PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Dates: September 13 – 22, 2023

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights

Number of participants: 8 – 12

Cost per person:
– EUR 4 140 subject to 12 participants, or
– EUR 4 340 subject to 10 – 11 participants, or
– EUR 4 740 subject to 8 – 9 participants.

Everything is included (including 2 charter flights and full board) except from:
- international flight to Port Moresby roundtrip,
- 2 domestic flights,
- medical insurance,
- Papua New Guinea visa (e-visa at USD 50 for Russians).

Estimated cost of international flight Singapore – Port Moresby – Singapore: EUR 450 – 630
Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Port Moresby – Moscow (via Singapore or Manila): EUR 1150 – 1500 (Usually bought on your own, we consult you).
Estimated cost of international flight Port Moresby – Mount Hagen and Goroka – Port Moresby: EUR 320 – 380

Single supplement: 830 EUR (single accommodation is not provided for 3 nights in Simbai)




TRAVEL PROGRAM:


Day 1. September 13, 2023 (Wednesday). PORT MORESBY – MOUNT HAGEN – PANGA VILLAGE (HULI WIGMEN TRIBE) – MOUNT HAGEN

Departure from Port Moresby at 8:30 am for Mount Hagen, with the flight PX180 with Air Niugini.
Arrival in Mount Hagen at 09:30. Meet the guide and transfer to the hotel Highlander 4*. Check-in and briefing on afternoon's activities.
After lunch. At 13:00, depart hotel for a 30 minutes scenic Waghi valley drive to Panga village to see the Huli Wigmen tribe and the rest of the afternoon will be spent at the Wigmen village. The Wigmen are famous with their ceremonial wig made out of human hair. They do distinctive face paintings and body decorations for special occasions like, marriage and compensation or other special rituals. Their dance is very unique and they imitate the Bird of Paradise mating dance.
After private photo session with the Wigmen, we drive back to the hotel.
Briefing on the next days' activities. Dinner. Overnight at Highlander Hotel 4*.

Recommended flights to Port Moresby:
– direct flight from Singapore with Air Niugini (flight PX393), departure from Singapore at 20:35 on September 12, arrival in Port Moresby at 5:15 am on September 13,
– or any other flight from Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila or any other city, arriving in Port Moresby no later than at 5 am on September 13.

Recommended flights from Port Moresby to Mt Hagen:
- direct flight PX180 with Air Niugini, departure from Port Moresby at 8:30 am on September 13, arrival in Mt Hagen at 09:30 am on September 13,
- or any other flight arriving in Mt Hagen no later than at 9:30 am on September 13.

Meals included: lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Highlander Hotel 4*


Day 2. September 14, 2023 (Thursday). MOUNT HAGEN – AVI ORCHID VILLAGE (OMO BUGAMO SKELETON TRIBE) – MOUNT HAGEN

Today after breakfast, at 09:00, depart from the hotel with packed lunch (provided by the hotel) and bottled water for a 30 minutes drive to Avi Orchid village. At Avi Orchid village, we will spend the day with the Skeleton men. We will have the opportunity of photographing the Skeleton men from their decoration stage to end of the show.
Skeleton tribe (or Chimbu, or Omo Bugamo) have the tradition to paint their bodies with skeletons and other ghoulish designs to frighten their enemies. There is little known about this tribe due to their remoteness, but it is estimated that around 60 000 live in the highlands. They are recognizable by their distinct skeleton body paint, featuring fierce skeletal teeth. The stylized lines of a human skeleton drawn on their bodies conferred a truly sinister air to this tribe's hunters. They cover themselves with simple loincloths made of mesh and shells.
According to local legend, the people of this tribe were eaten by the evil forest spirit of Omo Masalai. Then they decided to pretend to be spirits themselves in order to expel the evil spirit. Until now, the ritual to expel an evil spirit is repeated during their dancing ceremonies. People repaint themselves in skeletons and chase after Omo Masalai (a person who is dressed in an evil spirit).
A group of painted villagers will perform skeleton dance routines for us then pose for group photographs and individual portraits.
After spending enough time with Skeleton men, we drive back to the hotel. Dinner and briefing of next days activities.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Highlander Hotel 4*


Day 3. September 15, 2023 (Friday). MOUNT HAGEN – VILLAGE OF ASARO MUDMEN TRIBE – GOROKA

Today, after breakfast at 09:00, we depart hotel for a 4 hours drive on the Highlands Highway to Goroka via the home of the famous Asaro Mudmen. The view along the Highway is very spectacular with unique landscape of the valley, rivers and mountains.
Upon arrival at the Mudmen village, we will be greeted with a welcome dance into the heart of the village. At the village, we will spend time with the Asaro Mudmen tribe photographing their rituals from preparation stage to the end.
According to Asaro Mudmen mythology, once upon a time 2 neighboring tribes live in the Asaro valley. One day the 2 tribes disputed over land boundary issue and eventually that resulted in tribal fight. The first tribesmen were more strong in the battle and chased the other tribesmen who were weaker up into nearby mountains. The stronger tribe then took their land and lived there.
One day, the weaker tribesmen who were living up in the mountains, came up with a plan to take revenge in getting their land back from stronger tribesmen, but not through tribal fight again. Early in the morning, the weaker tribesmen went down to the nearby creek, collecting white mud clay and making ugly looking masks. The following day, very early in the morning, they covered themselves with mud and wore the ugly masks that they made and went down to the village and hid in nearby woods, grasses and graveyards. At first day light, the wives of the stronger tribesmen when to collect firewood and suddenly they were confronted by the ugly looking Mudmen Spirits, and were chased back into the village. The wives quickly went and told the husbands and children that they were attacked by the Spirits, and they were still following them, so they must leave the village immediately, because the Spirits were coming in full force to attach the whole village. The stronger tribesmen eventually left the village and this was how the weaker tribesmen came back to their village down in the Asaro valley.
At 17:00, also after private photo session, we depart the Mudmen village and continue driving for another 15 minutes into Goroka town. Checking in at the Phoenix Hotel. Dinner and briefing of next days' activities.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Phoenix Hotel


Days 4 – 5. September 16 – 17, 2023 (Saturday - Sunday). GOROKA FESTIVAL

We spend 2 days at Goroka festival. Each day, after breakfast, we depart hotel at 08:30 and depart show at 14:30 back for the hotel. Packed lunches and bottled water will be provided at the show ground on both days.
The Goroka festival is a colorful event that happens annualy in September over the country's independence weekend. The first ever show was staged back in the early 1960's by the Australian Colonial Administration. The intention was to gather all the warring tribes in the valley together in one cultural celebration to bring or make peace amongst each warring tribe in the valley.
They now compete not by fighting each other, but by using and displaying their indigenous traditional culture in competing with other Tribes. This event continued up till this present day.
In this modern day Goroka festival we will see about 70 plus indigenous tribes from the 7 Highlands Provinces, with their ethnic traditional cultural ritual performances. There will also be other tribes from the 2 neighboring coast Provinces of Madang and Morobe, taking part in the festival as well. It will be the great 2 days full of rich and colorful cultural activities, we spectate at the incredible festival, with all kinds of performances and costumes that we will experience and photograph.
After finishing the Festival activities, both days, in the afternoon, we will have chance to scout the ethnic group we like, for the private photo session in the wild environment, without any visual pollution.
Dinners and overnights at Phoenix Hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Phoenix Hotel


Day 6. September 18, 2023 (Monday). GOROKA – SIMBAI

Today after early breakfast, we will depart hotel at 07:30 for the airport for our charter flight to Simbai.
Together with our guide, we fly by small aircrafts with the capacity of 8 pax. We are allowed to take only 15 kg of overall (together with hand luggage) baggage per person. The rest of the baggage we shall keep in Goroka, as we fly to Simbai only for 3 nights.
Flight takes only 30 minutes, but we find ourselves in Simbai village, in the middle of mountainous ridges, among the jungle, to where there are no any roads. This is the innocent land of Kalam tribe.
Upon arrival in Simbai, we will be met by our local team on the ground. They will assist us to the Guest House and the Kalam festival.
We will be accommodated in the very simple local guest house in the village, with shared bathroom and shared pit toilet. Accommodation is basic and also shared (not private). We are in the wild.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: village guest house (basic conditions)


Days 7 – 8. September 19 – 20, 2023 (Tuesday – Wednesday). KALAM FESTIVAL IN SIMBAI

Kalam tribe is one of country's isolated tribes, still live an authentic traditional lifestyle with their natural environmental in the mountains of Simbai. Due to its isolation, the Kalam tribe is fortunate to maintain its original culture, tribal traditions and rituals that are incredibly unique to the Kalam people.
The Kalam tribe is famous for their biggest and the most sophisticated headwear made of cuscus fur, feathers and thousands of heads of emerald green beetles. They also wear necklaces made of kina shell and hornbill bills. Young boys get their nose pierced as a sign of becoming adult. Women cover their bodies with pig fats to give them more shine.
There will be few other nearby neighboring tribes coming to the festival as well. It is surely incredible to see and experience the Kalam culture. It will be a unique photogenic and photographic experience of a lifetime.
The festival program will be announced closer to the date but festival activities will include traditional dancing, feasting, exchange of gifts between the tribes and families, payment of bride price and compensation for wrongdoings, killing of pigs, and initiation of boys into the Kalam tribe by piercing their nose septums.
Unlike the Goroka Show which takes place in an urban setting with fences, crowds, umbrellas and Coca Cola signs in the background spoiling the photography, the Kalam Festival will take place in a village environment with nearby nature attractions including rivers, waterfalls, jungles and mountains to use as scenic backgrounds.
In the afternoon we will have chances to scout the ethnic group we like, for the private photo session in the nice environment that we choose on our own.
Dinners at the guesthouse including blend of local food, tinned and packaged foods carried from Goroka, and bottled water. Overnights in the village Guest with very basic conditions.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: village guest house (basic conditions)


Day 9. September 21, 2023 (Thursday). SIMBAI – GOROKA

Today, after breakfast, farewell with Kalam land. We will be assisted to the airstrip for charter 30 minutes flight back to Goroka.
Upon arrival in Goroka, transfer to Bird of Paradise Hotel.
After lunch at the hotel, at 13:00, we go on an afternoon scenic drive tour of Goroka and surroundings, including the local market, souvenirs and museum.
Dinner and overnight at the Bird of Paradise hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Bird of Paradise hotel


Day 10. September 22, 2023 (Friday). GOROKA – PORT MORESBY

Today we will be transferred to airport to catch the flight to Port Moresby. Depart from Goroka at 16:50 am with Air Niugini flight PX161.
Arrive in Port Moresby at 18:00 am. Catching your connection international flight from Port Moresby out of the country.

Recommended flights from Goroka to Port Moresby:
- direct flight with Air Niugini, departure from Goroka at 16:50 on September 22, arrival in Port Moresby at 18:00 on September 22,
- or any other flight departing from Goroka not earlier than at 16:00 on September 22.

Recommended international flights back from Port Moresby:
– direct flight to Singapore with Air Niugini (flight PX392), departure from Singapore at 14:50 on September 23, arrival in Port Moresby at 19:20 on September 23 (extra night in the hotel in Port Moresby may be needed),
– or any other flight from Port Moresby to Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila or any other city, departing from Port Moresby no earlier than at 15:00 on September 22 (should be connected with your flight Goroka – Port Moresby).

Recommended international flights further to Medan FOR THOSE who further participates Western Indonesia expedition:
– direct flight from Singapore to Medan with Singapore Airlines (flight SQ990), departure from Singapore at 7:40 am on September 24, arrival in Medan (Indonesia) at 8:00 on September 24 (extra night in the hotel in Singapore may be needed),

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no