Overview: (Departs 27 December and ends 3 January every year).

Cross over into the new year in Ghana with our 8 Day December Package. Visit popular sites in Accra and Aburi, make a meaningful journey to Cape Coast to learn about the history of slavery and connect with nature, and enjoy hands on experiences like chocolate making, pottery and painting. December nightlife in Ghana is one for the books, with the AfroFuture Festival and a New Year's Eve party in Accra. Along the way, you will also take part in community engagements as part of our Social Impact Initiative.

Itinerary

Day 1, 27 December: Arrival

Upon arrival at Accra International Airport, a ZayVoyage by SARI representative will meet you and take you to your hotel. Your guide will help you check in, take you through your itinerary, and answer any questions about your stay in Ghana. Overnight in Accra.

Day 2, 28 December: Aburi Botanical Gardens, Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm and AfroFuture Festival,

Night 1 After breakfast, drive from Accra to Aburi in the Eastern Region. Your first stop is the Aburi Botanical Gardens, where your guide walks you through the plant species, their origins and their uses, and the history of the gardens. Some of the trees were planted by African heads of state and global leaders.

Next, visit the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm in Akuapem Mampong, the first cocoa farm in Ghana. Learn the history of cocoa, how it reached Ghana, and the process from sowing and harvesting to fermentation and drying. Taste fresh cocoa and buy finished products such as chocolate and locally made black soap.

In the evening, enjoy Accra nightlife at the AfroFuture Festival, one of the biggest nights for African music and culture, celebrating music genres from across Africa. If you would like something different, you can choose another activity for the night. Overnight in Accra.

Day 3, 29 December: Chocolate Making and AfroFuture Festival, Night 2
This morning, take part in a chocolate making experience in Accra. Ghana is one of the world's leading cocoa producers, and you will make chocolate bars in different shapes and sizes to take home.

In the evening, join the second night of the AfroFuture Festival for more of Africa's finest music and artistry. Overnight in Accra.

Day 4, 30 December: Social Impact Activity and Beach Relaxation
Spend part of the day on a Social Impact Activity in Accra or a nearby community, with talks, donations or community development initiatives, as part of our commitment to sustainable tourism impact. You can choose the initiative, or we can arrange one for you.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, with traditional drumming and a cultural dance lesson. Overnight in Accra.

Day 5, 31 December: Accra City Tour and New Year's Eve Party
After breakfast, a late morning pickup starts your Accra city tour.

Your first stop is the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre, the home of the Father of Pan Africanism. Dr. Du Bois was invited by Ghana's first president to edit the Encyclopedia Africana. The site holds his personal belongings, gifts he received, books he wrote and books he brought to Ghana, as well as the mausoleum of Dr. Du Bois and his wife.

Next is the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, declared the country's independence. The museum houses his personal belongings, gifts and books, and the park holds the mausoleum where he and his wife are buried.

Stop at the Arts and Crafts Market for Ghanaian made and inspired souvenirs, including African dresses and shirts, wood carvings, paintings, accessories, Ashanti kente and Northern smock fabrics. The sellers are persuasive, so be ready to bargain.

Your final visit is Independence Square, also known as Black Star Square, built in 1961 for national gatherings and able to host about 30,000 people. It includes the Independence Arch, the Monument of Liberation and the Independence Gate, and it is bordered by the ocean, Accra Sports Stadium and Osu Christiansborg Castle.

In the evening, ring in the new year at a New Year's Eve party in Accra. Overnight in Accra.

Day 6, 1 January: Sip and Painting
Start the new year with a creative session in Accra. Try pottery making, and paint ready made ceramic pieces that you can take home. Overnight in Accra.

Day 7, 2 January: Kakum National Park and Cape Coast Castle
Drive from Accra to Cape Coast. Your first stop is Kakum National Park, the second largest national park in Ghana. After a hike of about 20 minutes, walk the canopy walkway, built in 1995 by two Canadians and six Ghanaians. The suspension bridge is 350 meters long and 11 to 40 meters above the ground. See the forest from above, among birdsong and butterflies.

Next, visit Cape Coast Castle, the youngest of Ghana's three slave castles, yet the most significant in our history. It was built at the peak of slavery to hold enslaved people taken through the door of no return to the "new world." It is also an important site for Emancipation Day, when the remains of two descendants of those taken through the door of no return were brought back symbolically through that same door, welcoming all people of the diaspora back to Ghana and the continent on behalf of ancestors who never had the chance.

Drive back to Accra. Overnight in Accra.

Day 8, 3 January: Departure
Depending on your flight time, you may have time for last minute shopping and packing. Your guide will collect you from the hotel and take you to Kotoka International Airport for your departure.

What is included
7 nights in a 4 star hotel in Accra, double or single occupancy
Daily breakfast
Airport and ground transfers
Guided experiences listed in the itinerary
Visa support invitation letter
Support services throughout your stay

What is not included
AfroFuture Tickets
International flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Activities not listed in the itinerary
Personal expenses (laundry, room service, minibar, shopping)
Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers
Early check in or late check out, unless arranged in advance
Additional nights due to flight changes or personal schedule changes

Important notes
AfroFuture Festival: Festival dates, venue and lineup are set by the organizers and can change from year to year. We plan your festival nights for 28 and 29 December. If the dates change, we will rearrange your itinerary so you do not miss the festival. Festival tickets are bought separately and are not part of the tour price. If you prefer a different night out, you can choose another activity.

Tour dates: This tour departs on 27 December and ends on 3 January every year.