Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met and transferred to the Airways Hotel, where you will meet your escort and other group members. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Mt. Hagen town in the upper Wahgi Valley, a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. (Air Niugini 180) You’ll be met and transferred to the Mount Hagen Show grounds for a full day of enjoyment.  The festival brings together sing-sing groups from across Papua New Guinea, celebrating a dazzling and diverse array of cultures. The Show brings together more than 80 unique and colorful sing-sing groups from across Papua New Guinea; each of whom shares their impressive celebration display through colorful traditional dress, dance, and song. The show will begin as each tribal group enters the showground and proudly performs their unique sing-sing to the enchanted audience. The performance gradually builds until each of the tribes is simultaneously performing to a cacophony of rhythmic drumming and hundreds of voices. It is truly an awe-inspiring experience.

Later in the afternoon, you are driven up a picturesque road past highlands gardens and onto Rondon Ridge. Perched high above Mt Hagen, with mist-filled views of the Wahgi Valley below, Rondon Ridge is your accommodation during the Hagen Show.

Spend the day enjoying the Mt. Hagen Show, world-famous for its color, culture, and sheer vibrancy.  It truly is a spectacular event.  The diversity of the coastal, lowland, and highland sing-sing groups at the Mt. Hagen Show reflect the incredible variety of Papua New Guinea’s landscape and makes for an unforgettable experience. You will arrive at the showgrounds with ample time to wander through the tribal groups where you can interact with and photograph the performers as they prepare themselves for the festivities.

Transfer from Rondon Ridge for your charter flight to Tari/Ambua Lodge in the highlands of PNG. A short flight across untouched rainforest and mountains will bring you to the Tari Valley; the home of the famous Huli tribe. Once you arrive you will be transferred to Ambua Lodge; nestled at the edge of the lush green rainforest and overlooking the serene Tari Valley below. Spend the afternoon enjoying Ambua’s winding forest trails that take you through lush rainforests, past gushing water-falls, and over traditional vine bridges.

Spend a day touring the Hiuli villages and countryside. The Hulis are famed for their colorful bilas (traditional dress) and unique traditions. The Huli men pride themselves on their beautiful bilas with their elaborately constructed human hair headdress which they lavishly decorate with flowers, mosses, and ornate bird feathers. Their bilas, combined with their unique sing sing are intended to impress their audience as well as intimidate enemies. Visit the men’s wig school and tour the local villages to experience how this proud mountain tribe has evolved in the modern age, while still maintaining the stories, beliefs, and traditions of their ancestors.

Transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Karawari. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, the  Karawari lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of miles of tropical jungle. Inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials, the lodge offers modern comforts in a unique setting. Proceed with lunch then followed an afternoon visit to Kundiman village for sago making demonstration. Sago is the staple food for the river people.

This morning transfer to the Sepik Spirit river boat. Its’ unique design was inspired by the local art and architecture of the “Haus Tambaran” or Spirit House. Enjoy lunch onboard as you begin the cruise along the swirling waters of the Karawari river, cruising past the remote villages and wild jungle that line the banks of the river. This afternoon travel into one of the local villages to catch your first glimpse into the unique tribal traditions of the river people.

Travel on the MV Sepik Spirit offers a unique and diverse experience of the remote Sepik region. The journey begins on the Karawari River, a tributary of the “Mighty Sepik River”, and transverses along the remote river waterways to the Krossmeri Junction and may touch on the Sepik River. You will pass jungle covered banks dotted with traditional fishing villages as you journey down the winding river to reach the Sepik River. As you meander along the river systems you will experience remote villages, learn their customs and experience their day to day lives in modern times; which still closely reflects their traditional tribal lifestyle. The tribes of the Sepik area are famed for their artistic carvings which express their ancient traditional stories and beliefs. You will have plenty of opportunity to admire or purchase some of their unique artifacts while visiting the local villages.