After breakfast, visit 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 travel to Cotonou. Overnight in Cotonou.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Cotonou or Similar
DAY 14: COTONOU –PORTO NOVO – OUIDAH – LOME (TOGO)
Morning departure to Porto Novo. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Brazilian Church, and the 300-year-old Palace of King Toffa. Travel to Ouidah, a former slave trading post, and the 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 Lome overnight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Lome or Similar
DAY 15: LOME – ACCRA
After breakfast, go on a city tour of Lome visiting the National Museum, Lome central market, the artisans' village, and the Akodessewa fetish market. Depart to Accra and arrive by early evening for dinner and overnight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Accra or Similar
DAY 16: ACCRA – DEPART
Your driver and guide will be available to assist with excursions and activities. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight: N/A
Tour Package Includes:
• Meeting and assistance upon arrival and departure
• Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers
• Hotel accommodation in the indicated properties
• Transportation in private vehicle
• Experienced tour guide
• Admission to listed sites and events
• Meals indicated by Breakfast, Dinner
Tour Package Does Not Include:
• Cost of visa
• Meals not listed
• Travel Insurance
• Gratuity to driver and guide
