Ghana Classic Adventure: Cultural Festivals & National Parks

Accra

Arrive at any time. Your transfer to the hotel is included as part of your tour. Upon arrival take some time to get settled and opt to have dinner at the onsite restaurant. The adventure begins tomorrow.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Free Time

Accra Evening

Spend the evening at your leisure and get settled. Opt to grab a bite to eat at the restaurant on the property and rest up after a successful arrival to Ghana.

Arrival Transfer

Kotoka International Airport - Accra 0.25h - 0.5h 6km

Settle in and enjoy an included arrival transfer to the start hotel in Accra.

Accra

Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a welcome briefing this morning with your CEO before a sightseeing day in Accra. Start with a visit to Black Star Gate and the main ceremony grounds of Independence Square to learn about Ghana's journey towards liberation from British rule. Then transfer to the historical community of Jamestown for a walking tour through the structures that predate the Colonial era, and gain a true picture of old Accra with its many European influences. From here the group will visit the final resting place of Ghana's founder, Kwame Nkrumah and delve into his incredible life and efforts to liberate this country. Grab lunch on your own at a local restaurant. The adventure continues as the group meets a local artisan of Ghana's Fantasy Coffins, which are a unique and creative way this country honours loved ones and celebrates their path to the afterlife. Check out a few of his designs and learn a little more about Ghana's lively funerary practices. The remainder of the evening will be free for travellers to explore the local area on their own, or to relax at the hotel.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Accra 1.5h 29km

Sit back, relax, and scan the scenery of Accra between transfers to historical and cultural sites around the city. The longest drive time between destinations is 20 minutes, the shortest being five minutes.

Black Star Gate & Independence Square

Accra 0.5h

Your introduction to Ghana's history and culture begins at the Black Star Gate and Independence Square along Accra's coastline. This is the main ceremony grounds of the city, and where you can find the enclosed flame of African Liberation, lit in 1961 by Kwame Nkrumah himself. Your CEO will provide you with more information about the area's importance to the people of Ghana as you gather in various spots throughout the square.

Walking Tour of Jamestown

Accra 1h

With your CEO at the lead, walk through the old community of Jamestown. See with your own eyes the historical structures that predate the Colonial era and learn about the different ways the locals are committed to conserving these buildings and hear about their significant efforts to maintain them. Due to their efforts, the community is able to provide travellers with an excellent idea of what it was like during Ghana's colonial past. See the 30m high lighthouse constructed by the British in 1871. Admire the colourful fishing boats on the beach, and continue to Fort James, a British trading post in 1673 which fell under Danish rule. Also of interest here are the Brazilian stone houses, built by formerly enslaved African's who resided in Brazil and made their way back to Africa after the slave trade was abolished. This area in Accra is also famous for producing many world champion boxers like Africa's greatest, Azuma Nelson.

Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum Visit

Accra 1h

Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, located in downtown Accra. The location is the final resting place of Ghana's founder and first president. The museum was created in his honour and contains photographs, artifacts, and important insight into this incredible human's life. The centre was designed by a Ghanaian architect and was built using Italian marble.

The Fantasy Coffins of Ghana

Accra 1.25h

Like much of the world, Ghana's funeral and burial ceremonies are very solemn occasions, but the celebration that follows is quite incredible! It's believed that the newly deceased move on into another world and so their coffins are made to represent the occupation of the dead, or to depict something that was very important to them during their lives. Visit a local artisan and see a few of his coffin designs that one could be buried in. Options range from cars and airplanes, to cocoa pods, cigarette packets, bottles of beer, and crocodiles. You'll experience an entirely new take on death and what it can look like to celebrate the lives and passions of those dearest to us.

Free Time

Accra Evening

Spend a free evening exploring more of Accra on your own with suggestions from your CEO, or if you are feeling tired, you can choose to rest at the hotel.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

Accra/Bonkro

In the morning leave Accra behind and travel inland towards Bonkro. Stop along the way at the Assin Manso Heritage Site. Learn from a guide about the site's history, the transatlantic slave trade, and the role Assin Manso played as a final inland stop along the slave route. Then, it's onward to the guesthouse in Bonkro where your stay contributes to the ongoing conservation efforts towards the protection of the surrounding Picathartes Forest reserve and local community life in the area. Enjoy an included lunch of traditional dishes and then an afternoon visit to the local representative of Kuapa Kokoo, a Fairtrade-certified cocoa farmers organisation in Ghana.During your visit the group will meet with several of the farmers and their families, and learn how the cooperative is improving working conditions and ensuring women's voices are heard in the business. See the entire harvesting process and taste some of the local sweets. Then, set out on a short walk through the village where you'll see first-hand the benefits of community tourism in connecting cultures and strengthening. Finish the day with an included dinner back at the guesthouse and then an outdoor cinema movie night that will be joined by local families for an involved experience within the community.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Accra - Bonkro 5h - 5.5h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Accra and Bonkro and Accra. There will be a stop at the Assin Manso Heritage Site to break up the drive.

Assin Manso Heritage Site Visit

Assin Attandaso Forest Reserve

Visit the Assin Manso Heritage Site where you will be welcomed by a local historian/guide who will provide an introduction to the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the role Assin Manso played as a final inland stop along the slave route. Enslaved Africans from across West Africa were marched to this location after being captured or sold in inland slave markets. Assin Manso became known as the "Last Bath" site, where captives were ordered to bathe in the river before being transported to the coastal forts.

Bonkro Guesthouse Local Lunch

Bonkro 1h

Sit down for a delicious included lunch at the Bonkro guesthouse where your chef will prepare a variety of local dishes for the group. As you enjoy this delicious meal, your CEO will remind you about the ways in which your experience with G Adventures is helping to support this important initiative and bring more engagement to the local community.

Visit to Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative

Bonkro 2h

Pay a visit to the local representative of Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative, a Fair-Trade organization that works to ensure its cocoa farmer members receive a decent price for the product they grow and sell. They also work hard to ensure women's voices are heard within the business. Divine chocolate is one of the fastest growing brands in the world and the cocoa is likely to have been sourced here. Meet several of the farming families and see the entire harvesting process in action. Try the unripe cocoa that the local children use as sweets and hear how cocoa pods can be used for soap making among other things.

Community Guesthouse & Village Walk

Bonkro

Embark on a 20-minute walk through the village and see the outside of the local school that has been built with the support of G-Adventures. The school has had an incredible impact on the children living in this area and is providing them with the opportunity to earn an education while maintaining the fundamentals of their customs and rural ways of life. All profits generated from the initiative that involves staying at the nearby guesthouse go 100% back into the community. During the walk you'll hear more about other projects, aims, and objectives of this ethical form of tourism.

Outdoor Movie Night with Locals in Bonkro

Bonkro

Cap off the day with an outdoor movie night in which the surrounding communities are welcome to join with their families for an evening at the cinema. Sit back, watch one of the best African movies, and feel the night breeze rustle through the crowd as you experience a wonderful blending of cultures through this shared form of entertainment.

Bonkro Community Guesthouse Stay

Bonkro

Spend two nights in a remote Bonkro village and witness first-hand how the community is working to protect the surrounding Picathartes Forest Reserve. Staying here allows for a more authentic local experience and provides a valuable contribution to the resident communities and other conservation efforts that are underway.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Bonkro

Enjoy a relaxed start before breakfast, where the chef will ask which local dish you'd like to learn to cook for this evening's meal. Transfer to the market in New Edubiase to purchase the necessary ingredients for your dinner dish. Delve right into the daily bartering alongside the locals for an authentic grasp of everyday life. Spend free time here and have lunch on your own. Choose to ride a bike back to Bonkro and pedal through the villages along dirt roads and take in the beauty of this area, or ride back to the community guesthouse in the vehicle. Then, join the head chef at the property and prepare the group dinner. This hands-on experience will allow for a taste of Ghana's culinary culture with plenty of advice from the kitchen experts. The meal will be prepped and then fully prepared come evening. In the meantime, take a short walk to the nearby rainforest that is being protected by the community with the aim of increasing its size in the coming years to help heal the planet. Enjoy dinner made by your own hands and share the warmth of this special meal before a night around the bonfire joined by the locals with traditional music and stories of Ghana's past.

Exclusive Inclusions:

New Edubiase Market Visit

New Edubiase 1.5h

The group will visit the local markets in New Edubiase, which is about 30 minutes from Bonkro. Here, everyone will shop for dinner using the full list of ingredients and money from the head chef at the guesthouse. Step into the daily routines of the locals and barter to get a good price for your produce. You'll also have time to explore this town a bit and have lunch on your own at a restaurant or one of the food stalls at the market that the CEO has advised are safe to try.

Bike ride back to Bonkro from New Edubiase

New Edubiase - Bonkro 1.5h 20km

Choose to ride bikes back to Bonkro and pedal through local villages in the area and along dirt roads for a chance to fully embrace the landscape. Please note that you can choose to transfer back to the guesthouse stay by vehicle rather than bike.

Bonkro Cooking Class Experience

Bonkro 2h

Spend the afternoon led by the head chef of the community guesthouse and prepare your own traditional Ghanaian dish for tonight's dinner. The whole group will be involved in preparing parts of the meal and the other cooks will offer advice on your dishes. The food will be stored once it's ready and served in the evening. There likely will be a cook book available for purchase should travellers wish to take more of these delicious recipes home with them. *Please note, for those who do not wish to participate in the cooking lesson, there will be the opportunity to unwind at the guesthouse, or to visit the village and see how locals prepare Gari, one of their local delicacies.

Visit to the Reforestation Project at Bonkro

Bonkro 1.5h

Walk a short distance to the rainforest that is part of Bonkro's reforestation project in the effort to increase the forest's size to protect this land for future generation and to help heal the planet. Your support at the guesthouse stay has a ripple effect allowing for more native trees to be planted along the boundary line of the current forest. Hear more about the protection efforts and the ways in this is changing the lives of the future generations in this community.

Bonkro Community Bonfire

Bonkro 2h

Enjoy a night of relaxation around a crackling bonfire joined by local community members. Sit around the warm glow together, listen to traditional music, enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar, and hear stories and old fables of Ghana's past. It's a memorable way to cap of your stay in this unique and important area of Ghana

Bonkro Community Guesthouse Stay

Bonkro

Spend two nights in a remote Bonkro village and witness first-hand how the community is working to protect the surrounding Picathartes Forest Reserve. Staying here allows for a more authentic local experience and provides a valuable contribution to the resident communities and other conservation efforts that are underway.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Bonkro/Kumasi

Travel towards Kumasi today with a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage site where you will see the last material remains of the great Asante Empire. There are 10 active shrines within the buildings which are made from bamboo, timber, mud, and thatched roofs. The walls are designed with motifs that have traditional symbolic meanings attached to ancient Adinkra symbols. This is also where Nana Yaa Asantewaa, possibly-the most important woman in Ashanti history-comes from. From here the group will continue to the ancient village of Ntunso, which is where Adinkra symbols and cloth originate from. These symbols have been used in Ghana for centuries to represent concepts or aphorisms, and are most commonly used in fabrics and pottery. Learn more about how these symbols were created and then transferred onto traditional cloth and clothing. While here, you will make your own strip of Adinkra cloth with symbols that have personal significance to you. Continue to the hotel and enjoy an included dinner at the restaurant on-site.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Bonkro - Kumasi 3h - 3.5h 119km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Traditional Ashanti Buildings Visit

Kumasi 1h

Prior to arriving in Kumasi, visit the last material remains of the great Asante Empire and see the traditional Asante buildings that are now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are 10 active shrines within the buildings which are made from bamboo, timber, mud, and thatched roofs. The walls are designed with motifs that have traditional symbolic meanings attached to ancient Adinkra symbols that you will learn more about. This is also where Nana Yaa Asantewaa, possibly the most important woman in Ashanti history comes from, a great female warrior who led the Ashanti's in the 1901 war against the British. Nana Yaa Asantewaa was also the Queen Mother of Ejisu Besease and the group will visit the local spiritual shrine where she used to fortify herself before going into battle.

Ntonso Adinkra Village Visit

Ntonso 1h

Learn more about Adinkra including their historical and cultural importance in the ancient village where the cloth and symbols originated from. The traditional symbols all have meanings and are typically carved using calabash shells. Then those symbols are printed onto traditional cloth using natural dyes made from the bark of certain local trees. They are used in fabrics and pottery and are also incorporated into walls and other architecture. The Adinkra cloth has been worn by the Ashanti's for centuries and actually pre-dates Kente cloth. Try your hand at making your own strip of cloth using any symbols with personal significance and take your finished masterpiece home with you.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Kumasi

In the morning visit the commercial centre in Kumasi, where most Ghanaians shop. Explore bustling Adum and the Kejetia market with its labyrinth of stalls. Feel the atmosphere of daily life for so many locals living nearby. Prepare for culture and history at Manhyia Palace, home of the Asantehene King of the Ashanti's and ruler of the powerful Asanteman Kingdom. Gain key insight into the legacy of the Ashanti's before attending the Akwasidae Festival. This traditional ceremony and celebration is held by the Ashanti people of Ghana every six weeks on a Sunday at the palace in Kumasi. People dress in traditional clothing, the king is greeted at the royal court, gifts are offered, and there are parades with drummers, dancers, and singers to celebrate the Ashanti people's rich culture and heritage. During the festival there will be opportunities to purchase lunch from one of the street vendors at your own expense. The day is planned this way so as to not miss the arrival of the King. Afterwards, travel back to the hotel for a free evening to relax by the pool and enjoy your included dinner.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Kumasi 1.5h 37km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle during your transport between the hotel and the Akwasidae Festival in Kumasi and back to the hotel later in the day.

Commercial Centre of Kumasi Visit

Kumasi 1h

Visit the commercial centre of Kumasi in the Adum neighbourhood, where most Ghanaians shop. Walk down to Kejetia market and become part of every day life in the largest outdoor market in West Africa. Walk past the many stalls nestled closely together in the labyrinth and try your hand at shopping as the locals do.

Manhyia Palace Museum Visit

Kumasi 0.75h

Pay a visit to the Manhyia Palace Museum, which offers a fascinating narrative through the history of the powerful Ashanti tribe. The tour provides firsthand insight into the legacies of the Ashanti's and offers a chance to understand their culture and see the home of the Asantehene King. The experience works well in tandem with the group's attendance to today's Akwasidae Festival.

Attend Akwasidae Festival in Kumasi

Kumasi 5h - 5.5h

The group will walk from the palace to the durbar grounds in the courtyard which will be a buzzing hive of activity as people of the Asanteman Kingdom who mad the journey here to Kumasi gather in order to pay homage to their King. The Akwasidae festival is celebrated every 42 days (or every sixth Sunday) and is sure to provide you with in-depth insight into the rich culture of the Asanteman Kingdom. All chiefs will be adorned in rich, colourful and traditional kente and adinkra cloths. Dance and drumming will accompany the proceedings, and gifts are offered to the Asantehene. During your time at the festival, you will notice how strong this kingdom still is today and glimpse the hard work being done to fuse culture, customs, and traditional values with the present so future generations will continue to uphold them. While the exact timing of the King's entrance isn't set in stone, your group will be there throughout the festival to ensure not missing it. Lunch will be available for purchase on your own at one of the various food stalls.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Kumasi/Akosombo

In the morning depart Kumasi for Akosombo. Along the way the group will visit a village near Krobo to meet one of the resident families here that make traditional Ghanaian beads. Learn firsthand about their historical importance, and spend a wonderful afternoon mixing with locals, observing village life, and making your own bead jewelry. Later, upon arriving at the lodge, the group will embark on a short walk to the jetty and board a river cruise to enjoy the rolling hills and lush forest scenery with a complimentary sundowner in hand. The remainder of the evening will be at your leisure back at the lodge.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Kumasi - Krobo 5.5h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Krobo Village Beading Experience

Krobo 2h

Spend a few hours at a local village and meet with one of the families that make traditional Ghanaian handmade glass beads. The production of this jewelry dates back centuries. These beautiful, colourful beads are still used in present-day ceremonies and festivals, and are central to the culture of the Krobo people of Ghana. They are often worn as symbols of maturity and as an honour to one's family heritage. During your time here the group will learn the ancient processes used to make these beads and will even have the chance to make their own design under the guidance of a local family. Become part of village life for a day and leave with your own symbol of beauty.

Private Vehicle

Krobo - Akosombo 0.5h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Volta River Sunset Cruise

Akosombo 2h

Take a short walk to the nearby jetty of the riverfront lodge and board a boat for a sunset cruise on the calm water. Watch as the rolling hills and forests past by seeped in a golden light (weather permitting). You'll see local fishermen bringing in their daily catch and can sip on an included sundowner while the river teems with live around you.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Akosombo

This morning will be dedicated to hiking Mount Afadjato, Ghana's highest mountain standing at approximately 885 metres. Take in the sweeping views, breathe the fresh air, and search for butterflies and birds as you climb. It's worth noting there will be an alternative hiking option for any travellers who choose not to try the more strenuous route. Enjoy an included lunch after the climb in the town of Wli before visiting the highest waterfall in West Africa in its idyllic setting. As you near the falls listen for the sounds of Fruit Bats in the adjacent cliffs amid the rushing water. Return to Akosombo and enjoy a free evening at leisure. Maybe have a beverage at the riverfront bar and enjoy dinner on your own with a view.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Akosombo - Gblede 2.25h - 2.5h 122km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Climbing Mount Afadjato

Gblede 2h 4km

Begin today with a nice hike to the top of Ghana's highest mountain; Afadjato. It sits at an elevation of 885 metres and offers excellent opportunities for photos of the beautiful landscape. Walk along a trail that passes through dense forests with nearby waterfalls, and rocky terrain. The summit offers views over the Volta River, Togo Mountains, and some of the surrounding communities on a clear day. This mountain is home to many plant and animal species and is part of the Agumatsa Range along the Ghana-Togo border. To the local people this peak is sacred and a lasting symbol of their cultural identity. *Please note that an alternate option is available for those hoping for a less strenuous experience. Route length: 4km Duration: 2hrs

Private Vehicle

Gblede - Hohoe 0.5h 14km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Wli (Agumatsa) Falls Visit

Hohoe 2h

Fill up on lunch in the town of Wli and then head deeper into the rural landscape of Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary in the Volta region of Ghana to visit the highest waterfall in West Africa set back in a truly idyllic setting. Hike a short distance through the semi-deciduous forest from the Wli village and listen for the powerful flower of the river as well as the sounds of a Fruit Bat colony on the nearby cliffs. Once the group reaches the waterfall there will be about a half hour to enjoy a quick swim in the pool at the base of the falls before returning to the village.

Private Vehicle

Hohoe - Akosombo 2.5h 136km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time

Akosombo

Free evening at leisure back at the lodge property on the river's edge.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Akosombo/Accra

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before transferring back to Accra. Travel by the greener pastures of the Shai Hills Reserve. The protected area was home to the Shai people before they were pushed out by the British, and remnants of their time here can still be found within the landscape. From hills to canyons, this area is also home to forests and grasslands that allow the resident wildlife to thrive. Be on the lookout for antelope, zebra, baboons, and green monkeys as you walk with your guide to the Obonu Tem caves. Continue on to Accra where the group will visit a local restaurant for an included dinner before heading together to the airport where your tour comes to an end.

Please do not book onward travel before 9pm.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Private Vehicle

Akosombo - Accra 3h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Akosombo and Accra. There will be a stop to visit the Shai Hills Reserve along the way. Arrival to Accra will be in the evening.

Shai Hills Reserve Visit

Shai Hills 1.75h

Become acquainted with the environment and wildlife at the Shai Hills Reserve, an expanse of Savannah grassland and woodlands dominated by large boulder rock formations. Animals likes baboons, antelopes, and certain species of monkeys reside here. It was formerly the home of the Shai people who were pushed off of the land by the British in 1892. Granite inselbergs dominate the landscape and depict many active traditional shrines. Walk with a wildlife guide to the Obonu Tem caves where there is a large colony of Egyptian Tomb Bats. Keep your eyes ready to spot colourful birds like, Turacos, Rollers, and Bee-eaters. This morning spend walking amid the boulders a great introduction to Ghana's inland terrain.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner