Ivory Coast small group tour
On small group tour you’ll get to experience life with some of the diverse ethnic groups that inhabit this fascinating country, going where few other travelers have been before.
Abidjan visiting villages of the Baulé people Ferkessedougou witness traditional iron metallurgy Korhogo watch a dance performance by initiated young men visit Senoufo, Fulani, Yakuba and Malinké villages Liana Bridges Gbepleu rainforest rubber and coffee plantations Yamoussoukro Grand Bassam
£4450To£4550 excluding flights
Price includes: Accommodation • transfers • domestic flight • guiding (We ONLY use LOCAL GUIDES) • meals as shown (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)• Maximum group size 16 people • ABTA and ATOL bonded • Single Supplement starting from £525-575
Description of Ivory Coast small group tour
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Travel guides
In French, they use the word ‘insolite’ to describe an unusual vacation. Which sounds a bit like insolent. Rebelling against the norm.
Reviews
1 Reviews of Ivory Coast small group tour
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 26 Nov 2018 by Martin Stringer
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
All of it was both memorable and exciting. I found the sultan's palace in Fouban, and the other chief's palaces very interesting. The eco lodge and trip out on
the Nyong river was magical and the two days with the Ba'Aka is like nothing else I have ever experienced.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It is not an easy trip, even compared to other tours we have taken in Africa, but is certainly worthwhile. I guess it depends on the time of year, but we were not
really prepared for the rain and slightly cooler weather.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I guess some of it did, but it is not always easy to see how.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was excellent and highly recommended.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your comments, we are delighted that you enjoyed the tour. On this tour, we aim to put as much back in to the communities we visit as possible. Our local guides and drivers always try and buy supplies along the way, and although our groups are small this can make a significant input into the local economy of villages which otherwise have little opportunity to trade. Although not always visible, we try and ensure that the impact of your visit is always a positive for the local people and environment. We hope to see you traveling with us again soon.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
Our guides will brief travelers on appropriate behaviour, both cultural and environmental and when exploring places of beauty such as the lagoon in Yamoussokro, the Gbepleu Rainforest and Ebiné Lagoon delta, and we make a point of ensuring that we leave no permanent traces of our stay behind taking all rubbish with us. We work with our local suppliers to highlight best practice in terms of environmental issues. This trip spends time visiting some of the most remote communities on our planet and we place a great emphasis on treading sensitively. Where possible we buy supplies along the way, and although our groups are small this can make a significant input into the local economy of villages which otherwise have little opportunity to trade.When exploring the Savannah in Boundiali and in the Gbepleu Rainforest, we ensure that we stick to the marked footpaths and follow the advice of the local guide, as to not disturb any local habitats, flora or fauna.
We believe that tourism is a double edged sword that needs to be wielded very carefully. Our philosophy is to have a limited amount of departures - usually between one and three a year - for each of our itineraries. By limiting our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile, we hope to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travelers. This has much less impact when traveling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travelers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
People
On this tour we visit several ethnic villages, to gain an insight into local life. We may be invited into the homes of the Fulani Nomads, and will only enter when invited to do so. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.We visit local villages as well as a local market, and both our clients and guides are briefed on local customs and general courtesy (such as asking permission before taking photographs/dress-codes/conduct in places of worship etc) and behave appropriately to ensure no disrespect is given to the local people. We will not provide travel plans for individuals who are not prepared to travel in a courteous and responsible manner and we ensure our guides and clients are sensitive to local attitudes and act responsibly in their interaction with local people.
Travelers also have the opportunity to support local communities by purchasing local handicrafts.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops and encourage our clients to interact both financially and socially with the communities that they are passing through. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
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