• Accra - Upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport, proceed through immigration, collect your luggage, clear customs, and meet our expert cultural tour guide for your transfer to your hotel in Accra. This marks the beginning of an incredible journey that will stay with you forever. Once you have checked in at the hotel, our expert cultural guide, who will accompany you throughout your tour, will warmly welcome you with “Akwaaba” and brief you on the exciting activities awaiting you in Ghana. The rest of the day is yours to relax and rejuvenate.
• W.E.B. DuBois Center - Experience the vibrant city of Accra today, a blend of modern architecture and historical structures from colonial times. This 120-year-old city offers numerous historical sites to explore after enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel, as you pass through the economic and administrative districts.

The first stop will be the W.E.B DuBois Centre, honoring the life of the renowned Pan-Africanist who chose to live and work in Ghana. We continue to Independence Square, where you will see the enclosed flame of African liberation, lit by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1961.

Next, visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the final resting place of Ghana’s first president. Set in beautiful gardens, there is an adjoining museum containing photos, artifacts, and insights into Dr. Nkrumah’s life. Adjacent to the park is the National Cultural Center, Ghana’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market, offering traditional crafts from across West Africa.

• Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park - We will visit James Town, one of Accra’s most historic neighborhoods, where history is present on every corner. Known for its lighthouses, the first of which was built in 1875 by the British as a navigational aid for trading vessels sailing through the Gulf of Guinea. The original structure was destroyed, but a larger and improved lighthouse completed in 1921 is still operational today.

You may also visit “Brazil House” and learn about the seven Afro-Brazilian families who returned to settle in Ghana in 1836. Familiar Brazilian/Portuguese surnames such as De Souza, Palmares, Azumah, Amorin, Da Costa, Santos, De Medeiros, and Olympio are common in this part of Accra.

• Bonwire Kente Weaving Centre - After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Kumasi, driving through the forest zone to the heart of the Ashanti Empire to explore the legends of the famous Ashanti, whose legacies are still evident today.

Upon reaching Ejisu, we will visit the three craft villages in the lush countryside, a stark contrast to the modern-day Kumasi city:

• Adanwomase will be our first craft village, where we’ll see how the famous Kente Cloth is handmade on looms in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. See the Kente styles and have the opportunity to make purchases. We may pay a courtesy call to the paramount chief of this community amidst drumming and dancing or visit their cocoa farms.

• Ntonso Adinkra Craftsmen - We will continue to the village of Ntonso, where artisans hand-stamp patterns on cotton cloth to make Adinkra Textiles. Black-on-Black and Black-on-Red Adinkra Cloth is worn for funerals and other solemn occasions; learn how the black dye is made in the village from the bark of trees and create your own Adinkra sash to take home. You may also purchase large pieces of the Adinkra Cloth handmade in the village.
• Manhyia Palace Museum - After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we will further explore the Kingdom, rich in culture and traditions. Today marks a well-celebrated festival of the Ashanti Empire.

This evening, we will have the opportunity to visit the ancient Ejisu Ashanti Shrine, a World Heritage Site where people visit for healing and consultations on spiritual beliefs. Witness some of the traditional practices of the Ashanti people.

First, we visit the Manhyia Palace, the official residence of Ashanti Kings (Asantehene) until 1974, now a museum containing treasured items related to the Ashanti Kingdom. This is where you obtain first-hand information on the legacies of this unified monarchy.

• Okomfo Anokye Sword Site - Kumasi boasts a collection of British colonial buildings and is the heart of Ashanti culture. Enjoy a drive through the city with monuments dedicated to the memory of the great Ashanti people on our way to visit 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 remained for 300 years. Legend says the Ashanti kingdom would collapse should the sword ever be removed.

We will also visit the village of Sokoban Krofrom, where traditional brass casting has been the main source of income for generations. A wide selection of items ranging from beads and jewelry to traditional statues are made here. The methods used to produce these intricate brass works have not changed in centuries, and during our time here, we will see a demonstration of the skilled process. Return to your hotel for overnight.

• Lake Bosumtwi - Today, we depart for another adventure along the coastal lands of Ghana - Elmina & Cape Coast.

En route, we will visit Lake Bosomtwe, the largest natural freshwater body in Ghana. Here you will enjoy peace, serenity, and an encounter with nature. A walk on the beach gives you the opportunity to meet and interact closely with the local fishing folks and gain insight into their way of life. Considered sacred by the Ashanti, Lake Bosomtwe is an economic and popular resort area with the Ashanti people due to the opportunities for fishing, swimming, and water sports.

• Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park - After relaxing activities and lunch, we continue to Elmina with a stop at Assin Manso, the burial site of two former slaves from the USA and Jamaica whose remains were re-interred in August 1998 during Ghana’s first Emancipation Day Celebration. A visit to “the Slave River” or “Donkor Nsuo” offers the chance to see the place where captured Africans were washed before being confined in the Slave Castles to await shipment to the Americas and Caribbean.
• Kotokuraba Market - Kotokuraba, the cradle of Cape Coast. The Kotokuraba market is the economic hub of the region, with vibrant trading stores located around it. The market has existed for many decades and was an important trading site during the pre-independence era. It serves as a central point for all trade in the region and is a hotspot for economic activity as most major activities in the city take place in and around the area.

This afternoon, enjoy the sights of the many colorful fishing boats bringing their daily catch into the harbor and take the opportunity to mix with the locals at the nearby market. A short distance from the market, we visit the boat builders, still constructing colorful fishing boats using traditional tools and methods spanning centuries.

• Elmina Castle - Today we will visit Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle is a thought-provoking monument to a harrowing period in the region’s history. You will take an emotional journey through the castle, which held more enslaved Africans than any other in the region, viewing the dungeons and the infamous “Door of No Return.” There is a significant historical museum inside, which explains the history of the castle and of Cape Coast itself. You can purchase literature on Ghana’s forts and castles, as well as the cultural history and traditions of Ghana.
• Kakum National Park - After breakfast, check out of your hotel for a visit to Kakum National Park, one of Ghana’s most famous parks. Take a brief walking tour on the forest floor where you will learn how our ancestors lived in the forest. See birds, butterflies, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the forest’s over 40 species of mammals, including monkeys and the elusive forest elephant. Proceed to the canopy walk. Kakum is home to Africa’s only aerial walkway through the tree canopy, a 1000-foot-long and seven-bridge walkway with viewing platforms that reach heights over 150 feet above the ground. You will stop briefly at Abandze, the ancestral home of Louis Armstrong, the famous American Jazz Musician.

• Bottled water
• All Fees and Taxes
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Alcoholic beverages

Begin and conclude your journey in Accra! The “Introducing Ghana – 8 Days” tour offers an immersive cultural experience over eight days, guiding you through Accra and other fascinating locations in Ghana. This package includes hotel accommodations, an expert guide, meals, transportation, and more.

Following the successful Year of Return campaign in 2019, 2020 has been designated as Beyond the Return, making an Emancipation Tour an excellent opportunity to visit Ghana. Discover Ghana’s vibrant cultures, lively city atmosphere, and numerous historical sites associated with the transatlantic slave trade.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.