• Trip Overview
• Detailed Program

Trip Overview

This comprehensive and exciting exploration of Papua New Guinea showcases the country’s cultural and geographical diversity in an exceptional itinerary that begins with the famous Goroka Show, one of the world’s largest tribal gatherings established in the 1950s.

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, stopping at Kagai in Simbu province.

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. An off-the-beaten-track experience that includes the hospitality of a local village guesthouse.

The journey continues into the mysterious swampy region of the mighty Sepik River. You meet the Iatmul people, who ritually scarify themselves in reference to their totemic animal, the crocodile. In the impressive Spirit Houses, you’ll witness ancestral customs and discover tribal art. Travelling by motorized pirogue, you visit villages where families offer you a warm welcome.

• Goroka Show: over 100 tribal groups celebrate
• Mudmen of Asaro and their spectacular masks
• Overnight in a Kuman village in Kagai
• Kalam Festival in Simbai: authentic initiation ceremony
• Nights in a village guesthouse in Simbai
• Relaxation on the paradise island of Muchu
• 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)

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Starting point	Port Moresby – International Airport
Physical level	Moderate – Short walks, pirogue transfers, charter flight
Accommodation	Comfortable hotels (Port Moresby, Goroka, Mt Hagen) + Authentic guesthouses (Kagai, Simbai, Sepik, Muchu)
Best period	September-October (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 2 charter flights Mount Hagen – Simbai (return) VIP entry to the Goroka Show All ceremonies and sing-sings described Tips for the main guide
Price does not include	Additional night in Port Moresby before departure (€140 per room) 3 domestic Air Niugini flights to book: – Sept 17: POM-GKA – Sept 26: HGU-WWK – Oct 2: WWK-POM International flights Papua visa Personal tips Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks Personal expenses

Detailed Program

• Day 1: Arrival Port Moresby - Birdwatching
  Welcome at Port Moresby International Airport by your guide. Check-in at your hotel. Depending on arrival time, shortbirdwatching excursion in the area or rest at the hotel.

  Accommodation: Airways Hotel – Meals: D.

• Day 2: Flight to Goroka - Mudmen Asaro - City tour
  After breakfast, transfer to the domestic terminal for your flight to Goroka. On arrival, visit a village of the Asaro tribe to witness the performance of the famous Mudmen (mud men) with their spectacular clay masks. Light tour of Goroka and surrounding area. Check-in at your hotel.

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

• Day 3: 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 4: Goroka Show - Day 2 - Towards Kagai
  Second day of the Goroka Show. Another full day at the festival to enjoy the different tribal groups and the unique atmosphere. Late afternoon drive to Kagai, a small village perched on a hill in Simbu province, home to the Kuman tribe. Settle into a small local guesthouse with a breathtaking view of the mountains. Overnight in basic comfort, but in an atmosphere rich in authenticity.

  Accommodation: Kagai Guesthouse – Meals: P.D.D. – Transfer : 2h drive

• Day 5: Simbu village - Kagai road to Mount Hagen
  Wake up early and visit the village of Kagai. Meet the locals and discover the traditional Kuman way of life. Sing-sing organized by the local group in your honor. After lunch, drive to Mount Hagen through the magnificent Wahgi Valley. Check-in at your hotel.

  Accommodation: McRoyal Hotel – Meals: P.D.D. – Transfer : 2h drive

• Day 6: 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 7: 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 8: 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 9: Charter flight to Mount Hagen
  After breakfast and a farewell to the village, walk back to the airstrip. Charter flight to Mount Hagen. Check-in at your hotel. Afternoon free to relax or explore Mount Hagen at your leisure.

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

• Day 10: Flight to Wewak - Muchu Island
  Domestic flight to Wewak. 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 11: Towards the Sepik River - Kanganamun Village
  Free morning on Muchu Island. After lunch, transfer to Wewak, then drive to Pagwi (2h30). 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. Settle into your stilted guesthouse. First discovery of the village and its House of Spirits.

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

• Day 12: 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.

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

• Day 13: 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 14: 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 15: Middle Sepik to Wewak
  Last morning on the Sepik. Sailing back to Pagwi, then on to Wewak. Check-in at your beachfront hotel. Free time to enjoy the beach or relax.

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

• Day 16: Flight Port Moresby - Nature Park and Museum
  Flight to Port Moresby. Visit to the Nature Park, home to the country’s flora and fauna, then to the National Museum with its impressive collection of historical masks and traditional objects. Check-in at your hotel.

  Accommodation: Airways Hotel – Meals : P.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