Great Adventure Trips

Highlands Discoverer Tour

In this guided tour itinerary you will visit the Tari Basin and meet the renowned Huli Wigmen and get upclose with their traditional way of life, rituals and subsistence economy.
The natural ecology of the Tari Basin is also very raw and intact with unique wildlife species especially at Tari Gap. From Tari, your next stopover will be Mt Hagen to see the cultures, traditions and way of life for the Hagen people that are equally fascinating as the Huli people. Still in Mt Hagen you will see unique birds and wildlife species at Kumul Lodge
located at the borders of Western Highlands and Enga provinces. Your last leg of tour will be Goroka in Eastern Highlands province where you will come across another renown cultural icon of Papua New Guinea, the Goroka Mudmen with their display of mud tainted body and weird looking animalistic masks. This is a fascinating trip that will be captivating and an experience of a lifetime never to be forgotten!

Day 1: Most international flights into PNG from Australia arrive in the afternoons so we include an overnight stay in Port Moresby. Gateway or Ela beach hotels would be fine.. Transfer is complementary.

Day 2 - Port Moresby/Tari
Meet our staff who will assist you to the airport to board Air Niugini flight PX864 to Tari at 08:30 and arrive in Tari at 10:00. Our staff will meet you and transfer to Makara Birdview Lodge and check in and have lunch. After lunch your guide will brief you on your Tari tours for today and the remaining days. After the briefing visit your first Hela village and see a Huli traditional sing-sing. In the afternoon return to Makara Birdview Lodge and overnight. (LD)

Day 3,4: Tari Basin
Today and tomorrow immerse yourself in the Huli culture and its intriguing traditions. The Huli people live by hunting, gathering plants and growing crops. They are exceptional farmers and still farm their land and raising pigs as their main economy. Men and women still live separately; unmarried men historically lived in large group houses, although this is exceptionally rare nowadays. When wearing traditional dress, the men decorate their bodies with colored clay and wear elaborate headdresses for ceremonies. This intrigue and complicated culture will fascinate you. Highlight of these two days in the Tari Basin include the following but not restricted to:
- Huli Village studies
- Marriage and courtship demonstrations
- An encounter with Huli women in pig houses (Women literally live with pigs)
- Visiting scared sites and more.
- Birding and wildlife trekking
Your accommodations for these two nights will be at Makara Birdview Lodge . (BLD)

Day 5: Tari/Mt Hagen
After breakfast bid farewell to your guide in Tari and travel to Mt Hagen. There are two travel options from Tari to Mt Hagen: Options1 - If your tour commences on a Monday, then you will be flying by MAF Airlines which operates flight out from Tari to Mt Hagen every Thursdays. Option 2 - If your tour commences on the other days, then you will go by road, courtesy of our 4WD Suv transfers, which will take 6-7 hours drive time. The second options although may take longer to travel, will however compensate you with authentic tour experiences where you will see hundreds of different natives tribal groups scattered along the highway. You will also see beautiful scenery along the way with majestic photo opportunities rarely proffered in other parts of your travel in this program. On arrival in Mt Hagen you will be transferred to Hotel Kimininga. Depending on your time of arrival in Mt Hagen, a brief village study tours may be provided to Ganti Village in Kindeng including visit to tea and coffee plantations in the fertile Waghi Valley. Overnight at Hotel Kimininga. (BL)

Day 6: Mt Hagen (Rugli Village)
After breakfast you will set out on a village discovery trip to the Mul Baiyer area. You will be visiting the Rugli village and meet the village inhabitants and their chief. Your typical village discovery will include the following activities but not restricted to:
- traditional sing-sing by villagers,
- village tours including walking through traditional huts, and small garden plots
- demonstrations of traditional food preparation
- marriage and courtship demonstrations.
- and etc, etc.
Lunch will be provided by villagers. After lunch a drive to Baiyer gorge for a scenic photo shooting including visiting a few local markets along the road. Return to the hotel and overnight. (L)

Day 7: Mt Hagen/Kumul Lodge
After breakfast transfer to Kumul Lodge for a birding and wildlife discovery tours. (Note: Kumul Lodge is situated under the foot of Mt Hagen at the border of Western Highlands and Enga provinces and its a haven for bird species such as the bird of paradise). Spend the entire day watching bird of paradise and other native bird species. If you are not a keen bird watcher then we can organise light trekking to the base of Mt Hagen which stands at 3790 meters above sea level. Whilst hiking enjoy rich flora and fauna up to the base camp enjoy spectacular views of the lowlands if the weather is fine today. Overnight at Kumul Lodge. (BLD)

Day 8: Kumul Lodge/Mt Hagen
After breakfast spend the first part of the day at Kumul Lodge either enjoying the birds and the surrounding wildlife and nature of Kumul Lodge or a nearby Engan village excursions. In the later, a village study will be organised including a traditional sing-sing. Have early lunch at the hotel and then check out and drive back to Mt Hagen. En route take a feeder-road into the Munjiga and Nenga tribal groups for authentic village life encounters with these friendlier people. Authentic tour experiences include but not restricted to meeting villagers doing gardening, feeding pigs (which is a larger part of the cash economy in this part of the highlands), resolving tribal conflicts, bride-price ceremonies, courtship, etc. Arrive in Mt Hagen in the afternoon and check into Hotel Kimininga and overnight. (BL)

Day 9: Mt Hagen/Simbu/Goroka
Today after breakfast you will set out on a scenic drive tour via the Highlands Highway to Goroka. The Highlands Highway is the main road link from the Highlands to the main seaports of Madang and Lae. The road snakes up and down rugged mountains and crossed rivers and creeks of all sizes. You will also see most villages of the highlands regions are built along the edges of the highway. We will stop at Suave in the Chimbu Province and the Emarian people will showcase their traditions and culture through a sing-sing and dancing. Continue on to Goroka. If the weather is good your will get a birds-eye view of the Goroka township and the and the entire Goroka alley at Daulo Pass Lookout. Arriving in Goroka you will check into
the Pacific Gardens Hotel and overnight. (L)

Day 10: Goroka/Asaro Valley
After breakfast today visit the Asaro Valley to see the legendary Asaro Mud men. Tribal folklore records that centuries ago the warriors of Asaro were defeated in a tribal fight "payback" raid, and, to make themselves look fierce in the process, covered their bodies with gray mud. According to legend, the ruse worked. Their enemies fled at the sight of these ghostly apparitions. The mud men will recreated the drama for you when you visit the Asaro Villages. You will not only see the mud men performing today but also other traditional customary practices will also be exhibited by the Asaro people including traditional food preparations, resolving tribal conflicts, gardening, etc. Your lunch will be picnic lunch packed from the hotel plus some traditional lunch prepared by the Asaro people. After lunch your guide will take you through the village where you will do a full village study. In the afternoon return back to Goroka. If time permits and you have enough stamina to continue tour, then we will take you to the Goroka Museum, Art Gallery and other town highlights before resigning to your hotel and overnight. (L)

Day 11: Goroka/Port Moresby
After breakfast transfer to the airport and board flight PX961 at 10:45 and arrive in Port Moresby at 11:55
and head to your next destination or do an extension.

2011/12 Price– Minimum 2 persons: US$4417 per person on a twin share basis (price is subject to currency fluctuation)
Note: For those who want a single room supplement, let us know during the bookings and we will explain the options available and give you a separate quote basing on those options.

LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, domestic MAF airfares, tours, transfers, meals (as specified Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and Dinner (D) in the itinerary), mineral (bottled) water, local guides, sing-sing fees, and entry fees.

LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Entry visa fees, all international flights and domestic Air Niugini fares, items of a personal nature such as beverages, phone/fax bills and laundry services.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. We have excluded meals in hotels and lodges where different menus are on offer to allow our clients to make their own selection. These lodges and hotels also have Credit Card/Eftpos facilities to take payment from our clients.
2. You are advised to book and ticket the domestic Air Niugini flights together with your international flights to take advantage of discounts. We will only book the MAF Tari/Hagen flight.

Commencing Days: Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays Wednesdays and Fridays
Tour Availability: All year around 2011 and 2012
Tour Extension: To the Sepik River for 5 additional nights.
***************************************************************************************************************************
EXTENDED PROGRAM - Sepik River Odyssey.
In this extended program you will be canoeing on motorized dingy on the mighty Sepik River emerging yourself into the mystical culture of the Sepik people and explore some of the raw ecological beauty along the river's natural habitat. You will come to learn the fascinating culture of the river people with their rituals, initiation ceremonies, crafts, and the daily lifestyles that is demarcated by the river itself.

Day 11: Goroka/Port Moresby/Wewak
Transfer to the airport and board flight PX 961 to Port Moresby for your next destination. The flight departs Goroka at 10:45 and arrives at 11:55. Have lunch somewhere and in the afternoon board domestic flight PX126 at 15:35 to Wewak via Madang. Arrive in Wewak at 17:45 meet and greet our staff and transfer to In- Wewak Boutique Hotel and check in. Settle for dinner and in the evening your guide will brief you on the Sepik River tours. In-Wewak Boutique Hotel. (Bedding only with no meals).

Day 12: Wewak/Kanganamun
Today you will be transferred by 4WD to Pagwi for your canoe expedition. The drive would normally take about 5 hours. En route see the villages and one or two stopovers to see “Haus Tamburan” (men’s house of spirit). On arrival at Pagwi board the motorized canoe and start your river expedition to Kanganmun and visit the oldest Haus Tambaran along the Sepik River and overnight at Kanganamun Guest House. (LD)

Day 13: Kanganamun/Palambe/Kamanabit
After breakfast cross over to Palambe by motorize canoe and hike inland for about 30 minutes and exploring the Palembe villages and visit the Haus Tambarans. If you are lucky on one of the initiation ceremonial days, you will get a rare insight into this most primitive tradition that is still in existence in this modern day and age. (Permission will be give to women among your group to visit the men's exclusive spirit houses). Overnight Kamanabit village guest house. (BLD)

Day 14: Kamanabit/Chambri Lakes
After breakfast continue your journey into Chambri Lake by motorized canoe. Before reaching Chambri Lake you will have a stop at Aibom. Aibom people are famous for their pottery making. See potteries of all sizes, shapes, colors and patterns. Then go into Chambri Lake where you will see a newly built Haus Tambaran at Wombun Village. After the visit to Chambri Lake return to Kamanabit. After dinner you will have the chance of going for a crocodile hunt with the locals. Overnight at Kamanabit village house. (BLD)

Day 15: Kamanabit/Wewak
Today bid farewell to your friendly hosts at Kamanabit village and continue your journey to Pagwi and onto Wewak. On arrival in Wewak transfer to In-Wewak Boutique Hotel and overnight. (BL)

Day16: Wewak/Port Moresby
Transfer to the airport and board flight PX 125 at 06:00 to Port Moresby for your next destination.

I want to book this!

LAND COST FOR EXTENSION: 2011/12 – Minimum 2 persons: US$2440 per person on a twin share basis (prices are subject to currency fluctuations.
Note: For those who want a single room supplement, let us know during the bookings and we will explain the options available and give you a separate quote basing on those options.

Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of a deposit of US$325 per person non-refundable.

LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, tours, transfers, meals (as specified Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and Dinner (D) in the itinerary), mineral (bottled) water, local guides, porters along the Sepik, and village entry fees.
LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Entry visa fees, all international and domestic flights, items of a personal nature such as beverages, phone/fax bills and laundry services.

Tour Availability
All tours are subject to natural forces and conditions beyond our control . Our company reserves the right to change tour itinerary at short notice to accommodate any changes. The company also reserves the right to cancel any tour for whatever reason in which case notification by the Company will be given 30 days prior to the selected commencement date of the tour booked.

Payment
Final payment of the tour cost must be made at least 35 days before arrival date in PNG. Otherwise bookings will be cancelled automatically and deposit forfeited.

Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellations requests must be made in writing and we strongly recommend the use of registered mail, fax or email.
Cancellations more than 30 days = loss of deposit.
Cancellations received inside 30 days of touring will be subject to cancellation charges at the following rates:
•Within 15-29 days; 55% of total tour cost
•14 days or less including no shows; 100% of total tour cost
•Cancellation fees, less the administration fee, may be applied to another tour if completed within 12 months of original booking
•Special cancellation and payment policies apply to groups of 10 or more
•No refunds are allowed on unused portions of the tour if not taken due to circumstances beyond our control such as flight delays and cancellations, weather, sickness or ill-health, death which may prevent the tour operations.

Travel Insurance
It is strongly recommended that tour clients take out cancellation and travel insurance from the time of deposit

Passports and Visas
The tour client must possess a current passport with validity up to 3 months. A tourist visa can be obtained on arrival at Port Moresby’s Jacksons Airport but it is highly recommended that you obtain your visa at your point of origin to avoid delays to your connecting flight out of Port Moresby.

Medical Insurance
It is highly recommended that you purchase medical insurance before arrival in PNG. You must also report any medical condition to the management of the tour before commencement of the tour.