| Day 1 | Port Moresby |
Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will be met and transferred to the Holiday Inn. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Meals: Dinner Lodging: Holiday Inn | |
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| Day 2 | Port Moresby/Mt. Hagen |
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Mt. Hagen. Upon arrival in Mt. Hagen, you will be transferred to Rondon Ridge, one of the premier accommodations in the western highlands, nestled on the edge of Wahgi Valley. Enjoy beautiful views of the valley, which contains some of the oldest evidence of agriculture. After settling in at Rondon Ridge, you will embark on a half-day birding and nature tour around the walking tracks of Rondon Ridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Rondon Ridge | |
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| Day 3 | Mt. Hagen |
Spend a full day exploring Mount Hagen and Wahgi Valley. The Mount Hagen area is home to the Melpa people, who still live a largely traditional lifestyle in the face of modernity. A stunning array of birds, orchids, and other plant life live in the mountains surrounding Wahgi Valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Rondon Ridge | |
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| Day 4 | Mt. Hagen/Sepik River |
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Sepik region. From the Timbunke airstrip, you will be transferred to the air-conditioned comfort of the MV Sepik Spirit. Inspired by the architecture of the "haus tambaran," or spirit house, the MV Sepik Spirit has a truly unique design. With its shallow draught, it allows travel to rarely visited areas of the Sepik River and its tributaries in comfort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: MV Sepik Spirit | |
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| Day 5 - 6 | Sepik River |
Two full days are spent exploring the many waterways of the Sepik and its tributaries, including visits to traditional Sepik Villages. The Sepik River is one of the largest rivers in the world in terms of flow. Steeped in mystery, the people of the Sepik area have fascinated anthropologists like Margaret Mead since the area was first visited. Part of the mystery and attraction of the Sepik peoples is their amazing carvings, now famous all over the world. The river banks where the vessel operates are dotted with many large traditional villages each with its own unique "haus tambaran," or spirit house, decorated with ancestral figures, carvings, massive garamut drums, and secretive ritual flutes. The Sepik is a gallery of tribal art: each village boasts a unique style, and every villager is an artisan. Mingle with the friendly people and experience a culture that encounters few outsiders each year. Long after you have left the lush jungle, raucous birds, spirit houses, carvings, and endless waterways, the mysticism of the Sepik will remain unforgettably etched in your memory.
Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners Lodging: MV Sepik Spirit | |
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| Day 7 | Karawari |
You will be transferred to Karawari Lodge by riverboat today. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometers of dense tropical jungle. Inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, the lodge still provides modern comforts. You are now in the middle of “Arambak” country, where locals pole dug-out canoes, the drums throb, the wild birds call, and traditional village lifestyles continue unchanged.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Karawari Lodge | |
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| Day 8 | Karawari/Goroka |
Take a charter aircraft from Karawari to Goroka today. Goroka, home of the famous and intriguing Asaro Mudmen, will be your base for the 2009 Goroka Cultural Show.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Bird of Paradise Hotel | |
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| Day 9 - 10 | Goroka Show |
Spend these two days enjoying the cultural extravaganza that is the Goroka Show. The shows were first held in the 1950s as a means of gathering together the different tribes and clans. At times there could be more than 40,000 painted warriors dancing to the beat of the Kundu drums. Amongst the performers are the legendary mud men of Asaro. Tribal folklore records that centuries ago the warriors of Asaro were defeated in a tribal fight "payback" raid, and, to make themselves look fierce in the process, covered their bodies with grey mud. According to legend, the ruse worked. Their enemies fled at the sight of these ghostly apparitions. The mud men recreate the drama at the Goroka Show.
Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners Lodging: Bird of Paradise Hotel | |
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| Day 11 | Goroka/Tari |
Fly by charter plane from Goroka to Tari. Tari Valley is the home of the Huli, a colourful and proud people who still live largely the same way that their ancestors did. Ambua Lodge is high on the slopes of the Tari Valley, with magnificent views of the valley below and surrounding forests. The afternoon is spent exploring the area surrounding Ambua – high mountain forests with roaring waterfalls beckon the intrepid traveler.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Ambua Lodge | |
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| Day 12 | Tari |
A full day of ecological and culturally based touring are sure to satiate those yearning for discovery. The Tari area is home to an incredible 13 species of birds of paradise, as well as numerous orchid species. Learn how the Huli live and interact with their environment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Ambua Lodge | |
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| Day 13 | Ambua/Mt. Hagen/Port Moresby |
As your tour draws to a close, you depart from Ambua by charter to Mount Hagen. Upon arrival in Mount Hagen you will be met and transferred to your connection from Mount Hagen to Port Moresby. On your arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Holiday Inn | |
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| Day 14 | Port Moresby/Onward |
You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight today. Meals: Breakfast | |
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