12-Day Ghana, Togo and Benin Tour with Castles and Sacred Sites

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Day 01

Akwaaba to Ghana

• Arrive in Accra, Ghana. You will be met at the airport by Landtours representatives, who will assist you with your transfer from the airport to your hotel.
• Enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel and participate in an orientation session. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

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Day 02

Accra City Highlights

• Experience the city's highlights during this Accra orientation. The capital of Ghana since 1877, Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region. Travel through the administrative and economic districts of Accra. Also see the Artiste Alliance Gallery, the W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Pan African Culture, and the Independence/Black Star Square. Learn about important events in Ghana's history and the country's first president, who helped lead Ghana to independence.
• Continue your tour to the National Museum of Ghana in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. It is the largest and oldest of the six museums under the administration of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. The museum building was opened on 5 March 1957 as part of Ghana's independence celebrations.
• End the day's tour at the Arts Center, where participants can sharpen their bargaining skills while shopping for goods from Ghana and West Africa in an open-air market.

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Day 03

Kakum Rainforest and Cape Coast Castle

• After breakfast, depart early in the morning for a drive to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa's surviving tropical rainforests. The most popular attraction is the canopy walkway, which is made up of seven bridges extending 330 m and hanging 30 m (100 feet) above the forest floor. Enjoy a 2 km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral species and the medicinal values they offer.
• Later in the day, visit Cape Coast Castle, which was built by the Swedes in 1653 and was later taken over by the British. Like Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a poignant memorial to the millions of Africans who were victims of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
• This castle also houses the West African Historical Museum, established by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Ghanaian Government in 1994.

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Day 04

Elmina Castle and Fishing Village Tour

• After breakfast, visit Elmina Castle, also known as St. George's Castle, which was built by the Portuguese in 1482. Here, learn about the relationship between the western slave traders and the African tribes that participated in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Participants will witness the dark and stuffy dungeons local people were forced to endure before being sent on a long and perilous passage across the Atlantic.
• On your own, explore Elmina, a fishing village that's both picturesque and gritty, charming and thought-provoking. What better way to appreciate it than to immerse yourself in its main industry - fishing? Meet with local fishermen to learn the intricacies of their trade and the challenges they face in their day-to-day work. Next, meet the fish mongers in the village, who will demonstrate the various stages of smoking fish in earthenware ovens. This is a unique way to experience one of Ghana's oldest and most important trades.

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Day 05

Assin Manso and Kumasi City Tour

• Embark on a journey from your hotel after breakfast to Kumasi, the seat of the Ashanti Empire. Along the way, stop at the former slave site in Assin Manso, a poignant location that served as the final transit point for many enslaved Africans. Explore the historical significance of

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Day 06

Ashanti Craft Villages

• After breakfast, dedicate the day to exploring the renowned Ashanti craft villages. Begin at Ahwiaa, known for its wood carvers, then proceed to Ntonso, the home of Adinkra cloth, and finally Bonwire, the Kente weaving village. Witness the intricate process of crafting African goods and have the opportunity to purchase directly from the skilled artisans. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of these craft villages, gaining insight into traditional craftsmanship and artistic traditions.

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Day 07

Kumasi to Accra

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and depart for Accra. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

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Day 08

Accra to Lomé City Tour

• Upon arrival, head straight for a city tour of Lomé. Drive by the Musée National (National Museum), as well as the Place de l'Independence (Place of Independence, where the Independence Monument is situated). Visit Grand Marche (Grand Market) and Marche des Feticheurs (Fetish Market).
• Overnight in Lomé.

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Day 09

Togoville on Lake Togo

• After breakfast, depart your hotel for a visit to Togoville, a beach resort on Lake Togo. Cruise on the lake to the 17th-century Catholic Cathedral, which hosted Pope Paul during his visit to Togo, as well as the five main voodoo shrines on the island.

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Day 10

Lomé to Ouidah and Cotonou

• After breakfast, check out and depart for a visit to Ouidah, the cradle of African Traditional Religion, en route to Cotonou. Tour the temple dedicated to the sacred Python, which is believed to give vitality and protection. You will also pay a visit to the sacred forest, which houses many shrines dedicated to various deities.
• Afterwards, visit the Port of No Return, a monument built by the Benin Government to commemorate the Africans who were taken from the Dahomey Empire during the Slave Trade. Continue the journey northwards to Cotonou. Check in at the hotel and relax.

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Day 11

Royal Palaces of Abomey

• The Royal Palaces of Abomey, a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site, are ranked among the most famous tourist attraction sites in Abomey and greater Benin. The palaces are vital representations of Benin's cultural heritage and attract thousands of tourists from across the world each year. The palaces of Abomey are used for traditional ceremonies in modern-day Benin. During these ceremonies, rhythmic music, Benin's rich culture, rituals, religions, and customs are carried out in the complex. These ceremonies have significantly helped with the conservation of the complex due to the palaces' continued functionality. Nearby sites include the Fetish Temple and a local arts center that sells traditional handicrafts.

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Day 12

Farewell Departure

• After breakfast, spend the day shopping and packing at the last minute. Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for check-in and final departure back home.