Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrive Port Moreseby, transfer to Mt Hagen & Rondon Ridge
Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff to transfer to your afternoon flight to Mount Hagen. Upon arrival in Mount Hagen, you will be driven up the scenic mountain road to Rondon Ridge Lodge. The Lodge is nestled on the edge of the Waghi valley above the city of Mount Hagen, offering a stunning vista of the surrounding Highland style houses and gardens set amongst the green rolling hills and forests. If time permits you can meet with your guide and wander the grounds around the lodge in hopes of spotting a few of the twelve varieties of Bird of Paradise that can be found here, including the Blue Bird of Paradise and the Superb Bird of Paradise.
Hotel: Rondon Ridge Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Rondon Ridge is a 40-minute drive from the town of Mount Hagen and just under an hour from the airport. There are several daily flights between Mount Hagen and the capital, Port Moresby.
Rondon Ridge is a perfect hub for access to Ambua Lodge, Karawari Lodge, MV Sepik Spirit and Bensbach Wildlife Lodge.
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Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2: Mt Hagen BirdingDepart the lodge early this morning to catch the waking birds as the dawn breaks. Spend the morning climbing the trails up the mountain at a leisurely pace, following the melodic song of the birds as they grace the morning. In the cool of the forest birders may chance to see the Black and Brown Sicklebill Bird of Paradise, the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, Stephanies Astrapia Bird of Paradise, MacGregors Bowerbird, the Papuan Parrot-finch, to name a few of the many varieties of birds found in these tranquil forests. Birders may spend a full day exploring the many species of birds that live in these high-altitude forests, taking packed breakfast and/or lunch with them for the day or can choose to travel back to the lodge for meals before continuing with a full day of exploration.
Hotel: Rondon Ridge Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Rondon Ridge is a 40-minute drive from the town of Mount Hagen and just under an hour from the airport. There are several daily flights between Mount Hagen and the capital, Port Moresby.
Rondon Ridge is a perfect hub for access to Ambua Lodge, Karawari Lodge, MV Sepik Spirit and Bensbach Wildlife Lodge.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 3: Mt Hagen BirdingRise early to the deep silence of the mountains, before departing on a short ride down the winding mountain road, passing quaint Highland's farms, rushing mountain streams and stunning views of the Waghi valley. Today will be spent wandering through the lowland regions of the valley (5500 feet) where birders will have the opportunity to see a diverse range of birds that occupy the valley. This area is home to a wide variety of lowland birds and boasts a beautiful Raggiana Bird of Paradise display tree.
Hotel: Rondon Ridge Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Rondon Ridge is a 40-minute drive from the town of Mount Hagen and just under an hour from the airport. There are several daily flights between Mount Hagen and the capital, Port Moresby.
Rondon Ridge is a perfect hub for access to Ambua Lodge, Karawari Lodge, MV Sepik Spirit and Bensbach Wildlife Lodge.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 4: Mt Hagen to Tari & Ambua LodgeThis morning fly by charter flight to Tari. The Huli tribe that inhabit this area is the largest as well as one of the most colorful 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 enjoying you afternoon of birding you may chance to observe up to 13 species of the Birds of Paradise alongside a wide variety of colorful flowers, exotic plants and insects.
Hotel: Ambua Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Nestled amongst the Doma Peaks near Tari, almost 7000 feet above sea level, is Ambua Lodge. An award-winning, eco-friendly lodge boasting magnificent views of the Tari Valley below. Guests are accommodated in forty round houses, set amongst landscaped gardens and built almost exclusively from natural materials.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 5: Tari BirdingEnjoy two full days of birding in one of the most diverse birding regions in the country. Birding will include both exploring the upper altitude birds found in the Tari gap as well as travelling into the valley to locate the lowland species. With an amazing thirteen species of Birds of Paradise, Ambua and the Tari Gap is a mecca for birders seeking these amazing and colorful birds. Close to the lodge, birds that are commonly seen include the Buff-Banded Rail, long tailed Shrike, Pied Chat, and Orange-crowned Fairy-wren, Mountain Peltops, Friendly Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Blue-grey Robin and the hooded mannikin.
Hotel: Ambua Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Nestled amongst the Doma Peaks near Tari, almost 7000 feet above sea level, is Ambua Lodge. An award-winning, eco-friendly lodge boasting magnificent views of the Tari Valley below. Guests are accommodated in forty round houses, set amongst landscaped gardens and built almost exclusively from natural materials.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 6: Tari BirdingEnjoy two full days of birding in one of the most diverse birding regions in the country. Birding will include both exploring the upper altitude birds found in the Tari gap as well as travelling into the valley to locate the lowland species. With an amazing thirteen species of Birds of Paradise, Ambua and the Tari Gap is a mecca for birders seeking these amazing and colorful birds. Close to the lodge, birds that are commonly seen include the Buff-Banded Rail, long tailed Shrike, Pied Chat, and Orange-crowned Fairy-wren, Mountain Peltops, Friendly Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Blue-grey Robin and the hooded mannikin.
Hotel: Ambua Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Nestled amongst the Doma Peaks near Tari, almost 7000 feet above sea level, is Ambua Lodge. An award-winning, eco-friendly lodge boasting magnificent views of the Tari Valley below. Guests are accommodated in forty round houses, set amongst landscaped gardens and built almost exclusively from natural materials.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 7: Tari to Sepik RegionThis 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 kilometers of dense tropical jungle. After settling in you will meet your guide and set out for an afternoon of birding.
Hotel: Karawari Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Guests are accommodated in ten separate cottages, each built out of local bush materials and inspired by traditional architecture. Each cottage has two private twin rooms, each with modern en-suite bathrooms, and a communal veranda. Despite its remoteness, the lodge has 220V electricity, hot and cold water, comfortable mosquito-netted beds, ceiling fans, and a breezy veranda - all make for a welcome sanctuary after a day's exploration.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 8: Sepik Region BirdingRise early to begin a full day of birding both on the quiet waterways of the river and in the thick Karawari jungle. With some 225 species of birds, Karawari is an excellent location to seek lowland, rainforest and freshwater birds, particularly parrots; including lorikeets, Eclectus, Palm Cockatoos, Edwards-Fig Parrot. There are also three Birds of Paradise, the King, Twelve-Wire and the Magnificent Riflebird. Cassowaries, frog-mouths, owls, birds of prey, bower birds, honey eaters and a whole host of others await the intrepid birder.
Hotel: Karawari Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Guests are accommodated in ten separate cottages, each built out of local bush materials and inspired by traditional architecture. Each cottage has two private twin rooms, each with modern en-suite bathrooms, and a communal veranda. Despite its remoteness, the lodge has 220V electricity, hot and cold water, comfortable mosquito-netted beds, ceiling fans, and a breezy veranda - all make for a welcome sanctuary after a day's exploration.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 9: Sepik Region to Port MoresbyIn the morning you will be transferred from Karawari Lodge to Karawari airstrip. Fly by charter from Karawari to Mt Hagen. The lowland tropical rainforest quickly gives way to towering mountains, as once again you enter the highlands. Lunch will be provided in Mount Hagen before you continue your trip with Air Niugini Port Moresby. You will be met by Trans Niugini staff and transferred to Airways Hotel.
Hotel: Airways Hotel (4 Star Rating)
Airways Hotel is Papua New Guinea's leading hotel, Australasia's leading airport hotel and one of the most unique airport hotels in the world. Nestled into the mountainside in its own botanical gardens, with stunning views from crystal clear waters of Bootless Bay to the majestic mountains of the Owen Stanley Ranges, the hotel it is located just 2 minutes from Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 10: Depart Port MoresbyTransfer from your hotel to your international flight out.
Meal(s): Breakfast
