Day Tour Shore Excursion and Cultural Experience from Rabaul Papua New Guinea

Women prepare a traditional meal cooked with hot stones and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves, a common practice in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

A small hut constructed of woven palm leaves stands in a tropical environment with tall palm trees.

The interior of a crowded bus, with passengers of diverse ages and clothing visible through the windows.

A pile of banana leaves holds a basin-like structure made of more leaves, filled with a white liquid, likely coconut milk, possibly for cooking.

A person is pouring ingredients from a silver bowl onto a pile of green leafy vegetables and orange chunks, all resting on large banana leaves.

An indoor shot shows a brown fabric with turtle designs, a bed with a woven mat and colorful tassels, and a green sheet in a room made of bamboo and woven material.

A man in a cap and jeans tends to a fire made of wood and coconut husks, while another man stands in the background in a lush, natural setting.

People standing in the water, pulling a small boat to shore. There are mountains in the background and clouds in the sky.

A shirtless man with a black beanie is sitting down while holding a woven fan, with another man sitting in the background.

Close-up shot of a person weaving green palm fronds, likely for a traditional craft or basket making.

A shirtless man in Rabaul is weaving a craft with palm leaves while sitting outside.

A meal wrapped in banana leaves is being prepared or served. The dish contains pieces of meat, possibly chicken, and other ingredients. Two hands are visible holding or arranging the banana leaves.

A lush grove of tall palm trees lines a dark sandy beach under a cloudy sky, bordering a body of water.

A vibrant market scene in Rabaul featuring various fruits and vegetables like watermelons, coconuts, and tomatoes, with locals selling and shopping.

A woman in a yellow shirt shops for fresh greens at an outdoor market in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

Duration: 1 Day (approx.)
Location: Rabaul
Product code: rabauldaycustom

Rabaul Day Tour

Itinerary:

Today you will be picked up from your accommodation or from the airport where you will be met by your cultural host and will make your way to the Kokopo to stop at the market for ingredients before heading to your host's village.

At the village, you will really experience local life. You and your host will prepare dinner for the family and you will be taught how to crack a coconut and scrape the meat and prepare the meal with the fresh coconut juice. You will make a fire and heat stones that you will use these stones to cook the food you have prepared in banana leaves.

You will then enjoy your meal with the family.

You will also have a chance to learn how to make or weave coconut leaf baskets. This evening you will have a chance to walk around the village and meet your neighbors and their families and explore their gardens. You will get a true glimpse into the local lifestyle.

Transfer back to your accommodation or hotel in Rabaul.

*** If you would like to stay overnight in the village, this is also an option and just let us know!

Included:

Transfers listed
Guides
Village Activities

Excluded:

Travel and medical insurance
Gratuities
Personal items such as sunscreen, insect repellant, medications if necessary, souvenirs, etc

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Reviews

5/5 (8)

“Hi, Jasmine.Here are a few of my favorite moments...and my photos (public Facebook albums)Hogave, Lufa

Day 1: I am warmly greeted by David Kima, who recounts the story and conservation movement of Hogave. We arrive in the middle of the local village mourning of a recently deceased member, a very rare and local experience, totally unplanned. After 3 hours of very rocky road driving, I arrive at the Hogave Conservation Centre welcomed by two villagers who performed a traditional wind instrument that very few locals can play, and incredibly, I become only the second (or third) tourist ever to stay here.
Day 2: I trek through a truly "virgin" rain forest, one of very few remaining in the world (Congo, Amazon, and PNG), guided by three locals bushwhacking the way with machetes, climb a very wild and steep mountain side equivalent of 200 floors (according to my iPhone) to become the first tourist to reach the top of Mt. Michael. (The way down in the pouring rain was our least favorite moment.) As someone who has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, I can truthfully say this was a much more challenging level of difficulty - There the most I've climbed in one day was 134 floors, 3-4 hours max, with a different day dedicated to a descent, but in Michael, it was 200 floor, up and down in one day, for 10-12 hours, with far steeper and unpaved paths without camps. This hike/trek is only for the fittest of the fit!
Day 3: I become the first tourist to visit and stay overnight at Hogave Village, an isolated and remote hour-and-a-half walk from HCC, and join the villagers in peeling potatoes and taro, preparing, and eating mumu. I stay overnight with David (another David) and his family.
Day 4: I join the villagers gathered to enjoy a traditional hunting performance
Day 5: I get cellular reception for the first time since I arrive in PNG and get to upload and share my first batch of photos with my friends. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837672754956.1073741876.3501655&type=3

Rabaul/Kokopo

Day 1: I ride a local bus (!) with my guide Pauline Puipui to Ratavul where I visit to stay with her family. I visit the local beach, listen to the stories of Pauline's parents, and join them for dinner which is mumu with the biggest giant claims I've ever seen in my life! I stay overnight at an authentic hut and bed made of woven coconut leaves.
Day 2: I try weaving coconut leaves, scraping coconuts, etc. in preparing mumu that we enjoy with the family and neighbors, then string together local currency of shells. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.836154502546.1073741875.3501655&type=3
Day 3: I am amazed by the first day of Mask Festival with the early morning Kinavai and nighttime Baining Fire Dance. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837870833006.1073741880.3501655&type=3 In between during the day, I snorkel and sail with dolphins on the way to/from Duke of York Islands where I explore and picnic at the beach. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.836148634306.1073741874.3501655&type=3
Days 4-5: More amazing moments at the Festival
Day 6: I climb to the top Mt Tavurvur volcano and explore Rabaul, including the Japanese bunker and barge tunnels, and Rabaul Museum/Rabaul Hotel. What a history! https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837875388876.1073741881.3501655&type=3

I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact me if I can add more information for future visitors.Thank you for the one-of-a-kind memories!"

-Grace Forker, Comprehensive Multi-Destination PNG Expedition

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