The Best of Ghana,12 Days

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1ARRIVE ACCRA, GHANA⌄

   Upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport, proceed through immigration, claim your luggage, clear customs, exit, and meet our expert cultural tour guide. You will be transferred in our late-model vehicle to your hotel in Accra. Upon arrival at the hotel and after check-in, your guide, who will be with you throughout your stay in Ghana, will brief you on the exciting activities that await. Overnight at Lancaster Accra Hotel

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Pelican Hotel

2. 2INTRODUCTORY TOUR OF ACCRA⌄

   Following a leisure breakfast, we step out for an introductory tour of Accra, a vibrant city blending modernity with colonial charm. Here's what the day holds: Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park: Explore the 5.4-acre facility dedicated to Ghana’s first President, Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. Opened in 1992, the park features a museum showcasing artifacts from Nkrumah’s life, a modern library, café, gift shop, and a digitally controlled conference facility. Accra Arts & Crafts Centre: Test your bargaining skills at the city’s largest open market. Shop for traditional handicrafts like Kente cloths, sculptures, jewelry, and woven baskets. Independence Square: Tour Ghana’s iconic national ceremonial grounds and take photos at the Black Star Square. W.E.B. Du Bois Center: Conclude the day honoring the legacy of this celebrated Pan-Africanist who lived and worked in Ghana. Nightlife options are available.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Pelican Hotel

3. 3ACCRA / TAMALE⌄

   Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Transfer to Kotoka Domestic Airport for a 1-hour flight to Tamale, the capital of Ghana's Northern Region. Upon arrival in Tamale, which is known for its vibrant culture and iconic mosques, including the impressive Central Mosque, you will gain insights into the region's rich traditions and architectural heritage. You will visit the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA-Tamale), an artist-run initiative founded by internationally acclaimed Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama. This dynamic space serves as an exhibition hub, research center, and cultural repository, fostering dialogue around 20th and 21st-century art and culture. Engage with its innovative programming and explore its role in shaping Ghana’s contemporary art scene. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and unwind for the night. Hotel: Jeyads Lodge Meal(s) Included: Breakfast,Dinner

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Jeyads Lodge

4. 4TAMALE | BONGO | PAGA | TAMALE⌄

   After breakfast, we will begin our journey to Bolgatanga, making a stop en route at Tongo. Here, you will visit the chief’s palace and receive a traditional welcome. Our next stop will be Paga, where you will have the unique opportunity to ride a crocodile. These crocodiles are considered sacred and live peacefully in the village. We will then drive approximately 3 km west of Paga to visit Pikworo Village, a former slave collection outpost used by Ghanaian traders. With the guidance of a knowledgeable local, you will explore the open fields, the slave traders’ watchtower, the mass grave cemetery, and the punishment stone where slaves were once chained under the scorching sun. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast,Dinner Overnight at Jeyads Lodge

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Jeyads Lodge

5. 5TAMALE | MOLE⌄

   After breakfast, we will check out and drive to Mole National Park, stopping briefly to visit two remarkable landmarks: the ancient Larabanga Mosque, built in the Sudanese architectural style, and the enigmatic Mystic Stone. The Larabanga Mosque, the oldest in Ghana and West Africa, is often referred to as the “Mecca of West Africa.” Upon arrival at Mole National Park, we will transfer to our hotel, check in, and enjoy a delicious dinner before relaxing for the night. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight at Zaina Lodge

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Zaina Lodge

6. 6MOLE⌄

   Start your day with an unforgettable early morning safari in Mole National Park, a wildlife haven like no other. This once-in-a-lifetime safari drive offers a chance to explore one of Ghana's premier birding destinations, home to over 200 bird species, vibrant butterflies, and impressive reptiles. Accompanied by a skilled safari guide, witness African wildlife, including the African bush elephant, African buffalo, olive baboon, hyena, duiker, roan antelope, warthog, monkeys, hartebeest, and bushbuck. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After lunch, visit Mognori Eco-Village, just 15 km away, and enjoy a community walk with a traditional cultural performance. Then, embark on a peaceful canoe safari along the Mole River for a unique perspective of the surroundings. Conclude your visit with a hands-on learning experience about Shea nut harvesting and the traditional process of making organic Shea butter, an industry providing jobs for local women. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Zaina Lodge

7. 7MOLE | KUMASI⌄

   After breakfast, we will check out and begin our journey south, passing through the scenic savannah villages of Northern Ghana. Upon arrival in Kumasi, we will visit the Manhyia Palace, the official residence of Ashanti Kings (Asantehene) until 1974, now a museum housing treasured items related to the Ashanti Kingdom. After these activities, we will check into our hotel and retire for the night. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast,Dinner Overnight at Lancaster Kumasi Hotel

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Zaina Lodge

8. 8KUMASI⌄

   Day 8 KUMASI After breakfast, you will visit the craft villages in the lush countryside surrounding Kumasi. Our first stop will be Adawomase, where we’ll observe how the famous Kente cloth is handmade on looms in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. Explore the various Kente styles and take the opportunity to make purchases. We may also pay a courtesy call to the paramount chief of this community. Next, we will visit the village of Ntonso, where artisans hand-stamp patterns on cotton cloth to create Adinkra textiles. Black-on-black and black-on-red Adinkra cloth are traditionally worn for funerals and other solemn occasions. Learn how the black dye is made from the bark of trees and create your own Adinkra sash to take home. You may also purchase larger pieces of Adinkra cloth handmade in the village. Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner, and retire for the night. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight at Lancaster Kumasi

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Lancaster Kumasi

9. 9KUMASI | CAPE COAST⌄

   Following breakfast, we checked out and headed to the Okomfo Anokye Sword site, an important symbol of Ashanti unity that marks the spot where the Golden Stool “descended from the sky” and has been in place for 300 years. Legend says the Ashanti Kingdom would collapse should the sword ever be removed. After the tour, we will head to Cape Coast. Before our arrival, we will make a stop at Assin Manso Slave River, the burial site of two former slaves from the U.S. and Jamaica whose remains were re-interred in August 1998 during Ghana’s first Emancipation Day celebration. You will see the “Slave River,” where captured Africans were washed before being confined in the Slave Castles to await shipment to the Americas and the Caribbean. After the tour, we will head to our hotel to check in, enjoy dinner, and retire for the day. Meals include: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight at Coconut Groove Resort

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight at Noda Hotel or Similar, *3 Star Hotel

10. 10ELMINA⌄

    After breakfast, we will depart for Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle, a monument to a painful chapter in the region's history, held more enslaved Africans than any other. Experience an emotional tour through the dungeons and the "Door of No Return," and explore the historical museum detailing the castle's significance and Cape Coast’s past. You can also purchase literature about Ghana's forts, castles, and cultural traditions. After the tour, we will return to the hotel. Optional: Arrange an optional visit to Kakum National Park (at your own expense), known for its wildlife reserves. Enjoy a guided walk through the forest, observing bird species, butterflies, and possibly spotting monkeys and forest elephants. Experience the iconic Kakum Canopy Walkway, Africa’s only treetop walkway, offering breathtaking views from over 150 feet above the ground. Return to the hotel to relax.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Overnight at Coconut Grove Beach Resort

11. 11ELMINA | ACCRA⌄

    After breakfast, check out and return to Accra, with your departure time arranged with your tour guide. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and relax for the day. You may also opt for any of the following optional activities at an additional cost: Shopping: Visit Oxford Street, Osu, for unique African clothing, handcrafted jewelry, and accessories—ideal for souvenirs. Artiste Alliance Gallery: Explore three floors of sculpture, photography, paintings, and collector's items like vintage Kente fabrics, African masks, and Asafo flags. Drumming and Dancing Class: Learn traditional Ghanaian dances in an engaging session led by skilled instructors. Cooking Class: Prepare local dishes like Jollof rice, fufu, or peanut butter soup in a hands-on experience, followed by a tasting session. Batik & Dye Workshop: Create batik designs using Adinkra symbols and craft a personalized souvenir. Dinner will be at your hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Overnight at Lancaster Accra Hotel

12. 12ACCRA | DEPART⌄

    Today is at your leisure, but with the assistance of your driver and guide, you can decide on your excursions and activities. Explore the sites in Accra and the surrounding areas that you have not yet visited. Later, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home.. Meals Included: Breakfast