A wooden fishing canoe drawn up on the beach in front of the white walls of Elmina Castle, with palm trees against a grey sky

Route · 12–14 days

The heritage path

Accra → Cape Coast & Elmina → Kumasi & Ashanti → Tamale & the Northern Region → Upper East & Upper West

The heritage path12–14 days

The shape of the journey

A historian-led journey along the route of the trade, from the coast inland: Assin Manso, Cape Coast and Elmina, Kumasi, Salaga, Pikworo and Gwollu, with rest days between.

This is an emotionally heavy itinerary. We build in rest days and can add a few nights at Ada or on the western coast at the end. (to verify) (to verify) (to verify) (to verify) (to verify) (to verify)

Start from this route

A narrow open doorway in a dark wall at Cape Coast Castle, framing the courtyard, a white tower and the sea

House by house

Nights are suggestions. We adjust them to your pace, the season and the festival calendar.

Stop 01
Accra 2 nights
Arrive and rest. An introduction to the history with a Ghanaian historian who will travel with you.
Stop 02
Cape Coast & Elmina 3 nights
Assin Manso's ancestral river on the way. Cape Coast and Elmina castles on separate days, each followed by a free afternoon.
Stop 03
Kumasi & Ashanti 2 nights
The Asante court and the palace museum: the kingdom's side of the story, told by its own historians.
Stop 04
Tamale & the Northern Region 2 nights
Salaga's old market with a local guide. A rest day in Tamale.
Stop 05
Upper East & Upper West 3 nights
Pikworo near Paga, and the defence walls of Gwollu in the Upper West. Then a flight back to Accra.
Stop 06
Accra 1 night
A last evening, and time to talk it through before the flight home.