Middle Sepik Tour

If authenticity, budget-friendly, uniqueness, and raw is what you are hoping to experience on your adventure in PNG, this tour is a great place to start. If you are on a tight timeframe but are set on getting to the Sepik River.

As the longest river on the island of New Guinea, a few nights does not begin to cover this whole world that is the Sepik River. This tour, however, offers a very raw glimpse into the lifestyle and culture that is the area of Wewak and the Sepik.

The Sepik region is home to hundreds of thousands of people who rely almost solely on the river and dense forest around it to support them. This is an area of the world where it is as though time has stood still for the last 50 years. The reliance on the land and mother nature to provide all that is needed for the locals of the area is an incredible example of perseverance and a true show of what the necessities of life really are. 

A six-day immersion into the Middle Sepik’s living cultures and waterways, paired with soft adventure and artisan encounters. The route begins in Port Moresby with a flight to Wewak, explores villages along the Sepik by motorized canoe, and concludes back in Port Moresby for a relaxed finish.

Day 1: Port Moresby to Wewak

Meet at your Port Moresby accommodation for a transfer to the airport and fly to Wewak. On arrival, take a short orientation of town highlights before settling into your hotel for the night.

Day 2: Wewak to Pagwi and Wagu Lakes, then Downriver to the Middle Sepik

Depart Wewak by road to Pagwi Waterfront and continue by canoe to Wagu Lakes. Head out at first light for bird watching, return for breakfast, then follow the main channel downriver to Korogu and Kanganamun for village visits and a first look inside a spirit house. Continue to Kaminimbit and check in at Bangla Guest House.

Day 3: Middle Sepik Traditions with the Crocodile People

Travel to Wombun on the Chambri Lakes to learn about daily life, ancestral stories, and the role of the spirit house. Visit Aibom for a clay-pot demonstration and hear how pottery became a defining art of the Sepik. Return to Kaminimbit for dinner and, conditions permitting, a guided crocodile-spotting outing after dark. Overnight at Bangla Guest House.

Day 4: Kararau and Bowie Arts

Visit Kararau to view ceremonial masks, garamut drums, and the long traditional flute kept within the men’s house. Meet village elders and listen to origin stories tied to land and water. Return toward Kaminimbit to explore the Bowie Arts Centre, a community collection representing Lower, Blackwater, and Upper Sepik works. Learn bilum techniques and observe village life. As the sun fades, watch the sacred flute dance performed by local musicians. Overnight at Bangla Guest House.

Day 5: Kaminimbit to Palundai, then Pagwi to Wewak

After breakfast, travel upriver to Palundai and take a short walk between two significant spirit houses. Along the path, see preserved totems once used on sacrificial altars tied to traditional magic and sorcery. Reboard the canoes to Pagwi Boat Stop, connect with your vehicle, and return to Wewak for the night.

Day 6: Wewak to Port Moresby

Depart Wewak on a morning flight to Port Moresby. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or opt for a brief city tour to visit landmarks and markets, subject to timing. Overnight in Port Moresby. Departure transfers can be arranged the following morning.

Included in cost:

• Accommodation as listed in itinerary
• Transfers as listed
• Guides
• Meals as listed
• Fuel for canoes

Not Included in cost:

• Travel/Medical/Cancellation  insurance
• Meals & drinks not listed in the itinerary
• Domestic or International flights
• Personal items such as first aid kit, toiletries, insect repellent, medication (malaria meds etc)