7-Nights Cultural Encounters of New Guinea from $7,672

Goway Travel

OFFER ID 1722557

Epic Scenery, Off the Beaten Path, Unique Accommodation, Wildlife Encounters A private-guided adventure in Papua New Guinea, trace Wahgi Valley ridges and Sepik waterways, meeting living traditions, rainforest birds and river art.

Trip Overview:

This 8-day Papua New Guinea vacation takes you into the bush to visit remote villages, encounter Indigenous cultures, and gain insight into live as it’s been lived for thousands of years. It features moderate accommodations, and shared tours, and is perfect for globetrotters that want to go well off the beaten track.

Your journey across Papua New Guinea begins in Port Moresby where you’ll meet your tour staff and board your flight to Mount Hagen, a town in the Wahgi Valley. After a night on the perches of Mount Kuta overlooking the valley, you’ll fly onward to Karwari, which serves as your entry point to the dense jungles and remote villages of the mainland. You’ll have two days in Karawari to explore the surrounding jungle. Head up the waterways of the Karawari River alongside canoe boatmen and visit villages where you can admire the intricate artworks and unique ways of life of the Indigenous inhabitants. You’ll also have a chance to see magnificent animal life, including the colourful birds that live in the area.

From Karawari connect back to Mount Hagen to explore the Wahgi Valley and surrounding areas. You’ll meet the Melpa people, who continue to live subsistence lifestyles and have a chance to learn about their culture and ways of interacting with the natural world. If you love flowers, you’ll also be in luck as you’ll spot a stunning range of orchids and other tropical blooms.

The final stop on your trek across Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby, where you’ll spend a night exploring the nation’s capital. You’ll then return to the airport to connect back home.

Highlights:

Fly from Port Moresby to Mount Hagen, surrounded by the fertile Wahgi Valley and misty mountain peaks.
Journey by charter into the Sepik region, where Karawari Lodge overlooks endless jungle and winding rivers.
Cruise along the Karawari River, visiting remote villages alive with ancestral art, carvings and rhythmic drums.
Return to Mount Hagen for rainforest walks and birdwatching amid orchids and vivid Birds of Paradise.
Explore the Highlands’ Melpa villages before ending your journey in Port Moresby with a city tour and coastal views.

Included Services:

Arrival and departure transfers
8 nights moderate accommodation
Return flights betwwen Mount Hagen and Karawari
Sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary
Local guides
Meals as indicated

Excluded Services:

Travel insurance
International, domestic airfare & airfare taxes
Meals and beverages not explicitly listed as included
Gratuities
Optional excursions
Items of a personal nature
Visa fees, if applicable

7 nights from $7,672 per person

Itinerary

Day 1: Port Moresby to Mount Hagen

Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will be met and greeted by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred from your incoming international flight to your onwards domestic flight to Mount Hagen. Mount Hagen town is in the upper Wahgi Valley - a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Perched high on Mount Kuta is Rondon Ridge, with unbelievable views of the Wahgi Valley.

Hotel: Rondon Ridge Lodge (3 Star Rating)

Rondon Ridge is a 40-minute drive from the town of Mount Hagen and just under an hour from the airport. There are several daily flights between Mount Hagen and the capital, Port Moresby.

Rondon Ridge is a perfect hub for access to Ambua Lodge, Karawari Lodge, MV Sepik Spirit and Bensbach Wildlife Lodge.

Meal(s): Dinner

Day 2: Mount Hagen to Karawari

After breakfast you will be transferred to Mt. Hagen Airport for your charter flight from Mount Hagen to Karawari, the mountains start to give way until eventually vast tracts of dense tropical lowland rainforest cover the landscape for as far as the eye can see. From Karawari airstrip, you will be transferred by river boat and four-wheel drive to Karawari Lodge. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometers of dense tropical jungle. It is inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, while still providing modern comforts.

Proceed with lunch then follow with an afternoon visit to Kundiman village for a sago making demonstration. Sago is the Staple food for the river people.

Hotel: Karawari Lodge (3 Star Rating)

Guests are accommodated in ten separate cottages, each built out of local bush materials and inspired by traditional architecture. Each cottage has two private twin rooms, each with modern en-suite bathrooms, and a communal veranda. Despite its remoteness, the lodge has 220V electricity, hot and cold water, comfortable mosquito-netted beds, ceiling fans, and a breezy veranda - all make for a welcome sanctuary after a day's exploration.