Arrival at Port Moresby International Airport. Arrival in the capital of Papua, Port Moresby, where we will spend the first night. After meeting our guide at the airport, we will head to the hotel. After checking in, and taking the opportunity to rest and recover from all the hours of flying, we will take a tour of the city. We will visit the National Museum, Nature Park, Municipal Market, Fish Market and Parliament. Hotel: Wellness Lodge

Domestic flight: Port Moresby to Rabaul. Diving and snorkeling. 3:00 am Departure from the hotel to the airport. Once at Tokua airport, our guide will take us to Kokopo Homestay. After checking in, we will take a tour of Rabaul Island and go dolphin watching before continuing to two dive sites. One is a wreck dive and the other is a reef dive (we will only have 2 dives, if we want extra dives, an extra cost will be added). Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Kokopo homestay.

Diving and Snorkelling We will continue early to the two dive sites (we will only have 2 dives, if we want extra dives, an extra cost will be added). Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Casa Famíliar Kokopo

Festival and Fire Dancers. Each year, the many tribes of East New Britain Province come together to showcase and celebrate their unique culture at the National Mask Festival. Masks play a significant role in dance and storytelling, and those who wear them are said to embody spiritual powers. We will immerse ourselves in mask culture and witness a spectacle of music, dance and costumes. One of the highlights is the opening ceremony of Kinavai, where members of the Tolai clan arrive in canoes wearing spectacular, full-bodied masks to the chilling sound of drums and singing. In the evening, we will end our visit to New Britain on a high note, heading to the village of the Baining Fire Dancers. Here we will watch the afternoon or evening dance. The Baining people are famous for their fire dance, during which young people wear large, elaborate animal masks and dance through flames in a nighttime ritual performed to celebrate the births and deaths of family members, as well as to initiate young people into adulthood. We can also visit the Tolai tribe. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Casa Famíliar Kokopo

Domestic flight: Rabaul to Port Moresby, then on to Hagen. At 7:30am we board the domestic flight to Port Moresby and will make the connecting flight at 11am to Mt Hagen. At 12:30pm we will meet our friend Caspar (local guide) at Hagen airport. We will wait for the public vehicle to take us to the village of Wanka. It is less than 50 minutes from the airport to the village. We will check in, after which we will visit 4 different tribes in this region. Among them the Moge tribe. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Kuri Lodge

Wanka to Mendi. From Enga province to the Southern province it is about a 4 hour drive. After breakfast we set off for Mendi – upon arrival we check in at the Lodge where we have an appointment with 3 tribes, one of which is the Kaluli, with whom we will have a very special meeting at the lush local waterfalls, where they will be prepared for the photo shoot just for us. The Kaluli tribe lives in a patrilocal village, which means that the men are the chiefs of the tribe and belong to patrilineal clan lineages. The Kaluli tribe lives in separate communities, which have 15 families and about 60 people, who reside in a maloca, a large communal hut, which creates a sense of community. Once we have finished we return to the Lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Mt Gilue Eco Lodge

Mendi to Jiwaka. From the Southern Highlands Province Mendi to Jiwaka Province is a 3.5 hour drive. After breakfast we depart for Jiwaka (Koskala Village), after checking in at the Lodge we head to Koskala Village to visit 4 different tribes, one of them the Jiwaka. The word “Jiwaka” is derived from the first two letters of three distinct tribes that inhabit the majestic Western Highlands. These tribes – Jimi, Waghi and Kambia – share not only the name that gives rise to the region, but also a rich cultural background, intertwined history and traditional costumes that reflect their unique identity. The distinctive costumes of these tribes are true works of art in themselves, featuring imposing headdresses, a variety of crowns, adorned with meticulous body painting, unique shells and magnificent feathers. Each element of the costume carries with it not only aesthetic beauty but also deep cultural meaning, conveying ancient stories and values passed down from generation to generation. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Banz Missionary Lodge

Jiwaka to Simbu – Bogo Village From Jiwaka Province to Simbu Province (Bogo Village) it is a 2h30 minute drive. After breakfast, departure to Bogo Village. After checking in, we set off to meet 4 Tribes, on the first day the Graiku, who are an extraordinary indigenous tribe, rooted in a rich cultural heritage that echoes through the picturesque landscapes of Bogo Village Koro. Deeply connected to the land and ancestral traditions, the Graiku warmly welcome visitors, generously sharing their daily life and vibrant rituals. The next day the Bindeku tribe. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Bogo Village Eco Lodge

Bogo to Midima From Bogo village to Midima village, it is a 2 hour drive. After breakfast, departure to Midima Village. After check in, we will meet with 8 local tribes. On the first day, among others, the Narku tribe. The Skeleton Tribe’s unique practices go beyond body art. Their way of life, deeply rooted in their cultural traditions, is a testament to their identity. The tribe celebrates its heritage through vibrant dances, enchanting songs and rhythmic drumming. Their real name is the Chimbu Tribe, who live in the Chimbu/Simbu state, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It is believed that many hunters who went to the mountains 200 years ago did not return. The people of the valley began to worry about the disappearance of our hunters. A small group of warriors explored the mountain and found a cave containing many skeletons. Although it was a small cave, they immediately saw a large monster inside. They decided to paint their bodies with skeleton bones, made of black and white clay, to fool the monster. To do this, they mixed the skeleton bones with the real ones to make them look human. The monster fell asleep and the heroes returned to their village. This tradition has been going on for 200 years. The next day the Bruglgaaumo tribe. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Midima Village Eco Lodge

From Simbu Province to Eastern Highlands Province, it is a 5 hour drive. After breakfast we depart for Goroka, in the Eastern Highlands Province. Here we will visit 3 different villages (Asaro, Akameku and Komiyufa), home to 8 different tribes. On the first day the well-known and iconic Asaro tribe, also known as the “Mudmen”. They are a distinct and fascinating tribe of Papua New Guinea, known for their unique cultural practices and impressive traditional ceremonies. Residing near the village of Goroka, the Asaro are recognisable by their traditional costume centred around clay masks, which have earned them the nickname “Mudmen”. These Asaro clay masks are true works of art, representing a synthesis between the spiritual and physical worlds. They are used in ceremonies known as Sing Sing, where members of the tribe perform dances and rituals that celebrate their culture and identity. These ceremonies are moments of great cultural significance, where ancestral traditions are honoured and passed on to future generations. The Asaro live in small communities near the Asaro River, from which they derive their name. Their lives are deeply intertwined with nature and the rhythms of the land, reflecting an ancestral connection with the environment around them. This closeness to nature is evident in their daily practices, spiritual beliefs and traditional art. The next day the Komiyufa tribe. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Pacific Garden Hotel

Domestic Flight: Goroka to Port Moresby After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport to fly to Port Moresby and continue onwards. Our guide will meet us at the airport and take us to the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel: Wellness Lodge

International flight Port Moresby for our return home.