• Trip Overview
• Detailed Program

Trip Overview

This comprehensive and exciting exploration of Papua New Guinea takes you through the country’s cultural and geographical diversity in an exceptional itinerary. The journey begins in the mysterious swamp region of the mighty Sepik River, a place of natural and cultural wonders.

You’ll meet the Iatmul people, who ritually scarify themselves in reference to their totemic animal, the crocodile. In the impressive Sepik Spirit Houses, you’ll witness ancestral customs and discover tribal art. Travelling by motorized pirogue along the rivers, you’ll stop in villages where families welcome you for a chat in the shade of their thatched-roof houses.

After the Sepik and a stopover in Madang, you’re off to Goroka for the famous Goroka Show, one of the world’s largest tribal gatherings. Groups representing cultural traditions from all over the country come together in celebration. Admire the participants in their intricate and colorful bilas (traditional dress), spectacular headdresses and body painting.

From Goroka, you travel to Mount Hagen through the magnificent Highlands region. From here, you take a charter flight to the remote and beautiful village of Simbai. In this picturesque mountain village beyond road access, you are welcomed to attend the ceremonies marking the initiation of boys into adulthood, known as the Kalam Festival.

• Sailing the Sepik River and meeting the Iatmul crocodile-men
• Visit to stilt villages and Spirit Houses
• Chambri Lakes: villages of potters and sculptors (Aibom, Kirimbit)
• Relaxation on the paradise island of Muchu
• Discover Madang, PNG’s most beautiful city
• Goroka Show: over 100 tribal groups celebrate
• Mudmen of Asaro and their spectacular masks
• Kalam Festival in Simbai: authentic initiation ceremony
• Nights in a village guesthouse in Simbai

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Starting point	Port Moresby – International Airport
Physical level	Moderate – Short walks, pirogue transfers, charter flight
Accommodation	Comfortable hotels (Port Moresby, Madang, Goroka, Mt Hagen) + Authentic guesthouses (Sepik, Simbai, Muchu)
Best period	September (fixed dates for the Goroka Show and Kalam Festival)
Price includes	Accommodation in double room All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) + water Expert English-speaking guides in each region All transfers by private vehicle or pirogue 1 domestic flight PNG Air (Muchu-Madang) 2 charter flights Mount Hagen – Simbai (return) VIP entry to the Goroka Show All the ceremonies and sing-sings described Tips for the main guide
Price does not include	Additional night in Port Moresby before departure (€140 per room) 2 Air Niugini domestic flights to book: – Sept 10: POM-WWK PX140 15:05-16:25 – Sept 26: HGU-POM PX189 16:50-17:50 International flights Papua visa Personal tips Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks Personal expenses

Detailed Program

• Day 1: Arrival Port Moresby - Birdwatching - Flight Wewak
  Welcome at Port Moresby International Airport. After a light breakfast, transfer to the domestic terminal for your flight to Wewak. Before the flight, short birdwatching excursion in the vicinity of the airport.

  Accommodation: Wewak Boutique Hotel – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 2: Towards the Sepik River - Kanganamun Village
  Morning departure by private vehicle for Pagwi (2h30 drive), then board a motorized pirogue on the majestic Sepik River. Sail to the village of Kanganamun, one of the most beautiful Iatmul villages in the Middle Sepik. Installation in your guesthouse on stilts. Discover the village and its House of the Spirits, and meet the locals.

  Accommodation: Sepik Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 3: Middle Sepik - Chambri Lakes: Kirimbit and Aibom
  A day exploring the Chambri lakes. Visit to the village of Kirimbit, renowned for its woodcarvers. Watch the craftsmen at work and learn about ancestral carving techniques. Sail to the village ofAibom, where women perpetuate the pottery tradition unique to the Sepik region. Demonstration of pottery-making using methods handed down from mother to daughter for generations.

  Accommodation: Sepik Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 4: Middle Sepik - Palembe Village - Life of the Sepik women
  Sail to the village of Palembe, famous for its sculptures and tribal art. In-depth visit of the village and privileged meeting with a group of Sepik women who share their daily lives, their activities (fishing, cooking, crafts) and their role in traditional society. An authentic moment of exchange on the life of Papuan women.

  Accommodation: Sepik Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 5: Sing-Sing to Kanganamun village
  A special day in Kanganamun with a sing-sing organized in your honor. Village dancers dress in their finest traditional finery, body paint and feather headdresses. Traditional dancing and singing accompanied by drumming. Free time to chat with villagers, take photos and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Sepik.

  Accommodation: Sepik Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 6: Middle Sepik to Wewak - Muchu Island
  Last morning on the Sepik. Sail back to Pagwi, then on to Wewak. In the afternoon, transfer by boat to Muchu Island, a small island paradise with white sandy beaches. Settle into your waterfront bungalow. Free time to relax, swim, snorkel or simply enjoy the idyllic setting.

  Accommodation: Muchu Island Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 7: Flight to Madang
  Free morning on Muchu Island to enjoy the beach and sea. Transfer to Wewak in the early afternoon, then flight to Madang, considered Papua New Guinea’s most beautiful city. Check-in at your seaside hotel.

  Accommodation: Madang Resort Hotel – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 8: Tour of Madang
  A day to discover Madang and the surrounding area. Visit the colorful local market, the port and the town. Excursion to the surrounding area: coastal villages, plantations, panoramic views of the bay. Madang is renowned for its natural beauty, tropical gardens and peaceful atmosphere.

  Accommodation: Madang Resort Hotel – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 9: Madang to Goroka
  Spectacular drive through the mountains to Goroka (6-7 hours). Crossing a variety of landscapes, from tropical coast to mountainous highlands. Photo stops and village breaks along the way. Arrival in Goroka late afternoon.

  Accommodation: Pacific Garden Hotel – Meals: P.D.D. – Transfer : 6-7h drive

• Day 10: Goroka Show - Day 1
  First day of the Goroka Show! Early departure for the festival grounds. Stroll among the dancers getting ready, with their elaborate headdresses of feathers, shells, leaves and body paint. This is the ideal time for extraordinary portraits. The show begins: hundreds of dancers sing and drum to their own rhythms. An exhilarating travel experience! Picnic on site.

  Accommodation: Pacific Garden Hotel – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 11: Goroka Show - Mudmen Asaro - City Tour
  Second day of the Goroka Show. Another full day at the festival to enjoy the different tribal groups and the unique atmosphere. In the late afternoon, visit an Asaro tribal village to watch the famous Mudmen perform their spectacular clay masks. A quick tour of Goroka at the end of the day.

  Accommodation: Pacific Garden Hotel – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 12: Goroka to Mt Hagen - Jiwaka Village
  Drive to Mount Hagen through the magnificent Wahgi Valley. Stop in a village of the Jiwaka tribe for a cultural encounter and a sing-sing organized in your honor. Discover the traditional way of life and local customs. Continuation to Mount Hagen.

  Accommodation: McRoyal Hotel – Meals: P.D.D. – Transfer : 3h drive

• Day 13: Mount Hagen charter flight to Simbai
  Early departure for the local airport. Spectacular charter flight to Simbai, a remote village in the heart of the Bismarck mountain range, with no road access. Flight over breathtaking mountain scenery. From the airstrip, a 45-minute walk to your authentic village accommodation. Settle in and discover this timeless place for the first time.

  Accommodation: Simbai Village Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 14: Kalam Festival - Day 1
  First day of the Kalam Festival. You’ll witness the initiation ceremonies of young boys into adulthood, a sacred and rare event. Traditional dances, songs and ancestral rituals in a spectacular mountain setting. Privileged encounters with village elders who share the history and significance of these age-old traditions.

  Accommodation: Simbai Village Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 15: Kalam Festival - Day 2
  Second day of the Kalam Festival. Continuation of the initiation ceremonies. Participate in village life, share meals with your hosts, learn about mountain agriculture and survival techniques in this isolated environment. A unique immersive experience in one of Papua’s most remote regions.

  Accommodation: Simbai Village Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 16: Charter flight to Mt Hagen - Flight to Port Moresby - City tour
  After breakfast and a farewell to the village, walk back to the airstrip. Charter flight to Mount Hagen, then domestic flight to Port Moresby. Check-in at your hotel. Weather permitting, visit to the Nature Park with its flora and fauna, and the National Museum with its impressive collection of masks and traditional objects.

  Accommodation: Airways Hotel – Meals: P.D.D.

• Day 17: International flight
  Transfer to the international airport for your departure flight. End of this exceptional adventure through Papua New Guinea.

  Meals : Breakfast