Elmina Castle on the coast at Elmina, Ghana

Destinations

Places worth the journey

From the castles of the Central Region to the waterfalls of the Volta hills and the savannah of the north, here is where TOUR GHANA can take you.

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Cape Coast Castle facing the Atlantic Ocean in Ghana's Central Region
Central Region

Cape Coast

Explore Ghana's historic coastline, castles and cultural heritage.

Cape Coast is where Ghana's story of trade, resistance and remembrance meets the Atlantic. Roughly three hours west of Accra, it is the natural base for the castles, the rainforest and the heritage sites of the Central Region.

Why visit

Cape Coast Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important places in Ghana to understand the transatlantic slave trade. A guided visit walks you through the dungeons, the courtyard and the Door of No Return, with the history explained in a way signboards cannot. Around it are coastal forts, busy fishing beaches and Kakum National Park, so a single base gives you heritage, culture and nature together.

The whitewashed courtyard inside Cape Coast Castle

Things to see

  • Cape Coast Castle and its museum
  • Fort William and Fort Victoria hilltop views
  • The fishing beach and its colourful canoes
  • Kakum National Park, 45 minutes inland
  • Assin Manso, on the road north

Things to do

  • Take a guided tour of the castle
  • Walk the Kakum canopy in the morning
  • Add a heritage visit to Assin Manso
  • Taste fresh fish and local street food
  • Ask us about local cultural events and festivals
Elmina Castle on the coast at Elmina, Ghana
Central Region

Elmina

A working harbour, a Portuguese-built castle and one of Ghana's oldest coastal towns.

Elmina sits just west of Cape Coast, where fishing canoes crowd a busy harbour beneath a castle that has watched over the coast for more than five centuries.

Why visit

Elmina Castle was built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is one of the oldest surviving European buildings in sub-Saharan Africa. Visiting it alongside Cape Coast Castle shows two sides of the same history, while the harbour and the town below keep the place firmly alive rather than frozen in the past.

View over Elmina town and the Benya Lagoon from Fort St Jago

Things to see

  • Elmina Castle (St George's Castle)
  • Fort St Jago on the hill above the town
  • The harbour and its painted canoes
  • The Benya Lagoon and the old town streets

Things to do

  • Join a guided castle tour
  • Walk the harbour when the boats come in
  • Climb to Fort St Jago for the view over the lagoon
  • Eat fresh fish near the water
  • Pair it with Cape Coast for a full heritage day
Canopy walkway strung between rainforest trees at Kakum National Park
Central Region

Kakum National Park

Walk among the treetops of a Ghanaian rainforest.

Kakum protects a large area of tropical rainforest in the Central Region and is best known for its canopy walkway, a series of bridges strung between giant trees, high above the forest floor.

Why visit

Few places let you see a rainforest from the inside and from above in the same morning. The canopy walk is exciting without being extreme, the forest is rich in birds and wildlife, and the park is close enough to Cape Coast to combine with the castle in one day.

Things to see

  • The canopy walkway
  • Rainforest trails with a park guide
  • Bird life and forest butterflies
  • Nearby villages and local craft

Things to do

  • Walk the canopy bridges
  • Take a guided nature walk
  • Go early, when the forest is coolest and most active
  • Wear comfortable shoes and bring water
  • Combine with Cape Coast Castle
Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River site
Central Region

Assin Manso

A place of remembrance on the road to the coast.

Assin Manso is best known for the Ancestral Slave River site, or Donkor Nsuo. Historical accounts describe captives being held here and bathed in the river on the march to the coast.

Why visit

Today it is a quiet memorial place, visited by Ghanaian families, students and by people from across the African diaspora who are returning to walk the route. It is not a light day out. It is a place for reflection, best visited with a guide who can explain what you are seeing and give it the respect it deserves.

Things to see

  • Donkor Nsuo, the Ancestral Slave River
  • Memorial and reflection spaces
  • The slave market heritage area
  • The rivers associated with the site, including the Kyenkyen River

Things to do

  • Walk the site with a local guide
  • Take time for quiet reflection
  • Dress modestly and visit with respect
  • Follow with Cape Coast and Elmina for a full heritage day

This is a place of remembrance. Please dress modestly and visit with respect.

Independence Square in Accra with the Black Star Gate
Greater Accra

Accra

Independence history, markets and coastline in Ghana's capital.

Accra is where most visitors begin, and it rewards more than an airport transfer. Independence landmarks, old fishing quarters, lively markets and the sea are all within a short drive.

Why visit

A guided day in Accra ties the country's independence story to the streets around it. You can stand where Ghana declared independence, see the resting place of its first president and then step into the noise, colour and food of the markets.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Accra

Things to see

  • Independence Square and the Black Star Gate
  • Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum
  • Jamestown and its lighthouse
  • Makola Market and the Arts Centre craft stalls
  • The National Museum

Things to do

  • Take a guided city heritage tour
  • Shop for crafts and fabrics
  • Try local dishes such as waakye, banku and grilled fish
  • End the day on the seafront
Trees and paths in the Aburi Botanical Gardens
Eastern Region

Aburi & Akuapem Hills

Cool hills, botanical gardens and craft villages close to Accra.

The Akuapem hills rise north-east of Accra, and the air is noticeably cooler as you climb. It is the easiest escape from the city heat and traffic.

Why visit

The Aburi Botanical Gardens, established in 1890, are a shaded place to walk, picnic and unwind, and the craft stalls nearby sell carvings, baskets and beadwork. It is a gentle day out for all ages.

Things to see

  • Aburi Botanical Gardens
  • Wood-carving and craft stalls
  • Viewpoints across the hills
  • Small villages along the ridge

Things to do

  • Stroll the gardens and picnic under the trees
  • Shop for carvings and crafts
  • Enjoy the scenic drive up the ridge
  • Stop for a local lunch on the way back
Labadi Beach in Accra
Greater Accra

Labadi Beach

Accra's liveliest stretch of sand.

Labadi is the city's best-known public beach: music, food sellers, horses on the sand and a crowd that grows through the weekend.

Why visit

If you want a beach with energy rather than silence, this is it. It is also the easiest to fit into a city break, since it is only a short drive from central Accra. Take local advice on swimming, as the Atlantic currents here can be strong.

Things to see

  • The beachfront and its food stalls
  • Local craft sellers
  • Live drumming and music on busy days

Things to do

  • Relax and people-watch
  • Ride a horse along the shore
  • Try beach snacks and grilled fish
  • Take local advice before swimming
The lagoon crossing to Bojo Beach
Greater Accra

Bojo Beach

A quieter beach, reached by a short boat ride across a lagoon.

Bojo Beach sits on a narrow spit of sand between the ocean and a lagoon, and you cross the water by boat to reach it. That short crossing is enough to leave the city's noise behind.

Why visit

It is calmer and more relaxed than the city beaches, with space to settle in for the day. For a wider coastal trip, ask us about combining it with Kokrobite, known for its music and fishing boats, or heading further west to Busua.

Visitors relaxing at Bojo Beach

Things to see

  • The lagoon crossing
  • Palm-lined sand and calmer surf
  • Nearby: Kokrobite and its fishing pirogues

Things to do

  • Cross the lagoon by boat
  • Spend the day lounging and swimming with care
  • Enjoy drinks and lunch by the water
  • Extend the trip to Kokrobite
Aerial view of the lower Wli waterfall
Volta Region

Wli Waterfalls

West Africa's tallest waterfall, deep in the Volta hills.

Near Hohoe in the Volta Region, Wli is usually described as the highest waterfall in West Africa. A forest trail leads to the lower falls, where you can cool off in the pool at its base.

Why visit

It rewards the effort of getting there. The walk is shaded and scenic, the falls are impressive, and the area around it, including Mount Afadjato, the highest mountain in Ghana, and the Tafi Atome monkey sanctuary, makes a full weekend.

Wli Waterfalls in Ghana's Volta Region

Things to see

  • The lower Wli Falls
  • Forest trails and the bat colony
  • Mount Afadjato nearby
  • Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

Things to do

  • Hike the forest trail to the lower falls
  • Swim in the pool at the base
  • Try the longer hike to the upper falls if you are fit
  • Overnight in the Hohoe area
An African elephant at Mole National Park
Savannah Region

Mole National Park

Ghana's premier safari, on the savannah of the north.

Mole is Ghana's largest wildlife park. On foot with an armed ranger, you can get remarkably close to elephants, antelope, warthogs and baboons.

Why visit

It is the best wildlife experience in the country and feels a world away from the coast. Just outside the park, the mud-and-timber mosque at Larabanga, one of the oldest in West Africa, adds a cultural stop to the safari. The dry season, from about November to March, is usually best for wildlife around the waterholes.

Larabanga Mosque in northern Ghana

Things to see

  • Elephants and antelope
  • Walking and vehicle safaris
  • The waterhole viewpoint
  • Larabanga Mosque

Things to do

  • Join a guided walking safari
  • Watch the waterhole at dawn and dusk
  • Visit Larabanga village and its mosque
  • Plan around the dry season for wildlife

More to discover

Beyond the main route

Ask us to build these into a custom itinerary.

Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi

Kumasi & Ashanti

Manhyia Palace, kente villages and the culture of the Ashanti kingdom.

Boti Falls in Ghana's Eastern Region

Boti Falls

A twin waterfall and the famous Umbrella Rock in the Eastern Region.

Larabanga Mosque in northern Ghana

Larabanga

A centuries-old mud mosque on the road to Mole National Park.

Kokrobite Beach on the coast west of Accra

Kokrobite

Reggae, drumming and fishing boats on a relaxed stretch of coast.

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Guided Ghana experiences

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Tour guide fee: $100, the same for Ghanaian and foreign visitors.

The guide fee covers guided assistance for the tour experience. Transportation, entrance fees, accommodation, meals and other expenses may be charged separately where applicable.