PAPUA NEW GUINEA VILLAGE EXPERIENCE

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

The PNG Village Experience is a 12 day/ 11 night journey into the heart of Papua New Guinea. Participants will be given the opportunity to experience a variety of traditional lifestyles in PNG -- from the subsistance farmers of the Kusumb and Huli peoples of the highlands, to the river people of the Karawari in the lowlands. This program is not your usual cultural touring program, it is for those who truly want to experience how life was before the modern age, who want to discover cultures that were unknown by the outside world until the mid-20th century and those who have a passion for adventure. This programme is suitable for international connections to Brisbane or Cairns.

ITINERARY

Tue,
Day 1 Upon arrival in Port Moresby, Trans Niugini Tours staff will greet you for your onward flight to Mount Hagen on Air Niugini. Upon arrival in Mount Hagen, you will be transferred by Four Wheel Drive to the Magic Mountain Hideaway. Magic Mountain Hideaway is about 10Km from Paiya culture Center, precisely at the foot of Mt. Hagen. It is basically a traditional architect accommodation with its establishment perfectly blending with the natural environment.
Overnight: MAGIC MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY (D).

Wed,
Day 2 Enjoy a full day of tour among the people of Paiya area, experience village life style and enjoy pure Western Highlanders traditions and a dance to welcome you into the Guest Haus.
Overnight: MAGIC MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY (BLD).
Thu,
Day 3 In the morning you will be transfered to Mount Hagen via a tour of the Waghi Valley and down to kudjip. You will then be transfered to Rondon Ridge
Overnight Rondon Ridge (BLD)
Fri,
Day 4 Fly by charter from Mount Hagen to Karawari, the mountains start to give way until eventually vast tracts of dense tropical lowland rainforest cover the landscape for as far as the eye can see. 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.
Overnight KARAWARI LODGE(BLD)

Sat,
Day 5
Today you will visit and overnight in a traditional Karawari Village. Houses built on stilts; roofs made from Mora tar (sago palm leaves) and dug out canoes. The Karawari people are river people, collecting and processing sago from the swamps, fishing from the river and hunting in the forest. In this truly remote part of the world, there are no roads -- life revolves around the river. The Karawari is a place where the most common means of transport is paddling a dug out canoe.
Overnight in a village house (BLD)

Sun,
Day 6 After spending the morning in the village, you will be transferred back to Karawari Lodge. Enjoy the 180 degree view over a huge area of rainforest, before the next leg of your experience begins.
Overnight KARAWARI LODGE (BLD)

Mon,
Day 7 Enjoy a spectacular flight from Karawari to Ambua. Ambua Lodge is high on the slopes of the Tari Valley - home of the Huli, a colourful and proud people, still largely living the same way that their ancestors did. The afternoon is spent exploring the area surrounding Ambua - high mountain forests with roaring waterfalls beckon the intrepid travelers.
Overnight AMBUA LODGE (BLD)

Tue,
Day 8 A full day of ecological and culturally based touring is sure to satiate those yearning for discovery. Enjoy a further full day of cultural and ecological touring. The Tari area is home to an incredible 13 species of birds of paradise, as well as numerous orchid species.
Overnight AMBUA LODGE (BLD)

Wed,
Day 9 Today a trek through sweet potato gardens, past sugar cane, banana trees. After arriving at the village, you can rest your tired feet and learn about daily Huli life in a Huli village.
Overnight: a Huli Village (BLD)

Thu,
Day 10 After spending the morning in the village, you are then transferred back to Ambua Lodge for your final night in the Tari Valley.
Overnight AMBUA LODGE(BLD)

Fri,
Day 11 Departing from Tari airstrip Air Niugini to Port Moresby. You will be met in Port Moresby by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to the Gateway Hotel
Overnight: Gateway Hotel (B--)

Sat,
Day 12 Trans Niugini Tours staff will transfer you to your onward international flight.

Please take note: Village accommodation is extremely basic -- in some instances, you may be sleeping in an actual villager's house; privacy is not guaranteed. Toilets will be pit-style in most instances. It is neccessary for guests to provide their own sleeping bag, day-pack, rain jacket and sturdy walking boots.
Please also take note that villages visited may change at short notice, due to changing local conditions.

INFORMATION

LAND COST:
US$5,032.00 per person (minimum two persons) on a twin share basis. Price is valid until 31 December 2009.

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:
US$747.00 - Price is valid until 31 December 2009. NB: All village accommodation is on a share basis.

LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, tours, transfers, meals (from dinner on the 1st day until breakfast on the 11th day) and local guides.

LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Entry visa fees, all domestic flights, items of a personal nature such as beverages, phone/fax bills and laundry services.

ADDITIONAL AIR CHARTER COSTS:
US$750.00 - Price is valid until 31 December 2009.
Price includes the following sectors:
Friday, Day 4, Mount Hagen/Karawari
Monday, Day 7, Karawari/Ambua

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:
Tuesday, Day 1, PX182 Port Moresby/Mount Hagen
Friday, Day 11, PX865 Tari/Port Moresby

BOOKINGS:
Please email Trans Niugini Tours for enquiries or bookings.