Ivory Coast – 8 days
The Republic of Ivory Coast is a country worth visiting because of the extraordinary and rich culture of the inhabitants of this West African territory.
During our trip, we will visit local craftsmen, weavers, blacksmiths and potters. We will get to know their workshops and traditional methods of production. During our journey, we will visit the largest catholic temple in the world and fetish houses. There will be also an opportunity for meetings with history and nature while visiting the town of Grand Bassam and the Banko National Park. At the end we will have some time to relax on the Atlantic beaches in Assinie.
itinerary
Flights to Abidjan usually take place in the afternoon and evening. After arrival, visa formalities. Transfer to the hotel and, after a short rest, an organisational meeting and dinner
D.
After breakfast, we will set off to visit the capital of Ivory Coast. We will visit the Civilisation Museum with its collection of artefacts related to the culture of the inhabitants of the current Ivory Coast. We will go to a fruit and artisan market and then we will visit the Saint Paul’s Cathedral. In the afternoon we will set off for the Binko National Park where we will be able to see one of the last fragments of primeval rainforests that used to cover the whole Western shore of Africa. For dinner and night rest we will travel to the seaside, to the town of Grand.
B. L. D.
After breakfast, we will set off for the second largest city of Ivory Coast, Yamoussoukro. En route we will stop in Ahouakro, where an interesting archaeological site is located. After arrival in Yamoussoukro, we will visit the largest and highest catholic church in the world – the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix). Dinner and night rest in Yamoussoukro.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will drive to Bouake. An route we will visit the town of Kondeyakro that is famous for its weaving workshops, and then Tanou Sakassou – a town known for its pottery workshops and smithery. Dinner and night rest in Bouake.
B.L.D.
In the morning, we will leave Baouke and set off for Korhogo, a capital of the Poro region. En route we will visit weaving workshops in Katiola and Fakaha as well as traditional ceramic workshops in Mangoro. In the afternoon, we will drive to Waraniene where we will see traditional weaving workshops and a traditional dance show with elements of acrobatics. Dinner and night rest in Korhogo.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will set off for the village of Niofoin where we will see fetish houses. We will also visit towns that are famous for the manufacture of wooden sculptures and then we will go to the airport. In the afternoon, flight to Abidjan. After arrival, transfer to a hotel, evening dinner and night rest in the capital of Ivory Coast.
B.L.D.
In the morning, there will be some time for relaxation on one of the most beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Guinea in Assine. On this day, we will also visit a cocoa farm. Cocoa is ine of the most important export products of Ivory Coast. Dinner and night rest in Grand Bassam.
B.L.D.
On this day, we will visit the first capital of Ivory Coast. Many interesting buildings from the colonial era are preserved to this day. Our plans include a visit of a museum of traditional costumes and at the artisan market. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight back home
B.L.
Practical information
- the length of the tour : 8 days in Republic of Ivory Coast ;
- start of the trip: Abidjan;
- end of the trip: Abidjan;
- the highlights of this expeditionThe highlight of the tour will be the possibility of getting to know the culture, traditions, beliefs and history of this West African country. We will visit the largest catholic temple in the world and fetish houses as well as other places associated with traditional religions of West Africa. During our trip there will be an opportunity for visiting traditional artisan workshops. The most interesting natural attraction will be the Banko National Park. At the end of our journey, we will have a day of rest on the Atlantic coast, in the town of Assinie.It will be a sightseeing tour to a West African country that is relatively unpopular with tourists. It will be oriented on cultural, sightseeing and historical tourism. Because of the special nature of the visited places and of the expedition features, the travellers are required to be physically fit. Because of the condition of roads, some drives between towns may be long and tiring. During the planned tour, temperatures during the day will exceed + 30 degrees Celsius in most part of Ivory Coast. Moreover, the high humidity of the air and rainfalls that may appear despite the dry season, may cause fatigue and discomfort. Accommodation is planned only in hotels. No hikes are planned during our tour, but we will visit many towns on foot. The itinerary was designed to enable best possible viewing of the places away from mass tourism routes, while meeting basic safety standards and ensuring comfort to the travellers. You should bear in mind that the Republic of Ivory Coast is a country of many cultures and traditions, having a special and unique character.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of the tour.
Before departure, you must obtain the tourist visas
Single entry visas for the Republic of Ivory Coast can be obtained online www.snedai.com/e-visa/
To obtain a visa, you may use the services of visa agents or the help of BTP Adventure.
You should take with you for the trip a photocopy of your passport (the photo page) and an additional ID document.
- Take with you for the trip the yellow vaccination booklet with certified valid yellow fever vaccination – it is impossible to enter the Republic of Ivory Coast without this document and vaccination.
- Before departure, we recommend a consultation with a family physician and a tropical medicine specialist.
- Vaccination against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B, meningococci and typhus is recommended.
- Malaria prevention measures (Malarone or Lariam) are necessary.
- There is a risk of dengue and tuberculosis at the places planned to be visited during the trip.
- We recommend visiting https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.
- During our expedition, we will drink only bottled water. You should avoid ice in your beverages and eating raw or undercooked foods. In Ivory Coast, healthcare is at a satisfactory level in larger towns.
- The cost of a private medical visit is usually over USD 100, and a day of hospitalisation costs between USD 100 and 200.
- Because of difficult travelling and accommodation conditions and particularities of the country, good physical fitness is necessary. Furthermore, your patience will definitely be tested and you should prepare for hardships of long journeys, lassitude and discomfort.
- Please take with you a first aid kit and a sufficient supply of your regular (prescription) medicines, if any. Some useful contents of the first aid kit:
- insect repellents – absolutely necessary
- medicines for malaria prevention
- high sun protection cream (recommended SPF 50)
- disinfectants, wound dressing materials
- analgesics and antipyretics
- antibiotics, as a precaution
- anti-diarrhoeals, electrolytes and vitamins
The Republic of Ivory Coast is currently a relatively stable and safe country. In some regions of the country, there is a terrorist threat or armed conflict risk. However, we design our itineraries so as to avoid places that are potentially dangerous (the northern region – near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso).
It is very important to stay vigilant at such places as markets and crowded streets, because of pickpockets and rare robberies.
Owing to the good relations we have with local contractors, we keep following the news to be aware of any potential threats and safety risks. We also recommend you to read the latest news on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
During the tour, please take seriously the instructions of our contractors, guides and tour leader.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws and regulations. You will receive the necessary information on an on-going-basis from your local guides and the tour leader.
It is strictly prohibited to take photos and make video recordings at military and police installations and at airports. You are also not allowed to take photos where people in military/police uniforms are present!!!
Photographing people is possible only when they expressly agree to it. Taking pictures when the subjects have not allowed it often ends up with escalating aggressive behaviours.
The legal tender in the Republic of Ivory Coast is West African franc. Currency exchange is possible at the airport, in banks and in some hotels. Using payment cards is possible in many hotels and gift shops but caution should be exercised because of frequent data theft scams. The best foreign exchange rate is for euros and US dollars. UK pounds are not generally exchangeable.
For current foreign exchange rates see www.xe.com or install xe.com on your phone.
The official language in the Republic of Ivory Coast is French. Several dozen local languages are also spoken. For self-guided tours, you must speak English or French.
The Republic of the Ivory Coast is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. Most of the citizens are Christians, belonging to the Catholic Church and various Protestant churches. Traditional African religions, including Voodoo, are an essential part of the customs and beliefs of individual ethnic groups and local communities. The northern part of Ivory Coast is mostly inhabited by followers of Sunni Islam.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws. You will receive the relevant information from your local guide or the tour leader.
The tour dates are proposed in periods of the best possible weather conditions at the sites included in the itinerary. The best time for expeditions to Ivory Coast is the period between November and March. In most of the visited places, during the day temperatures reach up to +30°C and at night drop to +25°C. Some showers should be expected. Major problems are low quality of roads, dust in the air in the dry season and mud after rainfalls.
For detailed information see https://www.meteoblue.com/en.
Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and villages. Purchase of a local SIM-card with an Internet package is possible and relatively cheap. Before the trip, please enquire with your mobile network operator whether they have a contract signed with operators in the Republic of Ivory Coast and what the prices of call and SMS roaming are. To avoid a nasty surprise, we recommend disabling mobile data usage.
- Wi-Fi is available at some hotels and in some restaurants.
- Additionally, we recommend taking a capacious power bank.
- Power sockets of type C and E. Voltage 230 V, frequency 50 Hz.
For climatic and cultural reasons, loose garments will be most appropriate: long trousers, long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, which can be easily washed and will quickly dry. The most comfortable footwear for the tour will be lightweight boots. Palladium brand boots are recommended. You may walk in open sandals but in towns and desert regions this may be uncomfortable because of stones, thorny plants and sharp grasses. Light hiking boots may prove useful. The following are worth taking:
- sachet for documents and money
- wet wipes for body cleaning and antibacterial gels
- rain jacket
- fleece or warmer blouse – in some regions of the country, especially in the north, nights may be cold
- head cover and sunglasses – mandatory, the sun is no joke!
- comfortable summer clothes, useful during practically the whole trip
- light T-shirts/shirts
- useful odds and ends: torch, Swiss Army knife, sewing kit (usually is not needed but is not heavy and does not take much place), chargers, mug (for special occasions); inflatable neck pillow, useful on the plane and during car rides; small wallet for the local currency; books to pass the time on flights and car rides
Price
Price: £ 3390 p/p
Domestic flight Korhogo – Abidżan
During the tour, we will we will travel by passenger cars or minibuses, and also, if necessary, by off-road vehicles. Speed depends on the road surface conditions, terrain characteristics and number and length of stops.
We are not able to guarantee a uniform accommodation standard at each of the planned sites during the stay in the Republic of Ivory Coast. Our priorities are your comfort, appropriate location, character of the site and historical, cultural and natural values. We always place emphasis on the support of local community when selecting the sites for our accommodation. In general, rooms will be assigned on the assumption of two people sharing a twin room (rooms with individual bathrooms). The surcharges for single rooms are quoted in the “Price” section. During our tour, we plan accommodation in 3- and 4-star hotels, depending on availability.
Meals are included in the tour price, as specified in the itinerary. B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner. In most places we will visit, shops and markets are well stocked but prices of some goods – especially the imported ones – may be higher than in most European countries. The Republic of Ivory Coast cuisine is extremely varied, reflecting the local particularities and cultures of the individual regions of Republic of Ivory Coast .
For information about the local costs of living see https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.
Services of a tour guide, local and special guides in national Parks
All entrance fees and permits to visit national parks and reserves in the itinerary
Trip preparation, the invitation necessary to obtain a visa
Costs of the main flight to and from Abijan
Costs of flight tickets are not covered by the tour price. BTP Adventure does not directly arrange and buy tickets for international flights. However, we may suggest the best connections and airlines. For this purpose, contact us by e-mail or call us.
Visa for the Republic of Ivory Coast www.snedai.com/e-visa/
Insurance is not covered by the tour price. Having valid insurance is a condition for taking part in the trip. We recommend taking out insurance that will be appropriate for the planned itinerary and for your individual state of health and needs. Please send us the proof of your insurance contract.
You can purchase insurance on your own on the website of Axa or any other insurance company: https://www.axa.co.uk/travel-insurance/.
BTP Adventure may help you obtain adequate insurance cover. If you want our help, please contact us.
The price does not includes the cost of tips and porters’ fees.
Meals other than those listed in the final itinerary.
Personal expenses and souvenirs.
Surcharge for a single room: 450 £
supplementary payment for the additional accommodation In the case of arrival or departure on a different date,
Final notes
We will keep updating the detailed information on the safety and final itinerary of the tour. Before you decide to submit the booking form, please learn about the current political and sanitary situation in the Republic of Ivory Coast , especially at the places on the itinerary of our tour.
The planned expedition is an exclusive proposal prepared on the basis of our experience and knowledge of the local peculiarities and major sightseeing attractions of the Republic of Ivory Coast
We are committed to ensure the best possible and safe and, as far as feasible, comfortable travelling through this rarely visited and extremely interesting country which is the Republic of Ivory Coast
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
The Burkina Faso tour may be combined with the trips to Togo, Benin, Ghana, Mali, Niger or Cameroon. contact the office.Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.If you are interested, please
With any questions please contact BTP ADVENTURE
3390 £ Per Person
The trip can be combined with a trip to Senegal, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger.
