Transfer from Airways Hotel to Jacksons airport for your domestic Air Niugini flight to Tari. The Huli tribe that inhabit this area is 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

Spend two full days touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. The Hulis’ are famed for their colourful bilas (traditional dress) and their unique traditions. The Huli men pride themselves on their beautiful bilas with its elaborately constructed human hair headdress which they lavishly decorated 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

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. From Karawari airstrip, you will be transferred to Karawari Lodge. 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

Each day you will travel by motorboat down the 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 the beautifully woven baskets, carved masks, drums and sculptures. You will have an opportunity to buy art from the local villages.

Karawari Lodge

Begin the journey back up the Karawari River and prepare to leave for your journey to Mount Hagen; the heart of the PNG highlands. This area is famed for its fertile lands and stunning mountain ranges, as well as the complex and fascinating cultural traditions of the Melpa tribe. Upon arrival at the Mount Hagen airport, you will be driven up a picturesque road past highlands gardens and on to the lodge. Perched high above Mount Hagen, with mist filled views of the surrounding mountains and Wahgi Valley below, lies Rondon Ridge.

After settling in, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon on a guided birding and nature walk in the surrounding nature trails. The surrounding area is a pristine rainforest and home to numerous orchid species and a wide variety of birds. The lodge has hours of walking trails providing ample opportunity to explore the unique ecology of this area. Over 180 species of birds have been recorded in the rainforest around Rondon Ridge including twelve species of Bird of Paradise.

Rondon Ridge

Today is spent at the Tumbuna sing-sing. The Tumbuna show is 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 traditional PNG bilas and sing-sing is a unique and distinctive feature of each of the more than 800 tribes of Papua New Guinea. 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. Guests will arrive at the showground with plenty of time to wander throughout the area where they can interact with the dancers as they prepare for the sing-sing. This is an excellent opportunity to take photographs. As the morning progresses, we will gather together and the groups will each perform their sing-sing. The performance gradually builds until each of the tribes is performing simultaneously to the sound of rhythmic drumming and singing voices. It is an unparalleled experience.

Rondon Ridge

Transfer to Kagamuga Airport for your flight to Port Moresby. Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your hotel. After lunch enjoy a half day tour to the Nature Park.

Airways Hotel

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your out-going international flight.