DISCOVERER HAGEN SHOW TOUR
05 August - 19 August, 2007

The Discoverer, is a 14 night/15 day unescourted program, providing a unique opportunity to discover the unique culture and ecosystems of the world's second largest island -- New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a veritable smorgasboard 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 of many of the opulantly decorated cultural groups of this incredibly diverse land. The program also includes three nights on board the MV Sepik Spirit in the Sepik Region. Three nights are also spent at Wahgi Guest Haus -- a basic village guest house in a traditional village, providing the opportunity for a very authentic experience.

SUMMARY - 05 to 19 August 2007
1 night	Highlander Hotel, Mount Hagen
3 nights	MV Sepik Spirit
2 nights	Karawari Lodge, Sepik Region
3 nights	Ambua Lodge, Southern Highlands
3 nights	Wahgi Village Guest Haus, Mount Hagen Area
1 night	Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby

ITINERARY IN BRIEF
Sun, 05_Aug.	Upon your arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your onward flight to Mount Hagen. Overnight Highlander Hotel
Mon, 06 Aug.	In the morning Trans Niugini Tours staff will transfer you to your Charter flight to Sepik. As the flight progresses, 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. From Sepik airstrip, you will be transferred to the air conditioned comfort of the MV Sepik Spirit. Inspired by the architecture of the "haus tambaran" or spirit house, the MV Sepik Spirit has a truly unique design. With its shallow draught, it allows travel to rarely visted areas of the Sepik River and its tributaries in comfort. Overnight MV Sepik Spirit
Tue, 07 and Wed, 08 Aug.	Two full days are spent exploring the many waterways of the Sepik and its tributaries including visits to traditional Sepik Villages. The Sepik River is one of the largest rivers in the world - in terms of flow. Steeped in mystery, the people of the Sepik area have fascinated anthropologists like Margaret Mead since the area was first visited. Part of the mystery and attraction of the Sepik people is their amazing carvings, now famous the world over. Overnight MV Sepik Spirit
Thu, 09 Aug.	This morning, disembark and fly by charter aircraft from Timbunke to Karawari Airstrip. You will be transferred by boat from the airstrip to Karawari Lodge. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometres of dense tropical jungle. Inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, the lodge provides modern comforts. PM visit to Kundiman village for sago making demonstration. Sago is the staple food for the river people. Overnight Karawari Lodge
Fri, 10 Aug	After breakfast enjoy touring programs that provide insight into the amazing ecology and culture of the Karawari area. Travel along the jungle-fringed waterways where boatmen, standing upright, paddle their slender dugout canoes. See bountiful bird life along the rivers and nearby lakes. Excursions enhance your understanding of traditional village culture. This is the only place where the mystical ancestral Kamangabbi figure can be found. Overnights Karawari Lodge
Sat, 11 Aug.	Fly by charter aircraft to Ambua 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 seem to rise and drop at impossible angles. 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 traveller. Overnight Ambua Lodge
Sun, 12 and Mon, 13 Aug.	A full day of ecological and culturally based touring are sure to satiate those yearning for discovery. For the adventurous, there is an opportunity to have a bona fide village experience. You will be given the option of a one night to stay in a village, to hear creation stories and myths told by tribal elders in a genuine setting. Only very rarely will an opportunity to gain such insight into a pre-technological culture will present itself, a culture that has changed little since the dawn of time. Overnight Ambua Lodge
Tue, 14 Aug.	Fly by charter aircraft from Ambua to Mount Hagen, a thrilling flight over the alpine grasslands of the Tari Gap and past the twin peaks of Mount Giluwe. Mount Hagen Town is in the upper Wahgi Valley - a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Today you will travel into the Wahgi Valley with overnights at the Waghi Guest House. Waghi Guest House is ideally located 80 kilometers away from the busy commercial center of Mount Hagen and it is towards the end of the famous Waghi Valley. This Lodge is built along a ridge overlooking the Waghi Valley and amongst the houses & gardens of the Wahgi tribes. Overnight Wahgi Guest Haus
Wed, 15 Aug.	Today you will be taken to various villages surrounding the guesthouse and you will be experiencing the daily way of living for the Waghi valley people. It is customarily that any new visitors that enters their society, is normally greeted with heartwarming smiles and later in the evening taken into a special house to witness a courtship ceremony. Overnight Wahgi Guest Haus
Thu, 16 Aug.	Today will feature a special cultural singsing of the Wamol people. This group is truly the Waghi people because they still practice their traditional rituals, customs and traditions that has been passed down to them from past generations. These two days will truly be a spectacular pre show experience. Overnight Wahgi Guest Haus
Fri, 17 Aug.	Today you depart Waghi Guest House and transfer back to Mt. Hagen. Balance of day is at leisure, in preparation for the great event the following day. Overnight Highlander Hotel
Sat, 18 Aug.	An early departure from the Highlander Hotel to Mt. Hagen Show Grounds - world famous for its colour, culture and vibrance. It is a truly spectacular event. The diversity of the coastal, lowland and highlands singsing groups at the Hagen show reflects the incredible diversity of Papua New Guinea's landscape - an unforgettable experience. Transfer to your flight after the show in the afternoon to Port Moresby. Meet/Greet and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Gateway Hotel
Sun, 19 Aug.	You will be transferred to your international flight by Trans Niugini Tours staff.

INFORMATION