Spiritual Heartlands of PNG

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the spiritual heartlands of Papua New Guinea, where timeless traditions, vibrant cultures and unruly wilderness awaits.

We take a charter flight to the Madang Province in Papua New Guinea’s rugged highlands to spend time with the Kalam people, learning about their subsistence lifestyles, clan-based social system, and the deep connection they have with the environment around them. We spend three days with the Kalam, staying in one of their villages, allowing for a great insight into their spirituality, ancestor worship and unwavering respect for the natural world.

Our adventure continues in the Jiwaka Province of Papua New Guinea, as we stay with one of PNG’s lesser-known indigenous groups, the Kohl people. The Kohl also have a deep-rooted connection to nature and perform interesting funerary rites which are believed to maintain harmony between the living and the spirits of the deceased.

We head back to Mount Hagen for some relaxation before journeying to Tambul, where we experience the captivating Ware Dance in Alkena village, a memorable cultural display.

This tour offers an immersive experience into the heart and soul of a land that remains one of the world’s most extraordinary and uncharted destinations.

Highlights

  • Live with the Kalam tribe in the verdant Simbai Valley
  • Explore the lands of the mystical Kohl people
  • Experience cultural pride through the dazzling Ware dance
  • Mount Hagen's markets and sweeping Wahgi Valley
  • Take a charter flight over wild and untamed terrain

Day 1 – Port Moresby

Arrive into Port Moresby and transfer to the hotel. Depending on time of arrival, there may be time to explore the city in the afternoon. Overnight Holiday Inn Express or similar. (D)

Port Moresby

Port Moresby, the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea, sits on the southern coast along the Gulf of Papua. It’s a fascinating place with rich culture, history, and stunning scenery. Originally inhabited by the Motu-Koitabu people, it was later explored by Captain John Moresby in 1873, who named it after his father, Admiral Fairfax Moresby. The city played a strategic role during World War II as an Allied base and a target for Japanese forces. Today, Port Moresby serves as the country’s main economic, political, and transportation hub, featuring government buildings, universities, and an international airport.

Days 2-4 – Mount Hagen – Simbai

Take a domestic flight to Mount Hagen and then a charter flight to Simbai. We spend three days with the Kalam tribe, visiting their villages, battle fields and sacred ritual sites, and listening to their stories for a deep insight into their authentic tribal traditions. Overnight simple village guesthouse. (BLD)

Simbai

Simbai is a remote village in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, home to the Kalam people who have kept their traditions alive for generations. Visitors can experience their culture through ceremonies, dances, and handmade crafts. The region is surrounded by lush mountains, rivers, and forests, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and trekkers. The region lies within the Kaironik Valley, home to archaeological sites and artifacts that suggest human presence dating back at least 31,000 years.

Kalam

The Kalam people are an indigenous group in Papua New Guinea, primarily residing in the Middle Ramu District of Madang Province and the Mount Hagen District of Western Highlands Province. They speak the Kalam language, which belongs to the Trans–New Guinea language family and is closely related to Kobon. The language features unique dialects and an elaborate pandanus avoidance register, used during karuka harvests and when eating or cooking cassowary. The Kalam people are mainly found in the Upper Kaironik and Upper Simbai Valleys, where different dialects are spoken across regions. Their traditional practices are deeply connected to nature, reflecting their environment and heritage.

Day 5 – Mount Hagen

Board a charter flight back to Mount Hagen and discover the town and colourful local market. We also drive to Rondon Viewpoint for scenic views of the city and surrounding villages. Overnight McRoyal Resort or similar. (BLD)

Mount Hagen

Mount Hagen is the third-largest city in Papua New Guinea and the capital of Western Highlands Province. Located in the Wahgi Valley, it has a cool climate and beautiful scenery. The city is famous for the Mount Hagen Cultural Show, a major festival with traditional dances. It’s also an agricultural centre, producing coffee, tea, and fresh fruits. The surrounding highlands offer incredible natural beauty, with opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and exploring volcanic peaks. First visited by Westerners in 1933, Mount Hagen has grown into an important town with a strong economy and rich culture.

Days 6-7 – Kohl

Drive to Kohl in the Jimi District of the Jiwaka Province. Here lives another isolated group and we explore their untamed lands and visit their villages to learn about their simple lifestyles which are far removed from modern society, with little intervention from the outside world. We spend two days learning about their rituals, sorceries, and other beliefs, as well as how their schooling and health services are provided by the church. Overnight simple village guesthouse. (BLD)

Kohl

Kohl is located in the Jimi District of Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea. The district is known for its rugged landscape, rich cultural traditions, and remote communities. Previously part of Western Highlands Province, Jimi became part of Jiwaka when it was established as a separate province in 2012. Jiwaka is one of Papua New Guinea’s newer provinces, recognised for its vibrant culture, fertile land, and strong coffee industry. The name “Jiwaka” is derived from Jimi, Waghi, and Kambia, representing different regions within the province.

Day 8 – Mount Hagen

Travel back to Mount Hagen and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring at leisure. Overnight McRoyal Resort or similar. (BLD)


Day 9 – Tambul – Mount Hagen

Today we head up into the district of Tambul, one of the highest and most remote areas of the highlands. We visit Alkena village, where the most spectacular and colourful dance in the highlands, the Ware Dance, originated. We will be warmly welcomed with this dance and spend the rest of the day interacting with the locals and experiencing village life. Return to Mount Hagen in the afternoon. Overnight McRoyal Resort or similar. (BLD)

Tambul

Tambul, a district in Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands Province, is home to the Tambul people, who live near Mount Giluwe, the country’s second-highest peak. Their rich cultural heritage includes striking body ornamentation, warlike face paint, and traditional songs and dances. One of their key customs is the Moka, a system of wealth exchange where gifts are reciprocated with even greater offerings, often tied to pig ownership, which signifies status within the community.

Day 10 – Port Moresby

Fly back to Port Moresby and connect to our international flights. (B)


Please note: accommodations and meals in Kalam and Kohl will be of a very basic nature, and you should be prepared for a real lack of modern comforts.

This is a recce trip and should be looked upon as an expedition rather than a conventional trip. The conditions in Papua New Guinea can be extremely challenging, infrastructure is limited, and you should be prepared for possible unforeseen changes, such as domestic flight delays, which can result in changes to the itinerary. You’ll need a huge amount of patience to join our trips in PNG, as well as a sense of humour and adventure, and flexibility. PNG is a very exciting destination but it’s not one for those who like rigid and well-structured travel plans, and for everything to run like clockwork.

If you have any doubts about your ability to take part in this trip then please get in touch.

 

 

What's included?

  • Airport transfers

    We include arrival and departure transfers regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you’re booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers. Please note though that if you arrive earlier than Day 1 of the tour, and leave after the final day, we may need to make an additional charge for an airport transfer.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.

    Please note: the single supplement does not apply to nights spent in villages, where accommodation is simple and may be multi-share.

  • Guides

    You will be accompanied by a local English-speaking guide and also local guides at sites.

  • Meals

    As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip – in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to ‘do their own thing’ now and again.

  • Entrance fees

    Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.

  • Domestic flights

    Port Moresby – Mount Hagen – Port Moresby

  • Charter flights

    Mount Hagen – Simbai – Mount Hagen

What's not included?

  • Visas

    We don’t arrange visas for our travellers, but if an invitation letter is necessary then we will arrange this for you. If you need any advice with visas then just give us a call, or alternatively a visa agency such as Travcour (www.travcour.com) can assist.

  • Airport taxes

    If there are any departure taxes to pay that are not included within the cost of your ticket, you’ll need to pay these yourself.

  • International flights

    Many of our travellers arrive from different destinations and so we don’t include international flights in the cost of our tours. If however you would like us to book flights for you, then just give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.

  • Travel Insurance

    If you need any assistance with this, then let us know – although we can’t arrange it ourselves we can point you in the direction of a reputable provider that can assist.

Visas

All nationalities will be required to obtain a visa in advance to enter Papua New Guinea. Visas can be obtained online here: https://ica.gov.pg

Your passport should also be valid for a minimum period of six months, from your date of exit from PNG. We also strongly recommend that your passport has a minimum of two blank pages next to each other – on rare occasion it may lead to problems with visas and immigration authorities if it does not.

Visa regulations can change however and so we recommend that you contact your nearest embassy for the most up to date information.

Visa applications can sometimes be complicated, and e-visa platforms do not always work as well as they might, particularly across different internet browsers and when uploading particular documents. We provide supporting documentation that you may need from us, such as hotel confirmations and invitation letters, but once you have actually made your application, our ability to get involved and resolve any minor issues (such as files not uploading) is extremely limited. We therefore strongly recommend that you consider using the services of a visa agency when making a visa application. Of course, they will charge for their services but can save you a lot of time and frustration, and are familiar with the processes and occasional quirks of visa applications. In the UK, we would recommend Travcour (https://travcour-vls.com) as a reliable visa agency.

Health and vaccinations

We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. For more advice on vaccinations you can also visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.

Insurance

It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.

Money

The unit of currency is the kina, which is not readily available outside PNG. You can take GBP, USD or EUR for exchange purposes.

Outside of large cities (and specifically top end hotels and restaurants) credit cards cannot be used. There are ATMs in cities but you should not count on them always working.

Local conditions

When travelling to some of the destinations we offer you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place.

Roads throughout Papua New Guinea are often poorly maintained (if at all!) and distances between key sites of interest can be long. Travelling in PNG can be tiring, hot and dusty at times, and inevitably it can be frustrating. While there are some issues that we are able to solve, others are intrinsic to travelling here, and you should be aware that travel in Papua New Guinea cannot be compared to nearby countries that have better infrastructure – for example, popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Although travelling in PNG can at times be an ‘unpolished’ experience, this is all part of the adventure. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and putting up with a pothole (or ten) is undeniably worth it for the amazing sights and cultural experiences you will encounter along the way.

Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s most remote destinations and outside of major towns and cities the infrastructure is rudimentary.  In the highlands we stay in simple guesthouses, on a multi-share basis. Toilets are long-drop style in separate outbuildings, not en suite, and washing facilities are also simple and shared.

Our trips in PNG should be looked upon as expeditions rather than conventional trips, and you should be prepared for challenging conditions. If you have any doubts about your ability to take part then please get in touch.

Travel advice

We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the moment, the FCO doesn’t advise against travel to any parts of Papua New Guinea that we visit on our trips.

This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.

Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Date(s)
Price (PP) Exc. Flights
Single Supplement
Trip Status
Date -
13 June 2026
Price (PP) -
£6,295
Single Supplement -
£485
Trip Status -
Available
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Date -
12 June 2027
Price (PP) -
£6,695
Single Supplement -
£535
Trip Status -
Available
Book Now