- Tour code
GHAADV01
- Start
Accra
- End
Accra
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
Ghana's western coast is a run of fishing towns, palm-lined beaches, lagoons and rainforest, with some of the most important historic sites in West Africa along the way. This week follows it from Accra to the far west and back.
At Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO-listed site of the transatlantic slave trade, you'll take time to understand what happened there. Then the mood shifts to making things with your hands, at a batik workshop run by local artisans. Kakum National Park and its rainforest canopy walkway are also on the plan.
Further west, a canoe carries you across the Amansuri wetlands to Nzulezu, a village built on stilts, and two nights in the Ankasa rainforest bring bamboo groves, forest trails and an afternoon with farming families. You finish on a lagoon beach at Brenu Akyinim and back in Accra, where Kwame Nkrumah's mausoleum and a last dinner together close the week.
Your Soca Islands Host is with the group throughout, so the road travel, timings and visits are taken care of.
Why This Journey
For many travelers, especially those with Caribbean and African diaspora roots, standing inside Cape Coast and Elmina castles is the reason to come to Ghana. This trip gives those visits the time and care they deserve, then balances them with the living culture of the coast: artisans, fishermen still building boats by hand, farming families and a village on the water.
It's a good fit if you want history and meaning alongside beaches and nature, in a small group that travels at an unhurried pace. You'll come home with a picture of Ghana that goes well beyond the capital.
Where You'll Stay
Accra (2 nights, first and last): Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra, in the Ridge area of central Accra. Elmina (2 nights): Elmina Bay Resort, on the beach close to Elmina Castle. Ankasa (2 nights): Ankasa Lodge, beside the Ankasa River at the gateway to the reserve. Brenu Akyinim (1 night): Brenu Beach Lodge, on the beach with the lagoon behind. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Accra Kotoka International Airport (ACC). Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Face Ghana's history at Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Step onto the Kakum canopy walkway, high above the rainforest floor
Learn batik dyeing from local artisans at a hands-on workshop
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary, including dinner on Day 1
- Optional activities, such as the Ankasa night walk and sunrise lagoon kayak
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
An airport transfer brings you to your hotel in Accra, and the rest of the day is about recovering from the flight and finding your feet in the city.
For dinner, eat at the hotel or ask your Soca Islands Host where to go nearby. The group program starts tomorrow morning.
After breakfast and a trip briefing, the road heads west along the coast to Cape Coast. Lunch is at a local spot, then you'll tour Cape Coast Castle, listed by UNESCO, where enslaved Africans were held in the dungeons before being forced through the Door of No Return. It's a visit that stays with people.
Later, a batik session run by local artisans, part of a community empowerment project, puts wax and dye in your hands. You'll finish in Elmina, checking in beside the beach with time to yourself.
Today centers on Kakum National Park, a protected rainforest known for the canopy walkway strung between its treetops, together with cultural experiences in the area. Final timings for the day are confirmed closer to departure.
Drive west to the historic coastal village of Beyin, where you'll swap the vehicle for a canoe. The paddle through the Amansuri wetlands, past raffia palms and reeds, ends at Nzulezu, a whole village raised on stilts above the water, with an origin story its residents love to tell.
From there you continue to Ankasa Lodge, at the gateway to the Ankasa reserve, one of Ghana's most intact rainforest areas. Settle in; if you're up for it, an optional guided night walk shows you the forest after dark.
Morning is for the forest. By bike or 4x4, you'll head to the Bamboo Cathedral, where giant bamboo stems arch overhead, learning about the reserve's wildlife and plants on the way.
After lunch, spend time in Ankasa Village with local farmers, trying traditional foods and joining in cultural activities. Back at the lodge, dinner is followed by optional evening exploring.
The coast calls again. You'll travel to Brenu Akyinim, a calm stretch of beach with a lagoon behind it. Spend the rest of the day swimming, walking to nearby villages or doing nothing at all.
Dinner is together, with the water in view.
If you're awake early, an optional sunrise kayak on the lagoon is a peaceful way to start. On the road east you'll stop at Elmina Castle, the oldest European-built structure in sub-Saharan Africa, and walk through the fishing community, where boats are still built by hand the traditional way.
In Accra, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum tells the story of Ghana's independence and its first president. After some free time, the group heads out for a final dinner at a well-loved local restaurant, and the city's nightlife is there if you want it.
Your trip ends in Accra. An airport transfer takes you to Kotoka International Airport (ACC) for your flight home.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra
A large city hotel set in landscaped gardens in the Ridge area of central Accra, convenient for the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Independence Square and the restaurants of Osu.
Rooms overlook the pool or the gardens, and the hotel has the size, breakfast service and coach access to start and end a group trip smoothly.
Rooms are 35 m² (377 ft²), with twin beds.
Hotel websiteElmina Bay Resort
A beachfront resort on Mbofra Akyinim Street in Elmina, a short drive from Elmina Castle, the fishing harbour and Cape Coast.
It has 32 air-conditioned rooms, each with a private balcony over the Atlantic, and an on-site pool for downtime after the castle visits.
Hotel websiteAnkasa Lodge
A lodge beside the Ankasa River at the gateway to the Ankasa Conservation Area, one of Ghana's largest and richest stretches of Upper Guinea rainforest, and a base for both Ankasa and Nini-Suhien National Park.
Riverfront chalets have air conditioning, private bathrooms and balconies over the forest and river. The open-air Bongo Bar and Restaurant serves local and international dishes, often with fresh fish and seafood, and there is a swimming pool.
Brenu Beach Lodge
A beach lodge at Brenu Akyinim on Ghana's Central Region coast, on a quiet stretch of sand backed by a lagoon, west of Elmina.
It suits the slower pace of this part of the trip, with time for swimming, walks to nearby villages and an early kayak on the lagoon.
Rooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$658 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 21, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Accra airport (ACC).
Proposed accommodation is Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra in Accra, Elmina Bay Resort in Elmina, Ankasa Lodge at the Ankasa reserve and Brenu Beach Lodge at Brenu Akyinim (or similar), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers at Accra Kotoka International Airport (ACC) are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners are included, as described in the itinerary. Dinner on Day 1 and other meals not listed are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Ghana: Beaches & Breathtaking Coastlines trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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