PNG Highlands West Expedition

02 July 2024 - 11 July 2024 - 9 Nights /10 Days

Port Moresby - Mount Hagen - Simbu ( Bingla Ingu Festival ) & Sipuu-Waa ( Simbu) Cultural Festival

2024 Rates:

Group of 7 or more guests:Rack rates: PGK14,000.00 PGK Net: K11,200.00 (20% Comm)

Group of 5/6 guests: Rack rates: PGK16,850.00 Net: PGK13,480.00 (20% Comm)

Single Room supplement: Rack rates: PGK3,120.00 Net:PGK2,715.00 (13% Comm)

Day 1 Tuesday 02 July 2024 Arrival Papua New Guinea.

You will touch down in Port Moresby - Capital of PNG at Jacksons International Arrival and you will be met by our guide and porter and transfer to Stanley Hotel and Suites on the Shuttle Bus. Have late breakfast and rest. After lunch we will tour the city of Port Moresby only sight seening tours.

Day 2 Wednesday 03 July 2024 Port Moresby/ Mount Hagen - Air Transfers and half day tours of Central Highlands

Early after breakfast, you will be tranfered to the Domestic Deaprture Terminal for your early morning flight to Mt Hagen.

Arrive Mt Hagen, (PX 182 0800/0955 POM/HGN) Meet and greet and assist with transfer with luggage car to the Highlander Hotel for unpack.At 11 am you will be transferred down through the fertile Waghy and Central Hagen Valley, past coffee plantations, vegetable Gardens, interplant with sweet potato, banana, taro cassava, sugar cane with other leaf vegetables and neatly laid out homesteads to the Urup Kiap Village for the tour of the Melpa Tribes.

You will have full village Experience of the Melpa Tribes, Women's Singsing and Village Study and Experience of the Melpa Tribes in Mount Hagen.

You will also have a chance to visit the Widows House (wife still waiting for freedom - in the Highlands of PNG according to the customs. Highlander Hotel (BLD)

Day 3 Thursday 04 July 2024 Transfers to Simbu Province & Tours

Early after breakfast, we will have you transferred from Mt Hagen to Simbu and tours along the highway.

We will continue to Mindima Village "Skeleton dancers" demonstrating hunting and food gathering skills, how hunting is done in the old days and arriving at Chanty town in Kundiawa and have lunch at Mt Wilheam Hotel and have lunch.

We will check in at Green Land Motel. We will have afternoon of the Nego Mongo Culture of the Kamane Ku Tribes and Sightseeing Tours. And rest for the evening. GREEN LAND MOTEL (BLD)

Day 4 Friday 05 July 2024 Bigla Ingu Festival Tour (Inaugl Tribes), Gembogl District, Simbu, PNG

Early after breakfast as early as 6:30 am you will be transferred to Gembogl station where the Festival will be held, it s another 45 minutes' drive to the Ceremonial Grounds of the Inaugl Tribes.

As soon as you get to the Bingla Ingu Ceremonial Grounds, you will notice the Long houses built around the Ceremonial grounds where the visiting tribes has been living in it for 1 full week and Singsing and receiving raw food until the Pig Killing day.

You will witness the tribes moving into the main ceremonial ground with raw food such as Taro, banana, Sweet potato, firewood and also the main animal which is the PIG. As they move in, they will do it with pride to expose their prestiges like Pigs will be coming forward before them.

As they are moving into the main arena, KUAKUMBA ( Mouth Organs will welcome them and Singsing groups in the best attire will compete to welcome the visiting tribes into the main arena.

The hosting tribes will welcome by their sound language ( Men will say ..Sipuuuwaa and Women will shout Ayawuuuuu.. This is mind blown away moment where the both tribes ( Host and Visiting tribes) meet and Visiting tribes will move to their location of the MUMU PITS ( Ground Oven Open Pit) and stand there with all their prestige's display ready to begin.

You will see among the crowd in their own moments, two men will be going above the roof to start the KITNE ( Fire making) for the Smoke to go to the East and let the Community and tribes know that Bi8ngla Ingu Festival is starting. The fire will be transferred to the ground for the Pig Killing to start.

You will be surprised that Pigs will be hammered with special log sharpened for this ceremony, Village Buthery will begin and Singsing groups will be performing to the best calling the names of the hosting tribe's mountains, rivers, Chiefs name and the clan. This is a moment where all will be happy and dancing until all pigs are slaughtered and women will come forward with the BUSH KUMO ( Jungle greens) for the MUMU ( Stone Oven Pit)

Enjoy the full day Singsing and you will see the full festival by opening of the MUMU and all cooked pork will be removed and shared with the raw food, as you will see their Chiefs in Full Chieftaincy Attire to bless the Tribes and Speech will be made and Pig Killings will be shared to the Visiting Tribes. The hosting tribe's young virgin girls are exchanged during this ceremony if love is at first sight too.

The visiting tribes will host the Bingla Ingu Festival in the next two years. END OF THE PROGRAM

You will drive back into town between 5pm - 5:30 pm and rest. GREEN LAND MOTEL (BLD)

Day 5 Saturday 06 July 2024 Sipuu-waa (Simbu) Cultural Festival

We recommend that you enjoy early breakfast to start at 7:00 am and we depart early at 7:30 for Early Bird Tours, visit singsing groups from different provinces in their camps to very closely see how their body decorations of colourful traditional costumes and very colourful face painting is done. Explanations will be given to you on the types of costumes and their significances in the cultures of these people.

Enjoy a full day exploring the Sipuu-Waa ( Simbu ) Cultural Festival. This Festival will be outstanding to both Goroka Show and Mt Hagen Show, Tumbuna Pasin ( Long Houses with all the traditional food cooking, weapon making all the daily chores of the Highlands & Simbu People will be displayed).

You will also have the full Early Bird Tours where you will witness the Ealry dressing of the Performers wearing their colorful Headdress and to face painting ready to get to the Festival main Arena.

After the Early Bird Tours, We will proceed into the Show grounds to witness thousands of warriors, all dressed in their very finest traditional regalia, dancing and singing, each group in their own culture with languages with intention to outclass all the other groups. Walk among dancers, shake hands and meet them.

Pikinini Sow ( Chikdren's Show) is also included in this festival where you will witness proud parents dressing their children in the best attire to the arena. This is a moment where you will see how proud Papua New Guineans are in their Cultural and best costumes displayed.

As soon as you are in the main arena, all Singsing Groups will be Competing with each other and performing to their best to win the hearts of the crowds. The Main arena is a full SINGSING

Be overwhelmed as you meet and learn about the many diverse tribes which still populate the highlands. Traditional clothing, dance and song will all be on show. It really is a sight to behold. The show continues today for the second day, there will be more than 5-70 groups of Singsing competing with each other in the show ground with Judges judging toady for the winner group. You experience will be overwhelming that will be a mind blow away. The show continue today and finishes. Green Land Motel (BLD)

Day 6 Sunday 07 July 2024 Continue of the Sipuu-waa (Simbu) Cultural Festival Enjoy a full day exploring the Sipuu-Waa ( Simbu ) Cultural Festival. This Festival will be outstanding to both Goroka Show and Mt Hagen Show, Tumbuna Pasin ( Log Houses with all the traditional food cooking, weapon making all the daily chores of the Highlands & Simbu People will be displayed).

You will also have the full Early Bird Tours where you will witness the Ealry dressing of the Performers wearing their colorful Headdress and to face painting ready to get to the Festival main Arena.

Pikinini Sow (Children's Show) is also included in this festival where you will witness proud parents dressing their children in the best attire to the arena. This is a moment where you will see how proud Papua New Guineans are in their Cultural and best costumes displayed.

As soon as you are in the main arena, all Singsing Groups will be competing with each other and performing to their best to win the hearts of the crowds. The Main arena is a full SINGSING

Be overwhelmed as you meet and learn about the many diverse tribes which still populate the highlands. Traditional clothing, dance and song will all be on show. It really is a sight to behold. The show continues today for the second day, the more than 5-70 groups of Singsing competing with each other in the show ground with Judges judging toady for the winner group. You experience will be overwhelming that will be a mind blow away. The show continue today and finishes. Green Land Motel (BLD)

Day 07 Monday 08 July 2024 Transfers Simbu to Goroka by Road

At 8:30 - 09:00 am, you will be transferred from Simbu Province to Goroka ,

Depart your Hotel, after breakfast, We will travel along the Okuk Highway through the Asaro Valley, past tea and coffee estates, and up to Daulo Top ( 2344m) above sea level and you can have a panoramic view of the Bena valley in the horizon.

You will slowly descend down to Goroka and rest at your hotel .Pacific Gardens Hotel (BLD)

Day 08 Tuesday 09 July 2024 Asaro Mudman Tour & MOKOMOKA

Enjoy a private full day tour including; Goroka Cultural Tours & Cane Swallowing/Nose Bleeding - Boys Indication Ceremony Tours - Full day touring including visiting the Asaro Mudmen, one of the most fascinating tribes in the whole of Papua New Guinea. Their traditional ritual is a site to behold, as numerous men covered in mud emerge silently from the forest. Covering their heads are enormous mud masks depicting quite unique faces.

Your will also get to witness the traditional method of cooking in the earth before point the villages for lunch . After lunch, You will have the Mt Gurupoka Hikking and MOKA MOKA Dance Overnight: Pacific Gardens Hotel Premier Wing (BLD)

Day 09 Wednesday 10 July 2024 Goroka Cane Swallowing (Boys Ceremonial )

After lunch you will witness the Cane Swallowing (Cane swallowed into the stomach and nose bleeding) of the Bena people of Keeya Tribes (Boys Initiation ceremony). After this ceremony you will learn about Simbu Culture, where the tribe will tell you about their face painting rituals, weaving Bilum's (a traditional PNG bag) as well as treating you to traditional songs. End the day with a visit to coffee factory. Town Sight Seening tours and Tumbuna Market . PACIFIC GARDENS HOTEL (BLD)

Day 10 Thursday 11 July 2024 Transfers Goroka /Port Moresby by Air and connect to your International Departure

You will be transferred to the Airport for departure to Port Moresby/International Departure. Pacific Gardens Hotel (B)

******** End of Services - PNG Highlands Adventures - PAPUA NEW GUINEA**********

LAND COST INCLUDES:
Accommodation, airport transfers and tours on a seat in a van ( 15 Seater or 25 Seater), meals from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure day, Luggage Van, services of a professional tour escort throughout, Entrance fees, VIP Pass to both Festivals, local guides and show gate fees. The cost also includes all gratuities to hotel and restaurant staff, local drivers, guides and porters. Important Notice - Accommodation in Simbu (Kundiawa) will be in Motels and Lodges

LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Domestic Sectors and international flights, visa fees, travel associated costs such as travel insurance or PNG visa costs and services of a personal nature such as beverage, laundry charges and phone/fax bills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We can Tailor the program to continue to Tari, Simbai ( Kalam Tribes), Sepik River,Mt Bosavi , Enga and Mt Giluwe Trek, Mt wilheam Trek, Beatiful Madang, Rabaul and Tufi

Possible Charter flights to our provincial Capital (Kundiawa Town) from Port Moresby, Tari, Sepik, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Madang The drive from the Town airport is 40 - 50 minutes' drive to the Festival Grounds in Gembogl District which is in the vicinity of the Highest Mountain ( Mt Wilheam - 4509m High above sea Level)

IMPORTANT NOTE

Domestic and international flights are not included in the cost and we do not arrange these. You are to book and ticket the domestic Air Niugini flights together with your international flights.

The Air Niugini flights you are to book and ticket are;

Port Moresby/ Mt Hagen - PX 181 0955/1055

Goroka /Port Moresby- PX 163 0855/0945

BOOKING AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES

We do not require any non-refundable deposits due to CoVid-19 pandemic issues. However, if Hotel reservations require deposits, we will inform your team. GIFT CARDS will be issued due to Covid 19 Pandamic to be effective from 2022 - 2024.

CANCELLATION POLICY/CONDITIONS: In the event of cancellation:

• 30 days prior to clients' arrival, 75% of the full rate for the program will be forfeited and will refund 25% only.
• 20 days or less prior to client's arrival, 100% of the full rate for the program will be forfeited and there will be no refund.

POLICY ON EXCHANGE OF SERVICES AND SERVICES NOT TAKEN
Take note that that PNG Highlands Adventures is unable to exchange services which are not taken in the main itinerary, for other services.

Services must be taken on the day that they appear in the main itinerary, and cannot be transferred to a different day if natural disaster or whether do not permits, we can arrange according to timing in the following day if time permits during your next day tours.

CLIENT INFORMATION
Once you confirm your reservations, you will be sent a confirmation Form for Proforma Invoice for your preparations for travel.