Ghana: A Cultural Journey from Accra to Cape Coast

• In order to enter Ghana, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in advance in order to enter Ghana. You may choose to apply online via the Ghanaian embassy, or to use a visa provider, such as our partner company, VisaCentral—however, these services charge a fee in addition to the cost of your visa.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You will be required to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination (often referred to as a yellow card ) or a statement of medical exemption from the vaccine. Visit cdc.gov/yellowfever for more information.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching for the code GHN.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Accra.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Accra, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a steady-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• 3 full days of included activities in a row (more if you add excursions)
• Most transportation by motor coach
• About 4 hours of bus time daily

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day on city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.

• Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
• When visiting Kakum National Park, travelers should feel comfortable walking along elevated platforms and rope bridges that are around 130ft above ground.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.

Climate Considerations

• Temperatures vary significantly throughout the year in Ghana. Summers can be hot, with temperatures often reaching the high 80s°F to low 90s°F, while winters are much milder, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s°F to mid-80s°F.
• In the wet season (April-October), travelers can expect high levels of humidity and frequent, intense bursts of rainfall.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• Most transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• Private motor coaches have steps required to board and often do not provide access to ramps or lifts.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.

• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear. Quick-dry material is best for hot days outside, and a warmer layer may be needed for chilly evenings and early mornings.
• You may want supportive walking sandals to keep cool during city sightseeing tours. Comfortable, closed-toed shoes, such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots, are best for more active walks.
• Pack a swimsuit, as many of the hotels have pools that you are free to use at your leisure.
• Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.
• Occasional rain showers are common during certain seasons, so lightweight rainwear may be necessary depending on the timing of your trip.
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when other facilities are not readily available while on the road.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in African hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• Ghana operates on the standard 230 volts and uses a Type D plug, with two small, round pins and one larger round pin, and a G plug, with three large, flat pins.
• The hotel during your stay on the Cape Coast will not have air conditioning.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• You will be required to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination (often referred to as a yellow card ) or a statement of medical exemption from the vaccine. Visit cdc.gov/yellowfever for more information.
• We recommend that travelers consult their doctor or healthcare provider about prescription medicine to prevent Malaria.
• Drink bottled water only. Refrain from ingesting tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they’re cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
• Bring a small first-aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on luggage.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays encountered.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.

• This tour includes five lunches and five dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water, coffee, and tea.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• Traditional Ghanaian foods vary by region. In the north, you’ll find dishes featuring starchy vegetables and fruits, such as cassava and plantains. In the south, dishes often feature grains such as millet and sorghum. Across the country, you’ll also find that yams, maize, beans, and sweet potatoes are widely used. Popular dishes include Jollof rice, a rice dish made with tomato sauce and meat, as well as Red Red, a filling and hearty dish made of cowpea beans (black-eyed peas) and served with fried plantains.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• The currency you’ll be using on your tour is the Ghanaian cedi.
• The Ghanaian cedi is a closed currency. This means North American banks cannot exchange for it and you can only obtain it once you arrive in Ghana.
• You can exchange your dollars for cedis at any bureau de change, as well as at some commercial banks; banks and foreign exchange facilities are available at the airport and in all major towns.
• All currency must be declared at customs with a BOG Foreign Exchange Declaration Form, which can be downloaded from the Bank of Ghana’s website prior to departure.
• ATMs are most readily available in larger towns.
• While major North American credit cards are accepted in larger towns, hotels, guesthouses, and some shops, you might find that some businesses will only accept Visa credit cards due to widespread credit card fraud.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have a different Tour Director on the tour extension.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• Ghana is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). During Daylight Savings Time in the U.S., Ghana is four hours ahead of ET.
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm on tour. During Daylight Savings Time, when it’s noon in New York, it’s 4pm on tour.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
• When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
• When you come across wild animals on tour, take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart: Don’t touch or feed them, and maintain a respectful distance. The animals you encounter on your trip should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior.
• Furthermore, avoid buying exploitative animal products, like crafts made from tortoiseshell or meals such as shark fin soup.
• If you feel we aren’t meeting any of these commitments, please let us know.