8 Days Luxury Rwanda Journey Featuring Genocide Memorial Sites, Volcanoes Gorillas, and Lake Kivu

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, VIP meet-and-greet assistance is provided, followed by a private transfer to the hotel. Check-in is completed with priority arrangements, allowing time to refresh after international travel. The remainder of the day is reserved for rest and acclimatization, with optional use of spa or wellness facilities.

In the evening, dinner is arranged at the hotel or a selected fine-dining restaurant, offering a gentle introduction to contemporary Rwandan cuisine in a relaxed setting.

Accommodation options (Kigali):
Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven or Kigali Serena Hotel

After breakfast, a curated city experience is conducted in Kigali, offering insight into Rwanda’s social structure, urban planning, and cultural evolution. Visits are made to selected artisan spaces and elevated viewpoints, providing both cultural and scenic context.

A guided visit is then arranged to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where Rwanda’s history is presented through carefully curated exhibitions and memorial gardens. The visit is conducted at a respectful pace, allowing space for reflection and understanding. Lunch is served at a high-end local restaurant, after which the afternoon is kept at leisure.

Accommodation: Same as Day 1

Following breakfast, departure is arranged for northern Rwanda with a luxury road transfer or optional helicopter flight, depending on preference. The journey reveals Rwanda’s rolling hills, cultivated landscapes, and volcanic silhouettes as the route ascends toward the Virunga Mountains.

Arrival near Volcanoes National Park is timed for lunch at the lodge. The afternoon is intentionally unhurried, allowing acclimatization to altitude and surroundings. A private briefing is conducted by the guide to explain gorilla trekking protocols, conservation ethics, and the following day’s logistics. Dinner and overnight stay follow amid panoramic volcano views.

Accommodation options (Volcanoes area):
Luxury: Bisate Lodge or One&Only Gorilla’s Nest

An early start is arranged, with breakfast served before transfer to the park headquarters for registration and ranger briefing. Trekking assignments are made with consideration for fitness level and trekking preferences.

The trek proceeds through bamboo forest and montane vegetation under the guidance of highly experienced rangers and trackers. Trek duration varies depending on gorilla movements. Upon locating a gorilla family, a strictly regulated one-hour viewing session is permitted, during which feeding, grooming, and social interaction are observed in silence and under controlled conditions.

After the trek, return to the lodge is arranged for a gourmet lunch and rest. The afternoon is reserved for spa treatments, private terrace relaxation, or quiet nature walks. Dinner is served at the lodge.

Accommodation: Same as Day 3

Following breakfast, a private cultural experience is arranged in the Volcanoes region, often involving a guided visit to community initiatives such as Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. Traditional music, storytelling, leadership structures, and conservation-linked livelihoods are presented in an educational and dignified format.

Lunch is served either within the community setting or back at the lodge. The remainder of the day is reserved for leisure, photography, and reflection. Dinner and overnight stay conclude the highlands experience.

Accommodation: Same as Day 3

After breakfast, departure is scheduled for western Rwanda with a scenic drive toward Lake Kivu. The route passes through tea plantations, forested hills, and lakeside villages, offering a visual contrast to the volcanic landscapes of the north.

Upon arrival at Lake Kivu, lunch is served at the lodge followed by check-in. The afternoon is dedicated to relaxation along the lakeshore, with optional boat rides, guided shoreline walks, or wellness treatments. Dinner is served overlooking the water.

Accommodation options (Lake Kivu):
Luxury: Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel or Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

The day is reserved for leisure and light exploration around Lake Kivu. Morning activities may include a private boat excursion, kayaking, or visits to nearby fishing communities where daily life along the lake is observed.

Lunch is served at the lodge, and the afternoon remains flexible, allowing time for swimming, spa treatments, or quiet reflection. A farewell dinner is arranged in the evening, marking the conclusion of the journey.

Accommodation: Same as Day 6

After breakfast, a private transfer is arranged for the return journey to Kigali. Depending on flight schedules, brief stops may be made for artisan shopping or café visits. Transfer to Kigali International Airport is provided for onward travel.