9 Day Itinerary for Ghana

Arrive in Accra, Ghana. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and prepare for your journey through the gateway of West Africa. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, depart for a sightseeing tour of Accra, the Capital of Ghana. Experience the city’s highlights during this Accra orientation. The capital of Ghana since 1877, Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region. Travel through the administrative and economic districts of Accra. Also, see the Artiste Alliance Gallery, the W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Pan African Culture and the Independence/Black Star Square. Learn about important events in Ghana’s history and the country’s first president who helped lead Ghana to independence. Continue your tour to The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, dedicated to the legacy of Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah, and his role in African independence. The tour includes visits to Nkrumah's mausoleum, a museum showcasing his life, his personal residence, the eternal Flame of African Liberation, and beautifully landscaped gardens. End the day’s tour at the Arts Center, where participants can sharpen their bargaining skills to shop for goods from Ghana and West Africa in an open-air market.

Depart for a drive to the Central Region. Visit the Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests. Extending over 360sq km, Kakum is home to over 40 large mammals and 400 bird species as well as many species of butterflies, flora and fauna. The most popular attraction is the Canopy walkway, which is made up of seven bridges extending 330m, hanging 40m above the forest floor. Choose between a 2km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral species and the medicinal values they offer or take a walk on the canopy walkway. After lunch, visit the Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and was at one time the headquarters of the British colonial administration. You will tour the castle and the West African Historical Museum. The guide will lead you through the dungeons and the “Door of No Return.”

This morning, visit the Elmina fishing village. You will see many colorful fishing boats at the harbor and take the opportunity to meet with the fishermen and fishmongers at the market. Continue to tour the Elmina Castle (St. George's Castle), built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is the first European building in sub-Saharan Africa. The afternoon is spent at leisure.

Depart for Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. Stop at Assin Manso, the burial site of two former slaves from the USA and Jamaica whose remains were re-interred in Ghana. Visit the “Donkor Nsuo” (Slave River) where captured Africans had their last bath on African soil before being taken to the castles. Continue to Kumasi and visit the Manhyia Palace Museum, which provides a glimpse into the history and traditions of the Ashanti people. Explore the Kejetia Market, the largest open-air market in West Africa, and the National Cultural Centre.

Visit the Ashanti craft villages: Ahwiaa (the woodcarving village), Ntonso (the home of Adinkra cloth), and Bonwire (the Kente weaving village). You will have the opportunity to interact with the artisans and learn about the history and significance of these traditional crafts.

Before departing Kumasi, visit the Besease Shrine, a World Heritage site. It is one of the few remaining examples of traditional Ashanti architecture. Learn about the spiritual practices and ancestral worship of the Ashanti people. Return to Accra for the night.

Visit Torgorme village, located on the lower course of the Volta River. Participate in a traditional naming ceremony of recognition, where a Ghanaian name is given to participants amidst traditional drumming and dancing. Visit a factory to see how beautiful beads are made from recycled glass.

Spend the morning at leisure for last-minute shopping. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.