Papua New Guinea Crocodile Festival

Duration: 12 days / 11 nights

Price Per Person: From $11,700

Interests: Diving, Trekking

Destinations: Papua New Guinea

This 12-day itinerary, handcrafted by Remote Lands, takes you through some of Papua New Guinea’s most beautiful landscapes, that will no doubt leave a lasting imprint on your memory. Scuba dive the pristine shores in the company of whale sharks, explore mysterious caves and thick jungles, and watch locals interact with alligators at the Sepik Crocodile Festival. (NB - the Crocodile Festival itself takes place every August).

Highlights

Trek through lush throngs of jungle foliage to waterfalls, caves, and local villages
Dive with exotic Papua New Guinea sealife
Experience the Sepik Crocodile Festival in all its glory
Play Indiana Jones at one of the Kaironk River Valley’s many archaeological sites

Day-by-Day

Day 1 Alotau

Arrive at Alotau’s Gurney airport, where you’ll be transferred by car and boat to your deluxe Ocean Villa at the unique, tucked away Tawali Resort. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure, doing whatever you wish - be it exploring the resort’s stunning shoreline, or relaxing by the pool.

Day 2 Alotau

Today, you’ll spend an entire day scuba diving the pristine waters of Lauadi, a nearby dive site frequented by whale sharks and hammerheads. Take a midday break for a gourmet picnic lunch, and continue your exotic dive adventure in the afternoon, before returning to your Ocean Villa at Tawali Resort.

Day 3 Alotau

Explore the thrilling jungles that surround Tawali Resort, trekking through lush, verdant foliage to discover powerful waterfalls, mysterious skull caves, and charming local villages, accompanied by your seasoned local guide. Bed down once again at Tawali Resort.

Day 4 Madang

Today you’ll head back to Port Moresby, the seaside capital of Papua New Guinea, where you’ll be met by a local guide who will whisk you away for lunch at a great little cafe. Catch your flight to Madang, after which you’ll be escorted to your Waterfront Executive King Bungalow at the Jais Aben Resort. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.

Day 5 Madang

Glide through the azure sea to Planet Rock and Barracuda Point dive sites today, where you may come face-to-face with whale sharks, who are frequent visitors. Return to your luxury room at Jais Aben Resort, to relax before enjoying a buffet dinner.

Day 6 Madang

Today, you can enjoy a choice of activities, from either a full-day canoeing expedition down one of Madang’s picturesque streams, to a morning dive trip followed by an afternoon sea kayak excursion through labyrinths of lush mangroves along the shoreline. Whatever your choice, return in the evening to your luxury room at Jais Aben Resort to rest up for the day ahead.

Day 7 Simbai & Kaironik Valley

Catch a plane with your local guide to Simbai, a unique, timewarped village, nestled in the highlands of Medang province, is isolated from the outside world but for charter planes. You’ll be greeted with a spectacular traditional welcome dance featuring exotic feathered headdresses. Next up, pay a visit to the cozy tribal museum, which holds the tribes’ sacred jewels in its coffers. After lunch, trek through the exciting Kaironk River Valley, famous for its wealth of archaeological digs. The challenging hike, which takes you over steep spurs, pig fences, and stream crossings, is well worth the effort. Along the way, you’ll likely be greeted by friendly local tribespeople crossing your path. Camp out overnight in a local village hut.

Day 8 Simbai & Kaironik Valley

Another challenging and thrilling day of trekking is ahead; today, you’ll once again hike through the ancient Kaironk River Valley, stopping along the way at famous archaeological dig sites, and enjoying a local village lunch in a stunningly picturesque location overlooking the river. Overnight once again in a local village hut.

Day 9 Ambunti

A plane will transport you on a picturesque journey to Ambunti today, where you’ll check in to Ambunti Lodge, escorted by your local guides. Once settled, you can venture to the Sepik Crocodile Festival, where you’ll be graced with a ringside seat to the performance area, which often offers displays of groups dancing with live crocodiles. The festival is organized by the WWF, and aims to promote the conservation of wild crocodiles. (NB the Crocodile Festival takes place every August.)

Day 10 Ambunti

Today, you may either choose to head back to the Sepik Crocodile Festival, or enjoy a full day trip up the Sanchi River, a tributary of the Sepik, on a motorized longboat canoe. The canoe trip will take you to Waskuk village, which holds unique artisan wonders. Your next stop will be Amaki, where you’ll transfer to a traditional dugout canoe for the return journey. Bed down in your air-conditioned room at Ambunti Lodge.

Day 11 Wewak

Leave Ambunti via a languid three-hour boat ride downstream, where you’ll be transferred to a four-wheel drive vehicle for a three-hour drive through the grassy plains of the Sepik Basin, lush tropical jungles, and picturesque villages, climbing to the cool Prince Alexander Range. Check in to your charming room at the In Wewak Boutique Hotel just in time to catch the sunset over the Bismark Sea from your verandah.

Day 12 Departure

Rise early today to catch your morning plane to Port Moresby. From here, local guides will help you with your international flight check-in onward.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAYS 1-3

Tawali Resort

This remote resort, only accessible by boat, is located on a volcanic bluff with expansive views of Milne Bay. The surrounding waters are crystal clear, and marine protection regulations keeps them that way. Guests can expect to see dolphin pods frolicking from time to time from their rooms overlooking the bay. This is an ideal diving locale, surrounded by pristine nature in and out of the ocean. The accommodation is made up of locally-styled lodges, built without the help of power tools by local workers. The resort’s dining room, decorated with 18-foot carved totems, features an al fresco dining area on the adjacent verandah. The hotel also has its own pool, and plenty of activities in the surrounding areas to keep guests happy and occupied.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAYS 4-6

Jais Aben Resort

Jais Aben Resort is located on 22 acres of a former coconut plantation, situated beautifully on the tip of a peninsula between the Bismarck Sea and the Nagada Harbour. Located directly on the seafront with beautiful views facing the open sea, it features twin bungalow style units, all strategically located to catch the sea breezes. All bungalows come with air conditioning, ceiling fan, TVs, fridges, and coffee/tea-making facilities, with some units featuring private verandas. The stylish Coco's Restaurant offers local and international cuisine, and the informal Bridge Bar & Grill is perfect for relaxed beachfront dining. The resort also boasts a well-stocked games room.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAYS 7-8

Simbai Village Guesthouse

Simbai Village Guesthouse provides an extremely basic sleeping quarters for those who truly want to experience the real culture of Madang, Papua New Guinea, spending a few nights living as the locals do in this isolated town with no roads in or out. The rooms here, which come in single and double form, are equipped with pit toilets, kerosene lanterns, and a kitchen with cooking utensils. The friendly staff are always ready to assist, from organizing trekking trips, providing local guides, to doing guests’ washing in the nearby stream.

SUGGESTED HOTEL FOR DAYS 9-10

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 11

In Wewak

13 DAYS

FROM

$16,300

PER PERSON

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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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