Classic Papua New Guinea

Arrive in Papua New Guinea, a remarkable Pacific nation renowned for its extraordinary cultural and biological diversity, with hundreds of distinct communities and languages alongside tropical rainforests, volcanic landscapes, pristine coastlines, and vibrant coral reefs. After completing immigration and customs formalities at Port Moresby, meet your local representative and driver in the arrivals hall for your private transfer to the Hilton Port Moresby. Settle into your accommodation and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

This morning, transfer to Port Moresby Airport for your flight to Mount Hagen, where you will connect with a charter flight to Karawari. Upon arrival, continue by boat along the Karawari River to Karawari Lodge, taking in the remote landscapes of the Sepik region before settling in and enjoying lunch. In the afternoon, visit a nearby village for an introduction to the traditional way of life of the Sepik people. Learn about the process of making sago, an important staple food, and explore the village while gaining insight into local customs and daily life. Return to the lodge and relax with a drink on the balcony overlooking the surrounding rainforest and waterways.

If you are an avid birdwatcher, you may opt to join an early-morning birding excursion before breakfast. Later this morning, board a local barge for a day exploring the Karawari River and its surrounding lakes. Visit a remote village school for insight into education and its important role in creating opportunities for communities throughout this isolated region. Reboard the barge and enjoy lunch as you continue along the river before exploring the picturesque lakes. Later, visit a local village to meet master woodcarvers and see traditional spirit houses, learning about their significance in local culture and male initiation rites. Return to Karawari Lodge in the mid-afternoon for time at leisure. Before sunset, take to the river once more, enjoying a refreshing drink aboard the barge as you observe the sights and sounds of village life along the riverbanks at the close of the day.

This morning, travel by boat along the Karawari River to meet your charter aircraft for the flight to Mount Hagen. Upon arrival, transfer by private vehicle to Rondon Ridge, where you can settle in and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, explore the montane rainforest surrounding the lodge on a guided nature walk with a specialist birding guide. Keep watch for some of the region’s endemic birdlife, including the remarkable birds of paradise for which Papua New Guinea is renowned. Return to the lodge in the evening and enjoy shared set-menu dinner.

Depart Rondon Ridge this morning and travel by private 4WD through the scenic Highlands toward Goroka. Along the way, enjoy a private cultural encounter with the Huli Wigmen, renowned for their elaborate ceremonial wigs crafted from human hair and decorated with colorful feathers and other natural materials. Learn about the traditions, rituals, and social customs that have shaped Huli culture for generations. Continue toward Goroka, stopping in Chimbu Province to meet the distinctive Bone Men, also known as Omo Masalai, and hear the stories and traditions behind their striking body decoration. Arrive in Goroka in the late afternoon, check into your accommodation, and enjoy dinner this evening.

This morning, travel into the Asaro Valley to meet the renowned Asaro Mudmen, distinguished by their imposing clay masks and bodies traditionally coated in pale clay. Experience a cultural performance while learning about the legends and traditions surrounding their distinctive appearance, said to have originated as a means of frightening rival communities. Following lunch, visit a local coffee producer for an in-depth introduction to one of Papua New Guinea’s most important crops. Follow the journey of coffee from tree to cup, learning about cultivation, harvesting, processing, and the supply chain that carries locally grown beans to markets around the world. Gain insight into the important role coffee plays in the Goroka region, supporting local livelihoods and connecting Highlands communities with the global coffee industry.

This morning, transfer to Goroka Airport for your flight to Port Moresby, where you will connect with an onward flight to Kokopo. Upon arrival, meet your local team and transfer privately to your hotel. Set on the shores of East New Britain, Kokopo provides a gateway to a region shaped by dramatic volcanoes, World War II history, rich marine life, and the traditions of the Tolai people. After checking in and enjoying lunch, join your guide for a stroll through Kokopo Market, the province’s bustling center of local trade and an excellent introduction to everyday life in the region. Afterwards, visit a local school to meet students and learn about education and daily school life in East New Britain.

After breakfast, board your private motorboat, a Maritimo Sportfish, for a comfortable journey across the waters of East New Britain to the Duke of York Islands. Visit a local island community and gain insight into a way of life shaped by more than two centuries of contact with visiting traders and ships, offering an interesting contrast to the remote communities encountered in Karawari. Enjoy a beach barbecue before taking to the water to explore the region’s exceptional marine environment. Snorkel over colorful reefs and dramatic underwater drop-offs, with the opportunity to see submerged Japanese Zero aircraft from World War II. Suitable for both experienced and novice snorkelers, the excursion combines island culture, marine life, and wartime history. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner this evening.

This morning, explore Rabaul’s World War II history, beginning at Yamamoto’s Bunker, associated with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and the Japanese command during the occupation. Learn about the extensive network of tunnels excavated throughout the Gazelle Peninsula to shelter personnel, equipment, and supplies from Allied air raids, and visit the remains of the Old New Guinea Club. Continue to the area’s hot springs, take in views of Tavurvur volcano, and visit the Japanese Submarine Base and Rabaul Volcanological Observatory. This afternoon, you may also visit Bita Paka War Cemetery, commemorating Commonwealth servicemen who died in the region during the two World Wars.

Later, experience a private performance of the Baining Fire Dance, or Linganga, a remarkable ceremonial tradition unique to East New Britain. As evening falls, initiated Baining men wearing elaborate masks perform around and through the flames to rhythms beaten on bamboo, offering a memorable insight into one of Papua New Guinea’s most distinctive cultural traditions.

Transfer to Rabaul Airport this morning for your flight back to Port Moresby. Upon arrival, you will be assisted with your transit to connect to your onward international flight home.