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BALIMO GOGODALA FESTIVAL 2010
29 April - 10 May, 2010
The Balimo Festival is an unescorted 12 days/11 nights itinerary with a maximum number of 8 passengers. The Highlight of the program being the attendance at the Gogodala Canoe Festival in Balimo in the remote and sparsely populated 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.
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SUMMARY - 29 April to 10 May
2010 |
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2 nights | Airways Hotel, Port Moresby |
| 3 nights |
Ambua Lodge, Southern Highlands |
| 2 nights |
Karawari Lodge, Sepik Region |
| 3 nights |
Rondon Ridge, Western Highlands |
| 1 night | Bensbach Wildlife Lodge, Western Province |
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ITINERARY IN BRIEF |
| Thu,_29__Apr.
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Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to the Airways Hotel.
Overnight: Airways Hotel (DB)
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| Fri, 30 Apr. |
In the morning you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your Air Niugini flight 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 (LD) |
Sat 1 &
Sun, 2 May |
Enjoy two full day of ecological and culturally based touring. 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 how they interact with and use their environment.
Overnight: Ambua Lodge (BLD) |
| Mon, 3 May |
Fly by charter aircraft to Karawari airstrip over some of the most rugged and impressive landscapes in the world. The country between Ambua and the Sepik region is an amazing array of jagged limestone that seems to rise and drop at impossible angles. From the airstrip you will be transferred by river boat to Karawari Lodge.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, while still providing modern comforts.
Overnight: Karawari Lodge (BLD) |
| Tue, 4 May |
Wake up to the chattering of Lorikeets and Eclectus Parrots. After breakfast enjoy touring programs that provide insight into the amazing ecology and culture of the Karawari area.
Overnight: Karawari Lodge (BLD) |
| Wed, 5 May |
Fly by charter aircraft from Karawari to Mount Hagen, during the flight mountains rise up to startling heights out of the flat lands of the Sepik Basin. Mount Hagen town is in the upper Wahgi Valley - a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Perched high on Kum Mountain is Rondon Ridge, with unbelievable views of the Wahgi Valley.
Overnight: Rondon Ridge (BLD) |
| Thu, 6 May |
A full day is spent exploring the Hagen Area and Wahgi Valley. The Mount Hagen area is the home of the Melpa people, a people with a strong culture, who in the face of modernity, still live largely traditional subsistence lifestyles. In the mountains surrounding the Wahgi Valley lives a stunning array of bird, orchid and plant life.
Overnight: Rondon Ridge (BLD) |
| Fri 7 May
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Fly by charter aircraft from Mount Hagen to Balimo. Balimo, situated on the western banks of the Arima River is home to the Gogodala ethnic group, known for their artistic skills in carving huge wooden canoes. These canoes carry approximately 60 adults 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 in their nearby jungles, fish in the tranquil waterways to live and practice some 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 (BLD) |
| Sat, 8 May |
Fly by charter aircraft from Bensbach to Mount Hagen. Transfer from the airport to Rondon Ridge.
Overnight: Rondon Ridge (BLD) |
| Sun, 9 May
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Transfer to the airport for your flight to Port Moresby on PX181 (1015/1115). Upon arrivel in Port Moresby you will be transferred to the Airways Hotel.
Overnight: Airways Hotel (BLD) |
| Mon, 10 May
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Transfer to the airport for your outgoing international flight. (B)
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LAND COST:
US$4,950.00 per person - (twin share room basis)
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:
US$1,379.00 per person.
LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, airport transfers and tours on a seat in a bus
basis, meals from dinner on 29 April to breakfast on 10 May,
services of a professional tour guide throughout, local guides and show gate fees.
LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Domestic and international flights, visa fees and services of a
personal nature such as beverages, laundry charges, phone and fax bills.
ADDITIONAL AIR CHARTER COST:
US$1,700.00; per person
Monday 3 May, 2010 Tari/Karawari
Wednesday 5 May, 2010 Karawari/Mount Hagen
Friday 7 May, 2010 Mount Hagen/Balimo/Bensbach
Saturday 8 May, 2010 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 30 April, 2010 -- Air Niugini PX864 PORT MORESBY/TARI
Sunday 9 May, 2010 -- Air Niugini PX961 MOUNT HAGEN/PORT MORESBY
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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, 2010. 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 27 January, 2010, 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]
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