Ghana Tours
Ghana Ancestral Tour
Visit ancient traditional communities to learn the foundations of the culture. Then, on the flipside, experience modern day Africa. You also see how this culture brings so much to the younger generation and the growth of the nation.
Discover Your Ancestry on This Tour in Ghana
Ghana is a West African nation known for its rich culture, stunning scenery and friendly people. It is also a popular destination for those seeking to discover their ancestral links. Ghana has a history dating back over 3,000 years. Moreover, it is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, each with unique traditions and heritage. The Ghana Ancestral Tour takes you to the heart of the country on a journey of self-discovery.
For those travelling to Ghana to reconnect with their ancestral roots, there are several key places to visit. One of the most important is Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was once a major slave trading post. Today, the castle serves as a sobering reminder of Ghana's past. However, it also offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about their African heritage.
Another must-see destination is Elmina Castle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that also served as a slave trading post. Like Cape Coast Castle, it offers a chance to reflect on the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It also invites reflection on the trade's impact on Ghana and the world.
In addition to visiting historical sites, you can learn about ancestral heritage through cultural experiences on this tour. For example, attend a traditional Ghanaian dance performance and learn about Ghanaian cuisine. You can also meet local elders to learn about their family history.
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Ghana
Your guide and driver meet you at Kotoka International Airport, Accra, and transfer you to your hotel. They then offer you "Akwaaba" (welcome) and brief you on your trip.
Overnight in Accra
DAY 2
National Museum, Black Star Gate, Independence Square, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and James Town
First, tour Accra's National Museum for an ethnographic overview of West African culture. Then see Black Star Gate and Independence Square, home to the flame of African liberation. Kwame Nkrumah lit it in 1961. After that, visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, his final resting place. After lunch (try Ghana's famous Jollof Rice), walk through Jamestown and Usshertown, Accra's oldest suburbs. Here you take in colonial-era structures, including a 1871 British lighthouse and Fort James (1673). Finally, in the evening, meet community members using boxing to change young lives in this historically boxing-famous neighbourhood.
Overnight in Accra · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 3
TK Beads, Shai Hills Reserve, Volta River Cruise and Akosombo Dam
Visit TK Beads to learn the traditional bead-making process. Then continue to the Shai Hills Reserve, savannah grassland with granite inselbergs and active shrines. It is also home to olive baboons and monkeys. Here you hike to the Obonu Tem caves with a wildlife guide. After lunch in Akosombo on the Volta River, take a short river cruise and tour the Akosombo Dam. Dr Kwame Nkrumah built the dam in 1965, creating what was then the world's largest man-made lake.
Overnight in Hohoe · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 4
Wli Waterfalls, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Tafi Abuife Kente Village
Trek to the Wli (Agumatsa) Falls, believed to be the highest in West Africa, with a swimmable pool beneath. After lunch in Hohoe, visit Tafi Atome, home to an endangered True Mona monkey population. The Ewe community has protected these monkeys as sacred messengers for over 200 years. Then continue to Tafi Abuife, where Ewe Kente cloth has been woven for generations. Moreover, its designs are distinct from those of the Ashanti region.
Overnight in Hohoe · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 5
Aburi Botanical Gardens and Craft Market
Drive through the Akuapem hills to the Aburi Botanical Gardens, founded by the British in 1890. The gardens have outstanding views over Accra. Then visit the Aburi Craft Village for traditional drums and sculptures at some of Ghana's lowest prices. Afterwards, have lunch in Koforidua before continuing to Kumasi.
Overnight in Kumasi · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 6
Ancient Kente and Adinkra Villages, Ashanti Traditional House and Sokoban Krofrom
Visit the traditional Asante buildings recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are home to ten active shrines and associated with warrior queen Nana Yaa Asantewaa. Then continue to Adanwomasie, birthplace of Ghana's Kente cloth. It is also home to the "Clinton Kente" design named for Bill Clinton. After that comes Ntonso, origin of Adinkra cloth, worn by the Ashanti for over 400 years. Here you make your own strip using symbols of personal significance. Finally, after lunch, visit Sokoban Krofrom to see traditional brass casting demonstrated.
Overnight in Kumasi · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 7
Manhyia Palace, Cultural Centre, Assin Manso & Cape Coast Castle
Visit Manhyia Palace, home of the Asantehene. Then see the National Cultural Centre's craft market and Prempeh II Jubilee Museum. After that, head south to Elmina, stopping at Assin Manso. Enslaved Africans marched from Northern Ghana were bathed and assessed here. They then faced the final 32-mile march to the coastal castle dungeons. In 1998, the remains of two previously enslaved people were symbolically returned here for re-interment. In the early evening, tour Cape Coast Castle, a poignant monument. It held more enslaved Africans captive than any other in West Africa. The tour includes its dungeons, which held up to 600 people at a time. It also includes the infamous "Door of No Return."
Overnight in Elmina or Cape Coast · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 8
Kakum National Park and Traditional Naming Ceremony
Walk Kakum National Park's famous canopy walkway, suspended above a rainforest home to over 40 mammal species. Then, in the afternoon, experience an official Naming Ceremony in a local village. First comes a courtesy call on chiefs and elders. Libation is then poured to welcome you home, followed by drumming and dancing. Finally, you receive a traditional African name based on your day or order of birth.
Overnight in Cape Coast or Elmina · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 9
Beach Relaxation, Elmina Castle and Accra
Enjoy a relaxed morning at your accommodation before lunch overlooking the Gold Coast. Then, en route to Accra, visit the Castle of St. George in Elmina. It is the oldest extant colonial building in sub-Saharan Africa (1482) and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You also see the local fishing market and traditional wooden boat builders.
Overnight in Accra · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 10
DuBois Centre, Artist Alliance Gallery, Fantasy Coffins and Departure
Visit the DuBois Centre, final home and burial place of Pan-Africanist Dr W.E.B. DuBois. Then see the Artist Alliance Gallery for traditional and contemporary West African art. After that, visit the workshops behind the "Fantasy Coffins" of Teshie Nungua. Finally, there is time for last-minute shopping at Accra Mall and a farewell meal before your airport transfer.
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
Mid-range accommodation throughout the tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus fruit and snacks when available on all vehicles
Unlimited mineral water for the duration of your tour
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned vehicle for the duration of your tour
A highly experienced, full-time driver, focused on your safety and comfort
All expert guide fees
Entrance fees – all entrance and excursion fees detailed in your itinerary
What’s Not Included
International travel to the start and end point – contact us for information and flight options
Any airport taxes
Travel insurance
Any visa requirements
Alcoholic drinks and drinks not mentioned
Items of a personal nature
Tips for drivers and guides
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Dates & Prices
Departures run on the 1st of each month, with a minimum of two people required. However, this tour is also available as a private tour, scheduled to your own requirements.
From £3,375 per person, based on two people sharing
Good to Know
Travel Information
Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For example, it covers safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice for Ghana.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Ghana. You also need a visa to enter, so apply via the Ghana High Commission website. However, Ghanaian-British dual nationals can avoid visa fees. To do so, they register with the Interior Ministry in Ghana for a Dual Nationality card.
Ghana is a conservative and deeply religious country, so dress modestly in public. In addition, military-style clothing, including camouflage, is not permitted. Drug penalties are severe, and bail is rarely granted. For example, even small amounts of marijuana risk a prison sentence of over five years. Carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original safe. There is little tolerance towards LGBT+ people in Ghana. In fact, some same-sex acts carry potential custodial sentences of 3-25 years, though these are rarely enforced. Therefore, be sensitive to local attitudes. Photography near sensitive sites like military installations or airports is strictly prohibited. Also, always ask permission before photographing guarded buildings.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice. The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) publishes this on the TravelHealthPro website. There is a high risk of malaria throughout Ghana, including in Accra. In addition, some areas remain at high risk of yellow fever following a 2021 outbreak. These are West Gonja, North Gonja, the Savannah region and the northwest, including Mole National Park. Therefore, keep checking NaTHNaC for the latest advice.
What to Bring
Bring lightweight, casual, non-synthetic clothing, because cotton and natural fibres are best. It should cover the body appropriately when you are in the company of local communities. In other words, it doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to be respectful. Walking shoes or boots plus sandals are the ideal footwear.
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. You're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself. For example, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sun cream, a torch, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle and a power adapter. Finally, pack earplugs if you're a light sleeper.
While You're There
Ghana's currency is the cedi (GHC/GHS), divided into 100 pesewas. However, ATM reliability varies widely. Therefore, it's best to withdraw cash on arrival in the capital. Alternatively, ask your guide to help exchange money at Forex Bureaus or banks during your trip.
The best time to visit is October to April, the dry season. It brings lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes and better road conditions. To use your mobile phone, contact your provider in advance for international roaming. Alternatively, your guide can help arrange a local SIM card, which requires an unlocked phone. USB internet sticks are also available for laptops (around 50 cedis for a 2GB allowance). Finally, internet cafés and hotel wifi are found in most urban areas.
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