Papua New Guinea Revealed
Introduction
Rugged and remote; Papua New Guinea presents one of the final frontiers for adventurous travellers. On this special journey our aims are to spend time with some of its amazingly diverse peoples, discover exotic flora and fauna, smoking volcanic landscapes and tropical beaches straight out of paradise.
Sepik Canoe Safari
After some post-journey relaxation on Loloata Island, we fly to coastal Wewak; with its golden sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, it's the laid-back capital of Sepik province. At over 1000 kilometres long, the vast and ancient Sepik River is the lifeblood of the region and we aim to spend 4 days in exploration, travelling by motorised dugout canoe and staying in simple village homes. Along our journey we'll stop at peaceful stilt villages with their impressive haus tambarans (spirit houses), barter for a carving or two and scan the jungle and lakes for exotic birdlife.
Tropical Paradise and Volcanoes
Papua's largest island, New Britain has a frontier feel; planters and loggers have struggled to tame the rampant jungle and a chain of volcanoes, some still billowing smoke, run along the island's spine. We'll spend time in both the wild west and on the Gazelle Peninsula, where most of the capital Rabaul, still lies buried under a thick layer of black ash after the volcanoes Tuvurur and Vulcan erupted in 1994. Surrounded by azure seas, backed by white sandy beaches, a dazzling array of tropical fish and fabulous corals lie offshore and a number of wrecks lie in testament to WWII.
Duke of York Islands
Nestling between New Britain and New Ireland the beautiful “Dukes” are even more remote and the peaceful pace of island life; fishing, gardening, cooking and crafts, carry on in a timeless fashion. We stay in local homes to gain a closer insight into the lives of these friendly people. Shells are still traditionally used for barter; we'll be given some for use during our stay.
|
|
|
|
|
Details |
| |
Price Includes |
(HK-6207-P) |
| |
 |
Flights ( London -Singapore -Port Moresby - London ) |
|
Accomodation (9nts hotel, 4nts village hut/house,1nt plantation bungalow) |
|
| |
Suitability / Level |
Demanding |
| |
Theme |
Small Group Travel
(Click to Search All) |
| |
Max Group Size |
16 |
| |
|
| |
Itinerary
& Highlights |
| |
SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Among the many highlights featured on this tour, we particularly mention:
SEPIK RIVER – 4 day safari by motorised canoe, staying in riverside villages
MADANG – “Prettiest town in the Pacific”
WEST NEW BRITAIN – Smoking Volcanoes and Jungle of the wild West.
RABAUL & GAZELLE PENINSULA – Ash buried towns, WWII sites and golden beaches
DUKE OF YORK ISLAND – Experience Island life
Day 1. Tuesday. Join tour Loloata Island near Port Moresby
We start our adventure on Loloata Island, just outside of Port Moresby and the ideal place to relax after your long journey. Meaning “one hill” in local Motu language, Loloata is located in the tropical waters of Bootless Bay, where as well as taking it easy, there are opportunities for either snorkelling at nearby Lion Island, or swimming in the pristine waters surrounding the Island.
Day 2. Fly to Wewak; afternoon tour of area
We transfer early morning to Port Moresby Airport for our flight to Wewak, provincial capital of East Sepik Province, with an incredible diversity of cultural features and over 200 different language groups. The northern coastal town of Wewak is not only the gateway to the mighty Sepik River, but also an attractive town with palm fringed sandy beaches and interesting markets. Cape Wom, a short distance from Wewak, is where the Japanese surrender took place in
1945 and there are still many WWII relics and memorial sites in the surrounding areas.
This afternoon’s tour of Wewak provides an overview of the capital and includes Cape Wom National Park and Village, Mission Hill and a visit to the colourful local markets.
Day 3. Drive to Pagwi; commence motorizedcanoe safari
This morning, we travel south from Wewak to Pagwi by four wheel drive vehicle (approximately 3 hours drive depending on road conditions). The initial drive climbs into the hills behind Wewak, then continues via
rainforest sloping ground, before entering the Sepik River flood plain, where the rainforest is slowly being replaced by large grassy plains. Pagwi Village is located on the Middle Sepik River, which due to its road connection to Wewak, has become a significant point for the movement of produce and trade goods between villages and town. The Middle Sepik River is identified by the main language group of this area – Iatmul, which extends from Pagwi to Tambanum Village at the lower end of the River. At Pagwi we commence our journey on the Sepik River, one of the world’s great river systems. Travelling across this area by motorized canoe is a very special journey of exploration through a living gallery of tribal artistic expression. We glide past majestic Haus Tambaran (spirit houses) and
search for unique carvings, each with a story revealing the fascinating spiritual beliefs of the Sepik people. This sinuous river stretches almost 1,200 km from its source to the sea – it is the Amazon of Papua New Guinea ! Draining numerous tributaries from the Bewani and Toricelli mountains in the north, and the central range in the south, before entering the Bismarck sea, its actual course changes every wet season, creating huge oxbows that appear and disappear again in the course of a single season. Villages that have, over time, been built on the more permanent of the oxbows build "barrets", or cuttings from the new course taken by the river in order to maintain access to their villages. Our canoe has been carved from a tree in a traditional way, but has been adapted to take an outboard motor and seats have been added for comfort. As weswing out into the river, the canoe is expertly
handled by the driver and assistant, and we begin to appreciate the enormous volume of water that moves down this river. Travelling upriver to Ambunti, we pass other canoes and villages and realize that this River is a unique watery highway for the people of the area. The middle Sepik is often aptly described as the cultural heart of Papua New
Guinea, with its unique carvings, spirit houses and traditional culture, each village has developed its own artistic style. Ambunti is also a significant village for the local people, with an airstrip and administrative center. It is also the jumping off point for access to the Hunstein Ranges, a WWF declared wild life management area covering
540,000 acres. We’ll visit Tongwijamb villages to observe daily village activities and for the opportunity to see and purchase artifacts, before returning to Meno village.Village accommodation is basic. Sleeping arrangements are of a communal nature, washing is by bucket, or river and pit toilets (long drops) are the norm. Skimpy clothing may be considered offensive and modesty is appreciated.
Days 4 Sepik Canoe Safari
After breakfast we continue by canoe up river to Yesan and Yambon Villages. Yambon boasts one of the more significant "Haus Tambarans" or spirit houses associated with this area. Traditionally these houses were used for all activities involving men who were warriors and uninitiated boys. Women were forbidden to approach or enter Haus Tambaran, and death was the penalty for doing so. Things however have changed and female visitors are now permitted entry. In the past, a freshly procured human head was buried under each post of the Haus Tambaran, a practice that has also been discontinued. Master carvers populate both Yesan and Yambon Villages. Many of the
individual art forms are rigid, but each carving has a specific use and embodies an individual spirit. Carvings tend to take the form of Ancestral Masks – representing a specific ancestors, mythical siblings, protection against black magic, and Dance masks which are used to evoke specific spirits related to war or hunting. Both villages also have a significant Yam Culture. From Yambon, we travel southwards into the Wagu Lakes area and spend the night at Wagu Village, part of the Hunstein Wildlife management area.
Day 5. Visit Bird of Paradise sanctuary and canoe lower Sepik River
We travel by canoe across the lake to the Bird of Paradise Sancutary at Kanganamun. The birds are at their most active in the cool of the morning and, following a short hike through the forest, their distinctive cries or shrieks can be heard. We then depart Wagu for Aibom Pottery Village on Chambri Lakes. This area has the only clay suitable for
making this type of pottery, and is collected form pits at the foot of the Aibom mountains. The pottery is essential for food preparation and it is unique to the area. One of the most important pieces is the Gugumbe or fireplace
dish, a flattened or scooped out pot in which small fires can be built to enable cooking within village houses. Other pots are used for sago storage or cooking and traditional decoration is an important part of the pot construction. The pots are built using a pinch and coil technique, they are then set out in the sun to dry and are fired, usually just prior
to a market day. Firing usually only occurs for 30 to 60 minutes and the pots are considered "done" when they turn orange. This is a very low level of firing and the pots can be fragile in the extreme. We continue from Aibom, by canoe to Palimbe Village for our last village overnight stay.
Day 6. Canoe to Pagwi; drive Wewak
Travel back down the River is at a faster pace than on the way up, with the added push of the river to carry our canoe back to Pagwi. On return to Pagwi, we meet up with our 4WD vehicles for the road transfer back to Wewak. We travel via Maprik for an opportunity to explore the unique culture of the inland people, which is based on yam ceremonies and festivals. The Maprik area is also well known for its “sky scraper” Haus Tambaran, often compared to Parliament House in Port Moresby.
Day 7. Fly Madang; visit wildlife centre and pottery village
Very early this morning we transfer to Wewak Airport for our short flight to the delightful tropical garden township of Madang. Madang is a popular town, where we can experience a diverse range of cultural and natural attractions. The local market has a fine range of carvings, bilum bags, shells and colourful displays of exotic fruit and vegetables. The people of Madang comprise highlanders, river and coastal people, with islanders making up the remaining social group. Each society holds their own particular beliefs and traditions, based primarily on ancestral
spirits and the natural environment. Some cultures dates back over 50,000 years. After breakfast, our morning tour includes Madang township and market, with visits to Bilbil Village and Balek Wildlife Sanctuary. Bilbil is
a typical coastal village, where the people were renowned for building some of the
largest canoes in the Pacific. The women
make distinctive clay pots, which traditionally,
were used for trade along the coastline and
nearby islands. The spectacular wildlife area
of Balek is situated approximately 30
minutes from Madang and was the film
location for Pierce Brosnan’s “Robinson
Crusoe”. A lagoon-like sulphur creek,
surrounded by tropical rainforest, flows from
a massive limestone formation, where
usually fish, turtles and eels are clearly
visible in the pristine waters. Overnight hotel
H+ (included meals: B, D).
Day 8. Fly Hoskins (West New Britain),
transfer Walindi; PM tour
Another early morning start today with our
flight from Madang via Lae, on mainland
Papua New Guinea to Hoskins, on the island
of New Britain. We are met on arrival for the
60km, very scenic drive to our
accommodation at Walindi on the shores of
Kimbe Bay. West New Britain offers an
unspoiled natural environment and is reputed
to be the birthplace of maritime trade, some
20,000 years ago. The coastline is rimmed
with active volcanoes, and many examples of
geothermal activity can be found throughout
the province. Culture remains strong with
many groups still using traditional shell
money and pigs for major payments such as
bride price and compensation. Following
lunch at Walindi, we visit the Hot River and
palm oil plantation. The Hot River, fed by a
volcanic spring, is approximately one hours’
drive from Walindi, travelling on mainly
unsealed roads. We also travel through the
huge Numundo Palm Oil Plantation, which
runs 2,500 head of beef cattle. The Hot
River is surrounded by rainforest and is
joined by a number of small waterfalls and
rapids. The water temperature is usually
43°C and considered to be very therapeutic.
Overnight chalets H+ (included meals: B,
L, D).
Day 9. Fly to Rabaul; drive to Kokopo Beach
We enjoy a relaxing morning and leisurely
lunch in the delightful surrounds of Walindi,
before we transfer to the airport for our
afternoon flight to Rabaul. An optional
snorkelling tour is available from Walindi to
discover the underwater wonders of Kimbe
Bay. Late afternoon we arrive in Rabaul, one
of the most interesting towns in Papua New
Guinea, dramatically situated on Simpson
Harbour, on the Gazelle Peninsula, with a
backdrop of volcanoes. The Gazelle
Peninsula is inhabited by five major ethnic
groups, consisting of Tolai, who dominate the
Peninsula, followed by the Baining, Sulka,
Taulil and Pomio. The 1994 eruptions of
Mount Tuvurvur and Mount Vulcan left the old
town of Rabaul virtually deserted, with the
airport and most business houses relocating
to the Kokopo area. In addition to the
excitement of seeing an active volcano up
close, Rabaul also has a fascinating WWII
history and visitors can explore Japanese
cave systems, barge tunnels, aircraft wrecks
and submarines. We stay at nearby Kokopo
Beach and following dinner, our hosts will
provide a briefing on the history of Rabaul
and explain the customs and traditions of the
Duke of York islanders. Overnight hotel H+
(included meals: B, D).
Day 10. Full days Exploration around Gazelle
Peninsula
New Britain was one of the first areas in
Papua New Guinea to be visited by early
explorers & navigators due to its strategic
position on the 17th century shipping routes
between South America and Asia. In the late
1800’s, New Britain's natural beauty and
diverse opportunities attracted adventurers,
traders and missionaries. Infamous namessuch as Mendana, the Maquis de Rey and
Torres are all associated with this era of
PNG's history. Today we enjoy a full day tour
of Rabaul, taking in the dramatic volcanic
scenery, Second World War sites and learn
more of the history of East New Britain
Province. During WWII the Japanese army
dug an intricate network of tunnels as refuge
against severe Allied bombing. The tunnels
survive to this day due to the quality of their
construction and can be seen across the
north shore of the Gazelle Peninsula, with
the most interesting examples located on the
Rabaul-Kokopo Road. We visit Bitapaka War
Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission and the Admiral
Yamamoto’s Bunker, a prominent memorial
site for Japanese visitors to Rabaul. We also
visit the popular markets at Rabaul and
Kokopo, known locally as “Bung” and
reputed to have the best produce in Papua
New Guinea. Emma Coe Forsyth (later known
as Queen Emma), was the very beautiful and
adventurous daughter of a Samoan Princess
and an American whaling captain, who at a
very young age, risked her life by venturing
into the then, wild and unknown Duke of York
Islands to establish coconut plantations in
1878. Once stately steps leading from her
Kokopo residence, Gunantambu, to the
beach below are all that now remain of the
grandeur of Queen Emma’s lifestyle.
However, Queen Emma’s legacy lives on, in
the vast coconut plantations that continue to
thrive on the Gazelle Peninsula. Overnight
hotel H+ (included meals: B, D).
Day 11. Boat to Duke of York Islands
This morning we begin our adventure to the
remote and magical Duke of York Islands.
The trip by motor launch from Kokopo takes
approximately 2.5 hours and if luck is with
us, we may be accompanied by dolphins,
whilst cruising past active volcanoes. On
arrival the villagers will welcome us, and our
host families encourage us to join in their
daily activities. We learn about customs,
traditions and daily routine, including the
importance of certain plants, local fishing
methods, how to open a coconut, sail a
dugout canoe and dive for shellfish in the
surrounding crystal clear waters. There’s a
chance to trek through rainforest to search
for exotic birds and butterflies, or enjoy a
beachcombing expedition. This evening the
villagers will perform a traditional Sing Sing
performance – wonderful cultural experience.
Village accommodation is basic. Sleeping
arrangements are of a communal nature,
washing is by bucket, river, or ocean and pit
toilets (long drops) are the norm. Skimpy
clothing may be considered offensive and
modesty is appreciated. Overnight homestay
L (included meals: B, L, D).
Day 12. On Duke of York Island; boat to
Rabaul
This morning we head out early with the local
fishermen, learn to weave a mat or basket,
swap stories with the villagers, or just relax
in this tropical paradise, before bidding
farewell to our island hosts. In the afternoon
we cruise back to Kokopo. Overnight hotel
H+ (included meals: B, L, D).
Day 13. Fly Port Moresby; afternoon tour
We enjoy a relaxing morning in Rabaul,
before transferring to Kokopo Airport for our
flight to Port Moresby. On arrival we’ll make
a sightseeing tour of Port Moresby. Our tour
includes the National Museum, housing one
of the finest collections of primitive art in the
world, including towering house poles from
Sepik Haus Tambarans, fearsome tribal
masks, intricate cravings, string bags and
woven baskets. There is also an excellent
natural history collection that should not be
missed. We also view vibrant local markets
and stilt villages, take in tropical harbour
vistas from Paga and Touguba Hills and
admire the distinctive architecture of
Parliament House. If time permits, we visit
Papua New Guinea Arts where a wide
selection of artefacts from throughout PNG is
available for viewing or purchase. Overnight
hotel H+ (included meals: B, D).
Day 15. Tour Ends Port Moresby
(Included meals: B). |
| |
|
Accommodation
& Centre Details |
| |
9nts hotel, 4nts village hut/house,1nt plantation bungalow |
| |
|
|
| |
Holidays
Extras |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Included
