Arrival at Kotoka International Airport; Akwaaba Welcome

· Our Representative will meet with you on your arrival at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Make yourself known to your guide as you leave the customs and arrival hall. After a welcome drink and orientation you'll be checked in to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening resting.

Overnight: Labadi Beach Hotel

Meals: D

Having enjoyed your first night in Accra, today is dedicated to an Accra City Tour on Ghana's Double Decker tour bus. 

Our first visit is W. E. B. DuBois and Pan African Center it's a memorial place and a research center, dedicated to a great Pan Africanist who lived and died as a Ghanaian. He came to Ghana at the age of 95 with 1,000 books to work on an African Encyclopedia on invitation of Ghana’s first president. 

We continue to visit National Museum, which is ethnographic in nature and the museum gives us an excellent overview of West African culture. During our time here we also get the chance to view and purchase some wonderful examples of traditional crafts. 

Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant serving a selection of West African and continental dishes. In the afternoon we pass by Independence Square and view the enclosed flame of African liberation, which was lit by Kwame Nkrumah himself in 1961. We continue the short distance to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of Ghana’s founder. Set in attractive gardens, there is an adjoining museum, which contains photos, artifacts and an insight into this incredible man’s life. Adjoining the park is the National Cultural Center, which is actually Ghana’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market selling traditional crafts from all over West Africa. After testing your bargaining skills we return to our hotel for our evening meal, the remainder of the evening is for leisure.

Overnight: Labadi Beach Hotel 

Meals: B,L

This morning we depart for Kumasi capital of the Ashanti region to learn about the powerful Ashanti Empire and its people. 

Kumasi is regarded as cultural center of Ghana, with its many ancient craft villages within touching distance of the city. Remainder of the day is dedicated to visiting these traditional villages; our next stop is Adanwomasie famous as the birth place of Kente. Adanwomasie produces some of Ghana’s finest Kente cloths, many designs of cloth are woven here and some are exclusive only to this region. We will interact with the community, learning about the history behind the many designs. As we walk through the village, we see highly skilled locals weaving outside their homes. The machines that the weavers use have not changed in design for centuries. During our time at Adanwomasie, we have the opportunity to buy excellent quality cloth at very reasonable prices before setting off for the village of Ntunso.

The ancient village of Ntunso, is where Adinkra originates. Adinkra are traditional symbols with meanings, carved from calabash shells, and printed onto traditional cloth using natural dyes made from the bark of certain local trees. Adinkra cloth has been adorned by the Ashanti’s for more than 4 centuries and pre dates Kente cloth. Even today most Ashanti’s will wear Adinkra cloth for funerals, festivals and other important occasions. During our time here we have the opportunity to make our own strip of Adinkra cloth using symbols with personal significance. 

Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant which sells an excellent selection of local and continental dishes. 

After lunch we will embark on city tour of Kumasi. We continue to visit National Cultural Centre. The cultural center is found in one of the oldest suburbs of Kumasi. There is a wonderful craft market here and during our tour we have the opportunity to visit the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum which offers an excellent overview of Ashanti history. 

Lastly is Okomfo Anokye Sword which has defied all human strength to pull it out of it's resting place in the ground. It’s believed to be the famous priest Okomfa Anokye's and has the power to conjure the golden stool from the heavens. After visiting these wonderful places we will return to the airport and fly back to Accra.

Overnight: Labadi Beach Hotel 

Meals: B,L

The entire day is dedicated to leisure and relaxation. 

Overnight: Labadi Beach Hotel

Meals: B

Our final destination today is Cape Coast, we will first stop at Assin Manso, was one of the major slave market during the slave trade, Ndonkor Nsuo (Enslaved African River). This river is where enslaved Africans were checked for fitness and bathed before being transported to Cape Coast for shipment to the Americas and Caribbean.

After our tour we continue to Cape Coast, we enjoy lunch upon arrival at a local restaurant overlooking the ocean before we continue to visit Cape Coast Castle also designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Built by the British in 1665 at the height of slavery and play a major role in holding enslaves African in awaiting of slave ship to ship them to the New World. We will walk through the Male and Female dungeons and the infamous “Door of no return”. There is a historical museum inside, which explains the whole history of the castle and Cape Coast itself, as well as a souvenir shop which sells literature on all of Ghana’s forts and castles, as well as the cultural history and traditions of Ghana. 

After spending the afternoon in Cape Coast we will make our way to a local village to participate in traditional naming ceremony and “The Right to Return Atonement and Rituals Ceremony” to formally welcome you back home. We will be welcomed to the village by the chiefs, queen mothers and elders of the community with pouring of libation to call on our ancestors and welcome you back. There will be drumming and dance and other rituals will be performed to officially welcome you back home and accept you as one of their own. You can also adopt a family in the village as your African family and proceed with traditional African naming ceremony.

After a wonderful, yet thought-provoking day, we check into our hotel, the rest of the day is spent at leisure.

Overnight Ridge Royal Hotel

Meals: B, L

One of the highlights of the trip is a visit to Kakum Tropical Rainforest to experience the much talked about Canopy walkway, the uniqueness of the park lies in the fact that it was established at the initiative of the local people, it is one of the only 3 locations in Africa with a canopy walkway, which is 350 meters (1,150 FT) long and connects seven tree tops, the park is also notable for a lot of endangered species of fauna in the park. 

We stop for lunch at Han’s Cottage Botel near Kakum, Han’s is built over a lake containing Nile crocodiles and set in a beautiful location surrounded by tropical guinea rainforest. It is an original and comfortable establishment, which is teeming with bird life and an excellent place to enjoy lunch. 

Upon arrival in Elmina our first stop will be Elmina fishing market to visit the boat builders, building colourful fishing boats using traditional tools and methods spanning centuries. We will also visit the Elmina Castle built by the Portuguese in 1482 which is the oldest European building in Sub Saharan Africa. This castle is steeped in history and played a prominent part during the tragic transatlantic enslaved African trade era. There is an informative museum inside which concentrates on local history and it is designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.

After the activities of the day we will make our way back to Accra.

Overnight Labadi Beach Hotel

Meals: B, L

Day at leisure.

Farewell dinner in the evening.

Overnight: Labadi Beach Hotel

Meals: B, D

Airport transfers will be arranged based on flight schedule

Meals: B