New Guinea: lost islands of Raja Ampat and mountain tribes

Days

Tour description

During a three-day hike through the jungle, we visit Papuan villages, which keep their regular life unchanged since the Stone Age. We take a relaxing break from civilization enjoying untouched nature and beauty of diverse underwater world of the paradise Raja Ampat Archipelago.

Stroll along suspension bridges through the wild jungle passing rushing waterfalls.
Visit villages, which being lost in the jungles still preserve their age-old traditional life.
Meet local tribes.
Bath in a lake full of fragile jellyfishes.
Swim near four-meter mantas and reef sharks.
Feel yourself Defoe’s Robinson living on desert beaches of uninhabited islands.

Tour departures

The price of the tour includes

Domestic flights (Jayapura-Wamena, Wamena-Jayapura, Jayapura-Sorong); Accommodation along the route in tents, guesthouses, bungalows and hotels; All rides along the route, including buses, boats, ferries, specially rented transport and urban transport of all kinds; Full board on the islands of Raja Ampat and during a hike through the valley Baliem; Porters and guides during the hike through the valley of Baliem; All entrance fees, permits, environmental fees, tips to local guides and guides; Rental of tents and equipment for cooking; Accompanying the entire route.

What is NOT included

Flight to Jayapura and back home from Sorong (we will help you to find the best tickets); Insurance (required); Diving (from $ 39 per dive); Snorkeling ($ 7-10 for renting equipment per day); Meals on the route which aren’t mention above (on the first and the last day and transit days).

Tour map

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Arrival to New Guinea, Baliem Valley. Start

We meet at the airport of Jayapura – the capital of Papua province. After the breakfast we fly to Wamena – the main city of the Baliem Valley (1 hour). We check into a hotel, receive permits for our trip, visit a colorful Papuan market and buy essentials for the voyage.

Day 2

Jeep adventure, Papuan villages

In the morning we take a car and head to a small village on the outskirts of the Baliem valley. By 4x4 cars we ride through the jungle, crossing tropical rivers and swamps via wooden bridges. This difficult path will take from 3 to 5 hours - depending on weather and road conditions.

After a short break, we start hiking. In the evening we stop for the night in a Papuan village.

Day 3-5

Tribes of Dani and Lani, The Baliem Valley trek

For three and a half days we walk 28 kilometers along a scenic route through the Baliem valley. We visit several settlements of Dani and Lani tribes and spend three nights in tents. Porters will help us to carry our luggage. For replenishing our food stocks we stop in local villages and buy vegetables and sweet potatoes on markets.

We hike among the green thickets, passing tropical waterfalls, fordings rivers and walking over suspension bridges. We cross wilderness jungles, which have been discovered just eighty years ago.

Tour leaders

Oleksandr Levytskyi

tour leader

Is this trip for you?

The route has medium difficulty. It includes a 28 kilometers long hike (track), which we do in 3 days. We spend three nights in tents or huts, the rest of nights we stay in simple hotels with air conditioning / fan, hot water and wi-fi (Wamena and Sorong). During the hike, porters carry our belongings, and we cook on the fire by ourselves. On Raja Ampat Islands, we stay in simple guesthouses or bungalows on the beach with 2-3-4 persons per room without hot water and internet. Electricity is supplied from a fuel generator only at night. Between the islands we move by public ferries, speedboats and motorboats.