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Trans Niugini Tours - Papua New Guinea's leading inbound tour operator

BALIMO GOGODALA FESTIVAL TOUR
17 April - 27 April, 2008

The Balimo Festival is an unescorted 11 day/10 night itinerary with a maximum number of 4 passengers. The Highlight of the program being attendance at the Gogodala Canoe Festival in Balimo in the remote and sparsely Western Province of Papua New Guinea. This program features Ambua in the Southern Highlands, home of the flamboyant Huli wigmen, to Karawari, situated on a ridge overlooking the Karawari River in the Sepik Region, the perfect base for some old-fashioned jungle, river and village exploration. The tour culminates with the spectacular Gogodala Canoe Festival providing an incredible vista of cultures from the surrounding villages of this remote Western Province paddling their colourful and huge handmade canoes.

SUMMARY - 17 to 27 April 2008
2 nightsAirways Hotel, Port Moresby
3 nights Ambua Lodge, Southern Highlands
2 nights Karawari Lodge, Sepik Region
1 night Rondon Ridge, Western Highlands
2 nightsMV Bensbach Wildlife Lodge, Western Province

ITINERARY IN BRIEF
Thu, 17_Apr. Upon your arrival in Port Moresby you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to the Airways Hotel.
Overnight Airways Hotel
Fri,
18 Apr.		 In the morning you are transferred to Air Niugini and fly to Tari. The Tari Valley home of the Huli, a colourful and proud people still largely living the same way that their ancestors did. Ambua Lodge is high on the slopes of the Tari Valley with magnificent views of the valley below the surrounding peaks. The afternoon is spent exploring the area surrounding Ambua high mountain forests with roaring waterfalls beckon the intrepid traveler.
Overnight Ambua Lodge
Sat, 19 and Sun, 20 Apr. A full day of ecological and culturally based touring are sure to satiate those yearning for discovery. The Tari area is home to an incredible 13 species of the birds of paradise, as well as numerous orchid species. Learn how the Huli live and they interact with their environment. Witness a colourful Huli dance.
Overnight Ambua Lodge
Mon,
21 Apr.		 Fly by charter aircraft to Karawari over some of the most rugged and impressive landscapes in the world. The country between Ambua and Karawari is an amazing array of jagged limestone that seems to rise and drop at impossible angles. sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometers of dense tropical jungle. Inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, the Lodge provides modern comforts. After lunch, visit a traditional village and learn about the Karawari people.
Overnight Karawari Lodge
Tue,
22 Apr.		 Wake up to the chattering of Lorikeets and Eclectus Parrots. After breakfast enjoying touring programs that provide Insight into the amazing ecology and culture of the Karawari area. Today, you will witness a traditional sing sing.
Overnight Karawari Lodge
Wed,
23 Apr.		 Fly by charter aircraft from Karawari to Mount Hagen, vast tracts of dense tropical rainforest, eventually relent to the mountains, which reach towards the sky. Mount Hagen town is in the upper Wahgi Valley a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Half day tour of the Wahgi Valley.
Overnight Rondon Ridge
Thu
24 Apr. 		Fly by charter aircraft from Mount Hagen to Balimo. Balimo, situated on the western banks of the Arima River is home to the Gogodala cultural group, known for their artistic skills in carving huge wooden canoes. The larger of these canoes can carry over 40 grown men at any one time to travel the massive waterways of the Papuan Delta. The Gogodala people also carve unique wooden images, plant and harvest yams, hunt wild game, fish in the tranquil waterways to live and remain a strong and vibrant culture. Full day at the spectacular Gogodala Canoe Festival. Board your charter aircraft and fly to Bensbach in the afternoon.
Overnight Bensbach Wildlife Lodge
Fri,
25 Apr.		 Enjoy a full day of touring in the Bensbach Area.
Overnight Bensbach Wildlife Lodge
Sat, 26 Apr. Fly by charter aircraft from Bensbach to Mount Hagen, to connect with your onward Air Niugini flight to Port Moresby. You will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight Airways Hotel
Sun,
27 Apr. 		You will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your international departure flight.
Overnight Airways Hotel

INFORMATION

LAND COST:
US$3599.00 per person - (twin share room basis)

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:
US$869.00 per person.

LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, airport transfers and tours on a seat in a bus basis, meals from dinner on 17 April to breakfast on 27 April, services of a professional tour guide throughout, local guides and show gate fees.

LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Domestic and international flights, gratuities, visa fees and services of a personal nature such as beverage, laundry charges, phone and fax bills etc.

ADDITIONAL AIR CHARTER COST:
US$1560.00; per person
Monday 21 April Ambua/Karawari
Wednesday 23 April Karawari/Mount Hagen
Thursday 24 April Mount Hagen/Balimo/Bensbach
Saturday 26 April Bensbach/Mount Hagen

Special Note Regarding Charters: Maximum baggage allowance is 10kg per person and a maximum of 5kg carry on baggage per person. Large, hard sided suitcases are not permitted on charter aircraft.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You are only to book and ticket the domestic Air Niugini flights together with your international flights. We will book the Air Charter flights.

The Air Niugini flights you are to book and ticket are:
Friday 18 April -- Air Niugini PX864 PORT MORESBY/TARI
Saturday 26 April -- Air Niugini PX183 MOUNT HAGEN/PORT MORESBY

BOOKING AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES

To secure space, a NON REFUNDABLE deposit of US$500.00 per person is required to confirm the booking .

Full payment is due on 24 February, 2008. We will confirm booking only on receipt of payment.

Deposits and payments should be made into our Wells Fargo US Dollar bank account, details of which can be found on our payment instructions page.

POLICY ON EXCHANGE OF SERVICES AND 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.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Cancellations received within a 30 day period prior to the commencement of the tour will attract a 50% fee of the total land and air charter costs. No refund is available after scheduled arrival in Papua New Guinea or in respect of any tour, accommodation, meals or any other service not utilized during the tour. Any additional costs incurred because of changes made during the itinerary by clients, will be to the clients account. Cancellations received after the 24 February, 2008, and prior to the 30 day period before the tour commences, will attract a fee of US$500 per person.

CLIENT INFORMATION:
Upon receipt of deposits, you will be sent a confirmation packet and Client Information Booklet. We cannot stress enough the importance of reading this information prior to your arrival in Papua New Guinea.  The Client Information Booklet has been specifically designed to give you vital information about strict luggage weight limits on the small aircraft used throughout the tours, possible delays in aircraft movements, standards of accommodation, etc. - Information in advance may help you to adjust to situations better as they occur.

A copy can also be obtained from this web site by clicking here [GENERAL INFORMATION]

COMMISSION RATE ON LAND CONTENT: Please apply.

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