Glorious Ghana Textile Tour proposed itinerary for 2024
| Tour: | Glorious Ghana |
| Dates: | 25 August to 8 September, 2024 |
| Solo Traveller | Au$7890 [approx US$5220] |
| Twin Share | Au$7150 – when booking two places at the same time, twin or double room share [approx US$4760] |
| Early Bird Rebate | Deadline 25 February, 2024. Book in by this date and receive AU$200 rebate and our appreciation |
| Deposit: | Au$2850 due today secures your place |
| Date full payment due: | 25 April, 2024 |
| NOTE | Yellow Fever vaccination mandatory, you must carry proof with you. |
| Airport for arrival | Kotaka International Airport, Accra, Ghana |
| Airport for Departure | Kotaka International Airport, Accra, Ghana |
| All prices in Australian Dollars. You can check online for equivalent in your currency. A site like www.xe.com can quote on current exchange rates. www.wise.com or www.xe.com also reliably handle funds transfer with low fees. |
Booking Link– bookings OPEN
When you need to update details use this link please.
| Group size 8 to 14 people. | ||
| Day/date | Activity | meals |
| Day 1 Sun 25.8.24 | Stay Accra | |
| Arrivals to Kotaka International Airport in Accra. You’ll be met day or night and transferred to our hotel. | ||
| Day 2 Mon 26.8.24 | Accra | B,L,D |
| Bring your apron, we are straight into a batik workshop with Esther. Batik; rich, multi-layered batik is a highly desired dress material in Ghana and our teacher’s business produces some of the best around. By the end of the day you’ll have printed and dyed 2 metres to take home with you and had a wonderful home cooked lunch. | ||
| Artisan’s Alliance | ||
| Coffin viewing in the afternoon– these are not just any coffins but works of art! | ||
| Welcome dinner | ||
| Day 3 Tuesday 27.8.24 | Atimpoku | B,L,D |
| We are visiting village of Atsiekpoe, a beautiful spot on the Volta River, The small village of Atsiekpoe consists largely of termite clay houses with thatched roofs. On the lively riverbank where it is situated, local fishermen prepare their boats and nets, children play and swim, and women do their laundry. | ||
| Cultural immersion- cook class and lunch- delicious Red Red Beans and accompaniments, stroll through the village, checkout the clinic that is improving women’s health and have some fun learning how to tie hair wraps and body wrappers. | ||
| We stay on the banks of the Volta at Atimpoku | ||
| Day 4 Wed 28.8.24 | Korfuidua | B,L,D |
| Korfuidua is hand made bead central for Ghana and most of West Africa | ||
| Set amongst sub-tropical woodlands dotted with orchards we will spend some time exploring the local area. A visit to a working studio at Oklah’s place to see how it is all done. | ||
| Many of the beads you will see are made from recycled glass- the colour most prized and hardest to find is the blue of Bombay Sapphire Gin. Empty bottles are the kindest gift you could imagine- you’ll have to empty the bottles though. | ||
| Afternoon we are visiting a women’s self help group for a jewellery making workshop using some of the locally made upcycled glass beads. | ||
| Day 5 Thurs 29.8.24 | Stay Accra | B,L |
| This morning we are heading to the Koforidua bead market. Held weekly it is a treasure trove for the bead addicted and the centre of the bead trade in West Africa and increasingly international clients as well. | ||
| The afternoon will find us back in Accra | ||
| Afternoon free- there is a lot to explore in our area of Osu, Accra | ||
| Day 6 Fri 30.8.24 | Fly Tamale Stay Tamale | B,L,D |
| After an early start and short flight we are heading to the north Sahal region, this area is dry grasslands and very different to the southern coastal region. This area is renowned for its arts, crafts and traditional architecture. | ||
| We’ll head off to the leather markers village and visit leather tailors. | ||
| Learn about Shea Butter production- the Sahal area is where they grow. We’ll have a hands-on workshop- crack those nuts. | ||
| Day 7 Sat 31.8.24 | Stay Tamale | B,L,D |
| Today is a real adventure: we’ll visit the isolated village of Daboya, west of Tamale, after we cross the White Volta River by dug-out canoe. We’ll need dash to gift the chief and then wander the village to view strip weaving and indigo dyeing. “Daboya strips” are used throughout northern Ghana to make the distinctive smock worn by the men of the region. Definitely off the tourist trail, Daboya feels like we are stepping into the past as we cross savannah where the shea trees grow. NEW- I have lovely hand made cotton scarves from my weaver in India- I’ll bring you each one and we can ask the guys to dip it into their indigo vat for us 😁 Look at the scarves in use in India and Vietnam. | ||
| Day 8 Sun 1.9.24 | Stay Tamale | B,L,D |
| Beautiful grass baskets are woven around here and the indigo thread we saw in Daboya is transformed into smocks. We will visit the smock market deep inside the local market. | ||
| Lunch will be a cooking class based on local specialties with Chef Deeja | ||
| In the afternoon we will visit a contemporary art studio of the internationally known Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama. His Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art – opened 2019 – has recently extended its platform with the Red Clay Studio. Very exciting undertaking | ||
| Day 9 Mon 2.9.24 | Stay Kumasi | B,D |
| Starting south today we go to Kumasi, a big drive watching the scenery change from the semi-arid north to the more fertile Kumasi region and a lovely waterfall. | ||
| Check out Kintampo Falls along the way | ||
| The sprawling Ketejia Market this afternoon …delve into the enormous Central Market at the heart of Kumasi [it boasts to be biggest in West Africa!]….it seems literally anything is possible in this market even things you never dreamed could be there…textiles, food, second hand goods, the odd fetish item or 100– parrot wings, dried bats, vulture heads all those things to stock the cupboard back home! Great place to buy African Wax Print fabrics. | ||
| Day 10 Tuesday 3.9.24 | Kumasi | B,L |
| Kumasi, home to the legendary Ashanti kingdom and heart of traditional crafts and culture of Ghana. This is a base for a few days to explore the region. | ||
| An early visit to a weaving village to see Ashanti Kente weaving– this village is special also for the responsible approach to tourism– a well-informed info centre and a village that believes tourists should be able to wander around in peace and appreciate their village. I am making a stitched Travel Journal using Kente strips, I’ll show you, you might like to give the idea a go. Have a look at my journal post for the idea. | ||
| In the afternoon- Adinkra Printing workshop [ Adinkra means talking and each symbol associated with this style has a clear meaning, so your choice of symbols imparts a lot of information]. Gabriel and his family still source bark from up towards the Sahara to make the traditional inks. | ||
| Free evening | ||
| Day 11 Wed 4.9.24 | Kumasi | B, L |
| Today is all about Ashanti culture and history, crafts and stories as well. | ||
| Brass Bead makers | ||
| Free evening | ||
| Day 12 Thurs 5.9.24 | Cape Coast | B,L,D |
| Head off to Cape Coast today. | ||
| Along the way we will visit a women’s co-operative that makes Gari Foto [made from dried and grated yam it is an ‘instant’ meal that tastes delicious and is said to fuel university students because it is also cheap to buy] They also press and process red palm oil- got to admire how hard they work. | ||
| This area is famous for its Fante Asafo Flags- appliqued flags of various warrior groups, last visit we were lucky enough to be invited to a flag viewing and hope we can repeat it, it depends on the honourable, elderly gentleman responsible for his troupes’ flags- we will try. | ||
| Day 13 Fri 6.9.24 | Cape Coast | B,L,D |
| Today is about African time…taking it easy at a beach side resort, we will check out the history of the area, this coast was once the centre of the nefarious slave trade. Cape Coast and its castle has been possessed by many European nations in its history and is a now a world Heritage site- lots to explore. | ||
| Visit Global Mamas an inspiring Fair Trade women’s business. | ||
| Day 14 Sat 7.9.24 | Accra | B,L,D |
| Picturesque Elmina Fishing Port today just down the coast | ||
| and then up to Accra for last minute shopping | ||
| Farewell dinner | ||
| Day 15 Sun 8.9.24 | Departures from Kotaka International Airport in Accra. | B |
Included
- Airport pick up and drop
- All accommodation mentioned in itinerary on twin share basis [ or opt for solo travel]
- All transport mentioned- we travel by airconditioned mini-bus, dugout canoe, domestic flight
- all meals mentioned, beverages are separate
- Fully escorted by Fiona with assistance of a translator
- All sightseeing and workshops mentioned in itinerary
Excluded
- SHOPPING!!
- Flights
- Visa
- Yellow fever vaccination
- Travel insurance
- Laundry
- Meals not mentioned
- Water/ drinks
- Gratuities/ tips
Creative Arts Safaris Tours are fully escorted, small group tours that focus textiles, arts and culture and yummy local cuisine.
On tour we like to get our hands dirty taking workshops, exploring locations and culture, in addition to including lots of local experiences.
Our friendly groups are inclusive. They are companionable and well organized allowing a relaxed adventure, great for solo travellers.
They include pickup & drop to airport, accommodation, group travel, sightseeing, workshops, and most meals; almost everything EXCEPT the shopping – that is your job.