10 days tour

Papua New Guinea Goroka Festival And Highlands Tribes Tour

Papua New Guinea Goroka Festival And Highlands Tribes Tour

This tour includes:

Flights

Domestic flights are incldued *** International flights are not included

Transport

Transport included

Others

Show entry with VIP passes, Sing Sings

Guide

You will be guided by a PNG expert, Christopher Bartlett, who has been running tours in Papua New Guinea since 2011. The highlands tribes tour is the fruit of a decade of experience and nurturing contacts with local service providers and villages.

Accommodation

7 nights accommodation

Meals

Meals included except 2 lunches at Goroka

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Others

2 lunches at Goroka Visa fees (if applicable - most nationalities get free visa on arrival) Tips

Insurance

Travel insurance is not included but is obligatory

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Papua New Guinea Goroka Festival And Highlands Tribes Tour

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

      Day 1: Fight To Goroka

      Today we will meet at Port Moresby airport to fly to Goroka on Air Niugini PX160 at 0855, landing at 0945.

      Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province. A town of approximately 19,000 people, 1600m above sea level. it is on the "Highlands Highway", about four hours from Mt. Hagen. It has a mild climate, known as a "perpetual Spring". The mountains and valleys around are fertile and produce some of the finest coffee beans in the world.


      Every September the town hosts the amazing and unique Highlands Cultural Festival, when up to 150 different tribal groups gather for the weekend closest to Independence Day, the 16th of September. Around 350 foreign visitors are privileged to be able to attend, vastly outnumbered by tens of thousands of locals from the surrounding areas.

      Once we have settled in to our guesthouse accommodation, we will go for a walk around town.

      Lunch at your own cost, dinner provided.


  • Day 2 Day 2: Asaro Mudmen Mini-Festival
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Asaro Mudmen Mini-Festival

      Half-an-hour west of the town lies the Asaro Valley and its fascinating Asaro Mudmen, one of the iconic cultural groups of the country. Thatโ€™s some going for a country that is home to up to 900 different languages. The Asaro are happy to explain their story, through eery representations of battle, cannibalism, and communion with their gods.

      The valley also has some stunning walks and viewpoints, birds of paradise and many orchid species, as well as the refreshing Asaro River. 

      Today we will learn about Asaro traditions through three different performances, preparing a "mumu" (earth oven), try our hand at archery practice, watch mask making demonstration, and learn about a few other tribes from the area too. 

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

      Day 3: Goroka Festival

      VIP access to the spectacular Highlands Cultural Festival. Up to 150 tribal groups attend to show off their traditional finery in a riot of colour and sound. Tens of thousands of locals come to watch. It is an unforgettable experience. We can take photos and videos freely all day.

      Activities

      Goroka Festival with VIP pass

      Basis

      Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

  • Day 4 Day 4: Goroka Festival
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Goroka Festival

      Second day with VIP access at the Festival. Donโ€™t forget to check out the agricultural fair in the bottom field with its splendid orchids and wonderful coffee to taste. There also a concert and the hilarious greasy pole competition.

      VIP access to the spectacular Highlands Cultural Festival. Up to 150 tribal groups attend to show off their traditional finery in a riot of colour and sound. Tens of thousands of locals come to watch. It is an unforgettable experience. We can take photos and videos freely all day.

      Activities

      Goroka Festival with VIP pass

      Basis

      Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

  • Day 5 Day 5: Private Sing-Sings
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Private Sing-Sings

      Day trip to Mount Akemeku to see the coffee plantation, and for a private sing-sing. After we go to Nupaha village for. Another private sing-sing.

      Accommodation for one night is in a lodge built by the Asaro in their village. The Asaro village guest house has twin and double rooms, 24-hour electricity, โ€œlong dropโ€ toilets, and hot rainwater showers. 

      Basis

      Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

  • Day 6 Day 6: Travel To Mt Hagen, Paiya Village Visit
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Travel To Mt Hagen, Paiya Village Visit

      Today we transfer to Mount Hagen by small coach. We will drive over the Daulo Pass, giving us splendid views of the valley leading to Goroka town in the distance.


      Mount Hagen is a city in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea overlooking the spectacularly scenic Waghi Valley. The area is home to the Melpa people who, in the face of ever encroaching modernity, continue to live largely traditional subsistence lifestyles. The townโ€™s population is around 50,000 and increases significantly for the Mount Hagen Show, an annual dance festival where costumed locals come from all over the country to represent their tribe in an extravagant sing- and dance-off. Those not lucky enough to visit during these annual festivities can get a taste of the action at the Mount Hagen market which is a bustling meeting place filled with colourful fruits, scurrying chickens, and some fabulously friendly locals dressed in fascinating native attire. 

      There are numerous excellent spots for bird watching, and half-a-dozen different species can be found in a day with the help of a good guide, more over a longer periods if one is patient.

      We travel to Paiya village to meet the chief and his wives, learn about their customs, see a fire making demonstration, and listen to the traditional bamboo flute. We then drive 30 minutes from the airport to Magic Mountain Lodge. 

      Basis

      Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch


  • Day 7 Day 7: Mt Hagen Market Ad Birding
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Mt Hagen Market Ad Birding

      Full day birding โ€“ Breakfast at 4:30 am and 5:00am transfer in vehicles (60 minutes) and continue to the birding site for a one-hour walk along a well-cut path. Spend the morning with your guide looking for mating displays by the male birds of paradise and spotting other endemic species too. Return to Mt Hagen town for lunch and a market visit, then continue to another location to see birds. Return to Magic Mountain late afternoon.

      Birds possible to be seen- King of Saxony, Stephanieโ€™s Astraphia, Brown sickle bill, Black sickle bill, Buff-tailed sickle bill, Superb bird of paradise, Loriaโ€™s bird of paradise, Short tailed paradigalla, Raggiana bird of paradise, lesser bird of paradise.  Other non birds of paradise include Honey eater, Blue capped ifritta, fantails, robins, swallows, whistlers, doves & pigeons, falcons, parrots, lorikeets. Macgregorโ€™s and Yellow-breasted bowerbirds, scrub wrens, berrypickers, cuckooshrike, goshawk & kites and other species.

      Basis

      Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch


  • Day 8 Day 8: Return To Port Moresby
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Return To Port Moresby

      Day Itinerary

      Transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight back to Port Moresby on Air Niugini PX183 at 1125 landing 1225. 

      Breakfast included.

  • Day 9 Return To Port Moresby
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Return To Port Moresby

      Transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight back to Port Moresby on Air Niugini PX161 at 1040 landing at 1130. Transfer to the Crown Hotel. 

  • Day 10 Departure
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Departure

      Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

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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

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 8 / Max: 88

Age range allowed for this experience.

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