The Ultimate Adventure: Exploring the Unseen Papua New Guinea

This 15-day trip takes you on a journey through the cultural heart of Papua New Guinea. From the Asaro Mudmen and the Dust Shakers Tribe to the Skeleton Tribe and the Black Faced Tribe of Enga Province, you will experience the unique traditions and customs of some of the most isolated and traditional groups in the country. Along the way, you’ll also have the opportunity to witness stunning natural beauty, visit coffee plantations, and go birdwatching.

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

This trip takes you on a cultural journey through Papua New Guinea, exploring the traditions and customs of various tribes. The journey begins with a flight to Port Moresby and a transfer to Asaro. In Asaro, you will visit the Gimisave Coffee plantation and witness performances by the Gimisave Arunumuna Tribe Women Group, Yangpela Asaro Mudboys, and the Burning heads of Gimisave. You will also get a taste of local foods and see a demonstration of traditional Bamboo Cooking.

The next day, you will walk to Mount Gurupoka and witness the Asaro Mudmen ceremony and ghost walk, followed by the making of Asaro Masks and a performance by the Moko Moko Tribal dances of Victory.

The journey continues to Mindima, where you will witness the Dust Shakers Tribe and the Skeleton Tribe and their traditions. You will also visit the Bogo Cultural Village and see traditional houses and hunting practices in the surrounding jungle.

In Jiwaka and Mount Hagen, you will witness the full dressing of Jiwaka Tribes and the Forest Skull Kids of Koskala. You will also visit a small village outside Mount Hagen to witness the Huli Wigmen and the Tambul tribe of Mount Giluwe.

The trip culminates in Kumul in the Enga Province, where you will witness the Birds of Paradise and other montane New Guinea birds at the feeders. You will also witness the Black Faced Tribe of Enga Province, known for their distinctive black face paint and their isolation and traditional practices.

Throughout the journey, you will stay in various eco lodges and hotels, immersing yourself in the culture and traditions of Papua New Guinea. This trip is perfect for those who seek adventure and a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of Papua New Guinea

Group Size

Maximum 15 Guests

Experience | Difficulty

  • Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
  • DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
  • Moderate schedule
  • Travel by car or minibus
  • Moderate elevation changes and lots of walking and some hiking
  • (non-photographers also welcome)

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

  • 15 Days
  • Travel, landscape, seascape and nature photography
  • Professional photographer | guide
  • Photo walks & discussions
  • Maximum 15 Guests
  • 4 or 5-star hotels
  • Breakfasts
  • 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

Your 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.

David offers photography services and tours throughout Asia, combining his passion for travel with his profession and background in tourism and hospitality. He also provides web-design services and consultation to the tourism industry. His photography tours cater to both beginner and advanced photographers, offering them a chance to capture stunning images in some of the most remote and exotic locations in Asia, including Myanmar’s Chin state and the Mergui archipelago.

David’s work has been featured in various online channels and mediums, including TTR Weekly eMag, Myanmore Magazine, Phuket Gazette, thetravelmagazine.net, Expression Magazine, Gisborne Herald New Zealand, HLN Belgium, Primo Magazine, Fah Thai Bangkok Airways inflight Magazine, Airasia Inflight Magazine, and Thaiger. He has also worked on main stories in TRAVEL + LEISURE magazine and GEO, a family of educational monthly magazines similar to the National Geographic magazine, known for their detailed reports and pictures.

ITINERARY

Departure from your airport to your connection destination to Port Moresby

Arrival in Port Moresby and overnight.

Flight to Goroka in the morning. Transfer to Asaro after you collected your bags. In the afternoon we will head to the village of Gimisave by local bus and visit the community of coffee growers where we also see the performance of three cultural groups: The Gimisave Arunumuna Tribe Women Group, the Yangpela Asaro Mudboys, and in the blue hour of the evening a performance of the Burning heads of Gimisave. You will also see a performance of traditional Bamboo Cooking and taste some local foods.
Back to the Asaro Guesthouse for dinner and overnight stay.

Morning walk to Mount Gurupoka (not difficult walk about 25 minutes) and enjoy the ceremony and ghost walk of the Asaro Mudmen, in company of the Asaro Mudmen you will visit the old sacrifice cave and the cross on top of the holy mountain of Gurupoka. Back to basecamp for lunch and in the afternoon you will see the traditional making of the Asaro Masks. After this the Moko Moko Tribal dances of Victory will be performed for you, a very spectacular show that Mudmen used to dance after victory of their tribal fights.
Dinner and overnight at Asaro Mudmen Eco Lodge

Morning transfer to Mindima. Lunch and relax. At 3 PM first performance of the Dust Shakers Tribe at the side of the river, small walk to the bottom of the valley. Dust Shakers are widowers after a few years they are ready to date again and wanna show their strength and body to the ladies in the village. Try to get a photo when the dust flies around their whole body.
Back by 5, 6 PM at the Skeleton Eco Lodge. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast walk to the cave and full morning Skeleton Tribe performance in the mystical cave where the legend of the Skeleton Tribe started.
Pick nick lunch near the Cave, Back to the Skeleton Eco Resort and see the Insect Hunters and their Tradition in the afternoon. Evening dinner and overnight at the Skeleton Eco Lodge.

Morning transfer to Bogo Cultural Village (about 2 hours) and check in have lunch. Afternoon performance of Bogo Cultural activities from the Graiku Tribe, the pristine valley of Bogo looks like a fairytale, with a beautiful river with huge boulders running through it, spotted with Traditional houses, farms and pigs surrounded by majestic mountains. See more activities and walk around Bogo Village and the surrounding Rainforest Jungle. You will see more traditional houses and the old ways of Papua New Guinea hunting, setting traps and how to make fire with natural materials from the jungle. Back to Mindima by car (2 Hours). Overnight in Skeleton Eco Lodge.

Morning Transfer to Jiwaka – Afternoon you will see the full dressing of the Jiwaka Tribes in full bilas with amazing feathers and headdresses. We see man, ladies and Bamboo flute players from the Sekaka Tribe and visit an old traditional men’s house. After this we see the performance of the Forest Skull Kids of Koskala. Transfer to our hotel in Mount Hagen.

Today we drive to a small village outside mount Hagen and visit the Huli Wigmen in the morning. We then have local lunch there and in the afternoon we will encounter the Tambul tribe of Mount Giluwe. The Tambul people live at Mt. Giluwe. They live at the border of Southern Highland Provinces and Enga, Western Highlands and Southern Highland Provinces. Their traditional dress, face and body painting, singing, and dancing is a mix of these provinces. Overnight in Mount Hagen.

Transfer to Kumul,an excellent destination for montane New Guinea birding and where Birds of Paradise are amongst the regulars at the feeders, offering fantastic photo opportunities. Other regulars at the feeders include Brehm’s Tiger Parrot, Smoky Honeyeater, Belford’s Melidectes and Island Thrush. Chestnut Forest Rail is occasionally seen beneath the feeder while Crested Berrypecker and White-winged Robin are often seen nearby. We have lunch on the way and continue to Enga Province. Check in the hotel and overnight in Wabek Hotel.

After breakfast we drive about one hour to a remote village where we have a full day of activities of the Balck Faced Tribe of Enga Province. The Black Faced Tribe, also known as the Suli Muli people, is a ethnic group that lives in the rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province. They are known for their distinctive black face paint, which they apply to their faces as a symbol of their identity and cultural heritage. The Suli Muli people are one of the most isolated and traditional groups in Papua New Guinea. Overnight in Wabek Hotel.

In the morning we drive to Mount Hagen and free afternoon at the hotel and dinner. Prepare for our flight to Port Moresby tomorrow.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Port Moresby. It is advised to stay one night in Port Moresby to secure a good connection with your international flight as sometimes domestic flights get a delay. Overnight in Port Moresby Hotel (at own expense)

Flight from Port Moresby to your Home

Arrival at your home airport

OPTIONS & BENEFITS

Price: 4500 Euro PP in shared double room

Single occupancy: 1200 Euro

8 persons is one person free of charge (no flights included)

– Local English speaking guide

– All room nights in shared double room

– Transportation for the whole trip

– Breakfast lunch and dinner (all meals)

– Performances for all cultural groups and tribes

– Guided walks to caves and mountains

– Taxes and fees

– Basic Laundry

– International and domestic flights to: Goroka Airport

– Insurance (recommended)

– Personal expenses (drinks and alcohol with your food, souvenirs, phone bill, etc.)

Accommodation is basic but clean, and at some places can be with shared toilet or showers. We stay with the tribes at local homestay guesthouses. Electricity is available during most of the whole trip, also you will have internet access. (For Phone access you need to pay extra SIM card at the airport)

Due to unforeseen events the organizers can change the program during the execution of the trip. We will do our best to follow the program and include all events mentioned. We make plans to cover most problems should they arise, which is very seldom, but the visitor must be aware of the small possibility of plans not working out as per schedule and accept this warning.

FOR BOOKING SEND AN EMAIL TO info@tribesofpapuanewguinea.com

We ask for a deposit of 50% to be paid. As soon as we have the deposit your booking reservation is confirmed. The deposit is non-refundable but valid for next year’s trip to join.

We ask for the final balance of payment 2 months before the expedition commences.

Cancellation within 3 weeks of the commencement of the expedition incurs a penalty of 100% of monies paid to date. Payments can be done by international bank transfers in PNG, EU, USA or Thailand (Asia).

– Please bring warm clothing for the evenings.

– There is no mosquito problem in the highlands

– Extra money can be changed at the airport upon arrival

– Sim card possible to buy at POM airport the company to choose is DIGICELL

– You need a passport valid for 6 months + VISA application and approved VISA

– https://ica.gov.pg/

– At the airports you need a printed version of all your vaccinations (this might change in 2023)