Ivory Coast - the Land of Hope

There is one name which has recently started to appear more and more on travelers’ radars: Côte d’Ivoire. Famous also as Ivory Coast, the country has been through some political upheaval until recently, but it’s now ready to welcome adventurers and lovers of West African culture. Reffered to as 'The Land of Hope" in its national anthem, it’s a country with diverse culture and even more diverse nature. On this tour you will see remote villages where locals still keep their old traditional way of life, rituals and beliefs, as well as modern cities with shimmering skyscrapers like Abijan. The sandy beaches and the palm-tree forests make it a real tropical paradise, while the hiking opportunities are a treat for the outdoor enthusiasts. There are also some curious sights to behold, like the colossal Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the largest Christian place of worship in the world in Yamoussoukro and the nut-cracking chimps in the Parc National de Taï.

Highlights:
♦ Basilica of Our Lady of Peace - the largest basilica in the world
♦ Abodo - where the largest launderette in Africa takes place
♦ Traditional Senoufo and Baule villages

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Day 1. Arrival in Abidjan
Arrival in Abidjan, pick-up from the airport and transfer to the hotel. -/-/-

Day 2. Abidjan – Grand Bassam – Abidjan
After breakfast, we will drive to Grand Bassam, the colonial capital city. We will see some of its highlights like the French colonial district, the costume museum, the craft center, The governor “Binger” Palace, and the Ariane Monument, which commemorates the victims of the yellow fever epidemic during colonial times. In the afternoon we will visit the market for souvenirs and then drive back to Abidjan. B/-/-

Day 3. Abidjan – Yamoussoukro
After breakfast, we will drive to Yamoussoukro, the political capital city. We spend the afternoon visiting the Basilica “Notre dame de la Paix” (Basilica of Our Lady of Peace) – the largest basilica in the world. Continue onward, we will see the crocodiles, which the city is famous with and are considered sacred, as well as the mosques and the polytechnic schools. B/-/-

Day 4. Yamoussoukro – Korhogo. Senoufo Villages
We'll depart early after breakfast and begin the long drive north along bumpy roads as we make our way to Korhogo, the main city in the north of the country.
After arriving in Korhogo we will spend the afternoon visiting villages of the Senoufo, who are renowned for their art and sculpture work. The villages have sacred houses decorated with bas-relief carvings and large clay granaries. These areas are generally untouched by western visitors. B/-/-

Day 5. Korhogo – Bouake
Leaving Korhogo behind we head back to the South towards Bouake, Ivory Coast’s second largest city and capital of Baule country.
The Baule are known for their fine wooden handicrafts and Goli masks, often made from cow, antelope and crocodile. We visit Dar Es Salaam,the renowned textile center and Tano Sakassou pottery workshop. B/-/-

Day 6. Bouake - Abidjan
After breakfast, we will return to Abidjan. We will stop at some places of interest en-route and you will have the rest of the day free to explore the city on your own. B/-/-

Day 7. Abidjan. Departure
Today we will go on a city tour to see the highlights of Abidjan, including Le Plateau - the central, high-rise commercial area, Cocody - the upscale residential section and Treichville, which is linked to Le Plateau by two major bridges. Treichville is one of the areas where the masses live. It has a few colorful markets and quite an interesting, vibrant nightlife. We will finish the tour with a visit to Abodo, where we will see Africa’s largest launderette (laundry) and hundreds of men jamming together in the middle of a stream to wash the clothes. They work all day every day, first frantically rubbing garments on huge stones held in place by old car tires and then spreading the clothes over rocks and grass in a large drying area, making sure their clients’ clothes never get mixed or lost. Transfer to the airport and departure. B/-/-

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Price Includes:
6 nights in standard hotels in double/ twin rooms
Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast/L=lunch/D=dinner)
Transportation as per program
Transfers (for the group)
English speaking local guide
Penguin tour leader at min. 8 participants

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Not Included:
International flights
Entrance fees
Drinks and meals not mentioned in the program
Vaccinations
Visa
Insurance
Tips and personal expenses

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Additional Services:
Supplement pp. for a group of 2-3 people: 220 EUR

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Gallery

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