Overview
Itinerary
Location
Mount Hagen Discoverer

Discoverer Mount Hagen Festival

9 Days
Max 18 people
Moderate activity level

Overview

The Discoverer cultural tour program is a 9-day/8-night unescorted program that offers a unique opportunity to discover the rich cultural and natural landscapes of one of the most fascinating countries in the world; Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a veritable smorgasbord of colour, culture and excitement. The highlight of the Discoverer program is attendance at the famous Mount Hagen Cultural Show, a world-famous cultural gathering that features many of the opulently decorated cultural groups of this incredibly diverse land.

Guests will begin their journey at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby and on the next day proceed to Rondon Ridge for the Cultural pre-show, and for an up close and personal experience with a selection of tribal groups. This will be followed by two full days at the Mount Hagen Cultural Show. As the show comes to an end travel to Karawari Lodge in the Sepik Region. From this stunning lodge in the heartland of one of the most remote areas of the country, guests will travel each day by river boat down the Karawari river to visit the small villages scattered along its shores. The villages provide a unique opportunity to visit traditional homes, witness ceremonial dances and celebrations and glimpse traditional village life. Explore the famous art and sculpture of the Sepik tribes, whom express their beliefs through their creative carving of artistic masks, drums, baskets and sculptures.

From Karawari fly over untouched rainforests and mountains to the Tari Valley. The Huli tribe that inhabits this area is the largest as well as one of the most colourful and iconic tribes of PNG. From here you will explore the local villages that will display the daily life of these mountain people and their unique and ancient traditions. Depart Tari full of rich and unforgettable memories of Papua New Guinea.

The tour comes to a close at the exclusive Rondon Ridge Lodge where one can look across the mist filled valley to the city below and reflect on their journey across this magical land.

Tour Dates

 13 Aug - 21 Aug 2026

 12 Aug - 20 Aug 2027

Contact Us to Book

Location

KARAWARI LODGE

9GR2+CQ5, Kundiman East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

AMBUA LODGE

23Q9+F3Q, Tigisbi Hela Province, Papua New Guinea

Airways Hotel, PNG

Jackson Intl Airport, Jacksons Parade, 7 Mile, Boroko, Port Moresby 111, Papua New Guinea

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Port Moresby. Overnight: Airways Hotel

Upon arrival at Jackson’s International Airport in Port Moresby, you are met by Trans Niugini Tours’ staff members who will then transfer you to the comfort of the Airways hotel. Enjoy the afternoon settling in for the journey ahead.

 Port Moresby    Airways Hotel

Day 2: Fly with Air Niugini to Mount Hagen. Attend Pre-show. Overnight: Hotel in Mt Hagen

Transfer from the Airways Hotel back to the airport for your flight to Mount Hagen.

Today is spent at the Hagen Cultural Pre-show; an intimate gathering of a dozen or more different PNG tribal groups, each performing their unique sing-sing while lavishly decorated and dressed in full bilas; tribal dress. The show takes place at a beautiful outdoor showground on the Rondon Ridge property. The stunning mountain vista framed by the distinctly vast highlands’ sky serves as the perfect backdrop for this unique demonstration of PNG tradition.

The celebrations will begin as the tribes arrive and gather to carefully adorn themselves with their complex headdresses, face and body paint and traditional clothing. As the morning progresses, we will gather together and the groups will each perform their sing-sing. The afternoon also includes demonstrations of the traditional Melpa bridal price exchange, warfare demonstration and a shared mumu; the traditional earth-oven used to prepare food for feasts.

Hotel in Mount Hagen – Premier Room

Day 3 and 4: Full Day Mt Hagen Show. Overnight: Hotel in Mt Hagen

This weekend you will attend the annual Mount Hagen Cultural Show. The Mount Hagen Show is truly a unique and splendid cultural experience, unparalleled both in diversity and authenticity. The show itself is a stunning reflection of the incredible diversity of Papua New Guinea’s cultural landscape.

The Show brings together more than 80 unique and colourful sing-sing groups from across Papua New Guinea; each of whom share their unique celebration display through colorful traditional dress, dance and song.

The celebrations will begin as the tribes arrive and gather to carefully adorn themselves with their complex headdresses, face and body paint and traditional clothing. You will arrive at the showgrounds with ample time to wander throughout the tribal groups where you can interact with and photograph the performers as they prepare themselves for the festivities.

Soon after the show will begin, as each tribal group enters the showground and proudly performs their unique sing-sing to the enraptured audience. The performance gradually builds until each of the tribes is simultaneously performing to a cacophony of rhythmic drumming and hundreds of voices. It is truly an awe-inspiring experience.

 Hotel in Mount Hagen – Premier Room

Day 5: Charter flight to Karawari. Afternoon Tour. Overnight Karawari Lodge

This morning fly by charter flight into the deep heart of the jungle where your wondrous journey continues at the Karawari Lodge in the Sepik region. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, the lodge boasts a spectacular view of hundreds of kilometres of dense tropical jungle. Proceed with lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to a nearby village to learn about the customary process of harvesting and preparing the sago palm. Sago is the staple food for the Karawari tribes.

Karawari Lodge

Day 6: Full Day Tour. Overnight Karawari Lodge

Enjoy one full day traveling along the Karawari river to visit the small villages that line its shores. The villages provide a unique opportunity to visit traditional homes, witness ceremonial dances and celebrations and glimpse traditional village life. The Karawari tribes express their beliefs through their skillful and artistic expressions of sculpture and art. Enjoy this opportunity to admire or purchase the beautifully woven baskets, carved masks, drums and sculptures. At the end of each afternoon you will return to the comfort of the Karawari Lodge in time to refresh and relax before dinner.

Karawari Lodge

Day 7: Charter flight to Tari: Overnight Ambua Lodge

This morning you will take a short flight across untouched rainforest and mountains to the Tari Valley. The Huli tribe that inhabit this area in the largest as well as one of the most colourful and iconic tribes of PNG. Once you arrive you will be transferred to Ambua Lodge; nestled at the edge of the lush green rainforest and overlooking the serene Tari Valley below. Spend the afternoon enjoying Ambua’s winding forest trails that take you through lush rainforest, past gushing waterfalls and over traditional vine bridges. While on the nature walk you may chance to observe up to 13 species of the birds of paradise alongside a wide variety of coloured flowers, exotic plants and insects.

Ambua Lodge

Day 8: Full Day Tour. Overnight: Ambua Lodge

Spend one full day touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. The Huli’s are famed for their colourful bilas (traditional dressing) and unique traditions. The Huli men pride themselves on their beautiful bilas with its elaborately constructed human hair headdress which they lavishly decorate with flowers, mosses and ornate bird feathers. Their bilas, combined with their unique sing sing is intended both to enrapture their audience, as well as intimidate enemies. Visit the men’s wig school and tour the local villages to experience how this proud mountain tribe has evolved in the modern age, while still maintaining the stories, beliefs and traditions of their ancestors.

Ambua Lodge

Day 9: Fly Air Niugini to Port Moresby. Connect to international flight out.

This morning you depart for Port Moresby. Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your ongoing international flight.

Investment

Land cost

* Land cost valid till 31st December, 2026

TWIN SHARE

$7,073.00

per person

SINGLE ROOM

$8,170.00

per person

* Single room throughout except twin sharing at Hotel in Hagen.

What's Included

Accommodation, airport transfers and tours on a seat in a bus basis, meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day, local English-speaking guides and sing-sing entry fee.

What's Not Included

Domestic and international flights, gratuities and services of a personal nature such as beverage, laundry charges, phone and fax bills.

Air charter cost

for two sectors

* Air Charter cost valid till 31st December, 2026

TOTAL COST

$1,807.00

per person

DATE/DETAILS

Day 5 Mount Hagen > Karawari

Day 7 Karawari > Tari

Special note regarding charters

Maximum baggage allowance is 10kg per person and a maximum of 5kg carry-on baggage per person. Large, 
hard sided suitcases are not permitted on charter aircraft.

Domestic flights

Domestic and international flights are not included in the cost and we do not arrange these. You book and ticket the domestic Air Niugini flights together with your international flights. We will book the internal air charter flights.

 

Book these Air Niugini flights

  • Day 2 – Air Niugini PX180 Port Moresby to Mt Hagen
  • Day 10 – Air Niugini PX865 Tari to Port Moresby

Booking and payment procedures

To secure space, a non refundable deposit of USD500 per person is required.

We will confirm your booking only on receipt of your deposit. Full payment will be required 45 – 30 days before clients arrival.

For further information please contact us.

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