4 days tour

Goroka Festival

Goroka Festival

This tour includes:

Others

Meet and greet service on arrival English speaking translator All activities as per itinerary Entrance fees, sightseeing and permits

Accommodation

3 nights Accommodation

Transport

Private transportation

Meals

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Not included:

Flights

Insurance

Full Comprehensive Travel Insurance is mandatory for this tour

Others

International and domestic flights Visas Travel and medical insurance All services, meals other than those indicated above Personal porters Any changes to the proposed and confirmed program. All items of a personal nature e.g. drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips etc

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Itinerary of your trip Goroka Festival

  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrival Goroka
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Arrival Goroka

      Welcome to Papua New Guinea. Upon arrival in Goroka, you will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

      Keiya Village and Cane Swallowing

      Following lunch at the hotel, head to Keiya village. Here you will witness some incredible cultural performances including the โ€˜Cane Swallowingโ€™ ceremony of boysโ€™ initiation where a cane rope is pushed into their stomach through their mouth to cleanse themselves as an initiation ceremony. Often referred to as Dring Kol Wara (Drink Cold Water) by the Bena people of Eastern Highlands, the initiation is practised only by men. In previous times, women were never allowed to know about it, much less see it.

      The cane is carefully carved to achieve a smooth surface to allow easy ingestion. With careful preparations, final touches are made to bend the cane into a U-shape before hanging it to dry in kitchen huts. It is dried for about one month before being used. Now and then the dried cane is taken out and left in water to regain moisture to maintain its outer covering. Its length may vary from two to three metres.

      The initiation period may last for two to three months, depending on the amount of pork available for meals in the โ€˜Haus manโ€™. Mothers of young boys cry for their sons as they are taken away to learn their customs and embrace manhood.

      During this initiation, initiates are required to lie on their back, face-up, to sleep as it is believed that that will straighten and elongate the intestines in preparation for the Neheya. Meals provided for the initiates comprise of only pork fat and boiled kaukau (sweet potato), believing that this dish, also known as hosamaya, ensures the smooth passing of the cane along the digestive tract. It is prepared only by elderly women who have gone past menopause. To witness this ancient practice is a rare experience.

      Return to your hotel for dinner.

      Meals
      Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodation
      Red River Lodge or similar

      Services
      Private vehicle and guide

  • Day 2 Day 2: Goroka Festival
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Goroka Festival

      Enjoy an early breakfast as you depart at 7:30 am to get your bearing at the festival. The sing-sing groups start to arrive from 9 am. You will be in awe at their body decorations, colourful traditional costumes and vibrant face painting. Learn about the different types of costumes and their significance in the cultures of these people.

      Colours, Kundu drums and chanting explore your senses as thousands of warriors, all dressed in their very finest traditional regalia, performing and dancing and in sing-sing. Each group, with their own cultures and languages, vow to outclass the other groups. Walk among the dancers, shake their hands and meet them.

      Tumbuna Market

      Following the festival, you will be transferred to the Tumbuna market for the opportunity to purchase locally-made handicrafts before returning to your hotel late in the afternoon.

      Meals
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodation
      Red River Lodge or similar

      Services
      Private vehicle and guide

  • Day 3 Day 3: Goroka Festival
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Goroka Festival

      This morning you will enjoy another festival day at the arena with your guide. A picnic lunch will be provided so you do not miss any of the action.

      McCarthy Museum

      After the festival at approx. 3.00 pm, you will visit the McCarthy Museum just near the showground.

      The museumโ€™s main collections are artifacts and specimens from the Highlands region including wooden dishes, stone mortars, stone blades, magic stones and sandstones for making stone blades. There are also some WWII relics on display including a P-39 Airacobra.

      Meals
      Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodation
      Red River Lodge โ€“ Single Premium Room

      Services
      Private vehicle and guide

  • Day 4 Day 4: Departure
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Departure

      After breakfast at 7:00 am, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Port Moresby (flight not included).

      Meals
      Breakfast

      Services
      Private vehicle and guide

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 18 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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