When it comes to Papua New Guinea independent tours, YPT are the experts. Having been doing business in the countries for many years now, YPT has built an important network of partners and experts in Papua New Guinea. If our current tour to Mont Hagen and Bougainville do not fit your dates or you have other activities in mind, please do get in touch with us for a customised program.
While visiting Papua New Guinea is extremely rewarding, doing so on your own can be quite difficult as the country’s infrastructure is limited and local knowledge is a must. Getting in touch with local companies and services can be very difficult as the websites are often out of date and phone numbers, derelict. By visiting there regularly, we keep in touch with the local business and facilitate your approach to the country.
Most companies will catapult you to a show and fly you out, avoiding most local experiences. At YPT we team up with local partners to make sure you get the whole picture and get up close with the local culture, all of it done in a safe and leisurely way, with a hint of backpacking adventure!
We can organise tours from individual tours to private group tours throughout the country. Here are some suggestions of the regions that can be visited and the activities that can be done there.
Can you travel independently to Papua New Guinea?
When we talk about independent tours to Papua New Guinea what we actually mean is private guided tours to Papua New Guinea. It is quite simply not safe to backpack, or travel independently around PNG.
What we can do though is basically offer the next best thing. You pick the places you wish to go, we arrange an itinerary with you and then you are accompanied by our expert guides and drivers. As with everything Papua New Guinea safety is always paramount.
Independent tours to Port Moresby Capital Region
Most tours to Papua New Guinea will involve staying in Port Moresby for a short while. Since all international flights go through the capital and that most domestic flights are in the morning, connections often take a day or so.
We can arrange visits to the few sights of Port Moresby such as the National Museum, the Nature Park but also sights like the beginning of the Kokoda Trail.
If you are doing a layover in Papua New Guinea, we can also arrange day tours of Port Moresby, either with just a private car, or inclusive of a local guide.
Scuba Diving is also possible in Papua New Guinea, which we can arrange for as many days as you you require.
Papua New Guinea Independent Tours – The Highlands
The Highlands, a region made up of a group of seven provinces including the Western Highlands, Eastern and Southern Highlands provinces, is probably the most famous region of Papua New Guinea. Daily flights to Mont Hagen, Goroka, Lae and Madang connect the region with the capital and the region is well-known for its multiple festivals (see the calendar below). Three of the countries most popular festivals; Mont Hagen, Goroka and Morobe Cultural Shows are found in this region. In this part, we can arrange village stays, coffee plantation visits, private sing-sing and, in the coastal cities of Madang and Lae, scuba diving and other water sports.
Papua New Guinea Independent Tours – East New Britain
Off the coast of mainland Papua New Guinea is the island of New Britain. It has a much more relaxed vibe than the main island and is much cleaner. The old capital of East New Britain, Rabaul, is an ideal place for relaxation but also for WWII history buffs. In Rabaul, many Japanese wrecks and bunkers can be visited as part of a World War II interest tour. For water sport lovers, Rabaul is a great launching pad to go scuba diving, snorkelling around the wreck of a Zero Japanese plane or simply swimming amongst the dolphins. It is also possible to climb up the volcano Turvurvur, still active! Finally, in the evening, a typical fire dance of the New Britain tribes, with their traditional giant masks can be organised for groups.
Independent Tours to Bougainville
While it might soon become the world’s young country at the issue of their referendum, Bougainville is still part of Papua New Guinea and certainly one of our favourite parts. Here, you can visit multiple World War II wrecks as well as go snorkelling and enjoy life in a small cottage on an blissfully peaceful islet. Treks, such as the trek to Admiral Yamamoto’s wreck, as well as cultural encounters can also be organised.
As well as our yearly tours to Bougainville we can arrange independent trips throughout the year.
Festivals of Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea Festival Tours
The best time to visit PNG is for one of the numerous festivals of Papua New Guinea. The mots famous is of course the Mt Hagen Festival, but there is also the Goroka Cultural show, which is even older. These can either be joined as one of our group tours, or we can arrange an independent package for you.
- July: National Mask Festival in Rabaul, East New Britain
- August: Mont Hagen Cultural Show in Mont Hagen (the biggest cultural show in the country!), Sepik Crocodile Festival near Wewak and Enga Festival in Enga (famous for its sand paintings)
- September: Goroka Cultural Show in Goroka and Hiri Moale in Port Moresby
- October: Morobe Cultural Show in Lae
- November: Kenu and Kundu Canoe Festival in Milne Bay
