Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrive in Port Moresby
Upon your arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your flight to Mount Hagen. 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 Mount Kuta is Rondon Ridge, with unbelievable views of the valley and city below.
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: Mount HagenEmbark on a full day of touring featuring the unique culture and tradition of the Melpa tribe. First contact with this tribe was made in the mid-1930's. The Melpa are said, by anthropologists, to be "predisposed to capitalism" because of their complex traditional society in which "big men" earn status by accruing wealth and then giving it all away in ceremonial exchanges.
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: Mount Hagen to the Karawari RiverThis morning fly by charter flight into the deep heart of the jungle where your wondrous journey continues on the Sepik Spirit River boat. The design of this unique vessel was inspired by the local architecture of the "Haus Tambaran" or Spirit House. Your adventure begins with a tour to a local village and cruising down the jungle clad banks of the Karawari River.
Hotel: MV Sepik Spirit (3 Star Rating)
The Sepik Spirit is a deluxe "floating Lodge". Originally commissioned as a vessel for cruising the Sepik and Karawari Rivers, the Sepik Spirit is now permanently moored at a strategic site on the Sepik River. The Sepik Spirit's nine spacious rooms accommodate a maximum of just eighteen guests. Each has an en-suite bathroom, large windows and personally controlled air-conditioning.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 4: Cruising the Karawari RiverTravel on the MV Sepik Spirit offers a unique and diverse experience of the remote Sepik region. The journey begins on the Karawari River, a tributary of the "Mighty Sepik River", and transverses along the remote river waterways to the middle Sepik River. You will pass jungle covered banks dotted with traditional fishing villages as you journey down the winding river for over 80 km to reach the Sepik River. As you meander along the Karawari River and Black water lakes you will experience remote villages, learn their customs and experience their day to day lives in modern times; which still closely reflect their traditional tribal lifestyle.
Once you reach the Sepik River travel into the remote Chambri Lakes, where you will visit the original traditional spirit houses of Kanganamin and Palambei; some of the most remarkable spirit houses still in existence. We pay respect to the sacred Haus Tambaran where generations of secret tales are told and dances to the drums and the rituals and stories are passed on to the next generation. The middle Sepik is the place where carvers and artists create the unique artifacts that are so essential to the spiritual life of the people.
Hotel: MV Sepik Spirit (3 Star Rating)
The Sepik Spirit is a deluxe "floating Lodge". Originally commissioned as a vessel for cruising the Sepik and Karawari Rivers, the Sepik Spirit is now permanently moored at a strategic site on the Sepik River. The Sepik Spirit's nine spacious rooms accommodate a maximum of just eighteen guests. Each has an en-suite bathroom, large windows and personally controlled air-conditioning.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 5: Cruising the Karawari RiverTravel on the MV Sepik Spirit offers a unique and diverse experience of the remote Sepik region. The journey begins on the Karawari River, a tributary of the "Mighty Sepik River", and transverses along the remote river waterways to the middle Sepik River. You will pass jungle covered banks dotted with traditional fishing villages as you journey down the winding river for over 80 km to reach the Sepik River. As you meander along the Karawari River and Black water lakes you will experience remote villages, learn their customs and experience their day to day lives in modern times; which still closely reflect their traditional tribal lifestyle.
Once you reach the Sepik River travel into the remote Chambri Lakes, where you will visit the original traditional spirit houses of Kanganamin and Palambei; some of the most remarkable spirit houses still in existence. We pay respect to the sacred Haus Tambaran where generations of secret tales are told and dances to the drums and the rituals and stories are passed on to the next generation. The middle Sepik is the place where carvers and artists create the unique artifacts that are so essential to the spiritual life of the people.
Hotel: MV Sepik Spirit (3 Star Rating)
The Sepik Spirit is a deluxe "floating Lodge". Originally commissioned as a vessel for cruising the Sepik and Karawari Rivers, the Sepik Spirit is now permanently moored at a strategic site on the Sepik River. The Sepik Spirit's nine spacious rooms accommodate a maximum of just eighteen guests. Each has an en-suite bathroom, large windows and personally controlled air-conditioning.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 6: Cruising the Sepik RiverTravel on the MV Sepik Spirit offers a unique and diverse experience of the remote Sepik region. The journey begins on the Karawari River, a tributary of the "Mighty Sepik River", and transverses along the remote river waterways to the middle Sepik River. You will pass jungle covered banks dotted with traditional fishing villages as you journey down the winding river for over 80 km to reach the Sepik River. As you meander along the Karawari River and Black water lakes you will experience remote villages, learn their customs and experience their day to day lives in modern times; which still closely reflect their traditional tribal lifestyle.
Once you reach the Sepik River travel into the remote Chambri Lakes, where you will visit the original traditional spirit houses of Kanganamin and Palambei; some of the most remarkable spirit houses still in existence. We pay respect to the sacred Haus Tambaran where generations of secret tales are told and dances to the drums and the rituals and stories are passed on to the next generation. The middle Sepik is the place where carvers and artists create the unique artifacts that are so essential to the spiritual life of the people.
Hotel: MV Sepik Spirit (3 Star Rating)
The Sepik Spirit is a deluxe "floating Lodge". Originally commissioned as a vessel for cruising the Sepik and Karawari Rivers, the Sepik Spirit is now permanently moored at a strategic site on the Sepik River. The Sepik Spirit's nine spacious rooms accommodate a maximum of just eighteen guests. Each has an en-suite bathroom, large windows and personally controlled air-conditioning.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 7: Sepik River to the Tari ValleyToday we make our way back up the Karawari River and prepare to leave the Sepik Spirit for our journey to the next destination. Take a short flight from Karawari across untouched rainforest and mountains to the Tari Valley. Once you arrive you will be transferred to Ambua Lodge; located at 7000 feet in the Hela province. This area is the homeland of the Huli clan, famed for their colorfully adorned human hair wigs and ancient warrior culture. Spend the afternoon enjoying Ambua's winding forest trails that take you through lush rainforest, past gushing waterfalls and over traditional vine bridges.
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 8: Exploring the Tari ValleySpend 2 days touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. In contrast to the Sepik people, whose art is manifested in ceremonial and decorative carvings, these Highland people employ body decoration, face painting and human hair wigs decorated with feathers, flowers and moss, as their expression of art. Visit the men's hair wig school and tour the local villages to experience how this proud mountain tribe has evolved in the modern age, while still maintaining the stories, beliefs and traditions of their ancestors.
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 9: Exploring the Tari ValleySpend 2 days touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. In contrast to the Sepik people, whose art is manifested in ceremonial and decorative carvings, these Highland people employ body decoration, face painting and human hair wigs decorated with feathers, flowers and moss, as their expression of art. Visit the men's hair wig school and tour the local villages to experience how this proud mountain tribe has evolved in the modern age, while still maintaining the stories, beliefs and traditions of their ancestors.
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 10: Tari Valley to Port MoresbyThis morning you will be transferred to Tari Airport for your domestic PX Flight depart for Port Moresby on Air Niugini. Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to the Airways Hotel. The afternoon is spent exploring the Nature Park and other interesting land marks.
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, Lunch
Day 11: Depart from Port MoresbyThis morning you will be transferred to the airport to meet you outgoing international flight
Meal(s): Breakfast