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14 Days Mesmeric Melanesia Tour Package
We briefly touch down in Australia before hopping over to one of the most diverse countries on the planet: Papua New Guinea. Within a population of a mere five million people, PNG is home to more than 850 indigenous languages and an equal number of traditional societies and we immerse ourselves fully in the unique culture as we undertake this amazing 14-day tour. The capital city, Port Moresby, is our first port of call and after a spot of exploration of the bustling city, we follow pristine nature trails under lush rainforest canopies and discover hidden-away waterfalls and traditional villages in the Southern Highlands. Making our way across this remarkable landscape, we have the chance to dive, swim and snorkel in some of the most serenely beautiful tropical waters on the planet and admire rugged volcanic mountains blanketed with verdant foliage. We visit coconut plantations, see abundant wildlife in ecologically unique areas, gaze at mangrove-lined lakes and enjoy the colourful festivities, singing and dancing at the Bargam Cultural and Agricultural Show. We return to Australia for our flight home. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrival in Cairns, Australia Today we arrive in Cairns, Queensland. Overnight in Cairns. Bay Village Hotel or similar. Dinner if required. Day 2 Cairns, Australia - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Today we fly to Port Moresby.* Port Moresby was named after Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby in 1873 and is today a bustling city with approximately 400,000 residents. The city is surrounded by plantations and experimental livestock and dairy farms. Its chief exports are copra, coffee, rubber, plywood, timber, and gold. Sawmilling, brewing, tobacco processing, and the manufacture of handicrafts and concrete are the principal industries. *NOTE: Depending on ever-changing nature of local flight schedules, we may be able to accomplish some Port Morseby sightseeing today, or at some other point if scheduling permits. Please be advised that Port Moresby sightseeing is a possible bonus only if we have time. Overnight in Port Moresby. Gateway Flag Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Port Moresby - Tari, Southern Highlands This morning we fly via scheduled local airline (90 min) to Tari in the Southern Highlands. On arrival we transfer the short distance to Ambua Lodge, an inspired example of environmentally sensitive building. Guests are accommodated in 40 detached cabins built in highlands tradition. The main building contains the lounge, bar, dining room and a central fireplace (it can get cool at night - take light warm clothing). There is a small hydro-electric unit for the lodge's electricity needs. This afternoon we have an easy guided nature walk. Located at 2100 m (7,000 feet), the Tari Gap area borders on pristine mid-montane rainforest at the beginning of the valley grasslands. This location promises the visitor eternal spring weather and magnificent views of the Tari Valley. The forest canopy, a dense mass of interlocking tree tops of all shades of green and the occasional bright splash of colour, provides a natural setting and an exhilarating climate for venturing along the nature trails--cross traditional vine bridges, discover a secluded waterfall, and spot high altitude orchids and rhododendrons. One may chance to observe up to 13 species of the birds of paradise. Overnight at Ambua Lodge. All meals. Day 4 Southern Highlands Ambua Lodge is located high on the slopes of the Tari Valley, home of the Huli, a colourful and proud people still largely living the same way that their ancestors did. Tari is one of the few places left where men and women can be seen wearing traditional dress as part of daily living and men's wealth is still counted by the number of pigs and wives they possess. Our programme at Tari highlights the cultural and ecological attributes of this remote paradise, with easy walking excursions and interactions with the local residents. Overnight at Ambua Lodge. All meals. Day 5 Southern Highlands While at Ambua, we learn how the Huli live and how they interact with and use their environment. The people have formed a strong bond between themselves and the beautiful birds; men revere the birds by imitating them in both daily and ceremonial life, decorating their human hair wigs with the plumage of only the most beautiful birds. Everlasting daisies are cultivated for use in wigs while their faces are painted with yellow ochre. The women, by contrast, wear black for their wedding and coat themselves with blue-gray clay when mourning. Clans have a strong and intricate social system. It is one of the few places where the traditional way of life can be seen in everyday living. Ceremonial rituals are strongly observed, and men and women can still be seen wearing traditional dress, tending their gardens and pigs and building their bush material huts. Overnight at Ambua Lodge. All meals. Day 6 Tari - Karawari: Kundiman Village Today we fly by charter from Ambua to Karawari. The mountains start to give way until eventually vast tracts of dense tropical lowland rainforest cover the landscape for as far as the eye can see. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, a tributary of the fabled Sepik, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometres of dense tropical jungle. Inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, the lodge provides modern comforts. This afternoon we have an excursion to Kundiman village for a sago (an important dietary staple) making demonstration. Overnight at Karawari Lodge. All meals. Day 7 Karawari Wake up to the chattering of Lorikeets and Eclectus parrots. After breakfast we enjoy touring programmes that provide insight into the amazing ecology and culture of the Karawari / Sepik basin area. We are in 'Arambak' country here, one of the most remote and unspoilt areas of Papua New Guinea. This tropical lowland rainforest is one of earth's most complex of habitats, housing an immense variety of flora and fauna along with a unique culture. Exploring villages in small riverboats along the jungle-fringed waterways is as rewarding as it is exhilarating. We see the people make use of the land, weaving baskets for catching fish in the river, or gathering, preparing and cooking their staple food from the sago palm. Overnight at Karawari Lodge. All meals. Day 8 Karawari - Mount Hagen - Rondon Ridge Today we fly by charter from Karawari to Mount Hagen. During the flight, mountains rise up to startling heights out of the flat lands of the Sepik Basin. Mount Hagen is located in the upper Wahgi Valley, a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Mount Hagen City is the business heart of the Papua New Guinea highlands, supplying a number of important industries, such as tea, coffee and mining. It is a city where stone meets steel, where tradition and history is juxtaposed against modern ways. Perched high on Mount Kuta is Rondon Ridge, with unbelievable views of the Wahgi Valley. This afternoon we have a birding and nature walk along the graded trails of Rondon Ridge. Overnight at Rondon Ridge. All meals. Day 9 Rondon Ridge: Area Tour - Port Moresby The Mount Hagen area is the home of the Melpa people, a people with a strong culture, who in the face of modernity, still live largely traditional subsistence lifestyles. A comprehensive touring programme takes us on a journey through the traditions and customs of the Melpa. First contact with the Melpa was made in the mid-1930s when the Leahy brothers were prospecting for gold. The Melpa are said by anthropologists, to be "predisposed to capitalism," because of their complex traditional society in which "big men" earn status by accruing wealth and then giving it all away in ceremonial exchanges. With ten species of Bird of Paradise in the Rondon Ridge area, numerous orchid species and hours of walking trails based out of the lodge, there is also ample opportunity for those wishing to get up close and personal with the unique ecology of this area. Later this afternoon we transfer to the airport at Mt Hagen from where we fly to Port Moresby, a logistical necessity given local air schedules. Overnight in Port Moresby. Gateway Hotel. All meals. Day 10 Port Moresby - Madang - Malolo Lodge Today we fly to the north coast and Madang, a pleasant little town superbly sited on a coral promontory in Astrolabe Bay overlooking a magnificent harbour and protected by more than a hundred tropical islands. We transfer to Malolo Plantation Lodge (+/- 1 hour), a redeveloped former coconut plantation boasting a relaxed South Pacific style with extensive lawns and gardens reaching down to the waterfront. Malolo Plantation Lodge is the size that allows personalized service and the small touches that really count. Balance of the day at leisure to enjoy this relaxing place. Overnight near Madang. Malolo Plantation Lodge. All meals. Day 11 Bargam Cultural & Agricultural Show Steaming volcanic mountains cloaked in green capes of lush tropical foliage thrust steeply upward from the deep blue waters. Jungle birds call randomly from their roosts, while thin threads of smoke rise from clusters of thatched roof huts lining the shores. We spend the day at the Bargam Cultural and Agricultural Show, a unique showcase of coastal and highlands culture and traditional sights and sounds through 'singsing' groups proudly displaying their unique dances, chanting and drumming. Bodies decorated with cassowary plumes, kina shells, aromatic leaves, brightly painted faces and elaborate head dresses will surround you. Expected attendees include groups from Madang, Morobe and the Sepik regions, as well as the famous Huli Wigmen, Asaro Mudmen, Manus and Tapioka dancers from Milne Bay. Mingle with the local people during the day's events and take the most incredible photos ever! There will also be displays of agricultural produce, orchids, pottery, forestry, fishery products and cane ware. This is an authentic, intimate event -- smaller than the better-known shows in the highlands, but certainly less-commercialized. Overnight at Malolo Lodge. All meals. Day 12 Madang - Port Moresby Today we travel back to Madang. Time permitting we can take a look around Madang before flying back to Port Moresby. Overnight in Port Moresby. Gateway Hotel. All meals. Day 13 Port Moresby, New Guinea - Cairns, Australia Today we fly from Port Moresby to Cairns. Overnight in Cairns. Breakfast and dinner. Day 14 Depart Departure from Cairns. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Papua New Guinea vacation specialist. Contact: Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 8/09 |
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