Papua New Guinea Itinerary
MEETING POINT: Cairns, Australia
DEPARTURE POINT: Cairns, Australia
TOUR INCLUDES
- Deluxe rooms in the best available hotels
- Three meals per day, including our unique Dine-Around Program that lets you enjoy any restaurant you choose with à la carte dining, or relax with room service when available
- A professional Travel Director as your personal concierge Local sightseeing with professional English-speaking guides with unparalleled knowledge, including entrance fees for places visited
- Active participation and up-close encounters to experience the cultures of your journey
- Bottled water, soft drinks, coffee and tea included with meals; bottled water during sightseeing excursions
- All gratuities to hotel and restaurant staff and local guides and drivers
- Group or individual airport transfers on arrival and departure flights
- Travel Guard Medical Emergency and Assistance Plan
Itinerary:
DAY 1 - Cairns, Australia
We will meet you at the airport and take you to your luxurious hotel with a commanding view of the harbor and surrounding hills. Explore at your leisure before tonight’s Welcome Dinner.
Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns (UPGRADED MARINA VIEW HORIZON CLUB ROOM)
DAY 2 - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
A midday flight takes us to Port Moresby, capital city of remote Papua New Guinea. Here, ramshackle huts sit beside glistening glass towers. We’ll enjoy a private tour of the National Museum and Art Gallery, where we’ll explore exhibits that help us understand the country’s complex tribal structures.
Airways Hotel, Port Moresby (UPGRADED EXECUTIVE ROOM)
DAY 3-5Sepik River Cruise
Morning commercial and charter flights take us to the Sepik Spirit, our river ship and floating home for the next three nights. Our voyage of discovery introduces us to local villages, where, among other things, we’ll witness the beautiful craftsmanship of village carvers and have a chance to buy their unusual masks, elaborately carved hooks, ancestral figures, hand drums, baskets, bilums, and gourds.
Accommodation: M/V Sepik Spirit, Sepik River (STANDARD CABIN)
DAY 6+7 - Karawari
Today’s travel takes us by air over mountains and dense tropical rainforests, then by riverboat and 4-wheel-drive vehicles to our remote jungle lodge. We travel in small riverboats along jungle-fringed waterways to visit other local villages. Your lodge cottage is a welcome oasis with spacious gardens, a swimming pool, and awe- inspiring views.
Accommodation: Karawari Lodge, Karawari (UPGRADED DELUXE ROOM)
DAY 8-10 - Ambua (Tari Gap), Papua New Guinea
Another charter flight takes us to Ambua in the Tari Gap, home to the proud Huli Wigmen. We are at a 7,000-foot elevation, where lush valleys are wedged between steep limestone cliffs. A rainforest walk introduces us to the region's amazing array of Birds of Paradise – all of them beautiful.
Here, we’ll spend two days among the Wigmen, whose elaborate and colorful dress, as well as their intricate dances, honor they birds revere.
Accommodation: Ambua Lodge, Tari (SUPERIOR ROOM)
DAY 11+12 - Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea
Another spectacularly scenic charter flight takes us to Mt. Hagen and the Wahgi Valley. The city of Mt. Hagen is the third largest in the country and home to the traditional Melpa people, who still live largely subsistent lifestyles. We’ll explore this fascinating mix of cultures and traditions, as well as the surrounding lush rainforest and alpine grasslands.
Accommodation: Rondon Ridge Lodge, Mt. Hagen (UPGRADED PREMIER ROOM)
DAY 13+14 - Hagen Festival & Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
One of the premier highlights of your Journey occurs today as we experience the mesmerizing Mt. Hagen Cultural Show before departing for Port Moresby.
Fifty different groups in distinct tribal attire compete for significant prizes by performing tribal songs and dances, and sharing their traditions and legends. Few experiences in the world offer such a cultural kaleidoscope in a single setting. We will have privileged access to the day-long show – returning to the airport for our charter flight to Port Moresby with full sensory overload.
Accommodation: Airways Hotel, Port Moresby (UPGRADED EXECUTIVE ROOM)
DAY 15+16 - Cairns, Australia & Home
We fly to Cairns for an overnight and our Farewell Dinner before departing the next day for your flight home or on to your next destination.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns (UPGRADED MARINA VIEW HORIZON CLUB ROOM)
Package price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies. Land, air, and governmental/park taxes are subject to change based on date of departure. International airfare is additional. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete journey details.