Jungles, Rivers & Beaches of Papua New Guinea

Duration: 13 days / 12 nights

Price Per Person: From $18,700

Destinations: Papua New Guinea

This itinerary promises an unforgettable experience exploring some of Papua New Guinea's most remote locations – Tari in the Southern Highlands and the Sepik River. You'll meet the Huli Tribe's wigmen, visit villages with beautiful primitive art and be treated to a tribal performance of Sing-Sing. At the end of your trek you have time to relax on the beautiful coastline of Madang.

Highlights

Trekking through rainforest and staying in comfortable eco-lodges along the way
Canoeing along the Sepik River to visit remote communities to explore ethnic art
Leisure time on the beautiful beaches of Madang
Experience the traditional Huli Tribe celebration of Sing-Sing

Day-by-Day

Day 1 Port Moresby

On the first day of your Papua New Guinea adventure you'll land in Port Moresby and check into your hotel. Port Moresby has a selection of great properties that offer the full range of modern amenities for the traveler – we recommend Gateway Lodge, which is set in tropical gardens and has a pool. In the afternoon, head out on a tour of Port Moresby and enjoy the relaxed island pace.

Day 2 Tari

Today your trek begins. In the morning you'll take a flight to Tari where you'll meet your guide and transfer to the trek site. Tari is home to the Huli Tribe with their infamous wigmen. You'll spend your first trek night at the traditionally-styled Ambua Lodge in your private spacious hut, positioned on the hillside with spectacular mountain views.

Day 3 Tari

It's onward to Karida Village today, where you'll get to meet more local Huli villagers. On the way, you'll visit Hibure Bachelor Center and Skull Cave. In the afternoon, enjoy bird-watching and spirit dance in the village. Tonight you'll return to the modern comfort of Ambua Lodge.

Day 4 Tari

Enjoy another day in the village with the Huli Tribe. Today the wigmen will perform a traditional Sing-Sing celebration, dressed in full tribal costume. After the performance, enjoy a traditional lunch roasted in an underground-oven and in the evening, listen to one of the elders during story-telling time.

Day 5 Kumul

This morning you will be transferred by air from Tari to Kumul, where you can enjoy spotting Papua New Guinea's beautiful tropical birds. On the way you'll via Mount Hagen and have the chance to browse through a colorful local market. In the evening, settle into the peaceful Kumul Lodge, an eco-lodge made from all natural materials and run by local villagers.

Day 6 Mount Hagen

Rise early today and embark upon a full-day tour to Wabag, returning to Mount Hagen. Wabag Town is the biggest provincial capital in Papua New Guinea and here you can enjoy local coffee. In the evening, check into the Quality Hotel Highlander.

Day 7 Ambunti

Today you'll bid adieu to Mount Hagen and fly to Ambunti. Here, you'll meet up with your guide and begin the four-day Middle Sepik Canoeing Art Tour. By exploring the waterways in this fashion, you'll get to see intricately carved spirit houses and remote villages dotted throughout virgin forest. Spend the evening at the Ambunti Lodge.

Day 8 Ambunti

Continue your journey through the waterways of the Sepik River via motorized canoe, stopping at villages and meeting different ethnic communities. Many villages you meet on this trip still practice ancient customs – secret ceremonies performed within spirit houses. You'll spend tonight in the fully self-contained Ambunti Lodge.

Day 9 Ambunti

Today is dedicated to exploring the waterways of the Sepik River on your motorized canoe, pushing through thick rainforest and mangroves, passing schools and villages and spotting all sorts of wildlife. It's your final night staying at Ambunti Lodge on the banks of the beautiful Sepik River, before making your way back to the more developed parts of Papua New Guinea.

Day 10 Wewak

Fly to the beautiful coastal town of Wewak, built on an estuary. Upon landing, you'll be escorted to your hotel, Windjammer Beach Resort. Enjoy the day at your leisure, perhaps exploring nearby islands or just relaxing on the beach with sunset drinks.

Day 11 Madang

Today you will fly from Wewak to Madang, where you'll transfer to the relaxed beachfront surrounds of Jais Aben Resort. You have a full day here at your leisure to enjoy Madang's coastline, the beach and the facilities at the resort.

Day 12 Madang

You have another full day of beach time today, where you can relax, swim and sunbathe with the addition options of snorkeling, diving, or going on a day canoe trip to Kranget Island. On Kranget Island you can enjoy fresh seafood and crystal clear blue waters.

Day 13 Departure

On your final day you'll take a flight from Madang to Port Moresby where we will assist your onward travels and departure flight.

SUGGESTED HOTELS FOR DAY 1

Gateway Hotel

The Gateway Hotel is a short drive from both the international and domestic terminals and is surrounded by lush, tropical gardens. The hotel has 115 rooms and apartments, all with balconies, internet, cable TV, air conditioning and tea/coffee facilities. The Ani Ani Restaurant serves some of the finest international cuisine in Port Moresby, and features a buffet from a different part of the globe each night. Alternatively, choose one of Enzo's pizzas in the Rattle 'n' Hum Pizzeria & Bar. The hotel also boasts a beauty salon and souvenir shop.

PREFERRED HOTEL

Airways Hotel

Australasia's leading airport hotel and one fo the finest hotels in Papua New Guinea, the Airways Hotel is located on a hillside overlooking Jacksons International Airport. Seevn guest room and suite types are available, ranging from the well-appointed Bacchus Room to the spacious Presidential Suite. All accommodations are decorated in an airy, modern style with warm wooden furnishings and flooring, crisp white linens and standard mod cons; such as WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities, and a 49-inch smart TV. Hotel amenities include a health and fitness center with sauna and steam rooms, a rooftop swimming pool, a spa, plus tennis and squash courts. There are five drinking and dining options for guests, including fine dining at the Bacchus Restaurant.

PREFERRED HOTEL

Hilton Port Moresby

A modern building with impressive architecture, the Hilton Port Moresby is one of the best accommodation options in the capital. Lodgings include five guest room types, including an accessible room, as well as two suite types. All are furnished in a contemporary style with standard mod cons for convenience. Club rooms offer access to a private lounge, which serves complimentary refreshments. Hotel facilities include a rooftop outdoor pool, a hot tub, a gym and a convention center with an open-air amphitheater. For dining, guests can enjoy drinks and deli-style food at Copper, all-day international dining at Feast, coffee and snacks at Halo, traditional dishes at Mumu, as well as alfresco cocktails at Summit.

Ambua Lodge

Nestled amongst the Doma Peaks near Tari, almost 7000 feet above sea level, is Ambua Lodge. An award-winning, eco-friendly lodge boasting magnificent views of the Tari Valley below, and the perfect base for encountering the famous Wigmen, the lodge consists of forty round houses set amongst landscaped gardens and built almost exclusively from natural materials. Each unit features 180-degree picture windows to soak in the view, en-suite bathrooms, and electric blankets and duvets for the cool highland evenings. Ambua has 24-hour, eco-friendly electricity, provided by its own hydroelectric power plant that generates clean, natural energy from a nearby mountain stream. The main lodge building houses the bar, dining and lounge areas and a cozy central fireplace.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAY 5

Kumul Lodge

Located in the lush rural highlands of Papua New Guinea, Kumul Lodge is a renowned eco-lodge offering comfortably rustic accommodation. Owned and operated by people from the local community, guests staying at Kumul Lodge contribute to the immediate area through their commercial support and in turn, guests enjoy cozy accommodation surrounded by native wildlife and enjoying local hospitality. The architecture is of simple, traditional style using local materials, comprising wing rooms or separate private cabins and a communal lounge with a wide verandah great for bird-watching. One of the highlights of staying here is the abundance of endemic bird species, many of which are vividly colored and accustomed to humans.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAY 6

Quality Hotel Highlander

The Highlander Hotel in Mount Hagen, gateway to the Western Highlands and its vibrant culture of tribal sing-sing rituals, is one of the best hotels in PNG and offers many comforts one might not expect in the region, such as an outdoor heated swimming pool, tennis courts, and a choice of dining options. The hotel's buildings are inspired by traditional architecture, with thatched roofs, and are surrounded by landscaped grounds. Each of the 60 rooms has a color television, IDD telephone, air conditioning and of course a private bathroom. Some rooms are equipped with broadband Internet, and access is available to all guests in the business center. The Poolside Restaurant serves breakfast and lunch on an outdoor terrace and Palmuri serves an à la carte dinner menu by an open stone fireplace. The Highlander is 10 miles from the Mount Hagen Airport (HGU).

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAYS 7-9

Ambunti Lodge

Perched on the banks of the Sepik River, Ambunti Lodge provides basic accommodation and restaurant services. Guests may choose from twin or double rooms, and recent upgrades have resulted in air-conditioning and private bathrooms in each, making the rooms among the most comfortable available in the area. The lodge also features a generator to keep power going during a power-cut. Ambunti Lodge is the ideal base from which to explore the exotic and fascinating Sepik region, with its rich tribal cultures.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAY 10

Windjammer Beach Resort

This beachfront resort is in a convenient position halfway between Wewak town and the airport, offering comfortable accommodation for all ages. The Windjammer is one of Wewak’s oldest and most iconic resorts with a strong local following and a peaceful position on the waterfront, fringed by swaying palms. The Windjammer offers a wide selection of rooms and of of its highlights is a carved crocodile bar. The Windjammer is within walking distance of shops, parks and restaurants and the beach is suitable for swimming and surfing.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAYS 11-12

Jais Aben Resort

13 DAYS

FROM

$16,300

PER PERSON

Enquire

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.

Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

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