Itinerary
- Day 1
Abidjan
You'll arrive in Abidjan and get transferred from the airport to your hotel. After checking in, you'll have the rest of the evening to settle in and relax.
- Day 2
Abidjan
Following breakfast, a sightseeing tour takes you through Abidjan. You'll head to the public zoo to see exotic animals, then spend time at the Musée National where you can see over 20,000 objects including wooden statues, masks, pottery, and bronze pieces. By evening, you'll browse for souvenirs at Trechville market before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Abidjan
- Visit to Abidjan Public Zoo
- Visit to Musée National of Abidjan
- Visit to Trechville market
Landmarks/POIs Abidjan Public Zoo Musée National of Abidjan Trechville Market - Day 3
Abidjan to Takoradi
After breakfast, you'll check out and drive toward Takoradi with a stop in Grand Bassam. There you'll tour the colonial city and visit colonial buildings, the Roman Catholic Diocese, and the Côte d'Ivoire National Museum of Costume. Later you'll continue on to Takoradi and check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour of Grand-Bassam colonial city
- Visit to Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand-Bassam
- Visit to Côte d'Ivoire National Museum of Costume
Landmarks/POIs Grand-Bassam Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand-Bassam Côte d'Ivoire National Museum of Costume - Day 4
Takoradi to Cape Coast
You'll travel to Cape Coast after breakfast, driving through the historic Denkyira Kingdom to reach Kakum National Park. Choose between a 2 km nature walk through the rainforest or a walk on the canopy walkway 40 meters above the ground. Grab lunch on your own, then tour the Cape Coast Castle and other historic forts and castles to learn about the slave trade and visit the West African Historical Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Nature walk or canopy walkway at Kakum National Park
- Tour of Cape Coast Castle
- Tour of Forts, Castles and Slave Dungeons of Ghana
- Visit to West African Historical Museum
Landmarks/POIs Kakum National Park Cape Coast Castle West African Historical Museum - Day 5
Elmina
After breakfast, you'll visit Elmina Castle, built by the Portuguese in 1482. You'll learn about the slave trade and explore the dungeons. Following lunch on your own, you'll spend time in the local fishing village learning about the trade from fishermen and watching fish mongers demonstrate their smoking techniques in earthenware ovens.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Elmina Castle (St. George's Castle)
- Tour of Elmina fishing village
- Meeting with local fishermen
- Demonstration of fish smoking techniques
Landmarks/POIs Elmina Castle Elmina Fishing Village - Day 6
Elmina
You'll start the day at the Global Mamas Cultural Workshop learning authentic Ghanaian cooking from Auntie Esi. You'll prepare traditional dishes like fufu, groundnut soup, fried plantain, palava sauce and red red, then eat what you've made. In the afternoon, you'll take a four-hour class to create your own African batik fabric using traditional wax and dye techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Feast of traditional Ghanaian dishes prepared during cooking workshop)
Included Activities
- Authentic Ghanaian cooking workshop at Global Mamas Cultural Workshop
- Preparation of traditional Ghanaian dishes
- African batik class with professional artisan
- Creation of custom fabric artwork
Landmarks/POIs Global Mamas Cultural Workshop - Day 7
Elmina to Kumasi
After checking out following breakfast, you'll drive through the forest zone to Kumasi. A stop at Assin Manso lets you visit the former slave site 'Donkor Nsuo' and the final transit point for enslaved Africans. Once in Kumasi, you'll see the Manhyia Palace Museum, explore city monuments, and check out Kejetia market, the National Cultural Centre with the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, and various craft studios.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Assin Manso former slave site
- Visit to Donkor Nsuo (former Slave River and market)
- Visit to Manhyia Palace Museum
- City tour of Kumasi with monuments
- Visit to Kejetia market
- Visit to National Cultural Centre
- Visit to Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
- Visit to brass makers, potters and batik makers studios
Landmarks/POIs Assin Manso Donkor Nsuo Manhyia Palace Museum Kejetia Market National Cultural Centre Prempeh II Jubilee Museum - Day 8
Kumasi to Accra
You'll check out and drive back to Accra after breakfast, stopping at three famous Ashanti craft villages along the way. In Ahwiaa you'll see wood carvers at work, in Ntonso you'll find Adinkra cloth makers, and in Bonwire you'll watch Kente weaving. You'll have chances to buy directly from the artisans before continuing to Accra.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Ahwiaa wood carvers' village
- Visit to Ntonso Adinkra cloth village
- Visit to Bonwire Kente weaving village
- Direct purchase from artisans
Landmarks/POIs Ahwiaa Ntonso Bonwire - Day 9
Accra
After breakfast, a city orientation tour shows you Accra's administrative and economic districts. You'll visit the W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Pan African Culture, Independence/Black Star Square, and learn about Ghana's first president and path to independence. Then you'll spend time at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park with his mausoleum, museum, personal residence, the eternal Flame of African Liberation, and gardens. The day ends at the Arts Center where you can shop for fabrics and goods from Ghana and West Africa.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Accra
- Visit to W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Pan African Culture
- Visit to Independence/Black Star Square
- Visit to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
- Visit to Nkrumah's mausoleum
- Visit to museum showcasing Nkrumah's life
- Visit to Nkrumah's personal residence
- Visit to eternal Flame of African Liberation
- Visit to Arts Center
Landmarks/POIs W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Pan African Culture Independence/Black Star Square Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park Arts Center - Day 10
Accra to Boti Falls
You'll visit the Aburi Botanical Gardens after breakfast, exploring the 1890 grounds home to plants and butterflies from around the world. Rental bicycles are available if you want to tour the mountain areas. After lunch on your own, you'll head to the Boti Falls to see the twin waterfalls in Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region and end at the Umbrella Rock, which can shelter 12-15 people.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Aburi Botanical Gardens
- Visit to Boti Falls
- Visit to Umbrella Rock
Optional Activities
- Bicycle rental for tours at Aburi Botanical Gardens
Landmarks/POIs Aburi Botanical Gardens Boti Falls Umbrella Rock - Day 11
Accra
Following breakfast, you'll take a comprehensive tour at FairAfric Ghana Ltd from cocoa farm to chocolate factory. You'll learn about cocoa production from tree cultivation through chocolate creation and observe sustainable farming and harvesting practices. During a professional guided session, you'll create your own chocolate products, learning to temper chocolate and develop recipes. You'll finish with a tasting session and have time to shop their products.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour of FairAfric cocoa farm
- Tour of FairAfric chocolate factory
- Chocolate-making workshop with professional chocolatier
- Chocolate tasting session
- Opportunity to purchase FairAfric products
Landmarks/POIs FairAfric Ghana Ltd - Day 12
Accra to Lome
After breakfast, you'll check out for Togo. Upon arrival in Lome, you'll take a city tour driving past the Musée National and Place de l'Indépendance with its Independence Monument. You'll visit Grand Marche and Marche des Feticheurs where you can see local goods and traditional items.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Lome
- Visit to Musée National
- Visit to Place de l'Indépendance
- Visit to Grand Marche
- Visit to Marche des Feticheurs
Landmarks/POIs Musée National Place de l'Indépendance Grand Marche Marche des Feticheurs - Day 13
Lome to Cotonou
You'll check out after breakfast and travel to Ouidah, the cradle of African Traditional Religion, on your way to Cotonou. You'll tour the temple dedicated to the sacred Python believed to give vitality and protection, and walk through the sacred forest with shrines dedicated to various deities. Next you'll visit the Port of No Return monument built by the Benin Government to commemorate enslaved Africans. Later you'll drive north to Cotonou and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour of temple dedicated to sacred Python
- Visit to sacred forest and shrines
- Visit to Port of No Return
Landmarks/POIs Ouidah Python Temple Sacred Forest of Ouidah Port of No Return - Day 14
Cotonou
This is a relaxed day where you can stay at your hotel and take in Beninois hospitality without scheduled activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 15
Ganvie
You'll visit Ganvie after breakfast, the 300-year-old village on water known as the Venice of West Africa. You'll watch vendors in dugout canoes conduct commerce and do shopping on the floating market. A relaxing canoe ride takes you through the waterways. After lunch on your own, you'll drive through Cotonou's colorful administrative and commercial center to view its statues and monuments.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Ganvie village on water
- Shopping at floating market
- Canoe ride on waterways of Ganvie
- Drive through Cotonou administrative and commercial center
Landmarks/POIs Ganvie - Day 16
Cotonou
You'll spend this day relaxing and taking in the beauty of Cotonou while enjoying the hospitality of the Beninois people.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 17
Cotonou to Airport
After breakfast, you'll handle last-minute shopping and packing. At noon you'll check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for check-in and your final departure back home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
