Day 1: Accra
Upon arrival in Accra, meet your guide & transfer to the hotel. After settling in, you enjoy a welcome celebration featuring live music, traditional dancing & plenty of refreshments. You will be given a brief overview of the culture & learn about the Ghanaian way of life. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, relaxing by the pool or exploring all that the city has to offer. Enjoy a traditional dinner at the hotel & rest for the day ahead.
Day 2: Accra
Wake up to a delicious breakfast & check out of the hotel before beginning a tour of Accra. Start in the administrative & economic districts where you'll see the progression of colonial to modern architecture, which plays a significant role in the city’s history. Then, visit the W.E.B Du Bois Center to learn about the life & achievement of Dr. Dubois’, including his last two years of life working tirelessly to create the Pan-African encyclopedia. Before lunch, stop by a few important historical landmarks like the Black Star Square, also known as Independence Square, as well as the renowned Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. End the day at the city’s art center where you can barter in an open-air market. Return to the hotel & enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure.
Day 3: Accra
Begin the morning with a scenic drive to a village nestled along the Volta River. Your guide will instruct you on how to respectfully greet the village chief & elders before arrival. That morning, you will experience the rural Ghanaian way of life, which includes an exciting time of music & dance with the local people. You can even participate in a special ceremony where you will be given a customary African name! Village members will walk you through the ins & outs of their day, allowing you to truly see what their life is like. You can also observe local women as they create intricate pieces of pottery. Return to the city, where you can shop around Accra’s many markets, stores & malls. Or you can head to the beach & enjoy the crystal blue waters of the South Atlantic Ocean. Return to your hotel & enjoy the rest of the evening.
Day 4: Accra – Kumasi
Enjoy your last breakfast in Accra & depart for Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region located about four hours south. Along the way, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive at the hotel & spend the evening catching up on rest or exploring the city.
Day 5: Ashanti – Elmina
Today, you will meet a variety of craftsmen around the Ashanti region. Each of these three villages specialize in making items like wood carvings, pottery & woven goods. You can witness the process & detail that goes into making each piece & buy directly from the artist. Spend the afternoon traveling south to the coastal city of Elmina where you will check in to your hotel & unpack. The rest of the evening is free to rest or explore the town.
Day 6: Elmina
Enjoy a free day in the vibrant city of Elmina, known as the first point of contact in Sub-Saharan Africa. After breakfast, you can spend the day at the beach, taste a few traditional dishes, or explore one of the many historical sites like the Dutch Cemetery. You can also take a walk around the city & visit the colorful Asafo shrines.
Day 7: Elmina
Begin the morning at the Elmina Castle, built by the Portuguese in 1482 & later became a fortress to hold slaves during the 17th century. As you walk through the halls, your guide will explain the castle’s dark history. Afterward, gather on the shore for a ceremony commemorating the slaves who endured the Middle Passage. After lunch, take a walking tour of Elmina & learn about the city’s rich history & African resilience. That evening, you can partake in a candlelight vigil to remember the lives lost in the slave trade & watch a reenactment of slaves entering the castle’s passageway named “The Door of No Return”. This is followed by a powerful midnight declaration of Emancipation Day, the highlight of Panafest.
Day 8: Elmina
Start your last full day in Ghana with a drive through the former slave route to a town called Assin Manso. This was the final transition point for African slaves before their journey to the New World. You will also visit the town’s evocative slave dungeons & the graves of two important slaves whose remains were returned to Ghanaian soil for burial. The afternoon will start with the Emancipation Day celebration, featuring a variety of African garments, rituals, music & more. After a full day, return to your hotel to enjoy a farewell dinner & pack up.
Day 9: Elmina – Accra
Enjoy a scenic ride back to Accra where you can spend the remainder of the day shopping or exploring the city. That evening, depart for the airport & begin your journey back home.
Day 10: Add-Ons: