A man with yellow and red face paint and a headdress of feathers stands in front of a crowd at the Mount Hagen Festival.

A group of people, some with faces painted black and adorned with greenery, play long musical instruments at the Mount Hagen Festival & Paiya Show.

A group of men in skeleton face paint and costumes, along with a child in a red shirt, are gathered on a grassy field with spectators in the background.

Two people in traditional attire with painted faces and feathered headdresses stand in a field during the Mount Hagen Festival & Paiya Show.

A line of men adorned in traditional headdresses and face paint perform a festival dance with drums.

Performers in traditional face paint and headdresses with plumes and foliage adornments participate in the Mount Hagen Festival in Papua New Guinea.

A man in traditional attire and face paint, adorned with feathers and shells, stands in front of a vibrant display at the Mount Hagen Festival.

In a vibrant cultural display, a group of men in traditional attire and headdresses march across a grassy field, their faces painted and bodies adorned with beads and skirts, with a lush, mountainous landscape in the background.

Duration: 7 Days (approx.)
Location: Port Moresby
Product code: hagenpaiya

Mount Hagen Festival & Paiya Show

Mount Hagen Show and Paiya Show

One of the most famous gatherings and shows in the country - The Mount Hagen Festival! Since 1964 the incredible spectacle has brought together hundreds of tribes from all over the country - especially the highlands! The show truly highlights the diversity amongst the tribes, from their traditional dressing to their body/face painting, and how can we forget the dancing!

A once in a lifetime cultural experience only in PNG!

Itinerary:

Day 1: Welcome to Mount Hagen

Today as you arrive at the airport in Mt Hagen, you will be met and greeted and transferred to your hotel. Lunch and dinner are included today. Overnight: Airport Motel or similar pending availability (3 nights)

Day 2: Village Experience

This morning, once you have finished breakfast, you will depart the hotel heading toward Tomba Pass will incredible scenery along the way. Today you will have the opportunity to visit the villages of Anji and Unda where you can discover some of nature's finest including waterfalls! After lunch today, you will make your way to Paiya Village. It is here where you can view the Paiya pre-show. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included today.

Day 3: Hagen Show

Today you will dive right into the Hagen show! Full day exploring the Mt Hagen Festival. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included today.

Day 4: Hagen Show

Today will involve soaking in day two of the Hagen Show. Once the show has finished you will be transferred to Banz where you will stay overnight at the Waghi Guest House. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included today.

Day 5: Exploring

A traditional trading route for the people of the valley, today will involve a hike/trek beginning around 7am this morning and ending at Holner in Jimi at approximately 3pm. From here, you will be picked up and transferred to your accommodation for the night. The hike is not very steep but can be messy. It gives you the chance to view incredible flora and fauns. You will be with local guides the whole time and late this afternoon you will return to your accommodation for the night. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included today.

Day 6: Waghi Valley

An entire day to explore and tour Waghi Valley today! Your visit today will include coffee/tea plantations and factories. Breakfast, lunch, and dinne included today,

Day 7: Airport Transfer

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kagamuga airport in Hagen for your return flight. Breakfast included today.

End of services.

Included:

Accommodation on a twin share basis
Airport transfers
Tours as listed in the itinerary
Cultural shows as listed in the itinerary
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
Admission to Mt Hagen Festival
Locals guides

Excluded:

Visas
Medical Insurance
Cancellation insurance
Flights (both domestic and international
Travel Insurance (100% necessary)
Beverages
Gratuities
Personal items such as sunscreen, medication, insect repellant, first aid kits, etc

**2025

Start Booking Now

Reviews

4.4/5 - (14 votes)

“You were quick as I was about to email you myself with information regarding my tour last Saturday Chris.On a good point I get your message - Your guide Florence Bunari was outstanding.Florence was an amazing source of valuable information, and we laughed a bit at my wish list of things to find. The driver and the other guy in the van were also great. Helpful and smiling all through the tour.The War Cemetery was so special and peaceful. We did see from the outside the Parliament House.By far my favourite place was the wonderful Port Moresby Nature Park (they have recently changed its’name). Plants, flowers, animals - absolutely terrific.The security is such a sad part of life in Port Moresby and the scary prices of EVERYTHING, guarantee ones stay will be brief ! I am presuming that this huge security staffing makes all things so massively expensive. I can’t see any other reason why the prices are sky high !It certainly will put visitors off from exploring Port Moresby and I wasn’t aware of seeing any tourists at all in my stay. Everyone I spoke to were there on business. PNG value tourism is therefore so so needed!While I will discuss should anyone enquire, what my trip was like, Please give my best wishes to Florence and as a big traveller ( I have been to 55 countries ) Africa, India, Myanmar , Indonesia, Solomon Islands, etc etc wont bore you - Florence was the best tour person I have ever had. A nice person, educated and I admire her for actually walking the Kokoda Track - sadly I think I’m a bit too old although fit, to do it myself. My days of backpacking are now over.Thank you for organising the tour."

-Richard Bitot, Port Moresby and Jackson Field Culture and history tour, UK