Rwanda Cultural Tour

Join us on the Rwanda Cultural Tour!

9 Days, 8 Nights

Join us on this 9 day, 8-night cultural tour of Rwanda! This country has incredibly welcoming people ready to show you their wonderful home. This experience will allow you to interact and learn more about daily life in rural Rwanda. You’ll visit handicraft projects, and tea & coffee plantations and will be able to learn traditional technics and fish with local people. You’ll also have the opportunity to journey through Rwandan history on a Kigali city tour and visit the King’s Palace Museum in Butare. In Volcanoes National Park, you’ll visit the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village. Former poachers operate this project, and along with learning more about traditional Rwandan culture, you’ll see how tourism can positively impact local communities and discourage them from poaching the mountain gorillas in the nearby park.

Rwanda has some of the most stunning natural landscapes in Africa, and a trip here would not be complete without experiencing nature. You’ll have the chance to take a canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park and participate in both Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey trekking. Your drives through the country will be incredibly scenic, and you’ll leave with a clear picture of why they call Rwanda the Land of 1,000 hills!

This itinerary is an excellent introduction to the culture of Rwanda. It is perfect for couples, families, or small groups and is completely customizable to meet your travel style, needs, and interests. Let’s explore the wonderful country of Rwanda together!

Day 1

Welcome to Rwanda! After arrival at Kigali International Airport (KGL), you’ll meet a representative from Off Season Adventures who will take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is to relax or explore the city at your leisure. This evening you’ll enjoy dinner at your hotel and think about the exciting journey ahead!

Arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL) and meet a representative of the Off Season Adventures team
Transfer to your hotel
Day at your leisure
Overnight and dinner at Ubumwe Grande Hotel

Day 2

Today will be a full day of exploring Kigali! You’ll visit the old and new parts of the city and journey through time to learn about the colonial era up to the country’s independence. You’ll visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum, where over 250,000 genocide victims rest in mass graves. You’ll also see the Belgian Camp, where 10 Belgian UN soldiers were killed before the start of the genocide. This was a very dark time in the country’s history, but it is important to learn about and understand Rwanda today. You’ll head back to your hotel for a lovely dinner and to relax.

Breakfast at your hotel
Kigali City tour
Lunch
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial & the Belgian Camp
Overnight and dinner at Ubumwe Grande Hotel

Day 3

After breakfast, you’ll head to the hillside village of Muhanga to visit the local people and learn about their daily lives. You’ll participate in traditional cooking, candle dipping, basket weaving, beehive making, and other everyday activities. Enjoy lunch before continuing your day to Butare. Here you’ll visit the Royal King’s Palace Museum and get a glimpse into ancient Rwandan culture and traditions. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore Butare.

Breakfast at your hotel
Visit the hillside village of Muhanga
Lunch
Visit the Royal King’s Palace Museum in Butare
Overnight and dinner at Centre d’Accueil Mater Boni Consilli

Day 4

This morning you’ll head to the Ethnographic Museum. A visit here will give you a deeper dive into Rwandan history and culture. Next, you’ll begin your journey to Nyungwe National Park, stopping for lunch along the way. Once you arrive, you’ll head out on the exciting Canopy Walk experience through the forest. Your guide will take you on an hour-long hike that will show you the beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding area and give you the chance to see some local primates and birds. The trip’s highlight is the suspension bridges that exist 70 meters above the forest floor and give you a stunning panoramic view of your surroundings. This evening you’ll head to your hotel for dinner and to rest after a busy day.

Breakfast at your hotel
Visit the Ethnographic Museum
Lunch
Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Canopy Walk Experience
Overnight and dinner at Emeraude Kivu Resort

Day 5

Get an early start today with a strong cup of African coffee before heading to Nyungwe National Forest for chimpanzee trekking. You’ll receive a short briefing before heading into the woods to find the chimps. We share 98% of our DNA with these amazing creatures, and being in their presence is truly magical. You’ll have an hour with them, so make sure to take in every minute. After a well-deserved lunch, you’ll drive to the Gisakura Tea Plantation. Here you’ll have the chance to see every process in making tea, from picking the leaves to the drying to quality assurance. You might even get to taste some!

Breakfast at your hotel
Chimpanzee trekking
Lunch
Visit the Gisakura Tea Plantation
Overnight and dinner at Emeraude Kivu Resort

Day 6

On this day, you’ll make your way to Lake Kivu. After a relaxed breakfast, you’ll begin your journey and meander your way through the beautiful scenery that will give you a clear picture of why Rwanda is the land of 1,000 hills. You’ll arrive at your hotel, have lunch, and have the afternoon to relax before heading out on a boat ride on the lake. You’ll visit the different islands and end with a nighttime fishing experience. You’ll learn the traditional techniques from the locals and get to try them out yourself!

Breakfast at your hotel
Drive to Lake Kivu
Lunch
Boat ride on Lake Kivu
Nighttime fishing experience
Overnight and dinner at Moriah Hill Resort

Day 7

Today you’ll make your way to Musanze on the border of Volcanoes National Park. Your drive will again be incredibly scenic, with views of Lake Kivu, the surrounding hills, and charming villages. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Kinunu Coffee plantation to learn more about the production process. Coffee is one of the many exports Rwanda has and is of the highest quality in the world. You’ll have the opportunity to taste it and take some home. After lunch, you’ll continue with a visit to the women-run projects at Atelier de Poupees. You’ll be able to interact with them and learn more about their handicrafts. You’ll also go to the Madam Rose Carr house museum and learn more about her life and the positive impact she made on Rwanda. In the afternoon, you’ll continue to Musanze to have dinner and spend the night.

Breakfast at your hotel
Transfer to Musanze
Coffee plantation visit
Lunch
Visit Atelier de Poupees
Visit the Madam Rose Carr House Museum
Overnight and dinner at Ingagi Parkview Lodge

Day 8

After breakfast, you’ll head out on a trekking experience to find golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. You will meet your guide at the park headquarters before heading into the forest. The walk there meanders through local villages and tea plantations, and the scenery is beautiful. Once you find the monkeys, you’ll have an hour to observe them running around, eating, and swinging from the trees. You’ll head back to your hotel for lunch before heading to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to learn more about the traditional Rwandan culture. The village is operated by former poachers who welcome guests and show them local hunting techniques, traditional dances, and other aspects of Rwandan life. This evening you’ll head back to the hotel for dinner and much-deserved rest.

Breakfast at your hotel
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Lunch
Visit the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village
Overnight and dinner at Ingagi Parkview Lodge

Day 9

Today marks the end of your Rwandan journey. After breakfast, you’ll head back to Kigali, where you’ll have the chance to visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Center to learn more about life in Rwanda. You’ll then be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Breakfast at your hotel
Transfer to Kigali
Visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Center
Transfer to Kigali International Airport (KGL)

We are happy to customize additional day excursions before or after this tour if you want to get more out of your journey. Possible additions include gorilla trekking, Lake Kivu, hiking in Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and so much more!