Tribes and Reefs: A Papua New Guinea Adventure May 19-Jun 2, 2025

Hands down Papua New Guinea is the most fascinating country I have ever traveled to.  Remote, primitive, exotic and very á la National Geographic.

New Guinea is one of the few places in the world where you can travel off the beaten path and experience seldom seen traditional villages with spirit houses and resilient tribal cultures.

The mountainous terrain and dense jungle of Papua New Guinea has meant that Papua New Guinea’s isolated tribal settlements were some of the last to be “discovered,” coming into contact with the outside world for the first time as late as the 1930s. During this time, the tribes were living in thriving Stone Age agricultural communities and believed that they were the only people on earth.
Due to the remote nature of each community there are 850 distinct dialects within the country.  Styles of cultural expression – carving, dance, singing, ornamentation, architecture, and more, vary greatly across the nation.

This is going to be a once in a lifetime adventure that combines attending a Sing Sing festival in the New Guinea Highlands, 2 days traveling down the famed Sepik River and an 8-night voyage on a luxury liveaboard snorkeling spectacular reefs.

THE TUMBUNA SING SING MAY 19-21, 2025

In Papua New Guinea festivals are known as Sing-Sings.
The Tumbuna Show is perhaps the most traditional festival, with easy access for close-ups during this “wow” experience.  Tribes travel from all corners of Papua New Guinea assemble for a spirited and colorful celebration and competition of dancing, costumes, and other tribal rites.

This remote and authentic event features tribal groups, dazzling in their wildly flamboyant costumes and make-up, compete for prestige.
Sing-sings are a psychedelic smorgasbord of ritualized ancient theater paraded to vocal accompaniment. The chanting of each tribe is alternately haunting, happy or warlike, and ranges from dizzying whoops to subtle, wind-like murmurs. Participants take exceptional pride in representing their tribe’s unique garb and rituals. Far from being a staged event for tourists, sing-sing competitions have a long tradition, and jealous losers have in the past been known to wage actual war on the winning tribe.
There will be opportunities for personal interaction with the dancers.

May 19 Upon arrival in Port Moresby from your international flight you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your onward domestic flight to Mount Hagen. Mount Hagen town is in the upper Wahgi Valley – a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world.
Overnight: HIGHLANDER HOTEL – PREMIER ROOM Dinner included.

May 20 Today, a full day is spent at the Tumbuna sing-sing – witness traditional dances, interact with Stone Age cultures and hear stories about “Taim bilong Tumbuna” (time of the ancestors). Picnic lunch will be provided at the show grounds.
Overnight: HIGHLANDER HOTEL – PREMIER ROOM Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. 

May 21 After breakfast we’ll transfer to Mt. Hagen airport and take a charter flight to Karawari where we will board the Sepik Spirit, our home for the next 3 nights.

THE SEPIK RIVER MAY 21-MAY 24, 2025

The local tribes live their life on the water. For them the spirits of the crocodiles and the river gods are still highly revered.   We’ll hear the welcoming calls of the villagers resting or working on the banks of the river. We’ll pass women fishing from their hollowed canoes and the children paddling to school.  The tribes that inhabit the Sepik region still maintain many of their traditional beliefs and ways of life, such as their reverence for the Spirit house and the unique art that decorates them.

During our 2 full days touring with private guides we’ll travel by jetboat to villages along the River.  Time will be spent visiting the spirit houses, family homes in the villages and hearing about traditional rituals, warfare, initiation ceremonies and ancestral beliefs.  The tribes of this region express their beliefs and creativity through the creation of unique and beautiful tribal art, such as masks, flutes, drums and spirit figures.
We’ll visit villages where the people are prolific carvers. We’ll have the opportunity to purchase masks, elaborately carved hooks, ancestral figures, hand drums, baskets, and gourds.

M/V SEPIK SPIRIT
Our privately chartered vessel, the M/V Sepik Spirit is thirty meters long and has a ten-meter beam. Inspired by the local architecture of the “haus tambaran” or spirit house, the Sepik Spirit has a truly unique design.
There are three levels. The lounge, dining room and bar are on the first floor. Nine rooms, each with private bathroom, are on the second floor.  A screened in observation area is on the third floor. The boat is fully air-conditioned. Touring is done in a smaller jet boat.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included while onboard.

May 24-May 25, 2025 PORT MORESBY
Enjoy an early breakfast before transferring to Karawari airstrip for departure. Fly by charter from Karawari to Mount Hagen. Arriving at the Airport you will be met by Trans Niugini Staff and who will transfer you to Banz Kopi for lunch before your onward flight to Port Moresby.
Arrive in Port Moresby where you will be met and transferred to the Airways Hotel.
Overnight: AIRWAYS HOTEL Breakfast and Lunch included.

OCEANIA LIVEABOARD MAY 25-JUNE 2, 2025

May 25. Today the group will fly from Port Moresby to Hoskins airport and will board the Oceania liveaboard at 4:00pm. We’ll set sail early evening to begin our 8-night voyage through Kimbe Bay and the Witu Islands.

Papua New Guinea is located in the coral triangle, the center of marine biodiversity which has the highest diversity of tropical fish and coral in the world. Nature Conservancy surveys in the bay have identified 860 species of fish, over 400 species of corals and 10 species of whales and dolphins.

Located on New Britain Island, Kimbe Bay is famous for abundant, diverse marine life and exceptionally healthy reefs.
The pristine and colorful corals are home to a variety of fish, crustacean and invertebrate life. Schools of barracuda, jacks, tuna and sharks are commonly seen. Smaller treasures include nudibranchs, gobies, tiny decorator crabs and shrimps. we’ll be on the lookout for frogfish as well.
We’ll be wowed by the dramatic barrel sponges, brilliant red sea whips and gorgeous gorgonian fans.
Understandably, National Geographic magazine and underwater photographer David Doubilet, ranks these reefs among the world’s most beautiful.
We may encounter marine mammals. A resident pod of dolphins are known interact with divers and snorkelers.
We may get lucky and see a dugong, pilot whales, orcas or even the sperm whales that inhabit these waters.

We’ll be in Kimbe Bay the best time of the year when the skies are clear and the seas are calm. Water temps will be deliciously warm  between 82 – 88 F

The Witu Islands are a group of islands, volcanic in nature, situated to the north of Kimbe Bay.  The underwater landscape includes dramatic sea mounts and protected black sand bays around the islands. This area provides an ideal mix of schooling fish, loads of soft corals as well as unusual critters.
It’s going to be an awesome adventure at sea!

The Oceania liveaboard is a 27 meter catamaran. She has 8 comfortable, well-appointed air-conditioned cabins for a maximum of 16 guests.  She has 5 twin bed cabins and 3 queen cabins all with en-suite bathroom facilities, fresh towels daily, hairdryers and daily laundry service.  All cabins are located on the main deck with stunning ocean views and easy access to the large diving deck.  Guest areas also include a large saloon to relax and work on your fish ID.  Dining is on the bridge and sun deck.   The dive deck includes individual storage, camera work area bathroom, and shower.

June 2 The group will disembark the Oceania in the morning and transferred to the airport for flight from Hoskins to Port Moresby.
Onward flights on the same day may be possible depending on schedule.

TRIBES AND REEFS TOUR COST:
$9450 per person based on double occupancy.
If you are traveling solo, Snorkeling Etc. will find endeavor to find a roommate for you.

THIS TRIP IS SOLD OUT, TO WAITLIST PLEASE CONTACT WENDY@SNORKELINGETC.COM 

PRICE INCLUDES:
♦ 19 May-21 May 2025  2 nights Highlander hotel in Mt. Hagen, round trip transfers, lunch, dinner
♦ Full day at Tumbuna Sing Sing with local English speaking guides
♦ 21 May-24 May 2025   3 nights on the Sepik Spirit, private guides, breakfast, lunch, dinner daily and 2 full days of touring
♦ 24 May-25 2025 May   1 night Airways hotel in Port Moresby, round trip airport transfers and breakfast
♦ 25 May-2 June 2025   8 nights on the MV Oceania, round trip airport transfers, all meals and all offered snorkel excursions

PRICE EXCLUDES:
♦  International and domestic airfare
♦ $72 Oceania Environmental and Safety Fee
♦ Domestic and charter flights within New Guinea *
♦ Insurance, mandatory
♦  Alcoholic beverages
♦ Carrier imposed fuel surcharges
♦  Gratuities
♦  Items of a personal nature

* Anticipated flight costs to and around New Guinea (not included in tour costs):
Depending on schedules an additional hotel night may be necessary to add to the itinerary.

To join this expedition you will need the following flights:
~Round trip ticket from your home city to Brisbane, Australia. 
~A separate ticket from Brisbane that includes stops in Port Moresby, Mt. Hagen and Hoskins. 
As of December 2023 the cost is $900 a person on Air Niugini. 
~Round trip charter flight from Mt. Hagen to Karawari (Sepik River). 
Due to fuel surcharges in 2023  the current cost is $1400. Hopefully for the 2025 trip, fuel surcharges will be reduced.

*Snorkeling Etc. is available to assist in booking the flights within PNG.  The cost will be added  to your final invoice.*

What to Expect:
Papua New Guinea is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure but there are some things to consider before you sign up. 
Tourism infrastructure is limited and while we’ll stay in the best available accommodations, please be aware that amenities are not generally up to Western standards. If you are willing to sacrifice some creature comforts for access to amazing snorkeling on remote reefs and completely authentic cultural experiences this journey is for you! You’ll need to be flexible, fit and travel with a good sense of humor and adventure to get the maximum enjoyment out of the journey.

I hope you can join me on this once in a lifetime, unique and exceptional journey!
If you would like more information email Wendy@SnorkelingEtc.com  

In the spirit of Adventure,

 

 

 

 

Wendy Simon/CEO and Expedition Specialist
Snorkeling Etc. Inc.
Santa Cruz, CA.
831 254-5001