The Kalam Festival is an annual festival held in Papua New Guinea’s Simbai valley. The festival serves a unique opportunity for travelers to participate in the traditional tribal ceremonies of this remote highland tribe. The rolling green mountains dispersed with small traditional homes and villages, combined with its remote location, make the Simbai valley is an exceptionally beautiful and unique area in the PNG highlands. Although Simbai is only a 20-minute charter flight from Mount Hagen,the valley is almost completely isolated from the outside world, only accessible by air or a 3 day walk from Mount Hagen.

The Kalam festival was developed by the Simbai people to celebrate their ancient tribal traditions and to gather their community together for important annual celebrations, including the bridal exchange ceremony and coming-of-age ceremony for the young men of the community. The bilas (traditional dress) of the Simbai people is easily identifiable by the distinct and complex headdress worn for celebration. The festival itself lasts for three days, during which the celebrations gradually build, culminating in a large gathering of local Simbai sing sing groups and their families celebrating together through song, dance and feast. As the festival remains rustic and fairly undisturbed by the outside world the celebrations tend to organically unfold throughout the course of the three days and include a ceremonial pig killing and traditionally prepared mumu, a presentation of the young initiates, bride price exchange and sing sing celebrations. The celebrations take on an almost magical sense as the singing and dancing continue throughout the festival nights and rhythmic sound of the voices carry across the valley under the light of the moon. Guests are welcome to attend this unique nighttime gathering. The festival, though attended by hundreds of local people, will only be witnessed by a handful of lucky and adventurous travelers.

Land cost

TWIN SHARE

per person

Air charter cost

for two sectors

TOTAL COST

per person