Papua New Guinea - Nature & Birding in Paradise

Papua New Guinea - Nature & Birding in Paradise

Prices From £8,842pp
Year round | 12 nights

Papua New Guinea - Nature & Birding in Paradise

Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s last true birding and nature frontiers, a place of misty highlands, vast inland lakes, jungle-clad rivers and coral-rich coastal fjords. This land-based journey links four distinct habitats, travelling from the montane forests of Mount Hagen to the lowland riverine jungle of Karawari, the expansive wetlands of Lake Murray and finally the reef-fringed fjords of Tufi, renowned as one of PNG’s standout marine destinations.

Staying in characterful lodges and a coastal resort, you’ll search for a wide variety of birdlife, including several species of birds-of-paradise and wetland species, while also exploring quiet waterways, village communities and vibrant coastal shallows. With guided forest walks, boat excursions, lake and river exploration, plus snorkelling and kayaking (with optional scuba diving at Tufi), the itinerary is carefully paced to balance focused birding with broader nature experiences and relaxed time to soak up Papua New Guinea’s remarkable landscapes.

Highlights

  • Explore four contrasting habitats: highland forest, lowland rivers, inland wetlands and coastal fjords
  • Seek out birds-of-paradise and other iconic species with expert local guides
  • Walk montane trails around Rondon Ridge, surrounded by orchids and highland birdlife
  • Cruise jungle-lined waterways from Karawari Lodge, visiting remote Sepik-region villages
  • Discover Lake Murray, PNG’s largest lake and a superb area for wetland and forest birding
  • Enjoy boat excursions, village visits and rich wildlife viewing around Lake Murray’s islands and channels
  • Snorkel and kayak in Tufi’s striking fjord and reef system, with optional world-class diving
  • Travel by scenic charter flights over mountains, rainforest, wetlands and reef-fringed coastline
  • Unwind in intimate lodges and a boutique coastal resort, with time to relax between excursions

What's Included

  • Accommodation as stated in itinerary
  • Domestic and chartered flights required for tour
  • Airport transfers
  • Meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day
  • Tours on a “seat in a bus” basis
  • Local English-speaking guides
  • Sing-sing entry free

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Port Moresby to Mt Hagen
1Day

Port Moresby to Mt Hagen

Arrive in Port Moresby, the gateway to Papua New Guinea, where you’ll connect with your domestic flight to Mount Hagen in the lush highlands. From the air, admire sweeping views of verdant valleys and forested ridges before landing in one of the country’s most culturally and ecologically rich regions.

Transfer to Rondon Ridge, your tranquil mountain lodge overlooking the Wahgi Valley. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest after your travels or take a short stroll around the lodge’s forest trails, where colourful highland bird species, such as Belford’s Melidectes and the Brown Sicklebill, often make their presence known.

Accommodation: 3 Nights at Rondon Ridge on a Full Board basis with all meals and 2 full day tours

Rondon Ridge - Full Day Tours
2 - 3Days

Rondon Ridge - Full Day Tours

On your first full day at Rondon Ridge you will set out from the lodge at first light to catch the forest as it wakes. The cool air carries a chorus of calls as you follow mountain trails at a relaxed pace, listening for the distinctive songs and watching for movement in the canopy. In these high-altitude forests there is the chance to encounter a superb cast of species, including Black and Brown Sicklebill, King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise, Stephanie’s Astrapia, MacGregor’s Bowerbird and Papuan Parrot-finch among many others.

You can choose to spend the entire day on the mountain with a packed breakfast and/or lunch, or return to the lodge between sessions for a hot meal and a short rest before heading back out. However you structure it, the day is all about unhurried exploration, enjoying both the birding and the tranquil atmosphere of the highlands.

The following day, rise early to the deep stillness of the mountains, then travel a short way down the winding road from Rondon Ridge, passing neat highlands gardens, small farms and tumbling streams with sweeping views over the Waghi Valley. Today’s focus is the lower-elevation habitats of the valley, around 1,700 metres (5,500 feet), where a different mix of species awaits.

You’ll spend the day exploring these more open areas and forest edges, with opportunities to look for a wide variety of lowland and mid-elevation birds. A particular highlight is a well-known Raggiana Bird-of-paradise display tree, where, with luck and patience, you may witness the males’ energetic courtship displays. Between birding stops, enjoy the broader vistas and everyday scenes of highlands life before returning to the lodge for a final evening at Rondon Ridge.

Comprehensive bird and orchid lists are available.

Fly to Karawari
4Day

Fly to Karawari

This morning you leave the highlands behind and board a charter flight bound for the Sepik region, watching as rugged mountains give way to an endless expanse of emerald-green rainforest. Landing feels like arriving in another world. From the airstrip, you’ll transfer to Karawari Lodge, perched on a jungle-clad ridge high above the winding Karawari River, with sweeping views over hundreds of kilometres of untouched tropical forest.

After settling into your room and enjoying lunch, meet your local guide and head out for an afternoon of birding. As you explore the lodge surrounds and nearby forest edges, you’ll be introduced to a very different suite of lowland species, with the sounds of the jungle all around you. Return to Karawari Lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and your first night in the lowlands.

Accommodation: 2 nights at Karawari Lodge on a Full Board basis with all meals and full day tours

Karawari Full Day Tour
5Day

Karawari Full Day Tour

Rise early for a full day of birding on the quiet waterways of the Karawari and in the surrounding lowland rainforest. As the mist lifts from the river, you’ll travel by boat along still channels and backwaters, scanning the banks and canopy for movement while the forest comes alive with calls. Later, you’ll venture on foot into the thick jungle, where your guide will help you track down some of the area’s most sought-after species.

With around 225 bird species recorded here, Karawari is an outstanding location for lowland, rainforest and freshwater birding. Parrots are a particular highlight, with chances to see lorikeets, Eclectus Parrots, Palm Cockatoos and Edwards’s Fig-Parrots. The area also supports three birds-of-paradise (King, Twelve-wired and Magnificent Riflebird) along with cassowaries, frogmouths, owls, raptors, bowerbirds, honeyeaters and many more. It’s a rich, rewarding day in the field, returning to the comfort of Karawari Lodge in the late afternoon.

Fly to Lake Murray
6Day

Fly to Lake Murray

This morning you fly to remote Lake Murray, watching from the air as the rugged highlands and dense forests give way to an immense expanse of water and wetlands in the flatlands of Western Province. On arrival, you’ll transfer by boat to Lake Murray Lodge, tucked among the trees on a narrow island spit and looking out across the vast, still lake. Out here, at the edge of Papua New Guinea’s inhabited world, the sense of remoteness is palpable.

Settle into your room and take a moment on your lakeside veranda to absorb the quiet, broken only by the soft sounds of dugout canoes gliding across the water. After lunch, enjoy a gentle walk around the island to get your bearings and appreciate the lush surroundings, before continuing into a half-day birding and nature tour. As you explore the shoreline and nearby habitats, you’ll begin to encounter the first of Lake Murray’s rich wetland and forest birdlife, returning to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: 3 nights at Lake Murray Lodge on a Full Board basis with all meals and 2 full day tours

Lake Murray Full Day Tours
7 - 8Days

Lake Murray Full Day Tours

Spend two full days exploring the waterways and forests of Lake Murray with your guide. Each morning you’ll head out by boat, crossing open stretches of water and slipping into quieter channels and inlets where birdlife is at its most active. With over 150 species recorded in the area, there is excellent variety, from waterbirds and raptors to forest-edge specialists.

Between boat journeys, you’ll step ashore to wander through the jungles that fringe the lake, searching for birds in the canopy and understorey while also enjoying the lush plant life and the occasional glimpse of village life along the shore. The pace is flexible, allowing time to focus on particular species of interest or simply enjoy the rhythm of being out on the lake. Evenings are spent back at Lake Murray Lodge, relaxing on your veranda or in the main lodge as the sounds of the wetland fade into night.

Back to Port Moresby - City Tour
9Day

Back to Port Moresby - City Tour

This morning you depart Lake Murray Lodge by boat and transfer to the nearby airstrip for your charter flight to Mount Hagen. As you climb away from the wetlands, the panorama shifts once more from lowland rainforest and shimmering water to steep ranges and cool highland valleys. On arrival in Mount Hagen, lunch is provided before you connect with your flight back to Port Moresby.

In the capital, you’ll be met by tour representatives and transferred to the Hilton Hotel. After settling in, enjoy an afternoon tour of Port Moresby and its surrounds, which may include key city landmarks and a chance to gain a final perspective on Papua New Guinea’s blend of modern life and traditional cultures. Return to the hotel for your night’s stay, with time to relax and reflect on the remarkable variety of landscapes and birdlife you’ve experienced on your journey so far.

Fly to Tufi Resort
10Day

Fly to Tufi Resort

This morning you transfer to the airport for your flight to Tufi, swapping city streets for dramatic coastal scenery. As you approach, you’ll see Tufi’s distinctive fjord-like inlets cut deep into the coastline, with steep, jungle-covered slopes dropping into clear blue water.

On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to Tufi Resort, set on a headland with sweeping views over the inlets and out to sea. Check in for your three-night stay and take some time to unwind, perhaps relaxing by the pool or on your veranda as you settle into this striking coastal setting. Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity for a gentle afternoon activity such as snorkelling from the wharf, a short kayak or outrigger canoe paddle, or a relaxed walk to enjoy the birdlife and views around the resort.

Accommodation: 3 nights at Tufi Resort on a Full Board basis with all meals included. Select actvities included (please enquire for full details)

Tufi Resort
11 - 12Days

Tufi Resort

Enjoy two full days to make the most of Tufi’s dramatic fjord landscape and rich coastal ecosystems. With the resort as your base, you can mix and match activities to suit your interests and energy levels. Join guided outings by outrigger canoe or kayak deep into the narrow inlets, where steep, jungle-clad walls rise straight from the water and small villages cling to the shoreline. Along the way, look and listen for coastal and forest birdlife, with hornbills, parrots and kingfishers often seen and heard around the inlets and nearby gardens.

Out on the reef, snorkelling reveals clear water, healthy coral gardens and a colourful array of tropical fish just beneath the surface, with the option to arrange scuba diving (at additional cost) for an even closer look at Tufi’s renowned underwater world. Between water-based excursions, there’s time for short walks to viewpoints, relaxed birding around the resort grounds, or simply enjoying the peace and sea views from the pool or your veranda. Evenings are unhurried, with dinners shared overlooking the fjords and the sounds of the coast as night falls.

Back to Port Moresby - End of Tour
13Day

Back to Port Moresby - End of Tour

After breakfast, bid farewell to Tufi and transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Port Moresby. As you fly over the fjords and coastline, take a final look at the reefs, rainforest and mountains that have framed your journey.

On arrival in the capital, your tour comes to an end with your onward international connections. You leave Papua New Guinea with a rich collection of bird sightings, diverse landscapes and memorable encounters with its people and wild places.

A view from Above

Accommodation Options

Rondon Ridge, Mount Hagen

Perched 7,100 feet above sea level on the fringes of the Kubor Range, Rondon Ridge is a sleek mountain lodge with sweeping views over Papua New Guinea’s Wahgi Valley and the city of Mount Hagen far below. It feels wonderfully remote, surrounded by pristine rainforest and cool, clean highlands air, yet it’s only a short drive from town and under an hour from the airport, making it an ideal first or last stop on a highlands journey.

Stay in one of 24 contemporary rooms, each with modern ensuite bathrooms and cosy warmed king beds for the crisp highland nights, powered by the lodge’s own hydroelectric system. Days are spent exploring forest trails with expert guides, searching for birds of paradise and orchids, or heading out to learn about the ancient farming traditions and rich culture of the Melpa people, with the chance to meet the famous Pogla Mudmen. With its striking architecture, dramatic views and immersive cultural and nature experiences, Rondon Ridge perfectly balances highland wilderness with modern comfort

Karawari Lodge

Perched on a lone ridge 300 metres above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge looks out over an endless sweep of untouched lowland rainforest in one of the most remote corners of Papua New Guinea. With no roads or shops, access is only by river or private airstrip, so it feels truly off the grid. Guests stay in ten cottages built from local bush materials and inspired by traditional architecture, each with private twin rooms, modern ensuites and a shared veranda. Despite the isolation, there’s 220V electricity, hot and cold water, mosquito-netted beds and ceiling fans, creating a very comfortable base after a day exploring.

At the heart of the lodge, the haus tambaran–style main building houses the dining room, cosy lounge, ‘Puk Puk’ Bar and an impressive collection of Sepik artefacts. From here, sunset over the jungle canopy is unforgettable. Days are spent travelling by jet boat to riverside villages to see ceremonial dances and master carvers at work, or spotting some of the 200+ bird species that live in the surrounding rainforest, including the elusive 12-Wire Bird of Paradise.

Lake Murray Lodge

Tucked among the trees on a tiny island spit, Lake Murray Lodge gazes out over the vast, glassy waters of Papua New Guinea’s largest lake. Out here, in one of the country’s most remote corners, life moves to a gentler rhythm. Dugout canoes glide silently past stilted villages, and the stillness is broken only by birdsong and the soft splash of paddles. The tribes who call Lake Murray home still practise many of their traditional customs, and visits to nearby villages offer the chance to experience weaving, face and body painting, warrior displays and colourful sing-sing celebrations.

The lodge itself is fresh and contemporary in design, with a wraparound veranda at the main building for unforgettable sunsets over the water. Guests stay in 12 individual cabin rooms set along the lake’s edge, each built from local timber and sago matting, with king or twin beds, modern ensuite bathrooms, ceiling fans and a private veranda for sunrise views and morning birdwatching. Entirely powered by modern solar technology and supplied with produce from its own garden and wood-fired kitchen, Lake Murray Lodge is an eco-friendly lakeside escape that feels a world away from everywhere.

Tufi Resort

Tufi Resort is a long-established boutique hideaway and one of Papua New Guinea’s premier scuba diving bases, perched high above a striking tropical fjord in Oro Province. With 180° views over the Coral Sea, jungle-clad fjords and surrounding mountains, it feels wonderfully cut off from the everyday, yet offers comfortable, air-conditioned rooms and bungalows with balconies, polished timber floors and modern ensuites. Stays include generous meals showcasing fresh local produce and seafood, from relaxed lunches to hearty three-course dinners.

Days here can be as active or laid-back as you like. Underwater, Tufi is known for excellent reef, muck and wreck diving, along with easy snorkelling right off the beach. Above the water, you can cruise glassy fjords by boat or kayak, visit remote coastal and highland villages, join the renowned Tufi Cultural Experience, or simply unwind by the pool. With birdwatching, nature walks, fishing trips, outrigger safaris and lazy beach days at nearby Komoa all on the menu, and the option to tailor activities to your interests, Tufi Resort is a flexible adventure base that works just as well for divers as it does for non-divers.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Papua New Guinea adventure for you.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Having amassed a host of extraordinary adventures in destinations all over the world, Sheena’s experience, skills and enthusiasm for helping clients plan their ideal itinerary will help make your holiday unforgettable, action packed and life-changing.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than fifteen years hands-on experience in the industry, travelling to some of the most incredible wild places on the planet. His far-reaching knowledge and invaluable skills will ensure that your wildlife travel adventure is a dream come true.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

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Enquiry form

Book Consultation

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