Itinerary

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.

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)

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