Experience the Culture and Artisanal of Yamoussoukro, Bouaké and Abidjan

5 days and 4 nights to the discovery of Yamoussoukro, Bouaké and Abidjan

basilique-Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix-de-Yamoussoukro
basilique-Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix-de-Yamoussoukro

This tour will permit us to discover the culture and handicrafts in three major cities of Ivory Coast namely; Yamoussoukro, Bouaké and Abidjan. The tour begins at Yamoussoukro, which is the political capital of Côte d’Ivoire. We will visit Our Lady of Peace Basilica, the largest Christian religious building in the world, built between 1986 and 1989 on the model of St. Peter Basilica in Rome. It was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in 1989. Later, we shall visit the FHB Foundation (Félix Houphouët-Boigny) for peace research, created in 1973 and was at the origin of the international conference for peace, organized by UNESCO. The Crocodile Lake at the edge of the Presidential Palace shall be a must see attraction in this tour. Here, we find crocodiles that weigh up to one tonne and measure almost 6 meters in length.

The GOLI dance, whose central element is the use of masks, will also be at the rendezvous. The Yamoussoukro city tour will end with a visit to the weavers’ village of Bomizambo, a small village in Yamoussoukro district, where the art of weaving is transmitted from generation to generation. The trip continues to Bouaké, where we shall discover the dyers of Dar Es Salam. It is a renowned textile center that brings together experts in the art of dyeing of basins fabrics and Indigo loincloths. Next shall be a visit to the Guy Léonard de Bouaké ceramics center, which was created in 1957 by the Frenchman Guy Leonard and whose vocation is the training of young Ivorians in the techniques of modern pottery.
 
The Benedictine monastery of Sainte Marie, located near the city of Bouaké, created in 1960 by the monks of Toumliline, will open its doors to us for a pleasant visit. It is the only male monastery of the Benedictine Order in Côte d’Ivoire.
Thereafter, we shall then explore the Mangoro potters’ village in Katiola, where traditional pottery is an important part of the cultural and artistic heritage of the daily life of the Mangoro peoples.
 
We shall then continue to Abidjan, where we shall discover the economic capital of Ivory Coast. Attractions to be visited here include; The Civilization Museum, created in 1942, endowed with a rich and varied museum wealth estimated at 15,210 authentic pieces coming from all the regions of Côte d’Ivoire; The Artisan Center of the City of Abidjan (CAVA), a place of exhibition of arts objects; and lastly the Saint-Paul cathedral of Abidjan, which will mark the conclusion to this ethnographic tour. This cathedral was built by the Italian architect Aldo Spirito in 1985 at the initiative of the late former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. It receives daily visits from Christians from all over the world for pilgrimage.

Day 1 : Yamoussoukro - Bouaké

basilique-Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix-de-Yamoussoukro
– Meet with our guide very early in the morning at your hotel and take off for Yamoussoukro city tour, – Guided tour to the Our Lady of Peace Basilica Mission, largest Christian religious building in the world, built between 1986 and 1989 on the model of St. Peter Basilica in Rome. It was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in 1989. It is a veritable place for prayers and benedictions,
– Visit the FHB (Félix Houphouët-Boigny) Foundation for the Research of Peace, created in 1973, – Discovery of the Crocodiles Lake, at the borders of the Presidential Palace, a renowned tourist attraction in West Africa, – Lunch in a restaurant near the Lake, – Organisation of the GOLI dance,

with central element the use of masks, – Visit the Bomizambo weavers, a small village of the district of Yamoussoukro, – Continuation to Bouaké, arrival, installation at hotel, dinner and overnight.

Day 2 : Bouaké

La ville de Bouake
– Breakfast, visit of the Bouaké market, the largest market in West Africa, – Discover the most renowned textile dyeing centre of Dar Es Salam which regroup experts in arts basins fabric and Indigo loincloths dyeing. This centre attracts wholesalers who come from all over Côte d’Ivoire to purchase different fabrics such as the basins and indigo loincloths which are characteristics of the Ivoirian dressing style, – Visit of the Guy Leonard Ceramic centre of Bouaké, created in 1957 by the Frenchman Guy Leonard, with the objective to train young Ivoirians in the techniques of modern of pottery, – Return to hotel and lunch, – Visit of the Saint Marie Benedictine Monastery 
of Bouaké, situated near the city of Bouaké, created in 1960 by the Toumliline monks. It is the only male monastery of the Benedictine Order in Côte d’Ivoire, – Return to hotel, dinner and free traditional evening.

Day 3 : Bouaké – Yamoussoukro

Les potières de Mangoro
– Breakfast and take off for Katiola to discover the Mangoro potters’ village, where traditional pottery occupies an important place in the cultural and artistic heritage of the daily life of the Mangoro peoples. This know-how is transmitted from generation to generation and women are the main actors,
– Lunch at hotel and departure to Yamoussoukro,
– Arrival at Yamoussoukro, installation at hotel, dinner, and overnight.

Day 4 : Yamoussoukro – Abidjan

Musée des civilisations
– Breakfast and take off via flight by the Ivoirian Airways for Abidjan,
– Arrival at Abidjan in the afternoon, installation at hotel, lunch and departure for Abidjan city tour,
– Visit Civilisations Museum, a State Museum which was created in 1942 and has a very varied and rich museum wealth, estimated at 15 210 authentic pieces coming from all the regions of Côte d’Ivoire, – Visit of the Artisanal Centre of the City of Abidjan (CAVA), a place exposition arts objects; – Return to hotel, dinner and free night.

Day 5 : Abidjan – Hexagon

Cathédrale_Saint-Paul_d’Abidjan
– Breakfast, visit of the Saint-Paul Cathedral of Abidjan, built by the Italian architect Aldo Spirito in1985 by the initiative of late president Félix Houphouët-Boigny. It receives visits of Christians on a daily basis coming for pilgrimage,
– Lunch, trip evaluation and transfer to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Airport in the afternoon for flight to the hexagon.
– End of tour
Price: 1.111 € / pers. (6 pax)
 
Price: 1.211 € / pers. (4 pax)
 
Price: 1.423 € / pers. (2 pax)

This tour includes :

► Reception and escort by our agent

► Transport and professional driver

► Accommodation in a double room .

► Full board meals.

► Entrance fees into the attractions.

► Toll fees

► Guided tours of all the sites and attractions indicated in the program

► Boats/Canoe rides


This tour does not include:

► International flight fees (Roundtrip)

► Costs related to travel formalities such as visa and immigration charges

► Costs related to travel insurance

► Additional expenses of the tourist such as the purchase of souvenirs

► Alcoholic drinks such as liqueurs, wines, and whiskeys

► Tips and gifts (freewill gestures)

Please specify : 

► The exact dates of visit (date of arrival and date of return)

► Flights and airports of arrival

► Group or tourist’s interests to permit tailored modifications of the tour

► Names and information of visitors for bookings

► Food exigencies; diabetes, vegetarian etc

NB : This program can be modified by demand to suit the expectations of the tourist(s)

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