Tuesday 16th September – Port Moresby PNG 50th Birthday

• For those arriving early morning, OR on the 15th we will head straight out for the days activities.
• Today is the big the day, the 50th birthday of Papua New Guinea so we head out early for the flag raising ceremony at independence hill overlooking the national parliament, which we expect to be at around 10 am.
• This will be followed by us taking part in a number of cultural performances, musical displays and overall celebrations that will be happening throughout Port Moresby. And while we are still waiting for confirmation of the exact itinerary, we will be front and centre for everything taking place. This will be a HUGE day with dignitaries from around the world, such as head of state Prince Charles in attendance
• We will take lunch around the many food stalls that are being setup for the festivities
• For those arriving later to Port Moresby we will have a pre-tour meeting at 3 pm in the hotel before heading out to the parliament and a tour of the capital to see the the new year celebrations in full swing
• The festivities will culminate in you watching the sky illuminate from Ela Beach as the country puts on its biggest ever firework display.
• Dinner and drinks at The Yacht Club the most famous restaurant and bar in Port Moresby to see in the last of the 50th anniversary celebrations
• Overnight at the hotel

Wednesday 17th September – Port Moresby – Mt. Hagen

• Breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport for our early flight to Mt Hagen!
• Check into Kuri Lodge, our home for the next two nights.
• We then head out for an exploration of Mt Hagen, which will start with a trip to the huge local market, where we can try street food, as well as local fruits.
• We will take a lunch break at one of Mt. Hagen’s top café-restaurants, where you can enjoy a diverse menu of local and international dishes, all paired with expertly brewed coffee made from freshly roasted local beans. Vegetarian options are also available, ensuring something for everyone!

Afternoon

• Papua New Guinea is famous for its coffee, so we’ll head for a tour of a coffee plantation, as well as checking out some factories.
• For dinner tonight we head to Mt. Hagen’s most posh local restaurant which boasts the best drink and wine selection in the city.
• Overnight in Mt. Hagen at Kuri Lodge

Thursday 18th September – Mt. Hagen

• Breakfast in the town, before we head out for the days activities.
• For the early risers, there’s an optional 5:00am excursion to our local guide’s village, where we’ll hike to a special viewpoint and watch the Birds of Paradise as they begin to stir with the first light of dawn.
• We’ll head to the village of our local partner to be welcomed by his family and elders. Those wanting to join the festivities further are invited to wear local tribal attire, which includes getting your face and body painted.
• The locals will prepare Pig Mumu. Pig Mumu involves the slaughtering of a pig, which is then prepared and cooked in a hole covered by hot rocks with yam and corn. While we wait for it to cook, the villagers will introduce us to different customs and traditional skills such as fire making and archery.

Afternoon

• After a massive feast, we will go for a trek to the nearby waterfall where we can swim and enjoy the refreshing cool water.
• Return back to Mt. Hagen for dinner and drinks at the Highlander Hotel for a treat!
• After that, we head to another local village of our partners for a fire in a longhouse and the chance to try “Firewater”
• Overnight in Mt. Hagen at Kuri Lodge

Friday 19th September – Mt. Hagen – Goroka

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• We’ll begin our long day-drive through Simbu province to reach Goroka on our private bus to explore more of the Highlands regions. We’ll be stopping on the way for multiple photo opportunities.

Afternoon

• Quick stop at a bakery / café in Simbu province to grab lunch on the go.
• We’ll meet the Mindima Skeleton Tribes. Legend has it that the ancestors of this tribe were tormented by the presence of a monster in a cave full of bones. So, to attack the monster, they disguised themselves as bones which was a success according to the locals.
• We’ll greet the tribal chief of Nintul village and visit the Snake village.
• Arrive late afternoon in Goroka.
• Time permitting, we’ll stop by the J.K McCarthy Museum which is made up of several rooms showcasing everything from WWII relics and traditional PNG objects. A highlight of the exhibition is a collection of photos showing PNG as it was when it had its first contact with Australians during the 1930s
• Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight sleep.

Saturday 20th September – Goroka Festival Day #1

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Today’s the big day! We head to the local field which converts into the site hosting the Goroka Festival, the oldest and most prestigious in the country. We’ll arrive early to ensure you can meet each of the members of the tribes preparing their costumes to get more of an insight of the event.
• You may choose to participate in the games and opt to have the locals prepare your dressings and make up (extra charge).

Afternoon

• During the show, you’ll have a chance to sample some delicious snacks and street food prepared on the grounds by locals
• This is your unique opportunity to meet over 100 Papua New Guinean tribes, each showcasing their traditions. Highlights include the Huli’s feathered headdresses, Asaro Mudmen’s clay masks, Chimbu’s vibrant dances, and Sepik tribes’ spiritual carvings.
• Once the show completes, we’ll return to the hotel for to freshen up then head out to Goroka town for dinner.
• Overnight in Goroka

Sunday 21th September – Goroka Festival Day #2

• Breakfast at hotel
• Head in for the second day of the Goroka festival. This is much more relaxed than day 1 and is but a half-day.
• Packed lunch at festival

Afternoon

• Return to hotel for a freshen up.
• We will then go driving into the countryside to find a great place to jump off ledges and swim in the beautiful river of Goroka, a great way to end our final afternoon here.
• Group A members: in the evening, we head for a traditional PNG Goroka dinner, with our restaurant making the food especially for us. Drinks at one of the numerous hotel bars. Overnight in Goroka
• Group B members: continue the tour to the beautiful coastal town of Lae, the capital of Morobe Province. On our way, we’ll pass incredible sceneries through the thick of the jungle and up the mountains.
• Once through the mountains, we’ll be driving down Shaggy Ridge and through Ramu Valley. Some of the fiercest combat between the Australian and Japanese forces happened here during World War II.
• Dinner, drinks and overnight in Lae

Monday 22nd September – Lae – Wau Bulolo – Aseki – Lae

• Group A members: breakfast and depart by flight from Goroka to Port Moresby and conclude the tour. YPT can arrange ongoing transport, optional tours of the area or advice on flights out.
• Group B members: early wake up at 3:00am to begin our journey towards Wau Bulolo – the picturesque town located deep within the valleys of PNG
• Stop for lunch at Minima
• Arrive at our final destination Aseki in the afternoon

Afternoon

• Here you’ll be one of the very few visitors to see the smoked corpses / mummies, which have been featured in selective media. Less than 30 tourists visit this site each year.
• We’ll have dinner with the locals before beginning our journey back to Lae.
• Late arrival in Lae with dinner and overnight in hotel

Tuesday 23th September – Lae

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Lae Unitech Habitat to see large walk-in exhibition of different species of wildlife, birds and fauna. This is the best opportunity to see Tree Kangaroos up close.
• We’ll partake in a city tour which will include a visit of the WWII cemetery, and a former Royal Australian Airforce Dakota A65-122 which served during WWII.
  
• Visit of the shipwreck of the Myoko Maru

Afternoon

• Buffet lunch at Lae food court
• You’ll have the opportunity to get last minute souvenirs, such as jerseys from PNG, fridge magnets, etc.
• Visit the Amelia Earhart monument, and an explanation about the American aviation pioneer.
• Dinner at the best restaurant in town!
• Overnight in Lae

Wednesday 24th September – Lae – Port Moresby

• Depart on a morning flight back to Port Moresby
• Tour concludes YPT can arrange ongoing transport, optional tours of the area or advice on flights out.

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