DAY 1: NEW YORK/ACCRA
Depart on an international overnight flight to Accra. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
DAY 2: ACCRA
Upon arrival in Accra, we are met by our tour guide, and next board our motorcoach fortransfer to our hotel. Accra is the capital of Ghana with a population of over 2.6 million people. Our visit to Accra gives us the opportunity to experience Accra’s vibrancy through its traffic, its lush residential areas for the rich, and traditional buildings for the middle income and low-income people. Residents of this cosmopolitan city speak various languages. Dinner and overnight in Accra. (D)
DAY 3: ACCRA
Today’s tour includes visit to the W. E. B. Du Bois Centre for Pan-African Culture, the National Museum for collection of prehistoric and contemporary artifacts, the Nkrumah Park for a guided tour into the life and work of the first president of Ghana and finally the Arts Centre for shopping before returning to our hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Accra. (B/D)
DAY 4: ACCRA/KUMASI
After breakfast we drive north to Kumasi, the cultural city of Ghana and home of the Asantehene, the ceremonial ruler of the Ashanti people today. Our first stop is the craft village of Bonwire, home of the famous Kente cloth, to learn about its origin and how the weavers pass it from generation to generation. Then we travel to Ntonso town where traditional Adinkra cloth is made so we can learn how to make our own patterns and how the back color of the cloth is made. Tour continues to Ahwiaa, a village known for its wood carvings, arts, crafts, the fertility doll, and famous Ashanti State (ceremonial) stools for the chiefs and high-ranking officials. Upon arrival in Kumasi, we can see lots of people clad in the world famous Kente, a cloth that is the epitome of culture and pride of the Ashantes. Dinner and overnight in Kumasi. (B/D)
DAY 5: KUMASI
Today’s tour allows us to experience the richness of Ashanti culture. We visit the Kumasi Centre of National Culture, the true display of richness of Ghanaian culture and heritage, and its Prempeh II Jubilee Museum. Then we drive to the Manhyia Palace, the seat of the Asantehene, the King of Ashanti Kingdom. In the afternoon we visit a cocoa farm in a local village (Golden Pot). Dinner and overnight in Kumasi. (B/D)
DAY 6: KUMASI/HERITAGE TOUR/ CAPE COAST
After breakfast we head south to visit the Kakum National Park and its rich flora and fauna and spectacular scenery. Enjoy a walk on one of the only four canopy walkways in the world and view the various levels of the tropical rainforest from above. Or trek on the trail and learn about the medicinal values of the various African tree species. Continue to the Central Region and the Cape Coast which is one of the most historical cities in Ghana. Then we travel to Elmina to visit the Elmina Castle (also known as the St. George of the Mine Castle), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the first European edifice constructed in Africa by the Portuguese in 1482 and taken over in 1637 by the Dutch who retained control for 274 years. Dinner and overnight in Cape Coast. (B/D)
DAY 7: CAPE COAST
After breakfast we continue our tour of the Cape Coast where most of the oldest and best schools in Ghana are located. We visit the Cape Coast Castle from which thousands of slaves were shipped to the Caribbean and the United States. The castle was the seat of British Colonial administration until 1877 when the government offices moved to the Christiansborg Castle (Osu Castle) in Accra. This historic castle was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and converted into the Presidential Museum in 2017. Dinner and overnight in Cape Coast. (B/D)
DAY 8: CAPE COAST/ACCRA
This morning we depart Cape Coast and drive northeast through beautiful countryside to Accra. Upon arrival we visit the Makola market, the largest open-air market in the city, and the best place to witness the hustle and bustle of the West African market. Dinner and overnight in Accra. (B/D)
DAY 9: ACCRA/NEW YORK
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight back home arriving the same day. (B)
* (B,L,D) = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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