Trip summary statistics
11days
Door of No Return Ancestral Journey
Ancestry, Accra, Kumasi, Elmina
Trace your family's footsteps on a fully customized tour with AncestryProGenealogists®.
Design your journey with curated stops guided by pre-trip expert genealogist research.
Spend a day with a genealogist, visiting places and sites your ancestors once called home.
Engage in a meaningful naming ceremony and connect with locals over a shared meal.
Enjoy select hotels, private drivers, and custom tours curated by your Destination Expert.
* Please note: USD per person, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.
A travel experience like no other
This sample itinerary was created by experts and is meant to inspire your next trip. It is ready to be customized to suit your interests, tastes and budget so you can connect with local cultures and experience authentic travel on your own terms and departing whenever you choose.
Ancestry to AccraYou’ve Arrived
- Surprise & Delight
- Bronze Heritage Research Package | 30 hrs
- Private Airport Transfer
- Afternoon at Leisure
AccraA Walk Through the Past
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Ghana's Colonial Past Tour with Coastal Accra & Old Communities (5 hrs) - Private
- Accra Restaurant Recommendations
AccraExplore with an Expert
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Tracing Your Ancestral Roots - Private
Accra to KumasiA Healthy Dose of History
- Accra to Kumasi via Besease (6 hrs) - Private
- Evening at Leisure
KumasiIt’s All Ancient History
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Manhyia Palace Museum & Kejetia Market
- Evening at Leisure
Kumasi to ElminaEn Route
- Kumasi to Elmina with Message to your Ancestors at Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River - Private
- Cape Coast Castle Tour (3 hrs) - Private
Ancestry to ElminaCultural Immersion
- Full Day Ancestral Home Visit with Professional Genealogist Guide
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Private Ancestral Homestead Visit & Living Traditions
ElminaA Journey Back in Time
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Elmina Castle and City Tour (3 hrs) - Private
ElminaSights and Insights
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Takoradi & Bisa Aberwa Museum - Private Tour
Elmina to AccraOnward and Upward
- Elmina to Accra (3 hrs) - Private
- Flavors of Ghana: Bespoke Culinary Experience
AccraHead Home
- Private Vehicle & Guide
- Private Airport Transfer
ANCESTRY TO ACCRA
You’ve Arrived
Your AncestryProGenealogists® research service includes 30 hours of dedicated pre-trip research and planning into your family's origins. An expert genealogist has prepared a written report and images of the records found that inform your personal journey ahead.
A private transfer between the airport and your hotel is provided.
In the afternoon, enjoy some time on your own to relax.
Where you’ll be staying
Superior Room
ACCRA
A Walk Through the Past
Discover the rich heritage of Old Accra and see the city’s remnants of the European rule on a privately guided tour. You will visit the vibrant community of Jamestown dotted with crumbling relics of Accra’s colonial past. Journey back in time as you explore James Fort constructed by the Royal African Company in 1662. Dive deeper into the dark chapters of West African history as you head to the Dutch-built Ussher Fort dating back to 1642 and learn about the role that this European stronghold played in the slave trade from your expert guide. Next, visit the Mausoleum of Ghana’s former president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah before heading to Osu Castle – a whitewashed fortification formerly known as Fort Christiansborg, that once housed the government of the Gold Coast under the Scandinavian rule. Continue your immersive journey as you visit with Accra’s renowned casket makers. See how traditional carpentry blends with local art to represent the Ghanaian beliefs in afterlife. You will also have time to shop at the arts and crafts market before returning to your hotel.
Accra’s dining scene blends vibrant local flavours with polished international cuisine, offering everything from refined Ghanaian dishes to stylish contemporary restaurants popular with both locals and visitors. Whether you are in the mood for elevated local cuisine, contemporary Asian fusion, classic French dining, or a relaxed yet sophisticated evening out, the city delivers a diverse and dynamic culinary experience.
Among the most highly recommended by our Destination Experts are Buka Restaurant and Azmera Restaurant for authentic Ghanaian cuisine, La Chaumiere for classic French fine dining, Santoku, Kozo, and Shogun for contemporary Asian and Japanese-inspired cuisine, and Tunnel Lounge, Le Petit Oiseau, Bistro 22, Treehouse Restaurant, THE MIX Restaurant Accra, and LAMU for stylish upscale dining and vibrant social atmospheres. Each venue offers its own distinct ambience, ranging from elegant fine dining to modern experiential restaurants blending cuisine, cocktails, music, art, and design.
For guests seeking a more immersive culinary experience, Dine on a Mat also offers an opportunity to discover contemporary Ghanaian gastronomy through curated tasting experiences inspired by local ingredients and traditions.
To arrange reservations at any of these restaurants, please speak with your Destination Expert.
Please note: Reservations are subject to availability.
Where you’ll be staying
Superior Room
ACCRA
Explore with an Expert
To help you better understand the history of your ancestors, today we have arranged a private meeting with an expert from the University of Ghana. Based on your personal lineage, they have prepared an informative session that will introduce you to the stories of your specific ethnic group. A vivid picture of your ancestral roots comes to life as you find out about their geographic origins, migration and more. Hear about their customs and traditions, and gain insight into their way of life. Today’s experience provides you with a unique opportunity to examine your heritage through an academic lens.
Where you’ll be staying
Superior Room
ACCRA TO KUMASI
A Healthy Dose of History
This morning depart Accra with your private driver-guide for a transfer to Kumasi, visiting a traditional shrine of the Ashantis in Besease en route. Here you will get a chance to explore the beliefs and history of this ethnic group. Feel captivated by the Ashanti historic oral account as it is told by a knowledgeable traditional linguist. From here, you will continue on your journey to Kumasi. The transfer takes approximately 6 hours, but it may take longer depending on the time spent at Besease and any other stops made along the way.
Enjoy a free evening to follow your interests, whether you step out to explore or unwind at your hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
Deluxe Room
KUMASI
It’s All Ancient History
Kumasi is located in the heart of the historical Ashanti Region of Ghana. It is here where the day will be spent exploring the various important monuments, locations and points of interest allowing you to familiarize yourself with the culture of this ethnic group. Begin with a visit to the historic Manhyia Palace Museum housed in the former residence of Ashanti royalty, where you will obtain in-depth information on the legacies of the regal Ashanti Kingdom. The Palace played an important part in Ghana’s history and dates back to 1700. Inside the Museum view some of the ancient relics and artifacts passed down through generations of local families. The Museum also holds a rich collection of Ashanti traditional dresses, jewelry, furniture and musical instruments. Next, visit one of the largest markets in West Africa, the Kejetia Market. It is a great place to connect with the locals and see their daily lives firsthand. Merchants often come to Kumasi from surrounding countries to trade and sell their goods at Kejetia. Your expert guide will lead you through this vibrant marketplace filled with everything from vegetables to sandals, beads, leather goods, pottery and clothing. Upon conclusion of your experience you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Enjoy a free evening to follow your interests, whether you step out to explore or unwind at your hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
Deluxe Room
KUMASI TO ELMINA
En Route
Today transfer from Kumasi to Elmina with your private guide. A moving stop by Assin Manso allows you to trace back the steps of your ancestors as they made their harrowing journey to the Americas. Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park was one of the largest slave markets during the infamous trans-Atlantic slave trade. It was the final link in the slavery route from northern to southern Ghana. The Ndonkor Nsuo (the Slave River), is where the captives were oiled, fed and bathed in waters of their native land one last time. Here, they were meant to rest for several days or weeks as the traders knew that they could fetch higher prices when they appeared healthy and strong.
An impactful experience awaits as you embark on a private guided tour of the notorious Cape Coast Castle. Learn and watch the history unfold in front of your eyes as you gain a better understanding of the slave trade in West Africa. The largest of its kind, this Castle was built by the Swedes in 1653 and was later taken over by the British. Walk the path of the enslaved as your guide takes you through each of its sections. The Castle also houses the West African Historical Museum established by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Ghanaian Government in 1994. It is filled with artifacts, stories and photos that allow you to visualize the agonizing journey of the innocent men and women who were forced to leave their land behind.
Where you’ll be staying
Standard Chalet
ANCESTRY TO ELMINA
Cultural Immersion
Discover your family's past with an on-site Ancestry Genealogist guide who knows the region's records, local historians, and communities. Guided by your Research Report, you’ll explore the places your family once called home. On this day you may walk the land they farmed, visit the church they attended, or meet distant relatives still living nearby. What you find goes deeper than any document ever could.
Guided by the findings of your Research Report, this deeply personal day takes you to a settlement of your ethnic group, where you visit a Ghanaian homestead and spend time with a family that shares your ancestry. Your guide offers context on local customs and language, grounding what you see and hear in your family's own story. The centerpiece of the day is a traditional Naming Ceremony, a rite of belonging that weaves together spirituality and music. Your hosts then share a traditional dish significant to your ethnic group, cooked and eaten together before a transfer returns you to your hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
Standard Chalet
ELMINA
A Journey Back in Time
Explore Elmina and the infamous Elmina Castle with your private guide. Constructed by the Portuguese in 1482, it is also known as St. George's Castle. This fortification was the first European structure built in Sub–Saharan Africa, and it is the oldest of the West African slave trade route castles in Ghana. It stands as a stark reminder of one of humanity’s most horrific periods in history. A solemn experience awaits as you venture into its grim hallways and dungeons with your guide. Outside of the castle note the colorful harbor bursting with pirogues preparing to venture off to sea below, which stands in contrast to the structure’s daunting spirit. After visiting the Castle embark on a walking tour of Elmina to experience for yourself this bustling fishing town.
Where you’ll be staying
Standard Chalet
ELMINA
Sights and Insights
Delve into the stories of those whose sacrifices have shaped the history of the African people worldwide on a visit to Takoradi’s Bisa Aberwa Museum. Travel west to the bustling coastal city of Takoradi, the home of Bisa Aberwa. The museum boasts one of the globe’s largest private collections of artifacts and media representing the African story. The exhibits capture events within the slave dungeons in Africa, the toils of life on slave plantations, and highlights of the Civil Rights Movement. Bisa Aberwa exists, among other objectives, to give an opportunity for the preservation and promotion of the Africa heritage; provide an institution for research into African history and a platform for the conversation among people of African descent. Following your visit to the Bisa Aberwa Museum you will be transported back to Elmina.
Where you’ll be staying
Standard Chalet
ELMINA TO ACCRA
Onward and Upward
A private transfer from Elmina to Accra is provided. The approximate transfer duration is three hours.
This evening, embark on an immersive journey through the flavors and culture of Ghana during a private culinary experience with Chef PaJohn Bentsifi Dadson, a passionate advocate for the country's rich heritage. Fusing his loves for writing, hospitality, and cooking, he champions authentic connections through cuisine. Chef PaJohn’s invites you to discover the vibrant flavors of Ghana with a private dinner at his chic bohemian rooftop restaurant, PaJohn's, nestled in the heart of Accra. Indulge in an exclusive dining experience as PaJohn and his team entertain you with Ghanaian humor and music, while you savor exquisite dishes that reflect the diverse culinary traditions from across the nation. This experience introduces you to PaJohn's philosophy, WangoWango, which celebrates the joy of food and the thrill of exploring Ghana’s varied regions, evoking a profound sense of happiness. At the conclusion of your evening, relax on a private transfer back to your hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
Superior Room
ACCRA
Head Home
A private transfer between the airport and your hotel is provided.
ACCRA
Labadi Beach Hotel
Set amidst tropical landscaped gardens, overlooking one of Ghana’s most beautiful beaches is the famous Labadi Beach Hotel. The hotel is located in Accra, Ghana’s administrative, communications, and economic centre in close proximity to Kotoka International Airport and within the vicinity of business, financial and entertainment districts. Labadi is locally renowned for its food and the unique spirit of Ghanaian hospitality, and is located within easy access of both the city and airport. Presenting 100 spacious double and twin rooms and an additional 4 luxury suites, complete with conferencing and banqueting facilities, the hotel has earned its reputation as being the most sought after business venue in the country.
KUMASI
Lancaster Kumasi City
Lancaster Kumasi City is the only four star hotel of international standards in Kumasi, only 20 minutes away from the airport and located close to the city center of the second biggest city of Ghana. This remarkable hotel, the Lancaster Kumasi City is set in extensive tropical gardens in the central business district. This magnificent hotel has 160 rooms with various room types, a well equipped Business Centre, a Forex Bureau for your financial transactions, a swimming pool specially designed for adults and another one for children. Enjoy this first class African style experience.
ELMINA
Ridge Royal Hotel
Located in the heart of Cape Coast, the Ridge Royal Hotel is a great and comfortable base for discovering the fascinating history of this part of southern Ghana. The property’s design combines vintage craftsmanship with modern touches, making it an elegant option sure to satisfy the needs of today’s discerning travelers. Settle in and relax in one of the cozy bedrooms or enjoy a meal at the hotel’s restaurant offering a selection of both local and continental dishes. Regardless of your preference, the friendly staff of the Ridge Royal Hotel will make sure that you experience the best of Ghanaian hospitality.
Made to Order
- Choose from a range of places to stay, from impeccable five-star hotels to equally outstanding boutique ones.
- Tailor your trip to include a wide variety of activities, from the must-see's to the lesser-known, local experiences, and even the exclusive ones you may not know about.
- With no fixed dates or set schedules, you can explore on your terms.
- Whether you're celebrating one of life's big moments or looking to fulfill a personal journey, we always work with you to ensure we're creating a trip-of-a-lifetime.
What's included
- A fully customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule
- 24/7 in-destination support from our local office
- Regional flights between stops in your itinerary (unless otherwise indicated)
- All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
- A private driver for tours and transfers (in some countries our local private guides also act as your driver - your Destination Expert will discuss with you if applicable)
- Local private guides or shared tours that take you through your itinerary highlights and experiences, your final itinerary will confirm the type of tour
- A greeting at the airport or at your accommodation from one of our representatives – your expert will confirm your meet and greet location with you
- Breakfast each morning at your hotel, plus any meals indicated in the itinerary
- One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
What's not included
- Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you'd like to receive pricing from our Air Team
- Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you've booked your tour
- Visas (unless noted)
- Tips for services and experiences
- Lunches, dinners and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), unless specified in the itinerary
- Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
- Personal charges such as laundry, phone calls, SIM cards or room service
- Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
- Additional sightseeing, activities and experiences outside of your itinerary
- Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, or local camera or video fees
- Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)
Protect your travel
- We recommend travel protection. Between missed connections, lost or delayed luggage, or medical emergencies, you want some peace of mind that your travel investment is well protected.
- No matter who you buy from, please consider purchasing a travel protection plan before you travel. Still unsure? Consider these frequently asked questions.








