Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Begin of Tour Jayapura (Irian Jaya/West Papua) - Baliem Valley/Wamena (L/D)

Baliem Valley ResortDate 2024: 05.08.2024 - 10.08.2023
Flight from Jayapura Airport in West Papua to Wamena. After lunch, visit the local market. Afterward transfer to Baliem Valley Resort.

Day 2: Baliem Valley/Wamena (B/L/D)

Baliem ValleyToday we visit the southern Baliem Valley. We start our easy hike in the village of Sogogmo and we follow the mighty Baliem River. We cross suspension bridges, walk through Dani settlements, meet the locals and see them working in their terraced fields and wild sugar cane groves. For lunch, we enjoy a picnic with a magnificent view over the river and the narrow valley. We walk back on the other side of the river, passing more Dani fields and settlements, before we meet our driver again. In the late afternoon we are back at the Resort.

Day 3: Baliem Valley/Wamena (B/L/D)

Kurulu MummyAfter breakfast we drive to the famous Kotilola Cave with its gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. The cave has collapsed in some places, which favours lush vegetation. With the torch you can go a little deeper into the cave until you reach an underground river. There are also a lot of bats living here. After visiting the cave, we drive along the Baliem River until we get off at a small village. Here we are taken one by one across the river in a canoe. Once on the other side, we visit the village of Meagaima, where there is also one of the very rare chief’s mummies to see. The mummy here is rarely visited due to its remoteness. Of course there is also time for a short rest in one of the local huts. From the village we take a beautiful walk through the Dani gardens until, after about two hours, we reach a suspension bridge that takes us back to the other side of the river where our vehicle is waiting for us.

Day 4: Baliem Valley/Wamena (B/L/D)

People of West PapuaAfter breakfast drive to festival ground in Wosilimo/Kurulu district. The opening ceremony will be held there. Many villages from the Baliem Valley participate in the festival to present themselves with dance and fighting performances. Colorful and unique costumes are on display. The festival originates as a means of peaceful interaction in a relaxed atmosphere to avoid more aggressive conflicts between the clans. Despite many visitors from around the world the festival is still mainly for the local tribes. Later during the festivities you can freely walk the grounds and interact directly with the performers. In the afternoon, we drive back to the Resort.

Day 5: Baliem Valley/Wamena (B/L/D)

Baliem Valley DaniToday you have the choice: either you go with your guide once again to the big public Baliem Valley Festival in Wamena. Or you can opt for another very special experience in a small group! In this case, after breakfast we get ready to participate in a pig festival that takes place in a traditional Dani village near the Resort. Many decorated people from the Dani tribe participate in the feast. We are among ourselves and can experience and enjoy the spectacle in privacy. Such pig festivals with hot stones and earth pits are probably the most interesting part of a trip to New Guinea. It is difficult to describe what is so unique about these festivals because too much happens at once. You have to see and experience it for yourself. For lunch there is a picnic, but if you want you can also try the food from the traditional earth pit. The freshly cooked pork and sweet potatoes are delicious! In the late afternoon we return to the Resort.

Day 6: Baliem Valley/Wamena - End of Tour Jayapura (Irian Jaya/West Papua) (B)

Baliem Valley ResortBreakfast at hotel. Morning free at leisure until airport transfer.