Panafest 2019 Tour

Day 1 July 28: Arrive in Accra

Akwaaba! Arrive and check into your hotel where you will receive a traditional welcome ceremony. Overnight at hotel in Accra

Day 2 July 29: Accra City Tour

Breakfast at hotel. Explore Accra, the capital of Ghana. The city boasts glittering beaches, monumental buildings, museums, libraries, galleries, traditional markets and lively nightlife. Accra’s architecture reflects its colonial history, with 17th century castles standing alongside modern skyscrapers. A veritable melting pot of cultures, the city’s central financial and shopping districts contrast sharply with the less affluent residential areas surrounding the urban core. Enjoy a local lunch, and bargain at the Arts Market. Overnight at hotel in Accra

Day 3 July 30: Castles, Slave Dungeons and Door of no Return 

Enjoy breakfast at hotel. Visit Elmina Castle, another infamous castle and slave dungeon, Elmina was built by the Portuguese in 1482 as St. George’s Castle. This castle was the first European structure built in Sub – Saharan Africa. Explore the grounds and rooms full of haunting history. Stroll down to the beach for a memorial ceremony where each pilgrim will throw bread into the waters in remembrance of ancestors. A wreath with a candle will be solemnly pushed out to sea as a respectful moment of silence is observed in remembrance of those who died in the middle passage.
After lunch, enjoy a walking tour of the colonial town of Elmina. Elmina’s rich history is captured in its buildings. They tell the stories of the people of Elmina and their interaction with those who came from outside West Africa. Visit the colorful Asafo houses, which were used as a place for warriors to prepare mentally and spiritually before going to war. They are wonderful examples of how art is used in daily lives of Africans. After dinner, depart for Cape Coast Castle to join other pilgrims for Panafest’s midnight vigil. Overnight at your hotel

Day 4 July 31: Memorial at Elmina Castle & Reverential Night 

After breakfast we depart for a canopy walkway adventure at the Kakum National Park. Return to your hotel to freshen up after lunch. Late afternoon we will explore the food that makes Ghana so special through one of our hands-on cooking class. After creating several traditional dishes, we will enjoy eating the feast we just prepared! Overnight at hotel in Elmina

Day 5 August 1: Emancipation Durbar – Travel to Kumasi

After breakfast we check out for a drive through the former slave route to Assin Manso. This was the final transit point for enslaved Africans before being shipped off to the new world. You will have the opportunity to visit the slave dungeons as well as the final resting place for two ancestors whose mortal remains were returned from the USA and Jamaica and re-interred in Ghana. Enshrine your place in history by signing the Returnees Memorial Wall at the former Slave River and slave market.

The Emancipation Day Celebration is opened with a Grand Durbar of Traditional Chiefs and people of the Central Region. Witness this grand, colorful and spectacular event that showcases the pomp and pageantry of Ghana’s traditional rulers, dressed in rich Kente and adorned in glittering gold jewelry. Discover the African rhythm in you as you dance to the beat of the ‘fromtomfrom’ drums. Late afternoon departure for Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Empire where you will spend the night.

Day 6: Kumasi City Tour & Ashanti Craft Villages

Today we explore the Ashanti kingdom. Explore the legend of the famous Ashantis at the Manhyia Palace Museum where you will obtain firsthand information on the legacies of the Ashanti kingdom, a regal history that dates back to 1700 and is told with relics and artifacts. Enjoy a drive through the city of Kumasi to view monuments dedicated to the memory of the great Ashanti people. Later in the after we visit the three famous craft villages in the Ashanti Region: Ahwiaa (the wood carvers’ village), Ntonso (the home of Adinkra) and Bonwire (the Kente weaving village). You will have the opportunity to see how West African crafts are made and buy directly from the artisans who make them. Overnight at hotel in Kumasi

Day 7: Travel to Accra

Check out after breakfast for a drive to Accra. Spending the afternoon for your last minutes shopping or relaxing by the pool while soaking up the African sun! Overnight at hotel in Accra

Day 8: Departure back home

Breakfast at hotel. Morning at leisure. Late afternoon check out for airport formalities and final departure