Discoverer Show

Discoverer - Mount Hagen Festival Tour

15 August to 23 August 2024

The Discoverer cultural tour program is a 9-day/8-night unescorted program that offers a unique opportunity to discover the rich cultural and natural landscapes of one of the most fascinating countries in the world; Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a veritable smorgasbord of colour, culture and excitement. The highlight of the Discoverer program is attendance at the famous Mount Hagen Cultural Show, a world-famous cultural gathering that features many of the opulently decorated cultural groups of this incredibly diverse land.

Guests will begin their journey at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby and on the next day proceed to Rondon Ridge for the Cultural pre-show, and for an up close and personal experience with a selection of tribal groups. This will be followed by two full days at the Mount Hagen Cultural Show. As the show comes to an end travel to Karawari Lodge in the Sepik Region. From this stunning lodge in the heartland of one of the most remote areas of the country, guests will travel each day by river boat down the Karawari river to visit the small villages scattered along its shores. The villages provide a unique opportunity to visit traditional homes, witness ceremonial dances and celebrations and glimpse traditional village life. Explore the famous art and sculpture of the Sepik tribes, whom express their beliefs through their creative carving of artistic masks, drums, baskets and sculptures.

From Karawari fly over untouched rainforests and mountains to the Tari Valley. The Huli tribe that inhabits this area is the largest as well as one of the most colourful and iconic tribes of PNG. From here you will explore the local villages that will display the daily life of these mountain people and their unique and ancient traditions. Depart Tari full of rich and unforgettable memories of Papua New Guinea.

The tour comes to a close at the exclusive Rondon Ridge Lodge where one can look across the mist filled valley to the city below and reflect on their journey across this magical land.

ITINERARY 

Thursday 15 August, 2024

Upon arrival at Jackson's International Airport in Port Moresby, you are met by Trans Niugini Tours' staff members who will then transfer you to the comfort of the Airways hotel. Enjoy the afternoon settling in for the journey ahead.

Overnight: AIRWAYS HOTEL (D)

Friday 16 August, 2024

Transfer from the Airways Hotel back to the airport for your flight to Mount Hagen.

Today is spent at the Hagen Cultural Pre-show; an intimate gathering of a dozen or more different PNG tribal groups, each performing their unique sing-sing while lavishly decorated and dressed in full bilas; tribal dress. The show takes place at a beautiful outdoor showground on the Rondon Ridge property. The stunning mountain vista framed by the distinctly vast highlands’ sky serves as the perfect backdrop for this unique demonstration of PNG tradition.

The celebrations will begin as the tribes arrive and gather to carefully adorn themselves with their complex headdresses, face and body paint and traditional clothing. As the morning progresses, we will gather together and the groups will each perform their sing-sing. The afternoon also includes demonstrations of the traditional Melpa bridal price exchange, warfare demonstration and a shared mumu; the traditional earth-oven used to prepare food for feasts.

Overnight: HIGHLANDER HOTEL – PREMIER ROOM (BLD)

17 Saturday & 18 Sunday August, 2024

This weekend you will attend the annual Mount Hagen Cultural Show. The Mount Hagen Show is truly a unique and splendid cultural experience, unparalleled both in diversity and authenticity. The show itself is a stunning reflection of the incredible diversity of Papua New Guinea’s cultural landscape.

The Show brings together more than 80 unique and colourful sing-sing groups from across Papua New Guinea; each of whom share their unique celebration display through colorful traditional dress, dance and song.

The celebrations will begin as the tribes arrive and gather to carefully adorn themselves with their complex headdresses, face and body paint and traditional clothing. You will arrive at the showgrounds with ample time to wander throughout the tribal groups where you can interact with and photograph the performers as they prepare themselves for the festivities.

Soon after the show will begin, as each tribal group enters the showground and proudly performs their unique sing-sing to the enraptured audience. The performance gradually builds until each of the tribes is simultaneously performing to a cacophony of rhythmic drumming and hundreds of voices. It is truly an awe-inspiring experience.
Overnight: HIGHLANDER HOTEL – PREMIER ROOM (BLD)

Monday 19 August, 2024

This morning fly by charter flight into the deep heart of the jungle where your wondrous journey continues at the Karawari Lodge in the Sepik region. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, the lodge boasts a spectacular view of hundreds of kilometres of dense tropical jungle. Proceed with lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to a nearby village to learn about the customary process of harvesting and preparing the sago palm. Sago is the staple food for the Karawari tribes.

Overnight: KARAWARI LODGE (BLD)

Tuesday 20 August, 2024

Enjoy one full day traveling along the Karawari river to visit the small villages that line its shores. The villages provide a unique opportunity to visit traditional homes, witness ceremonial dances and celebrations and glimpse traditional village life. The Karawari tribes express their beliefs through their skillful and artistic expressions of sculpture and art. Enjoy this opportunity to admire or purchase the beautifully woven baskets, carved masks, drums and sculptures. At the end of each afternoon you will return to the comfort of the Karawari Lodge in time to refresh and relax before dinner.

Overnight: KARAWARI LODGE (BLD)

Wednesday 21 August 2024

This morning you will take a short flight across untouched rainforest and mountains to the Tari Valley. The Huli tribe that inhabit this area in the largest as well as one of the most colourful and iconic tribes of PNG. Once you arrive you will be transferred to Ambua Lodge; nestled at the edge of the lush green rainforest and overlooking the serene Tari Valley below. Spend the afternoon enjoying Ambua's winding forest trails that take you through lush rainforest, past gushing waterfalls and over traditional vine bridges. While on the nature walk you may chance to observe up to 13 species of the birds of paradise alongside a wide variety of coloured flowers, exotic plants and insects.
Overnight: AMBUA LODGE (BLD)

Thursday 22 August 2024

Spend one full day touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. The Huli's are famed for their colourful bilas (traditional dressing) and unique traditions. The Huli men pride themselves on their beautiful bilas with its elaborately constructed human hair headdress which they lavishly decorate with flowers, mosses and ornate bird feathers. Their bilas, combined with their unique sing sing is intended both to enrapture their audience, as well as intimidate enemies. Visit the men's wig school and tour the local villages to experience how this proud mountain tribe has evolved in the modern age, while still maintaining the stories, beliefs and traditions of their ancestors.

Overnight: AMBUA LODGE (BLD)

Friday 23 August 2024

This morning you depart for Port Moresby. Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your ongoing international flight. (B)

***********End of Trans Niugini Tours Arrangements ************

BRIEF ITINERARY

INVESTMENT

LAND COST:
US$6,110.00 per person - Twin share

US$948.00 per person - Additional for Single throughout except Twin-share at the Highlander Hotel:

*Land Cost is Valid until December 31^st 2024

LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, airport transfers, meals from dinner on 15th August to breakfast on 23rd August, local guides, show gate fees and tours with bus transfers.

LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Domestic and international flights, services of a personal nature such as beverage, laundry charges, phone and all gratuities to hotel, restaurant staff, local drivers, guides and porters.

ADDITIONAL AIR CHARTER COST FOR 2 SECTORS 

Total cost for 2 flights:  US$1,490.00 per person

Monday 19 August 2024      - Mount Hagen/Karawari
Wednesday 21 August 2024    - Karawari/Tari

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING CHARTERS: Maximum baggage allowance per person is one 10kg bag plus a maximum of 5kg in a small carry-on bag. Large, hard sided suit cases are not permitted on charter aircraft.

DOMESTIC AIR NIUGINI FLIGHTS
Domestic and international flights are not included in the cost and we do not arrange these. You book and ticket the domestic Air Niugini flights together with your international flights. We will book the internal air charter flights.

BOOKING AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES:
To secure space, a non refundable deposit of UD$500 per person is required. We will confirm your booking only on receipt of your deposit. Full payment will be due 45-30 days before clients'  arrival. However if Highlander Hotel requires any deposits for their rooms over the show weekend, we will advise you. Deposits and payments should be made into our Wells Fargo US Dollar account, details of which can be found on our payment instruction page.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

1. 29-16 days prior to clients departure: 75% forfeiture of the full rate for the program.

2. 15 days or less prior to the clients departure: 100% forfeiture of the full rate for the program..

POLICY ON EXCHANGE OF SERVICES NOT TAKEN:

Please note that Trans Niugini Tours is unable to refund any services which appear in the main itinerary, but are not taken. Please also note that Trans Niugini Tours is unable to exchange services which are not taken in the main itinerary for other services. Services must be taken on the day that they appear in the main itinerary and cannot be transferred to a different day.

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS MANDATORY

For further information please contact us

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