Papua New Guinea & the Mount Hagen Sing Sing Festival

Arrive in Cairns, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Refresh from your travels and prepare for the exciting journey ahead. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner served at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Papua New Guinea, an island chain of undisturbed indigenous tribes and sweeping natural beauty. Arrive in Port Moresby and visit the Port Moresby Nature Park, where you are introduced to the nation’s distinctive cultures and rare wildlife. The park is home to over 350 native animals, including tree kangaroos. Transfer to your hotel nestled in a lush botanical garden.

This morning, board you flight to Tari, soaring over dramatic highland peaks. Upon arrival, transfer to your secluded lodge perched at 7,000 feet in Papua New Guinea’s spectacular Southern Highlands. In the afternoon, set out on a guided nature walk through the lush forest, keeping an eye out for exotic birds of paradise. A favorite destination of birders, the rainforests surrounding the lodge have starred in many wildlife documentaries. A staggering 217 species of exotic birds have been recorded here, including 13 different species of birds of paradise. Stroll among a serene oasis of orchids, rhododendrons, vine bridges, mountain streams and secluded waterfalls, logging your exotic sightings as your expert guide shares insights perfect for novices and seasoned birders alike.

This morning, embark on the first of two days of cultural immersion among the tribes of the Tari. Learn how the highland people of Tari maintain the cultural traditions of body decoration and face painting, as well as the wearing of decorative wigs, flowers and moss.

Embark on another day of exploration revealing the culture of the highland people. Widely regarded as one of the most recognizable of Papua New Guinea’s indigenous peoples, the Huli Wigmen captivate with traditional dances fashioned after the mating rituals of birds of paradise. Take in the magic of the scene, absorbing an indelible impression of the vibrant tribal traditions the Huli Wigmen have so carefully preserved for generations.

This morning, board your charter flight to a private airstrip secluded deep within the riverine wilderness of the Sepik region. A small boat ferries you on to your lodge, where you are greeted with lunch. After settling in, embark on a river safari exploring the Karawari, a remote tributary of the mighty Sepik. This region is one of the most remote and un-spoiled destinations in all of Papua New Guinea. Here, the river is central to daily life, with men paddling narrow dugout canoes full of goods for trade, women fishing or making meals and children joyfully splashing along the river bank. Watch for examples of tribal art on display; each village boasts a unique style and every villager is an artisan. Notice there are no roads and no shops, as the people live completely off the land and river, weaving baskets for catching fish and gathering their staple food, the sago palm. This afternoon, visit a nearby village to learn how this vital resource is harvested and prepared for comsumption by local tribal members.

Today, board ‘Sepik Spirit,’ your floating home for the next three nights. Settle into life aboard this three-level, 98-foot river cruiser. Onboard amenities include a lounge, dining room, bar, screened-in observation deck, air conditioning and nine comfortable cabins with en suite bathrooms. Your riverboat home is an oasis in this remote jungle, affording an exceptional vantage of the riverine wilderness that surrounds you. After lunch on board, embark on your voyage of discovery along the Karawari River.

After breakfast aboard, disembark for a full-day excursion to the remote villages of Black Water Lake. Bask in your warm island welcome as you observe a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Learn about the local rituals, warfare, ceremonies and ancestral beliefs, visiting the various houses of the village. Browse tribal handicrafts such as masks, flutes and spirit figures in the villages’ low-pressure markets. Relax with a picnic by the forested banks of the Karawari River, watching as local men gather on their clan’s bench, children paddle canoes to school and women fish with hand lines.

Disembark onto the banks of Mumeri, a remote village whose people have preserved their ancestral traditions for centuries. Take in the same warm village welcome enjoyed here by pioneering anthropologist Margaret Meade over 80 years ago. Next, cruise to the confluence of the Krosmeri and Karawari rivers, where you rendezvous with ‘Sepik Spirit’ for lunch. Continue on to visit the villages of Mindimbit, taking in the spectacular carvings and elaborate coming-of-age rituals of the locals. Rejoin ‘Sepik Spirit’ for your final night on board, cruising back toward Karawari.

This morning, fly by private charter to Mount Hagen. On approach, watch the mountains rise and then fall away as you descend into the verdant Wahgi Valley. Upon arrival, enjoy the first of two days at the Mount Hagen Cultural Show, a festive gathering of more than 50 coastal, lowland and highland tribal groups. Gain insider access to a privileged experience few travellers can claim as you immerse yourself in a festival of the locals, for the locals — a bold, joyful proclamation of tribal pride.

Enjoy another day experiencing the sing sing festival. Marvel as the participants engage in sing sings, lively ancestral songs and dances displaying their diverse and distinctive cultural heritages. Witness an unmatched spectacle of color, music and motion as heirloom feathered headdresses, brilliantly painted faces and dyed grass skirts weave to the driving beat of traditional drums and the rousing voices of the tribesmen. Lose yourself in the sights and sounds of the rollicking festival, gaining a deeper insight into the enduring traditions that help to define this unique corner of the world. This afternoon, return to Port Moresby.

Today, fly to Cairns. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner and recap your amazing experience with your fellow travellers.

After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your departure.