- Varaktighet: 7 Days (approx.)
- Plats: Wewak
- Produktkod: crocfestpngvt
Sepik River and Crocodile Festival Package
(Dates NOT flexible. Please book early! First come first served basis!)
DAY 1 August 3rd: PORT MORESBY – WEWAK
Today upon arrival in Wewak, you will be met by our representative at the airport and then transfer to the hotel. Here you will discuss with your guide what to expect the following day before departing for rest.
Meals not included today.
DAY 2 August 4th: WEWAK - AMBUTI
From the hotel this morning you will depart and make your way to Pagwi in a 4 wheel drive. At Pagwi, you will transfer by motor canoe to Ambunti. Along the way you will stop at Avatip village - this is the biggest village along the Sepik River. Enjoy the chance to stretch yout legs and experience a bit of the local life before we depart for Ambunti. once you arrive in Ambunit you will check into the guesthouse for the evening.
Accommodation, lunch, and dinner included today.
DAY 3 August 5th: AMBUNTI - MALUEI
Today is the first day of the crocodile festival, enjoy the morning at the festival grounds, after lunch, we will board our motorized canoe and travel to visit the Maluei culture and spirit house.
Late this afternoon, you will return back to Ambunti to your guesthouse for the night.
Accommodation, lunch, and dinner included today.
DAY 4 August 6th: AMBUNTI - WAGU LAKE
This morning will be an early one as you will depart early for a chance to see the Birds of Paradise at Wagu lake, the best time to see the birds of paradise is in the early morning. After the small trek this morning you will return to the guest house to enjoy breakfast before departing for the crocodile festival for day two. The entire day will be spent at the crocodile grounds today. Later this afternoon you will return to the guesthouse for the night.
Accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included today.
DAY5 August 7th: AMBUNTI - PAWGI
Today is our last day at the festival, we enjoy a half-day here and as speeches and closing preparation get underway, we will depart for Pagwi by canoe. Once we arrive back at Pawgi, you will transfer by 4wd to Wewak. The drive today will be about 4 hours. Upon arrival, you will check-in the hotel for the night.
Accommodation, breakfast, and lunch included today. Dinner at your own cost.
DAY 6 August 8th: DEPART WEWAK
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight out either to Port Moresby or to Mt Hagen.
**If you would like us to coordinate your accommodation in Port Moresby on either end of your trip, do not hesitate to ask!
IMPORTANT: This tour involves climbing in and out of motor canoes, sometimes walking through mud, some scrambling up riverbanks, and sleeping in basic huts without electricity several nights in a row so some physical agility and mental resilience is required. The guest house is powered by diesel generators producing lights and chances of charges mobile phones or cameras.
Included:
- Transfers as listed within the itinerary
- Meals as listed within the itinerary
- Accommodation as listed
- Guide feels
- Bottled water throughout Sepik Tour
- Festival Fees
- Tours as listed within the itinerary
Excluded:
- Travel/medical insurance
- Flights (domestic/international)
- Meals and accommodation not included in the itinerary
- Visas
- Personal items such as sunscreen, insect repellant, umbrellas, souvenirs, etc
- 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
- 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
-Grace Forker, Comprehensive Multi-Destination PNG Expedition
