Young Pioneer Tours
Papua New Guinea Sepik River Crocodile Festival & East Sepik Province Tour
YPT takes you on their inaugural trip to the Sepik River Crocodile & Arts Festival, held around the remote village of Ambunti. Occurring just before our well-known Mount Hagen Festival Tour, it allows you to immerse and connect with the locals on a deeper level.
Your tour begins in the capital, Port Moresby, where you’ll meet our guide and fellow travellers, doing a city tour of one of the most dangerous towns on earth, before heading out to the Yacht Club for dinner. The following day we’ll board a plane and boat to make our way to East Sepik Province. The journey itself is an adventure and offers deep insights into lesser visited parts of the country.
From there we dive into the main event: the Sepik River Crocodile & Arts Festival. This three-day celebration showcases the heritage, artistry, and traditions of the Sepik people, particularly their deep spiritual and cultural connection to the crocodile (pukpuk in Tok Pisin). Being a sacred symbol in Sepik culture, the crocodile represents strength, resilience, and the spirit of the river.
You can expect traditional ceremonial performances, crocodile races, and storytelling sessions from local elders. Furthermore, the festival is a platform to display intricate wood carvings, masks, and totems, each with its own story or spiritual meaning. There´s a reason why National Geographic comes here too!
Another part of the tour is our visit of Wewak, the capital of East Sepik Province. It is known for its historical significance, with the war museum displaying the region’s role in WW2, as it was a key battleground in the Pacific Theatre. Learn about Japanese occupation and explore weapons, aircrafts, vehicles, and original maps. But we won´t miss out on Wewak´s stunning beaches, rounding off the visit of this region. So better pack your swimmers!
This trip allows a rare deep dive into unique PNG culture and beauty, even more raw and wild than other festivals and you get to do it with fellow Pioneers, while being led by one of our experienced YPT guides.
Please note that the Village Guesthouse in Ambunti and toilet facilities are basic but provide a single room without surcharge.
Contact us to extend your stay to join the Mount Hagen Festival group after the tour.
Sunday 3rd August – Arrival in Port Moresby
- Arrive at your convenience into Port Moresby – the capital city of Papua New Guinea which is well connected with flights from Australia, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
- Enjoy some lunch at your own convenience.
- Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 3:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
- We’ll then head out to visit the botanical garden, the beachfront to take a dip, and the national museum.
- Dinner and drinks at the beautiful Yacht Club Waterfront.
- Overnight in Port Moresby.
Monday 4th August: Port Moresby – Wewak – Pagwi – Ambunti
Morning
- Leisurely breakfast in the hotel.
- Head to the airport for our 11:00am-12:00pm flight to Wewak, overlooking the spectacular PNG landscape while in the air.
- Quick lunch in Wewak, the capital city of East Sepik province.
Afternoon
- Transfer ~3h by road from Wewak to Pagwi with stops for photos on the way.
- Travel by motorized canoe from Pagwi to Ambunti, which will take approximately 3 hours. Time for a real adventure!
- Arrive in Ambunti, where the festival ground is located, and check into our guesthouse.
- Dinner and briefing for the festival starting next morning, so you know what to expect and bring.
- Overnight in Village Guesthouse in Ambunti. Please note that accommodation and toilet facilities are basic but provide a single room without surcharge.
Tuesday 5th August: Sepik River Crocodile & Arts Festival in Ambunti
Morning
- Breakfast at Village Guesthouse.
- Attend the opening ceremony of the festival.
- Experience traditional crocodile ceremonial performances and engage with local tribes. Being a sacred symbol in Sepik culture, the crocodile represents strength, resilience, and the spirit of the river. Sepik people have a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the crocodile (pukpuk in Tok Pisin).
Afternoon
- Lunch at the festival.
- Explore stalls featuring local artisans and their crafts. The festival is a platform to display intricate wood carvings, masks, and totems, each with its own story or spiritual meaning.
- Participate in workshops on traditional art forms.
- Dinner and overnight in Village Guesthouse in Ambunti. Please note that accommodation and toilet facilities are basic but provide a single room without surcharge.
Wednesday 6th August: Sepik River Crocodile & Arts Festival in Ambunti
Morning
- Breakfast at Village Guesthouse.
- Continue enjoying festival activities, including cultural dances and music performances, accompanied by chanting, drumming, and bamboo flutes. Dance movements often narrate myths, local legends, and historical events, providing a window into the oral traditions of the Sepik people.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the festival
- Sample local cuisine at the festival and meet artisans from all over the region showcasing their work and enjoy the community spirit and the background of the incredibly lush landscape.
- Dinner and overnight in Village Guesthouse in Ambunti. Please note that accommodation and toilet facilities are basic but provide a single room without surcharge.
Thursday 7th August: Sepik River Crocodile & Arts Festival in Ambunti
Morning
- Breakfast at Village Guesthouse.
- Attend more festival events, including canoe races, crocodile races, and storytelling sessions from local elders. The elaborately decorated dugout canoes paddling over the Sepik River are an attraction by themselves. These days at the festival will feel like a journey into a different world.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the festival
- Last opportunity to explore the festival and purchase unique crafts and to enjoy the friendly contests in traditional skills, such as weaving, carving, and drumming.
- Dinner and overnight in Village Guesthouse in Ambunti. Please note that accommodation and toilet facilities are basic but provide a single room without surcharge.
Friday 8th August – Ambunti – Pagwi – Wewak
Morning
- Breakfast at Village Guesthouse.
- Depart Ambunti and travel on the motorized canoe back to Pagwi and return to Wewak by road on our hired bus.
- We will have lunch along the way.
Afternoon
- Arrive in Wewak and check into our hotel.
- Free time in Wewak to explore local markets or relax at the renowned beaches surrounding it.
- Dinner and overnight in Wewak.
Saturday 9th August – Wewak
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel.
- Enjoy a leisurely morning in Wewak, with options for additional exploration or relaxation.
- Visit local attractions, such as the Wewak War Museum, displaying the region’s role in WW2 and as key battleground in the Pacific Theatre. Lear about Japanese occupation and explore weapons, aircrafts, vehicles, and original maps. The outdoor bunker are especially intriguing.
Afternoon
- Take a boat trip to nearby islands like Mushu or Kairiru. Their white sand beaches are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing and ensure you bring home one perfect shot of postcard PNG paradise. You can even find natural hot springs.
- Dinner and overnight in Wewak.
Sunday 10th August – Wewak – Port Moresby
Morning
- Leisurely Breakfast at hotel.
- Depart Wewak for Port Moresby on the 12:00pm flight arriving at 1:00pm in the afternoon.
- Check-in upon arrival and lunch in Port Moresby.
Afternoon
- Free time in Port Moresby for shopping or additional sightseeing.
- Visit the botanical garden and go for a last dip in the sea.
- Last dinner and drinks in our favourite place.
- Overnight in Port Moresby.
Monday 11th August – Port Moresby
Morning
- Last breakfast at Hotel.
- Tour concludes and YPT can arrange ongoing transport, optional tours of the area or advice on flights out.
- Optional: extend your stay to join the Mount Hagen Festival group.
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