Three mini festival trip: Asaro Tribal Gathering, Skeleton Tribe Festival and Waterfall Festival and Hidden Chimbu Tribes.

The Ultimate Tribal Experience in Papua New Guinea is an immersive cultural journey through the diverse and unique highland communities of this fascinating country. The itinerary is filled with exciting activities such as visiting coffee growers, witnessing sacred practices, traditional performances and unique festivals. Visitors get to experience firsthand the warmth and hospitality of these communities, sample their traditional cuisine, and learn about the ancient rituals and practices that have been passed down through generations.

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TRIP ARE 3 CULTURAL FESTIVALS: THE ASARO MUDMEN FESTIVAL, THE SKELETON FESTIVAL & THE WATERFALL FESTIVAL.  DURING THESE 3 FESTIVALS ALONE, YOU WILL SEE OVER 40 DISTINICT TRIBES AND OVER 400 TRIBESMEN WEARING TRADITIONAL DRESS AND MAKEUP.

IN, ADDITION TO THESE 3 AMAZING FESTIVALS, The itinerary is filled with exciting activities such as visiting coffee growers, witnessing sacred practices, AND traditional performances and unique festivals. Visitors get to experience firsthand the warmth and hospitality of these communities, sample their traditional cuisine, and learn about the ancient rituals and practices that have been passed down through generations.

Witness Sacred Practices, Traditional Performances and Unique Festivals in Papua New Guinea's Highlands

The second organization of the three mini-festival trip in Papua New Guinea promises an even more spectacular experience, showcasing a variety of tribal cultures and traditions. The journey begins with the renowned Asaro Mudmen Festival, where the eerie and striking clay masks of the Asaro Mudmen take center stage. This event is further enriched by performances from more than 15 other tribes, each presenting their unique dance cultures, traditional dressings, and vibrant bilas, all set against the picturesque backdrop of the Asaro Mudmen Eco Lodge. It’s a day filled with unforgettable cultural displays that leave a lasting impression.

The second highlight of the tour is the famous Skeleton Tribe Festival. This festival features the captivating performances of the Skeleton Tribe, accompanied by their two friendly groups, the Dust Shakers and the Insect Hunters. Additionally, over 10 new tribes from the surrounding areas come together at the local showground, showcasing unique bilas and dressings that have never been seen before. The diversity and richness of the cultural displays at this festival provide a rare and fascinating glimpse into the traditions of the region.

The third and final festival takes place at the stunning Wii Towai Waterfall. The Waterfall Festival features cultures that have emerged from villages deep within the Chimbu Mountains. The festival’s setting, amidst traditional villages, majestic mountains, caves, rivers, waterfalls, creeks, forests, and bamboo and banana plantations, offers an ideal backdrop for photographers. The captivating scenery and vibrant cultural displays make for an extraordinary visual feast.

The tour concludes with a visit to Mount Hagen, where visitors can experience the cultural heritage of groups like the Huli Wigmen and the Bluebearded Tribe. Whether you choose the full version of the tour or a shorter version, this journey through the diverse and rich cultures of Papua New Guinea offers an immersive and unforgettable adventure. Join us to witness the best of Papua New Guinea, where every moment is a celebration of its unique and vibrant cultural heritage.

Group Size

Maximum 20 Guests

Experience | Difficulty

  • Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
  • DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
  • Easy walking and no hard treks
  • Travel by car or minibus

Weather | Sun

In June, Goroka and Mount Hagen, both located in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, experience cool temperatures with an average high of around 21°C (70°F) and an average low of around 12°C (54°F). The region is known for its misty and foggy weather, especially in the early morning and evening, with occasional rainfall.

Includes

  • Short trip: 7 days – 19th to the 25th June 2025
  • Long trip: 19th of June to the 1st of July 2025
  • Arrival airport: Goroka, PNG
  • Departure Airport: Mt Hagen, PNG  
  • Travel, landscape, and mostly ethnic tribes and people photography
  • Professional photographer | guide
  • Maximum 20 Guests
  • Eco lodges (Asaro Mudmen, Skeleton eco lodges, with private shower and toilet) – Gimmesave and Waterfall are individual rooms with shared toilets and showers. 
  • Breakfasts – Lunch and dinner during the trip.
  • Fees for more than 400 performers – Traditional dressing
  • Water bottles
  • entry to all three festivals
  • Security officers
  • National park permits
  • Local transportation

Tribes you will see on this trip.

Asaro Mudmen – Moko Moko Dance – Widow ceremony – Gimisave Arunumuna Tribe Women Group – Burning heads of Gimisave – Yangpela Asaro Mudboys – Bere Tribe – Skeleton Tribe – Narku dust Walkers aka The Ash Kondai Pia – The Insect Hunters of Mindima – Bogo Tribes – Graiku Tribe –  Sekaka Tribe – Jiwaka Tribes – Forest Skull Kids of Koskala – Bird spirits of the Wii Towai Waterfall – Voice of Bird of Paradise – Towa Rocks String Band – Widowism – Kids fighting re-enactment – Tomamapre Gapabulko Girls – Sinamuglae – Black Bird of Paradise – Honey Bee Girls – Bow and Arrow Boys – Green Leaf Girls – Galmagaki Girls – Korma Boys – New Camp Mamas –  Kopa Warai Tribe – Harwal Tribe – Black Eyes String Band – Kowane tribe 

Photographer

David Van Driessche

www.davidvandriessche.com

David Van Driessche, also known as David Dennis, is a travel photographer with a flair for capturing eye-catching photographs of places and people. Originally from Belgium, David studied photography and film in Europe and worked as a tourism product manager in the 1990s, where he traveled the world photographing some of the finest hotels and resorts around the globe. Eventually, he settled in Thailand and has since explored much of Asia over the past 20 years, photographing destinations and leading hotels in countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, and China.

READ MORE ABOUT DAVID HERE

ITINERARY

PAPUA NEW GUINEA The famous Goroka Festival and the Highlights of the Highland Tribes BOOKINGS NOW OPEN FOR 2025

Travel from your home to Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, then stay one night or have a connecting flight the next day to Goroka Airport.

Arrival at Goroka airport and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit to the Asaro Mudmen Show.  After breakfast we head to Asaro River companied by the Asaro Mudmen. Performance of the Asaro Mudmen near the river. Lunch picknick and back walking to the Asaro Village

Moko Moko performance in the morning, afternoon widow scene and widow courtship in nearby village.

Dinner and overnight.

Transfer to Goroka Festival around 9 or 10 AM. The
‘Goroka Show’ is a significant cultural event in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
It is also the longest running annual cultural festival in Papua New Guinea drawing thousands of
tourists to the country every year in September during the week of the nation’s Independence
Day celebrations.

Goroka show. Over a hundred tribes from all over Papua New Guinea will participate in the event performing
extraordinary ‘singsings’ in a riotous display of color and sound.
The staging of the Goroka Show began in 1957 and was first introduced and organized by
Australian patrol officers known locally as ‘kiaps’.

Transfer to Mindima, check in the hotel and walk to the famous cave of the Skeleton Tribe, Lunch around the Cave and back to the Skeleton Eco Guesthouse. Free evening and lunch at the Skeleton Eco Guesthouse.

Full day show of the Skeleton Tribe, the Insect Hunters and the Traditional Simbu Culture dances.
Mini festival at the Skeleton Tribe village. Dinner and overnight at the Skeleton Eco Guesthouse.

Drive from Mindima to Mount Hagen, early morning departure. We go to the showground to see
the Huli Wigman dance and performance. Check in the hotel in Mount Hagen.

Flight to Port Moresby. End of the trip.

OPTIONS & BENEFITS

All prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Please select single occupancy for a private room. For your convenience, we offer optional early arrival and late departure accommodations so you can extend your stay before or after the trip. We typically stay in boutique hotels in the 4-star category. Not all destinations offer these types of properties. We look for unique hotels which offer cultural, historic and/or authentic features. Depending on the size of the group, smaller boutique hotels may have limited room inventory. In some countries or in remote locations, we may be limited to lodges or branded chain hotels. Breakfast is included only if included in our room rates.

We offer amazing private guided photo adventures, cultural tours and vacations for individuals, couples, families and groups. We can customize any of our published adventures, as well as others, to meet your individual needs, schedule, budget and interests. This may include the finest 5-star accommodations, business-class travel, and private guides and fixers who are able to make the impossible possible. If you are not interested in a photo-centric vacation, but you love our approach to private travel, we will be happy to design and deliver an amazing adventure focused on travel, culture and cuisine. 

We offer travel insurance through the internationally recognized Travelex Travel Insurance Company, as well as evacuation and medical transportation insurance through, one of the best in the industry.

The cost for travel insurance can be as low as 4% of the total trip cost, depending upon age and other factors. Knowing you have trip cancellation coverage can make a big difference should you have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. Travelex Insurance Services is a BBB Accredited business with an A+ rating. to learn more about why you should consider travel insurance.

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