10-Day Signature Ghana
Expedition
From $2,699 per person
Day 1 - Tuesday
- In Flight
Day 2 -
Wednesday - Accra
“Akwaaba!” Welcome to Accra! After clearing customs and immigration,
you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Labadi Beach
Hotel. Located just a short drive from Kotoka International Airport,
the hotel is situated adjacent to one of the most popular beaches in
Ghana.
Here you will find conference, meeting and banquet rooms set amidst 15
acres of tropical landscaped gardens. The two specialty restaurants
enable guests to savor excellent cuisine enhanced by a distinct
African ambiance. Relax in air-conditioned luxury under the vaulted
timber ceilings of the lobby while enjoying afternoon tea or perhaps a
casual business meeting. The remainder of your day will be spent at
leisure. Then, enjoy a welcome dinner.
Overnight at the
Labadi Beach Hotel.
(D)
Day 3 - Thursday
- Accra / Aburi and Shai Hills / Accra
After breakfast, embark on a tour of the Aburi Botanical Gardens and its
famous craft village where one can find the best woodcarvings and
other crafts in the country. Then, take a trip to Shai Hills Wildlife
Reserve, where you may view bushbuck, oribi, baboon, various monkeys,
and several bird species – just to name a few. Return to your hotel
and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at the
Labadi Beach Hotel.
(B)
Day 4 - Friday -
Accra
After breakfast, you may spend the day in Accra pursuing your own
interests. Some possibilities include an optional city tour, shopping,
or exploring the sights, sounds and tastes of this colorful port city.
On an optional city tour, you will ride through the economic districts
of Accra, the country’s capital. This 124-year-old city has a blend of
colonial and modern architecture that summarizes her history. You may
also visit the W. E. B. Dubois Center for Pan-African Culture,
Independence/Black Star Square, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
Other
possibilities include visits to The National Museum, which houses
a collection of Ghana’s historical treasures, or the Center
for National Culture, the best place to find traditional handicrafts
from all over Ghana.
Overnight at the
Labadi Beach Hotel.
(B)
Day 5 - Saturday
- Accra / Kumasi
This morning, transfer from Accra to Kumasi, the ancient capital of
The Great Ashanti Kingdom, founded by the Asantehene (Asante King).
Arriving here on a Saturday affords the opportunity to participate in
Akwasiadia Festival of the Ashanti people.
An option will also be available to visit the Monkey Sanctuary at
Fiema. Colobus monkeys with black silky fur, cute white noses, and
long curly tails are everywhere, as are the light brown, mischievous
Mona monkeys, a worldwide-endangered species. They are an enchanting
sight.
Held sacred by the local people of Boabeng and Fiema, it is taboo to
kill a monkey. The government has also taken steps to protect their
habitat and to guard against poachers.
Arrive in the
village early to see the monkeys coming to get their breakfast, an
event that occurs everyday. For many generations the villagers have
encouraged this harmonious blend between man and nature by giving the
monkeys access to all parts of the village. They have even planted
fruit-bearing trees the monkeys enjoy. When a monkey dies, it is
buried in a coffin, and special funeral rites are performed.
Overnight at the
Miklin Hotel Kumasi.
(B)
Day 6 - Sunday - Kumasi
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a city tour, including visits to
Osei Tutu, where museums, forts, and churches reveal the distinct
cultural and historical back drops for the festivals that are still
important today; Okomfo Anokye Sword Site, where, legend states, the
high priest of the Akan Kingdoms drove his sword into the ground with
such force that it has remained there ever since; the National
Cultural Center, which offers a variety of historical and cultural
attractions; and the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, a museum of Ashanti
royalty and history. There will also be an opportunity to witness the
colorful and intricate process of Kente weaving.
Return to Kumasi
for dinner and the night.
Overnight at the
Miklin Hotel Kumasi.
(B)
Day 7 - Monday -
Kumasi / Elmina
Depart on a scenic drive to the Central Region, via Assin Manso, site
of the old slave "factory". At Assin Manso, visit the graves of two
former slaves from Jamaica and the U.S., who were re-interred after a
State funeral in 1998. This is the river where captives were bathed
for the last time in Africa before the perilous journey to the
Americas.
Retrace the
final journey of the slaves from Assin Manso to Elmina (1482) and Cape
Coast (1653) Castles and through the Gates of No Return, which are
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Cape Coast Castle houses the West African
Historical Museum, where you may view a documentary titled
Crossroads of Trade, Crossroads of People.
Overnight at
Coconut Grove Beach Resort and Conference Center, a multiple winner of
the Ghana Tourist Board’s “Hotel of the Year” Award, located in
Mmoframa Akyinim, on the coast of historic Elmina.
Overnight at the
Coconut Grove Resort.
(B)
Day 8 - Tuesday
- Elmina / Cape Coast / Kakum National Forest
Visit Kakum National Forest and complete the Canopy Walkway, suspended
100 feet above the rainforest floor. Here, you may be fortunate enough
to witness some of the 300 bird species or 550 types of butterflies
that inhabit the surrounding forest. Wildlife here can be extremely
elusive, but you will likely hear monkeys traveling through the
canopy, and with the trained eye of our guide at your disposal, you
may even catch a glimpse.
Later, enjoy a walking tour of Elmina, starting with a visit to the
Elmina-Java Museum and including visits to local “Asafo” Shrines.
Relax at Brenu Beach and return to your hotel.
Overnight at the
Coconut Grove Beach Resort.
(B)
Day 9 -
Wednesday - Elmina / Accra
Depart on a scenic drive along the coast to Accra. This afternoon, you
may opt to go shopping or simply repose in the hotel. Later enjoy your
farewell dinner.
Overnight at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
(B, D)
Day 10 - Thursday - Accra / In Flight
This morning, rise early for transfer
to the airport. The Delta Airlines flight departs at 7:00 a.m.
Breakfast will be served prior to departure or boxed for carry out.
(B)
We offer
customized
journeys within Ghana.