Tribal Lands of Papua New Guinea
Group Tour
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Overview
One of the most culturally diverse countries on the planet, Papua New Guinea is home to more than 850 known languages. One of the least explored countries anywhere in the world, both culturally and geographically, Papua New Guinea has adventure written all over it! This stunning journey allows us the opportunity to experience its astonishingly rich natural landscape and cultural traditions.
First we’ll travel down the Sepik River to visit the crocodile people and learn about their fascinating ...
One of the most culturally diverse countries on the planet, Papua New Guinea is home to more than 850 known languages. One of the least explored countries anywhere in the world, both culturally and geographically, Papua New Guinea has adventure written all over it! This stunning journey allows us the opportunity to experience its astonishingly rich natural landscape and cultural traditions.
First we’ll travel down the Sepik River to visit the crocodile people and learn about their fascinating traditions, before venturing up to the Bismarck region to experience remote village life with the Simbai people. Continuing on we witness the spectacular Tribal Festivals, which are some of Papua New Guinea's most celebrated events.
Ending the journey along the golden beaches of the South Pacific, we'll take in islands and azure waters around the coast of East New Britain at Rabaul, before making our way back to Port Moresby and, eventually, home.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses, motorised canoe, and domestic flights.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will be in hotels, homestays in the Sepik River region, community owned guesthouses and , a jungle lodge. Please note that conditions in the Sepik River region will be very primitive with shared long houses and river washing or bucket style washing. In the Simbai Village at the community owned guesthouse, which is charming but basic, there will be shared showers and toilets. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Book With Confidence
We understand that flexibility is now a key factor when booking a holiday, and we believe our Covid Promise and Covid Viable Test provide that.
We believe these terms and conditions for making a booking are amongst the most generous in the travel industry right now, and we hope they will give you the confidence, when you feel ready, to go ahead and book your next adventure.
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
DAY 1: TOUR BEGINS IN PORT MORESBY; FLY TO WEWAK
DAY 1: TOUR BEGINS IN PORT MORESBY; FLY TO WEWAK
Starting in the country’s capital early this morning we will meet at the airport and have a chance to enjoy a reviving breakfast. Depending on the flight time, we may have time for a little sightseeing, before flying on to Wewak on the northern coast of New Guinea. The capital of the East Sepik province, Wewak provides the gateway into the swamplands and tropical rainforests of the Sepik River, New Guinea’s longest river. On arrival we will be transferred to our comfortable boutique hotel, where the rest of the day is free to relax from the long journey.
DAY 2: WEWAK TO SEPIK RIVER
DAY 2: WEWAK TO SEPIK RIVER
After meeting up with our local guides this morning, we then embark on a four-hour drive to Pagwi, on the Sepik River. From here we travel down river by motor canoe, a journey of some two hours that brings us to the village of Kanganamun, in the heart of the Middle Sepik. This region is home to the famous crocodile-men of Yatmoul, whose rituals include marking the skin in deep cuts to resemble the teeth marks of the great crocodile spirit. Their immense spirit houses are considered cathedrals of primitive art and on arrival we will be settled with our hosts in basic homestay accommodation.
DAY 3: SEPIK RIVER
DAY 3: SEPIK RIVER
Spending the day exploring the Middle Sepik region, today we have an opportunity to visit at least a couple of traditional dance ceremonies, as well as a number of different spirit houses and villages. Travelling by motorised canoe, we will explore some of villages to learn more about the traditions of their initiation ceremonies of the local people, before continuing on to Palembe, where we take a short walk to one of the oldest Haus Tambarans in the Sepik region. NB, Please be aware that the course and content of today’s visits are very much dependent on the safety conditions and water levels along the river.
DAY 4: SEPIK - ABELAM - WEWAK
DAY 4: SEPIK - ABELAM - WEWAK
We depart our village this morning and reach Pagwi, where our bus takes us to an Abelam village near Maprik. Here we encounter one of the Abelam tribes who live in the Bismarck range, and are known for their incredible skills to grow giant yams, celebrated in their Yam festivals. They are also renown for their fantastic Spirit houses and dances, both of which you will witness during our visit. After a local lunch in the village, we return to Wewak and our comfortable hotel.
DAY 5: WEWAK - MT HAGEN
DAY 5: WEWAK - MT HAGEN
Today we take a short flight on to Mount Hagen in the heart of the Western Highlands. Located amongst the fertile landscapes of the Wahgi Valley, the city is named after the eroded volcanic peak of Mount Hagen. Activities today will be dependent on flight times. On arrival in Hagen we can settle into our hotel.
DAY 6: MT HAGEN - SIMBAI VILLAGE
DAY 6: MT HAGEN - SIMBAI VILLAGE
This morning we take a short charter flight to reach Simbai, a remote governmental station in the Bismarck range. Up here, there is a very limited infrastructure away from any roads and the life of the local people is still very traditional. From the air strip it’s a 30 minute walk to the nearby village where we stay in a charming guest house, surrounded by beautiful gardens, for the next three nights. In Simbai we experience a living culture of this tribe, who have impressive body adornments and will have plenty of opportunity to learn about their lives and traditions. We will have the chance to explore on foot the beautiful surrounding area, as well as our host village and the local school.
DAYS 7 - 8: SIMBAI VILLAGE
DAYS 7 - 8: SIMBAI VILLAGE
Over these two days we get a chance to share in the daily life of the village. The Kalam wear impressive helmets covered in beetle heads so during our time here we will see how the famous beetle head headdresses are prepared. We will step back in time to learn more about the ancient culture and rituals of this tribe, which are in their 8th generation. On one of the days we will witness the festival atmosphere as the village ladies prepare food for a “mumu” feast, when a whole pig is skillfully butchered and cooked on hot stones in the ground. The opening of the mumu is celebrated with a traditional ‘singsing’, which for the villagers could last long into the night!
DAY 9: SIMBAI VILLAGE - MOUNT HAGEN
DAY 9: SIMBAI VILLAGE - MOUNT HAGEN
Today we say farewell to the Simbai community and depart the Northern Highlands and take a privately chartered flight back to Mount Hagen. We will have lunch and a short coffee tour at Banz Coffee, one of New Guinea famous roasters. After lunch we will return to Mount Hagen for the night with some time to relax at our comfortable hotel.
DAY 10: MOUNT HAGEN - GOROKA
DAY 10: MOUNT HAGEN - GOROKA
Considered one of PNG’s most attractive towns, Goroka lies some five hours by road from Mount Hagen. Each year, around the country’s independence celebrations (16 September), the town hosts the famous Goroka Show, a two-day cultural event that sees tribes from all across the region gather to take part in one of the most colourful festivals in the country. Today we get to journey east along the Highlands Highway across the mountains and fertile vegetable gardens of the region. The Central Highlands provide ample opportunities to stop and enjoy the landscapes, before we finally arrive in Goroka later this afternoon.
DAY 11: GOROKA FESTIVAL
DAY 11: GOROKA FESTIVAL
With a whole weekend to enjoy this spectacular festival, we’ll have an opportunity to watch some 1,000 men and women partake in one of Papua New Guinea’s most celebrated events. Over 100 different tribes are represented, in a dazzling display of colour, songs and energy that perfectly encapsulates the rich cultural ethnicity of this remarkable island.
DAY 12: GOROKA - PORT MORESBY
DAY 12: GOROKA - PORT MORESBY
There will be more time to take in the sights and sounds of this stunning annual event before departing Goroka on a late afternoon flight back to Port Moresby for the evening.
DAY 13: PORT MORESBY - RABAUL
DAY 13: PORT MORESBY - RABAUL
We take a morning flight to Kokopo the capital city of East New Britain, a huge island which is part of the Bismarck archipelago. Kokopo is the new capital of the Province after Rabaul town was buried under the ashes of the Tavurvur volcano in 1994 which is still active. This creates a wonderful backdrop to the town, with its spectacular harbour, the tropical coastline, and not forgetting the fascinating and colourful cultural life and markets of the Tolai people. On arrival in Rabaul we head directly to the area around the famous Rabaul Hotel, which survived the eruption and is still functioning today. After lunch we will drive through the eerie abandoned old town to visit the hot springs and the volcano observatory, along with some of the World War II relics. We will check into our hotel hopefully with time to watch the sunset over Simpson Harbour.
DAY 14: RABAUL
DAY 14: RABAUL
We take to the water today and head out to the Duke of York Islands. There are 13 islands in total, spread over 58 km2. We stop for a spot of snorkeling in the crystal clear, azure blue lagoons with white sandy beaches and lush green vegetation. We will take a walk through an island village enjoy a local lunch on the sand. Returning to the hotel in the mid afternoon you will have some free time to relax and enjoy your tranquil surroundings. After an early dinner we head out to a Baining village, an hour’s drive away. This is where we witness the mesmerising and unforgettable spectacle of a Fire dance, synonymous with this region of PNG. We return to the hotel late in the evening.
DAY 15: RABAUL - PORT MORESBY
DAY 15: RABAUL - PORT MORESBY
This morning we take a quick trip out to one of the colourful local markets before taking a flight back to Port Moresby. This is the traditional home of the Motuan people, and the area around Port Moresby was a busy trading centre even before the arrival of the British in 1873. During the Second World War it was targeted by the Japanese as a staging post and air base, in order to cut off Australia from South-East Asia and the Americas. This afternoon we venture out to the Nature Park, PNG’s leading botanical and native zoological park and gardens, showcasing the best of the nation's flora and fauna in a picturesque setting. There are over 150 animals on display including multiple species of tree kangaroos, cassowaries, birds of paradise, parrots, pigeons, reptiles, wallabies and much more. Later we enjoy our farewell dinner and our final night in the capital.
DAY 16: TOUR ENDS PORT MORESBY
DAY 16: TOUR ENDS PORT MORESBY
We have a relaxing morning before heading to the airport where the tour ends.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
In Wewak Boutique Hotel, Wewak
Located up on Wewak Hill with stunning views over the Bismarck Sea, In Wewak Boutique Hotel is a lovely option and within walking distance of Wewak town. The hotel offers a range of rooming, all of which include a private en suite bathroom, TV, WIFI, fridge and air-conditioning. On site there are two restaurants where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed and air-conditioned setting. There's a small pool to enjoy some downtime, and the welcoming staff are wonderful and will do all they can to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Sepik Homestay, Sepik River
This will certainly be a highlight of any trip to Papua New Guinea as you get to stay with a local host family and experience real life along the Sepik River. Being a local homestay, facilities will be very basic, with mattresses on the floor of shared rooms and shared outdoor drop toilets. There are no washing facilities and therefore we strongly advise bringing your own means to freshen up, as well as sleeping bag liners, but mosquito nets will be provided. Your local guide will bring food to cook up on site as options are very limited in the area. Time spent in this remote area really is very special, as you meet the local communities and learn about different beliefs and traditions of the people.
Kokopo Beach Bungalows, Rabaul
Kokopo Beach Bungalows is a welcome retreat located along the coastline of Blanche Bay, offering unspoiled views of the stunning Duke of York Islands, New Ireland, and the volcanic landscapes of Rabaul town. Each of the self-contained bungalows offer a traditional style of accommodation mixed with modern amenities. The spacious bungalows come with air-conditioning and fan, en suite bathroom, and private balcony or veranda with wonderful views of the surrounding tropical gardens and sea, with a private volcanic beach within walking distance, and a small lagoon pool in the gardens. The Haus Win Restaurant has been built in a traditional style and offers delicious local cuisine as well as Western options.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Simbai Village Visit
Large tracts of Papua New Guinea are populated by local people with limited infrastructure and access to the outside world. On our trips we incorporate a visit to Simbai which is situated in the Bismarck range where the life of the local Kalam people is very simple. We arrange with the head of the village to make a visit to the local school where the group are introduced to the students and we organise question and answer sessions to understand more about the culture and lifestyle. Clients are encouraged to donate pencils, notebooks and rulers as well folders, diaries and dictionaries for the pupils and teachers. Sports equipment such as volleyballs, netballs, rugby balls and footballs are also very well received! As well as this good interaction is experienced by initiating a meeting forum for all the villagers to come and meet the group and exchange life stories, hope and dreams along with welfare concerns. These visits are always really powerful for all and creates a far greater human bond for locals and visitors alike.
For the future we will try and offer support and assistance to the village for some community development projects.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| SQ 319 | London Heathrow (LHR) 20:50 | Singapore Airport (SIN) 16:55 |
| PX 393 | Singapore Airport (SIN) 20:35 | Jackson Airport (POM) 05:10 |
| PX 392 | Jackson Airport (POM) 14:50 | Singapore Airport (SIN) 19:20 |
| SQ 322 | Singapore Airport (SIN) 23:30 | London Heathrow (LHR) 05:55 |
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour, UK passport holders currently require a visa for Papua New Guinea and E visas are available.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Or alternatively you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries.
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
Papua New Guinea boasts a warm to hot and humid climate throughout the year. Temperatures generally average 25C to 32C, with the higher mountain regions being a little cooler at 23C. Relative humidity is high and ranges between 70 to 90 percent. Each province experiences a rainy season in the summer months but the driest time is from May to November. Typhoons can hit Papua New Guinea from December to mid-March, and can sometimes cause heavy damage, flooding and erosion.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
This is an adventurous trip in an undeveloped country so a sense of humour and flexibility are a pre-requisite. If you are in a reasonable state of health and fitness you should be able to cope with this tour. However, please note that the conditions in the Sepik River are extremely basic with few frills, and the accommodation is shared and rustic at best. The roads and infrastructure are poor and drives can be long and tiring even though distances are short. Some food in the most remote regions may be limited in terms of variety. You will have a couple of days sitting in motorised canoes. If you are up for the challenge you will be hugely rewarded!
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except for the two nights on the Sepik River and the 3 nights in the Simbai Village where we stay in village guest houses. During the locations with festival nights single rooms are unavailable due to limited bed space at this time.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A £200 (or equivalent) deposit is required to confirm your booking. In addition, due to the particular nature of this trip, an interim deposit of £1000 (or equivalent) per person will be required within 30 days of booking a guaranteed departure, or subsequently within 30 days of receiving confirmation from us that the trip has been guaranteed.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 17996 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.