Papua New Guinea Cultural Journey

Papua New Guinea Cultural Journey

Prices From £7,922pp
Year round | 9 nights

Papua New Guinea Cultural Journey

Venture into a land of dramatic contrasts, where cool highland ridges, glassy inland lakes and remote river systems sit side by side with some of the world’s most vibrant living cultures. This journey takes you across that tapestry in comfort, travelling from the highlands of Mount Hagen to the expansive shores of Lake Murray and on to the forested banks of the Karawari River in the Sepik region.

Along the way, you’ll stay in characterful lodges, travel by charter flight and boat, and spend unhurried time in villages where traditional ways of life are still very much alive. From the clay masks of the Mudmen and the customs of Melpa communities in the highlands to lakeside traditions at Lake Murray and the artistry of Sepik carvers along the Karawari, this itinerary offers an immersive, gently paced introduction to Papua New Guinea’s people, landscapes and stories.

Highlights

  • Journey through three contrasting regions of Papua New Guinea
  • Stay in remote lodges set in spectacular highland and lowland locations
  • Be guided by passionate local experts who bring each region to life
  • Meet Melpa communities and the legendary Pogla Mudmen near Mount Hagen
  • Cruise Lake Murray to visit lakeside villages and experience traditional sing-sing
  • Travel by boat along the Karawari River, visiting river communities and carvers
  • Soar over untouched forests and valleys on scenic charter flights
  • Balance guided touring with relaxed time to soak up lodge views and atmosphere

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 full day tours

Rondon Ridge - Full Day Tours
2 - 3Days

Rondon Ridge - Full Day Tours

Spend these days discovering the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Mount Hagen region. Begin with a fascinating insight into the traditions and customs of the Melpa people, whose first contact with the outside world came as recently as the 1930s. Learn how their intricate system of trade and ceremonial exchange, known as Moka, has shaped their social fabric for millennia. You may also visit the legendary Pogla Mudmen, renowned for their ghostly clay masks and the ancient legends that inspire their performances.

Between cultural encounters, you may wish to explore the pristine rainforests surrounding Rondon Ridge. The lodge’s network of trails winds through lush montane forest alive with orchids and birdsong. Over 180 species have been recorded here, including up to ten species of bird of paradise, among them the King of Saxony and Ribbon-tailed Astrapia. Each walk is led by expert naturalist guides who will help you spot rare species and share their deep knowledge of this extraordinary ecosystem.

Fly to Lake Murray
4Day

Fly to Lake Murray

This morning you depart the highlands and board a scenic charter flight bound for Lake Murray, one of Papua New Guinea’s most remote and atmospheric wilderness areas. As you descend, the mountains give way to an intricate mosaic of waterways, wetlands and forested islands, offering a striking change of scenery from the cool hills of Mount Hagen. On arrival, transfer by boat to Lake Murray Lodge, your comfortable base set along the tranquil lakeshore.

After lunch and a chance to settle in, head out on an afternoon tour to begin exploring the lake and its surrounds. Depending on conditions and lodge scheduling, this may include a gentle boat excursion among the channels and inlets, or a visit to a nearby lakeside village to gain a first glimpse into local life on the water. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way and take time to simply enjoy the wide horizons, big skies and stillness of this vast inland lake.

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
5 - 6Days

Lake Murray Full Day Tours

Spend the next two days delving deeper into the landscapes and cultures of Lake Murray. Each day you’ll head out by boat from the lodge, cruising across open water and along quiet channels to reach a variety of lakeside villages. The journeys themselves are a pleasure, with wide horizons, distant tree lines and the gentle rhythm of life on the water all around you.

In the villages, you’ll be warmly welcomed and invited to witness and, where appropriate, take part in traditional activities. Watch skilled artisans demonstrate traditional weaving, observe face and body painting, and see tribal warriors showcase age-old practices passed down through generations. A highlight is the chance to experience a sing-sing which is a vibrant celebration in which each tribe expresses its identity through distinctive dress, song and dance.

Between cultural encounters, there’s time to simply absorb the atmosphere of this remote region, learning how the lake shapes daily life, from fishing and transport to community gatherings. After each excursion, return to Lake Murray Lodge for leisurely meals, time to relax on the deck and memorable sunsets over the water at the end of the day.

Fly to Karawari
7Day

Fly to Karawari

This morning you say farewell to Lake Murray and board a charter flight bound for the Karawari region, trading open lake vistas for dense lowland rainforest and winding rivers. As you fly in, look down on an intricate patchwork of rivers, oxbow lakes and untouched rainforest which offer a striking contrast to the landscapes you’ve just left behind. On arrival, transfer to Karawari Lodge, perched above the winding river with expansive views over the surrounding jungle canopy.

After settling into your room and enjoying lunch, head out on an afternoon excursion to begin exploring this remarkable riverine environment. Depending on conditions and lodge scheduling, this may be a gentle boat trip along the Karawari River, a walk through nearby forest, or a visit to a local village.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon, with time to relax on the deck as the light fades over the forest.

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

Karawari Full Day Tour
8Day

Karawari Full Day Tour

Today is devoted to exploring the river culture and lush lowland environment of the Karawari region. After breakfast, set out by boat along the Karawari and its smaller channels, passing dugout canoes, river gardens and houses built close to the water’s edge. The slow pace of travel allows you to absorb the atmosphere of this remote area, where the river remains the main highway and lifeline for local communities.

During the day you’ll visit several villages to gain insight into daily life and long-held traditions. Learn how people fish, farm and gather from the forest, and see how stories and beliefs are expressed through art and carving. Depending on local arrangements, you may have the chance to watch artisans at work creating masks, drums or other ceremonial objects, with time to ask questions and, if you wish, purchase pieces directly from the makers.

In between village visits, enjoy the simple pleasure of being out on the river, watching forested banks slip by and listening to the sounds of the jungle. Return to Karawari Lodge in the late afternoon for a relaxed evening overlooking the water, reflecting on the day’s encounters.

Back to Port Moresby - Half Day Tour - Check Out
9 - 10Days

Back to Port Moresby - Half Day Tour - Check Out

Today you depart the remote river lowlands and begin your journey homeward. Board a charter flight back to Mt Hagen, enjoying a final aerial view of Papua New Guinea’s forests and highlands, before connecting with your Air Niugini flight to Port Moresby. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to the Hilton Hotel. your comfortable base for the final night of the tour.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of the city. See the striking National Parliament building from the outside, then visit the National Museum to gain further insight into Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural heritage, traditional artefacts and diverse tribal histories. Time permitting, you’ll also visit the Nature Park, home to a variety of native birds and animals, offering a relaxed and fitting finale to your journey. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay.

Your tour officially concludes with check-out and onward departure the following day.

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.

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.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

As Senior Travel Expert, Simon has an absolute wealth of experience in adventure travel in some of the most fascinating places in the world. With in-depth knowledge and fantastic organizational skills, Simon’s first-hand experience and genuine passion drive him to work to create your perfect itinerary.

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.

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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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