EM20 – DISCOVER PAPUAN GULF ART PACKAGE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS 10 nights ex-Port Moresby This itinerary takes visitors to some of the seldom-visited cradles of Papuan Gulf art. The culture and artifacts of the Papuan Gulf was first documented by Australian photographer Frank Hurley in the 1920s and since then many samples of Papuan art have made their way around the world but few connoisseurs visit the Gulf itself. This tour patronises a milk run flight operated by Airlines PNG that drops regularly into the Gulf airstrips of Daru, Balimo, Kikori, Baimuru and Kerema. However the flights are not daily and this itinerary only “works” when commenced on any Monday. To see prices, trip notes and detailed list of inclusions, click here to download the itinerary for EM20 in Acrobat (PDF) format. ITINERARY:
A view of Fly river from the air	Day 1: Monday Airlines PNG Dash 8 flights from Port Moresby to Daru 0845/0955. You will be met on arrival by staff from the Tawo’o Hotel and transferred to the hotel for check in. Today, the hotel will arrange for you a visit to a village cultural centre where you will view a demonstration of traditional dancing and local artifacts of the Kiwai culture of the Fly River Delta which is very similar to the culture of the Torres Strait on the Australian side of the border. Overnight Tawo’o Hotel, Daru.
Balimo ladies with a warm welcome of dance	Day 2: Tuesday After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport to check in for Airlines PNG flight CG322 from Daru to Balimo 1010/1100 (via Awaba). On arrival at Balimo you will be met by a local guest house operator and transferred to your accommodation. For the next 3 nights your guest house operator will be your host in showcasing the unique totem-based culture of the Gogodala tribe of the Balimo area. This river delta area is a water-based society and most transport to villages etc will be by canoe. Overnight guest house, Balimo.
Balimo king size kundu	Day 3: Wednesday Overnight guest house, Balimo.
Balimo lizard mask	Day 4: Thursday Overnight guest house, Balimo.
Balimo kundu dances	Day 5: Friday Today you will be uplifted by Airlines PNG flight CG369 from Balimo to Baimuru 1150/1340. At Baimuru you will be met and transferred to your guest house. The rest of the day will be spent at the guest house as it will be too late to commence a village excursion. Overnight guest house, Baimuru.
Village houses along the fly river up to Baimuru	Day 6: Saturday Excursion by motor canoe with guide to artifacts villages in the Baimuru area. Overnight guest house, Balimo (or village).
A picture of Frank Hurley purchaseing artifacts from the villages 1920	Day 7: Sunday Excursion by motor canoe with guide to artifacts villages in the Baimuru area. Overnight guest house, Balimo (or village).
Villages canoeing along the Kikori river	Day 8: Monday Airlines PNG flight CG366 Baimuru to Kikori 1040/1100. (This is back-tracking but the only way the itinerary can work). At Kikori you will be met and transferred to your guest house. Afternoon wildlife eco-tour of Kikori Delta area by boat. Overnight guest house, Kikori.
On board the motor canoe along the Kikori river	Day 9: Tuesday Excursion by motor canoe with guide to artifacts villages in the Kikori area. Overnight guest house, Kikori.
A display of Toare Mask	Day 10: Wednesday Airlines PNG flight CG371 Kikori to Kerema 1425/1505. Check in at Hotel Kerema. The next 24 hours will be spent exploring Kerema town and visiting the local cultural centre which has displays of artifacts from all parts of the Gulf. A guide from the hotel will accompany you.
Fly out of Kerema	Day 11: Thursday Airlines PNG flight CG361 from Kerema to Port Moresby 1705/1800.