[{"title":"Day 1 – Arrival at Mount Hagen","name":"Mount Hagen","description":"<p>Welcome to Papua New Guinea! Upon arrival at Mount Hagen airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for lunch and time to freshen up.</p><br/><p>(Tok Pisin: Maun Hagen) is the third largest city in Papua New Guinea, with a population of 46,250. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of 1,677 m. The city is named after the old, eroded volcano Mount Hagen, located about 24 kilometres to the northwest. Traditional culture and beliefs remain strong in Mount Hagen and its surroundings. The Mount Hagen show was first staged in 1961, before PNG’s Independence, to unify warring tribes. Since then, the show has become more of an attraction for those seeking to witness the fabulous sight of thousands of painted warriors dancing and singing to the beat of Kundu drums.</p><br/><p>Today you will join some more travellers who are doing our extended Mt Hagen and West New Britain for sightseeing around Mt Hagen.</p><br/><p><strong>Mt Hagen City and Plantation Visit</strong></p><br/><p>Enjoy a city tour around Mount Hagen this afternoon, with a stop at the tea and coffee plantations that this region is renowned for before checking in to your hotel. Enjoy exploring the city and feel the buzz in the air as locals prepare for the biggest event of the year.</p><br/><p><strong>Paikona Village</strong></p><br/><p>Time permitting you will drive to Paikona Village where you can enjoy learning about village life, the people of the Central Highlands region, the famous face painting done by Mount Hagen women, and try ‘mumu’, a local dish cooked in a stone oven.</p><br/><p>Continue on foot to a nearby village to witness the WAIPA dance, a dance performed by young males and females who are courting.</p><br/><p><strong>Meals<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, in-flight snack/brunch, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation<br /><br/></strong>Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>Airport transfers<br /><br/>Private vehicle with English-speaking guide<br /><br/>Sightseeing: Mt Hagen City Tour, Plantation Visit, Paikona Village</p><br/>","lat":"-5.858188","lng":"144.242934"},{"title":"Day 2 - Mount Hagen Festival","name":"Mount Hagen","description":"<p>Enjoy an early breakfast before meeting your guide in the hotel lobby (time to be confirmed)</p><br/><p><strong>Sing-Sing Groups</strong></p><br/><p>Enjoy an early breakfast this morning before you depart to visit the Sing-Sing groups (tribal gathering groups) from different provinces outside the arena. Witness how their body decorations, colourful traditional costumes and vibrant face painting are done. Your guide will offer explanations outlining the various types of costumes and their significance in the differing cultures of these tribespeople.</p><br/><p><strong>Mount Hagen Festival</strong></p><br/><p>Follow the tribes into the showgrounds where you will witness hundreds of warriors, all dressed in their very finest traditional regalia, dancing and chanting – each group has their own cultural style and language with the intention of outclassing all the other groups. You will then have the truly unforgettable opportunity to walk amongst the dancers, even shake their hands and meet them, before enjoying a picnic lunch at the showground. Later in the afternoon, you will return to the hotel.</p><br/><p>Later in the afternoon, you will return to the hotel.</p><br/><p><strong>Meals<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation<br /><br/></strong>Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Service<br /><br/></strong>Private vehicle with English-speaking guide<br /><br/>Sightseeing: Sing-Sing Tribal Gathering, Mt Hagen Festival</p><br/>","lat":"-5.858188","lng":"144.242934"},{"title":"Day 5 – Asaro Mokomoko Village","name":"Hoskins Airport Resort","description":"<p><strong>Exploring Mt. Gurupoka</strong></p><br/><p>This morning after breakfast you will take a guided walk to Mt Gurupoka, stopping at a breathtaking lookout over the Asaro Valley, and visiting a secret cave, and sacrifice site.</p><br/><p><strong>Asaro Mudmen Mokomoko village </strong></p><br/><p>Returning to the village you will see the Mudmen perform traditional dances and their Mokomoko dance. Lunch today will be a traditional Papua New Guinean mumu on the Earth. Mumu is a traditional method of cooking large quantities of food throughout Papua New Guinea, as well as other islands in the Pacific. It consists of an earth oven that is filled with hot coal or stones, with the food placed within the coals and slow-cooked under the ground.</p><br/><p>The afternoon is at your leisure to relax and explore the village. Interact with the locals and watch their day-to-day activities. Your guide will be on hand for any extra walks or activities you would like to try.</p><br/><p><strong>Meal<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong><br /><br/>Korekoreto Lodging Huts or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>Private vehicle and English-speaking guide</p><br/>","lat":"-5.461667","lng":"150.405"},{"title":"Day 5 – Asaro Mokomoko Village","name":"Kimbe","description":"<p><strong>Exploring Mt. Gurupoka</strong></p><br/><p>This morning after breakfast you will take a guided walk to Mt Gurupoka, stopping at a breathtaking lookout over the Asaro Valley, and visiting a secret cave, and sacrifice site.</p><br/><p><strong>Asaro Mudmen Mokomoko village </strong></p><br/><p>Returning to the village you will see the Mudmen perform traditional dances and their Mokomoko dance. Lunch today will be a traditional Papua New Guinean mumu on the Earth. Mumu is a traditional method of cooking large quantities of food throughout Papua New Guinea, as well as other islands in the Pacific. It consists of an earth oven that is filled with hot coal or stones, with the food placed within the coals and slow-cooked under the ground.</p><br/><p>The afternoon is at your leisure to relax and explore the village. Interact with the locals and watch their day-to-day activities. Your guide will be on hand for any extra walks or activities you would like to try.</p><br/><p><strong>Meal<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong><br /><br/>Korekoreto Lodging Huts or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>Private vehicle and English-speaking guide</p><br/>","lat":"-5.551165","lng":"150.13873"},{"title":"Day 5 – Asaro Mokomoko Village","name":"Port Moresby","description":"<p><strong>Exploring Mt. Gurupoka</strong></p><br/><p>This morning after breakfast you will take a guided walk to Mt Gurupoka, stopping at a breathtaking lookout over the Asaro Valley, and visiting a secret cave, and sacrifice site.</p><br/><p><strong>Asaro Mudmen Mokomoko village </strong></p><br/><p>Returning to the village you will see the Mudmen perform traditional dances and their Mokomoko dance. Lunch today will be a traditional Papua New Guinean mumu on the Earth. Mumu is a traditional method of cooking large quantities of food throughout Papua New Guinea, as well as other islands in the Pacific. It consists of an earth oven that is filled with hot coal or stones, with the food placed within the coals and slow-cooked under the ground.</p><br/><p>The afternoon is at your leisure to relax and explore the village. Interact with the locals and watch their day-to-day activities. Your guide will be on hand for any extra walks or activities you would like to try.</p><br/><p><strong>Meal<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong><br /><br/>Korekoreto Lodging Huts or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>Private vehicle and English-speaking guide</p><br/>","lat":"-9.4438","lng":"147.180267"},{"title":"Day 6 – Goroka to Kimbe Town","name":"Kimbe","description":"<p>This morning, drive to Goroka Airport (approx. 30 mins drive). From here you will fly to Hoskins via Port Moresby.</p><br/><p>Suggested Flights:<br /><br/><em>Flight PX161 departing Goroka – Port Moresby<br /><br/></em><em>Flight PX244 departing Port Moresby – Hoskins<br /><br/></em><strong>*Flights not included</strong></p><br/><p><strong>Arrive West New Britain</strong></p><br/><p>On arrival in Hoskins, your West New Britain adventure begins. This province of Papua New Guinea is located on the island of New Britain. The provincial capital is Kimbe and throughout the islands, there are seven major tribes, the Nakanai, Bakovi, Kove, Unea, Maleu, and Arowe, speaking about 25 languages. People from West New Britain are referred to as “Kombes” in Papua New Guinea, about the significant Kove (or Kombe) people.</p><br/><p>West New Britain produces palm oil for export with large oil palm plantations on the north coast of the province especially in the Kimbe region. The bustling town of Kimbe is the third largest port in Papua New Guinea and is the fastest-growing city in the South Pacific.</p><br/><p>Arriving at Hoskins Airport, your guide will meet and transfer you to your hotel in Kimbe for dinner and a relaxing evening.</p><br/><p><strong>Meal<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong><br /><br/>Overnight Liamo Reef Resort or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>Airport transfers<br /><br/>* Flight times may change. We suggest you check for updates regularly</p><br/>","lat":"-5.551165","lng":"150.13873"},{"title":"Day 8 and 9 – Local Village Stay","name":"Kimbe","description":"<p>Spend your next two days fully immersed in local life. There is a huge range of sea or land activities that locals undertake as part of everyday life – gardening, cooking, fishing and social activities with the locals. The island is not a tourist destination, so this is a truly unique, one-in-a-lifetime experience.</p><br/><p><strong>Meal<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong><br /><br/>Overnight Liamo Reef Resort or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>English-speaking guide</p><br/>","lat":"-5.551165","lng":"150.13873"},{"title":"Day 10 – Return to Kimbe Town","name":"Hoskins Airport","description":"<p>Late morning, you will farewell to your island family, and a boat will collect you to return to Garu and then drive back to Kimbe Town. Arriving in Kimbe Town, check into Liamo Resort. The rest of your final day in West New Britain is at leisure. You may wish to spend the afternoon relaxing by the poolside or beach or choose to go into town to visit the local market. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers.</p><br/><p><strong>Meal<br /><br/></strong>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong><br /><br/>Overnight Liamo Reef Resort or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services<br /><br/></strong>Private vehicle and English-speaking guide<br /><br/>Boat transfers</p><br/>","lat":"-5.461667","lng":"150.405"}]