21 Day UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES Tour
(GHANA, TOGO, BENIN AND MALI)

DAY 1                          AKWAABA - WELCOME

 Arrive in Accra, Ghana. Transfer from airport to your hotel.  Depending on time of arrival, you will be welcomed with cultural drumming and dancing.  Welcome drink and short orientation. Overnight at hotel in Accra.

DAY 2                       ACCRA CITY TOUR
After a hearty breakfast, depart for a sightseeing tour of Ghana’s capital city, Accra. You will drive through the administrative and economic districts of Accra, the capital of Ghana. This 132-year-old city which has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarize her history.  You will visit the W. E. B. Dubois Center for Pan African Culture, Independence/ Black Star Square and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

DAY 3                              CAPE COAST CASTLE & ELMINA CASTLE

After breakfast depart for a scenic drive through the Central Region to tour the infamous Forts, Castles and Slave Dungeons of Ghana.  History will unfold the story of the slave trade, the impact of which is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. Visit the Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedes in 1653 and was later taken over by the British. This castle also houses the West African Historical Museum. Later, visit the Elmina Castle built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is also known as St. George's Castle. This castle was the first European structure built in Sub-Saharan Africa. Overnight at hotel in Elmina.

DAY 4                                KAKUM NATIONAL PARK
Depart for an early morning drive through the historic Denkyira Kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests.  Choose between a 2 km nature walk through the rain forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral and fauna species and the medicinal values they offer or take a walk on the canopy walkway hanging 40 meters above the forest ground. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the beach soaking up the African sun.  Overnight at hotel in Elmina.

DAY 5                              ASHANTI EMPIRE AND KUMASI CITY TOUR
Depart for a scenic drive through the forest zone to Kumasi, seat of the Ashanti Empire. Here you will explore the legends of the famous Ashantis, whose legacies are still evident today. Visit Manhyia Palace Museum.  A regal history that dates back to 1700 is told with relics and artifacts. Enjoy a drive through the city featuring many monuments dedicated to the memory and deeds of the Ashanti people.  End the day’s tour at the National Cultural Center which features the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum and various studios of the brass makers, potters and batik makers.  Overnight at hotel in Kumasi.

DAY 6                               TAMALE CRAFT SHOPPING
After breakfast depart Kumasi for a drive through the Savanna Zone to Tamale, Capital of the Dagomba State. Visit the Centre for National Culture to learn how Northern Culture evolved.   Visit the main Handicraft Market for straw products, leather goods, and carvings from the Mossi people. Here traditional northern smocks (fugu) are designed, dyed and sewed by hand.  Visit Kukuo a suburb of Tamale to witness the mastery and style used in the manufacture of pottery and other household items with clay and local dye or (paint).  Overnight stay at hotel in Tamale.

DAY 7       TAMALE – OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

Check out of hotel and continue a scenic drive through to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Check in and have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Ouagadougou.

DAY 8                               OUAGADOUDOU CITY TOUR

Depart at 6:00 am to witness the Nabayius Gou (Fridays only). This is a ceremonial re-enactment of events that took place in the eighteen century at the Mogho Naba’s Plaace and reaffirms the King’s commitment to his people.  Return to your hotel for breakfast before departing for a city tour of Quaga. Visit the Grand Marche, Centre Artisanto, Point G and the Musee National.

DAY 9                                    OUAGADOUGOU – DOGON COUNTRY

Early morning departure for a drive to Bandiagara, the entrance door to the Dogon Valley, to explore picturesque stone and mud villages that have designated as a world heritage site.  Dogon Valley features a stunning landscape called “the Falaise”; an escarpments spanning 150 kilometers featuring beautiful the architecture of cliffside houses, granaries, altars, sanctuaries and Togu Na, or communal meeting-places. Several age-old social traditions live on in the region (masks, feasts, rituals, and ceremonies involving ancestor worship). The geological, archaeological and ethnological interest, together with the landscape, makes Dogon Valley one of West Africa's most impressive sites. Overnight at an encampment in Dogon Country.

DAY 10                               DOGON-MOPTI

After breakfast depart for the delta city of Mopti. Often described as the crossroad of Mali,  Mopti is the country’s road intersection, pulling together all the people of Mali- Bamana or Bambara, Malinke, Senoufo, Bella, Songhai, Fula, Tuareg, Moor, Bozo and Dogon. Later, tour the city  including its bustling harbor. At the harbor you will find large wooden pinasses with canvas covers and colorful flags waving in the breeze waiting to load or unload cargo and passengers. Mopti’s Grande Marche, Petit Marche and fish markets are all worth exploring. You will find a variety of items including pottery and calabashes. Later visit the Grande mosque and old town with its narrow pedestrian streets and gray banco houses. Overnight at hotel in Mopti.

DAY 11                             MOPTI - DJENNE
Breakfast at hotel.  Early morning drive to Djenne to tour this 1100 year old city that is arugued to be the most beautiful in all the Sahel. After crossing the Bani River on a barge to arrive in Djenne, visit beautiful two story mud houses featuring Sudanic architecture and the Grande Mosque, the largest and oldest in the Sahel. This architectural masterpiece is said to hold 5000 people and the building’s rounded lines of façade are dominated by three towers each eleven meters high and topped with an ostrich egg. Visit the weekly market (Mondays only) to witness a colorful spectacle as traders from throughout the region spread out their wares for sale in the same way that French Explorer Rene Caillie in his writings.  Later, return to Mopti for Overnight.

DAY 12                                 MOPTI-TIMBUKTU (Flight)

Depart early on a morning flight to discover the ancient city of Timbuktu, that originates back to 1100AD. Timbuktu, known for being the first center of learning for mankind, features an impressive history and unique architecture.  Check into hotel and depart for a tour of the city.  Visit the mosques, the explorers’ houses and the market. Continue the tour with a visit to the Ethnological Museum, which houses a collection of ancient books on religion, science, history and mathematics, and the, the site of the former University of Timbuktu. End the day’s tour with an excursion to the desert for evening camel ride led by the local Tuaregs.  Overnight at hotel in Timbuktu.

DAY 13                                TIMBUKTU – BAMAKO (Flight)

Check out and depart by air from Timbuktu for Bamako. After arrival and hotel check in, depart for a tour the capital of Mali, Bamako. Visit the National Museum to view beautifully displayed objects, including those used in forging and weaving.  Other highlights include the stylized antelope masked of Bambara, various senoufo statuary, and the world renowned antique Dogon sculptures.  Visit the Point G, where you will have a panoramic view of the city; Later visit the artisans’ center which houses an abundance of shops selling crafts and the abandoned cliff dwellings featuring old rock paintings.  Overnight at hotel in Bamako.

DAY 14                              BAMAKO – COTONOU, BENIN (Flight)

After breakfast depart by air to Cotonou. Check in at your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.  Overnight at hotel in Cotonou.

DAY 15                           COTONOU – GANVIE                               

Early morning departure for a sensational visit to Ganvie (the village on water), commonly referred to as the Venice of West Africa. Witness first hand, the people of Ganvie carrying out their daily routine on water as vendors in dugout canoes pile high with wares, transacting commerce with one another. You will enjoy shopping on a floating market and cruising the waterways of this exotic 300-year-old village. Return to Cotonou and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Cotonou.

DAY 16                        ROYAL PALACE OF ABOMEY

Depart for a drive to Quidah, the cradle of African Traditional Religion. Tour the temple dedicated to the sacred Python, which gives vitality and protection, and visits the sacred forest which houses many shrines dedicated to various gods. Visit the Port of No Return; a commemoration of the Africans that were taken from the Dahomey Empire during the Slave Trade. Later, depart for a drive north to Abomey, the historical capital of the kingdom of Dahomey. Visit the Royal Palace and its museum with relics that tell the story of this great kingdom that survived for several centuries. Overnight at your hotel in Abomey.  

DAY 17                                ABOMEY – SOKODE
Early morning departure for Sokode. Check in and spend the remainder of the day exploring this Traditional African town of fifty thousand inhabitants.  Overnight at hotel in Sokode.

Day 18                             SOKODE - KOUTAMMAKOU       
Breakfast at hotel. Depart for a drive to the Koutammakou region, home to the Batammariba whose remarkable mud Takienta tower-houses have come to be seen as a symbol of Togo. The Koutammakou region is an eloquent testimony to the strength of spiritual association between people and landscape, as manifested in the harmony between the Batammariba and their natural surroundings. Overnight at hotel in Sokode.

Day 19                                    SOKODE – LOME
 Early morning departure to Lome. Enroute, stop over at Atakpame to visit this charming colonial town situated atop of seven hills.  Afternoon arrival in Lome, check into hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Lome.

Day 20                                       LOME – ACCRA

After breakfast depart for a city tour of Lome. Visit the Grand Marche de Asigame, Marche des Feticheurs, Musee National and Place de I’ Independence. Later, depart for a scenic drive through the coastal plains to Accra. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Accra.

DAY 21             DAY AT LEISURE / DEPARTURE
The last day is spent at Leisure and last minute shopping. Early evening transfer to airport for check-in and final departure back home.