South Pacific Vacations

Papua New Guinea Luxury Tours

Highlights

• Experience culturally rich villages and incredible jungle scenery along Sepik River on five-night expeditionary cruise.
• Discover this intensely interesting island nation, once home to hundreds of distinct languages.
• Explore highlands of Mt. Hagen, its markets and meet villagers to learn about their traditions.
• Watch village artisans skilfully carve and weave beautiful objects. See how women make sago, native flour, from sago palms.

Day 1: Depart USA
Depart on your international flight to begin an extraordinary journey.
 
Day 2: En route

Day 3:  Arrive Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea / Madang
Arrive in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) capital city.  you'r  local representative assists you with your connecting flight to Madang. This afternoon, you'r  local representative meets you and escorts you to your resort. Madang is set amid reef-fringed lowlands backed by some of rugged mountains offshore volcanic islands. Madang Township has been called the "prettiest town in the South Pacific." Madang Resort (D)

Day 4:  Madang / Sepik River
Today, explore Madang Harbour, nearby islands and Madang Township area.  Some of the villages nearby include Yabob or Bilbil Village, well known for the clay pots, which are still made using traditional methods. Meet local people and observe the life style of this area. Late afternoon, board your ship that will be your home for the next five nights.
MTS Discoverer (B,L,D)

Days 5 – 8: Sepik River Exploration 
Your Sepik River adventure begins in earnest today.  Please note that your cruise is expeditionary in nature, and, therefore, flexible.  The following description offers a general overview, and is not a set itinerary.  While your specific itinerary depends on season and other variables, you are certain to encounter unique cultural traditions, wonderful native arts, extraordinary landscapes, amazing flora and fauna, and diverse people along your journey. 

Your ship sails overnight to either Manam Island or directly to the mouth of the legendary Sepik River. Each evening, your cruise lecturer briefs about the next day’s schedule.  Several excursions by speedboat take you along lush canals and up jungle-lined streams to visit villages such as Murik Lakes on the lower Sepik. Making your way to the village, your speedboat skims below overhanging jungle growth as egrets rise hastily ahead of us. Travel along mangrove-lined lakes to the village of Mendam.  Travel up river to Angoram, the main administration township on the river. You explore the markets you encounter.  See a crocodile farm. Later, take a trip up Keram River to Kambot. Here, you will see spirit houses and storyboards, a fascinating native art form of carvings on bark that tell stories of a village or group.  They come in a variety of sizes, many larger than a door. Each story board in unique.

At least one morning, you may want rise early, grab a cup of coffee and go on deck just to listen.  Listen to the sounds of the river, the morning cacophony of bird songs, the voices of traders and villagers in dug outs slipping past.  There are few days in each lifetime that, looking back, you recall with perfect clarity. This may be one of them.

Tambanum is one of the largest villages on the Sepik. Here, you notice fine, large, decorated houses set along the riverbank. These villagers are prolific carvers. Browse beneath the stilt, where men work and display their wares. Women, too, weave baskets and fashion the nearly indestructible Bilum (string) bags from the aerial roots of pandanus palm, an arduous process. Margaret Mead spent much time at Tambanum.  A short distance upriver is Timbunke, a lovely village set along a winding canal. It is adjacent to the large Roman Catholic Mission Station. You see women making sago, a staple starch item in the diet. The method of deriving flour from the sago palm is time consuming, requiring hours of labor.  You have a chance to visit a historic Haus Tambaran, the main community house of a village, where women are traditionally forbidden. As outsiders, foreigners, including women, are granted entrance under certain conditions, which your guide explains to you in advance.  Further upstream, a speedboat excursion takes you to Chambri Lakes. Along the way you see variety of bird life, including snowy egrets, delicately long-legged lily hoppers, ducks and cormorants. You may also see a crocodile (pukpuk). At the edge of the lake, the village of Wombun has a striking Haus Tambaran. Nearby, Aibom village is famous for its pottery.  The following morning, set out on a 25-minute walk to reach Palembei Village. Pass through gardens of corn, kaukau (sweet potato), melons and variety of trees including breadfruit, Malay Apple (laulau), Five Corner. In the village, two Haus Tambarans sit at each end of park-like ceremonial grounds. Both buildings contain fascinating statues, ceremonial lime containers, garamut drums and masks.  Women spread their colorful Bilum bags on the grass outside with selections of shell jewelry and other items you may want to buy.  Other villages you may see include Yentchen, where you can visit a newer Haus Tambaran on the river, and Korogo village. The ship returns downstream, normally in the late afternoon to Timbunke, which has one of the few reliable airstrips along the Sepik River. MTS Discoverer (B,L,D)

Day 9: Timbunke / Mt. Hagen
Arrive this morning in Timbunke, where you will disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the airstrip to wait for your charter flight through spectacular mountain scenery to the Highlands and Mt. Hagen. Here meet you'r  local representative and transfer to your lodge.  This afternoon, discover some of the culture and environment of Mount Hagen and nearby traditional villages. Drive through the large prehistoric Waghi Valley, a patchwork quilt of small gardens and large tea and coffee plantations, two main cash crops grown in the highlands. Later afternoon, relax at your lodge. Haus Poroman Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 10:  Mt. Hagen
Spend the day exploring Mt. Hagen and the Simbu area. The journey takes you past roadside markets and villages. Meet local people, speak to them, observe their customs and learn about their traditions. In PNG, the number of pigs a person owns denotes wealth and status. The terrain of rugged mountains and lush vegetation will enthrall you. You may have the opportunity to stop at some villages to witness cultural performances. Haus Poroman Lodge  (B,L,D)

Day 11:  Mt. Hagen / Port Moresby
After an early breakfast, depart for your flight to Port Moresby, where your are escorted to your hotel.  This afternoon, tour the city, including National Museum, PNG Arts, and National Botanical Gardens. Airways Hotel (B)

Day 12:  Port Moresby / Depart
This morning, depart this unique and captivating country for your flight home. (B)

12/08

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