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| Papua New Guinea and Sepik River
A 16-Day tour starting from $8,595
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As your boat slips into the current of the Sepik River, the rain forest surrounds you. Journey into the unknown as the river unwinds, drawing you deep into the uncharted interior of the country. Members of some of Papua New Guinea’s many tribes welcome you to their villages on the riverbanks, in the cloudlaced highlands where the Birds of Paradise sound their lovely calls, and on the pristine coast, where you are caressed by warm breezes off the South Pacific. Papua New Guinea is a world unto itself, waiting for adventurous explorers to discover its many treasures. |
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Cairns, Shangri-La Hotel:
The five-star Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns is one of the city's most distinguished hotels and sets an innovative benchmark in accommodation excellence for the region. Ideally located in the heart of Cairns, Shangri-La Hotel gently frames the city's foreshore, overlooking the Marlin Marina, Trinity Bay and surrounding mountain ranges. Your guestroom will have a spectacular view of the Marlin Marina, the tranquil Trinity Bay, Rainforest Gardens, or the crystal blue hotel pool. All rooms have private balconies with Deck Chairs. The Hotel offers a range of Services and Facilities and as it is adjacent to the Pier Shopping Centre via the Hotel Lobby so you will have direct access to a wide range of shopping and dining options. Port Moresby, Airways Hotel: The Airways Hotel is ideally located with immediate access to both the business area and shopping. The hotel offers spectacular views of the airport, Owen Stanley Range and the Coral Sea. This modern hotel has a light decorating touch with natural wood and pastel colors, glass and art objects. The hotel facilities include a swimming pool, licensed bars and restaurants, coffee shop, casino bar and night club. There is also an outdoor pool, sauna, tennis court, tour desk, gift shop, and secretarial and business center. Your accommodation features air conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities, ISD/STD phones, Cable TV, internet access, In-room safe, 24 hour room service. Mt. Hagen, Rondon Ridge: At 7,1000 feet above sea level, with panoramic views, the Rondon Ridge enjoys the year round temperate climate in the Highlands. This location promises the visitor eternal spring weather and magnificent views of the Hagen Range, Mount Giluwe, the Sepik Divide, the Baiyer Gap and the Waghi Valley. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, the peaceful Rondo Ridge is just minutes from the famous Mt Hagen market. The lodge is intimate, with only twelve rooms. Each comfortable guestroom features modern facilities, satellite cable TV and room service. Karawari, Karawari Lodge: This unique lodge stands high atop a hilltop overlooking the expanse of the Karawari River area. Amidst spacious, manicured gardens, there are 20 river or jungle view cottage/rooms with private bathroom, and an artifact dining/lounge/bar area provide a touch of luxury totally off the beaten path. Sepik River, MV Sepik Spirit Cruise: Specially constructed to allow passage into the heart of the mighty Sepik River, The MV Sepik Spirit is a "floating hotel", built specifically with a shallow draft, this vessel plies into the heart of the Sepik River and areas not otherwise accessible to larger vessels. The vessel complies with the highest safety standards including both the American Bureau of Shipping and Papua New Guinea safety regulations. Refurbished in 2006, the MV Sepik Spirit is air conditioned and accommodates no more than 18 passengers in nine deluxe, spacious twin bedrooms each with private bathroom. Facilities aboard also include a dining room, lounge, bar, video and covered upper observatory deck. Tari, Ambua Lodge: Ambua Lodge is an inspired mixture of local architecture, spectacular views and modest luxury off the beaten track. Located at 7,000 feet, in the Southern Highlands, homeland of the Huli clan, the lodge features Highland’s architecture with a main building housing the lounge, bar, dining room, and a cozy centre fireplace. Separate areas include the video room, heated spa and sauna. Guests are accommodated in 40 individual units set in a sea of flowers, each unit featuring 180° picture windows, modern bathroom, and electric blankets and continental quilts for the cool highland evenings. Ambua Lodge was the recipient of a Pacific Heritage Award that sighted it as a “superb example of culturally sensitive and ecological responsible tourism.” Madang, Madang Resort Hotel: One of the Great Hotels of the Pacific, Madang Resort Hotel is set alongside the beautiful entrance of the Madang Harbor, amid five acres of exotically landscaped grounds – you are surrounded by native and hybrid orchids, palms and native flora. The Madang Resort Hotel is strategically located overlooking the many islands that make up the Madang Harbor and its fine waterways with magnificent views of the majestic volcanic island of Kar Kar. The superbly appointed Executive Rooms are located in a prime location; the suites are larger and are serviced by specially trained housemaids to ensure that you are treated as a VIP. There are two Restaurants offering fine cuisine, a seafood buffet and light snacks. Leisure facilities include 25-meter swimming pool, tennis court, P.A.D.I. Dive Shop and artifact gallery. All guests receive automatic membership at the Madang Country Club.
NOTE: Itinerary below applies to the September & October departures. Please see a separate itinerary for the 19 Day August 12th departure.
DAYS 1-3, Friday - Sunday. Depart for Cairns, AUSTRALIA Leave your home city on Friday, bound for Cairns. One day is lost crossing the International Date Line. Arrive in Cairns on Sunday, where you will be met and taken to your luxury hotel in the heart of Cairns, with commanding views of the harbor and surrounding hills. You’ll capture the casual lifestyle of tropical North Queensland without compromising on style or comfort at the Shangri La Hoel, a haven for relaxation where colonial charm meets tropical elegance. You’ll have the remainder of the day to rest after your long flight. This evening, enjoy a cocktail and dinner party where you’ll meet your fellow travelers and hear about the wonderful events ahead. Shangri La Hotel DAY 4, Monday - Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA In a country of over four million people with 700 different languages, Papua New Guinea cannot be compared with any other country for its rich cultural diversity. More than 200 cultures, each with different traditions, have been identified. Transfer this morning to the airport for your flight to Port Moresby, the nation’s capital. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your luxury hotel. Port Moresby is a place of stark contrast. Ramshackle huts sit alongside glistening glass towers and dusty plains turn corners to expose a glittering harbor. Port Moresby opens the door to the land of the unexpected.” During World War II Port Moresby was coveted by both sides for control of the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean. The Allies defeated Japanese naval forces destined for Port Moresby in the 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea. Japan suffered a further blow in 1943 when they were routed on the Owen Stanley Range. The small town of Port Moresby was transformed into a large military camp, accommodating tens of thousands of troops during the Pacific campaigns. At the end of the war Port Moresby was the only town of any size left standing in Papua New Guinea and was chosen by the Austrlian administration to be the seat of government. It is now a cosmopolitan city, embracing technology and development while trying to retain the traditional values of its varied population. A blend of old and new, remnants of the colonial days can still be found in downtown Port Moresby and elements of traditional life have been maintained in the nearby villages. This afternoon, your sightseeing of Port Moresby is centered on a visit to the National Museum and Art Gallery, which exhibits cultural features of Papua New Guinea's complex tribal lifestyles and one of the finest collections of primitive art in the world. The excellent collections of shields and totems, Sepik River carvings, Malagan masks and Trobriand Island fishing vessels are just some of the unique examples of Papua New Guinean culture on displa. Driving back to the hotel, you will see the Parliament House, which exemplifies the striking harmony of modern architecture and traditional design. It is constructed in the style of a traditional Sepik River Haus Tambaran, or Spirit House. Artists and craftsmen from the villages throughout the country were brought together to work on the impressive carvings, mosaics and murals. The result is a magnificent testimony to this culturally diverse and fascinating nation. Airways Hotel DAY 5, Tuesday - Mt. Hagen Depart this morning on your short flight to Mt. Hagen and transfer to your hotel, located in the city center and set in delightful gardens. The capital city of the Western Highlands, Mt. Hagen, is a bustling commercial center where wealth from coffee and tea plantations has brought rapid change to the traditional life style. From the lowland rainforest, to alpine grasslands, to the shrouded misty peaks, the Western Highlands Province is a land of color and vibrancy. Old and new ways live curiously together, and Mt Hagen has a reputation as the wild frontier of the Highlands. This afternoon you will visit Pogla, a nearby village where you will see the legendary Mudmen reenact folklore through dance and costume. Tribal folklore records that centuries ago the warriors of Asaro were defeated in a tribal fight with a neighboring village. Honor compelled the men to retaliate with a payback raid, and, to make themselves look fierce, they covered their bodies with gray mud to give the appearance of “ancestral spirits” in order to frighten their foes. According to legend the ruse worked, and their enemies fled at the sight of these ghostly apparitions. Handicrafts can be found at the Pogla Village Cultural Center, where they display exhibits and artifacts. Rondon Ridge DAY 6, Wednesday - Karawari Today board your charter flight to Karawari. Watch as the mountains start to give way until eventually vast tracts of dense tropical lowland rainforest cover the landscapefor as far as the eye can see. Upon our arrival, we will travel by riverboat, then four-wheel drive vehicles to the remote Karawari Lodge. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometers of dense tropical jungle. Inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, while still providing modern comforts. From the lodge verandah, view the setting sun coloring the clouds and snaking river below. One could almost believe that the world was born yesterday. You are in Arambak country one of the most remote and unspoiled areas of Papua New Guinea. The Karawari River, just 300 feet below, is the only way in or out. This tropical lowland rainforest is one of the earth’s most complex of habitats, housing an immense variety of flora and fauna along with a unique culture. Take part in our rewarding and exhilarating exploration of the local villages as we travel in small riverboats along the junglefringed waterways. See the people at Kundiman village make use of the land weaving baskets from a mixture of plants along the river used for catching fish or gathering, and preparing and cooking their staple food from the sago palm taste for yourself! Karawari Lodge DAY 7, Thursday - Sepik River This morning you will board the MV Sepik Spirit, to begin your cruise along the Sepik River. Your home for the next four nights will be the MV Sepik Spirit a floating lodge offering the comforts of civilization while traversing the mysterious middle reaches of the mighty Sepik Rive. The small size of the ship enables an intimate exploration of the Middle Sepik region, an area prolific with the traditional woodcarvings and known for converting imaginative pictures and dreams into reality through woodcarvings and other crafts. Explore the extensive river networks along the Sepik, black water and Karawari Rivers, as well as the seldom-visited evergreen flood plains. Travel by an 18 seater jet boat through small river canals, to walk into local villages to experience traditional village life and culture. If you are more adventurous, try exploring in a motorized canoe. MV Sepik Spirit DAY 8 – DAY 10 , Friday - Sunday Sepik River One of the world's largest waterways, the Sepik snakes its way through East Sepik Province. Dense rain forest covers most of the area. Bird life and rain forest creatures splash color across the blue and green hues. Discover the mystical world of the Sepik Region, which encompasses a vast area that includes the Sepik River, its many tributaries, swamps and lake systems. In the region are many rarely visited villages where the spirit world and the people’s everyday life merge in a fascinating miture of ceremonies, carvings and Haus Tambarans. You will visit villages where the people are prolific and famous carvers. Here you can purchase many interesting items such as mask, elaborately carved hooks, ancestral figures, hand drums, baskets, bilums and gourds. The MV Sepik Spirit is used as our base between forays in 18 seater riverboats and smaller jet boats to explore the different villages and areas. MV Sepik Spirit DAY 11, Monday - Tari Today board your charter flight to Tari. Upon our arrival, transfer to the spectacular Ambua Lodge, your mountaintop accommodations for the next two nights. Accommodation is in luxury bush material huts, set on a hillside of flowering gardens, with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and rainforest. The crisp mountain air is perfect for taking advantage of the many guided tours organized by The Lodge. Walk along rainforest tracks to go bird watching, take a trip down the river to see the waterfalls or go by four-wheel drive to visit a village and watch a traditional Sing-Sing. Sing-Sings are held regularly throughout the province. These are gatherings of clans in traditional costume where ritualistic dancing and singing is performed for ceremonial reasons Ceremonies are presided over by tribal elders, distinguished by their two-meter high headdress displaying the brilliant colors of plumes from the Birds of Paradise. Proud warriors painted in bright ochre dance long into the night to the beat of the Kundu drums. 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. In the center of Papua New Guinea, the Southern Highlands Province was called "The Papuan Wonderland" by explorers who discovered these hidden mountain valleys in 1935. It is a land of lush, high valleys wedged between impressive limestone peaks. The headwaters of the Kikori, Erave and Strickland rivers cross the province beneath towering Mt. Giluwe, the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. This afternoon you will take an enjoyable walk to the nearby environs. The forest canopy 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. Orchids blaze from the green ground of rainforest canopy. Papua New Guinea has a greater number of orchid species than any other country in the world. Another treat is the 13 species of Birds of Paradise. The highlights of the insect kingdom you’ll see are the world's largest moth, the Atlas moth and scarab beetles, which are often used as headbands. Ambua Lodge DAY 12, Tuesday - Tari This cool alpine setting is the home of the Huli Wigman and your excursion today takes you to the Huli Village, a typical village in Western Highlands. These proud warriors, famous for their elaborate and colorful dress, have a great reverence for birds –imitating them in ceremonial dances and decorating their wigs with feathers, flowers and cuscus fur. They paint patterns with yellow and ochre on their faces and adorn themselves with rolls of necklaces and beautiful headdressesmade from many bird feathers, including the Emperor and Raggiana Birds of Paradise. Their wigs are woven from human hair, donated by teenage and young adult males. Everlasting daisies are cultivated for use in the wigs. The women by contrast wear black for their wedding and coat themselves with blue-grey clay when mourning. Clans in the Southern Highlands have a strong and intricate social system, little affected by change. It is one of the few places where the traditional way of life can be seen in everyday living. Ceremonial rituals are strongly observed. Men and women can still be seen wearing traditional dress, tending their gardens and pigs and building their bush material huts. Take advantage of the birding in the Tari Gap area where you may observe Birds of Paradise. Bird life proliferates in the forests of Papua New Guinea, including many species of Birds of Paradise – of the 43 known species, 38 are found in Papua New Guinea. These brilliantly colored birds perform bizarre ritualistic and mating dances and were hunted by early traders for their feathrs. The flamboyant Huli Wigmen of the Tari Valley have formed a strong bond between themselves and these beautiful birds. Men revere the birds, decorating their human hair wigs with the plumage of only the most beautiful birds. Ambua Lodge DAY 13, Wednesday - Madang This morning fly to colorful Madang, which has been called the prettiest town in the South Pacific. A hidden jewel in the South Pacific, Madang is a totally unexpected montage of tribal cultures, immense beauty, friendly people and pristine diving. Its peninsula setting is a showplace of parks, waterways, luxuriant shade trees and sparkling tropical islands. The two volcanic islands of Manam and Karkar have volcanic cones rising 1800 meters above sea level and provide a spectacular sight for visitors. You’ll stay at one of the great hotels of the Pacific, Madang Resort Hotel. It is set alongside the beautiful entrance of Madang Harbor, among five acres of exotically landscaped gardens of native and hybrid orchids, palms and native flora. In the grounds there is a Haus Tambaran (Spirit House) where you can see carvings, bilums (string bags) and other handicraft being made by the Sepik people. There are aviaries, animals and birds indigenous to Papua New Guinea and a waterfall into a barramundi pond. Depart this afternoon for a tour of Madang and its environs, including nearby villages of Bilbil and Yabob to see traditional clay pots being made, and the cocoa plantations. A variety of local markets sell artifacts, shell jewelry, carvings and pottery. Madang Resort Hotel DAY 14, Thursday - Madang The most popular location in Papua New Guinea for divers, Madang Province consists of reef-fringed lowlands, backed by some of the most rugged mountains in Papua New Guinea, and the offshore volcanic islands. The area is world famous for its coral reefs and superb visibility making diving good all year round. This afternoon take a special boat excursion to Kranket Island where you’ll swim and view the vibrant tropical fish and coral frmations. You’ll find a variety of easily accessible places to swim, an abundance of reef and pelagic fish, dramatic drop offs, shells and soft and hard corals. Madang Resort Hotel DAY 15, Friday - Madang, Port Moresby & Cairns Today you will fly to Port Moresby with an onward connecting flight to Cairns. Upon your arrival in Cairns, you will be met and transferred to your luxury hotel. This evening join your Travel Director and fellow travelers in celebrating your journey of discovery with a farewell cocktail ad dinner party. Shangri-La Hotel DAY 16, Saturday - Depart for Home This morning you will be taken to the Cairns airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change dependent upon local conditions and/or operational changes or improvements. The specific times and order of inclusions within each destination may also be altered to best accommodate unscheduled closure, special events, weather, traffic, etc. Please contact your Vacation Planner before scheduling any coinciding appointments. You will receive an updated itinerary approximately 30 days prior to your journey’s scheduled departure date.
• Cruise to remote regions of the Sepik River on an 16-passenger vessel, the Sepik Spirit
• Meet aboriginal Highland tribe members nearly untouched by civilization • Experience a “Sing-Sing” with the Huli Wigmen and witness the colorful dancing of the Mudmen Warriors • Be welcomed on an exclusive visit to a Haus Tambaran (spirit house) • Shop for magnificent ritual masks, statues and tribal art • Enjoy a private after hours tour of the Port Moresby National Museum, home to the world’s finest collections of primitive art All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy
Single Supplement $1,895 |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
