ECOTOURISM MELANESIA LTD (home) EM41 – SEVEN NIGHTS DELUXE SOFT ADVENTURE TOUR FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS FRIDAY TO FRIDAY 7 nights Tufi, Tari, Sepik River The itinerary avoids the usual tourist towns and brings you face to face with three contrasting rural peoples of Papua New Guinea and the environments in which they live: - the coastal people of TUFI who live amongst stunning tropical fjords formed by fingers over cooling lava from an erupting volcano thousands of years ago - the highlands people of TARI, a proud and colourful people with exotic customs living in a pristine sub-tropical rainforest habitat, whose trademark custom is the production of decorative men’s wigs made of human hair. - the riverine people of KARAWARI, a tributary of the Sepik River, whose lives are dominated by the wide brown ribbon of water they inhabit, and their animistic spiritual beliefs expressed through the exquisite artefacts they produce to adorn their men’s spirit houses (Haus Tambaran). The tour features award-winning wilderness lodges providing a high standard of remote-area accommodation. Daily excursions are operated with the best available vehicles, boats and recreational equipment with all safety precautions taken. Local communities featured in this itinerary all derive sustainable benefits from tourism through the payment of gratuities and assistance with community development activities by the local accommodation and tour providers. This holiday package is available April through November only, due to closure of Ambua Lodge and Karawari Lodge during the wet-season. Click here to download a more detailed itinerary for EM41 with prices, list of tour inclusions and trip notes, click here (Adobe Acrobat PDF file, opens in a new window)
Arriving at Tufi Airstrip A view of Tufi fjords from Tufi Dive Resort	GENERIC ITINERARY DAY 1: Friday PORT MORESBY / TUFI On arrival in Port Moresby, Ecotourism Melanesia staff will meet and greet you and assist you to connect with your flight to Tufi. If you arrive on a morning flight, a private tour of Port Moresby will be provided including city sights, the national museum and parliament house, botanical gardens, Motuan stilt villages and the Bomana War Cemetery (includes picnic lunch). 15:00 Airlines PNG flight CG378 departs for Tufi (aircraft: 18-seat DHC6 Twin Otter turboprop). On arrival at Tufi airstrip, staff from the resort will meet you. It is just a short stroll to the Tufi Resort where you will have time to explore the resort and surrounding area before sundown. 19:00 Dinner at the resort – tropical buffet. Overnight Tufi Resort www.tufi-experience.com
Beachwalking at Tufi	DAY 2: Saturday TUFI Morning: Scenic speed boat ride through the tropical fjords, stopping at isolated beaches and local villages. Afternoon: Choice of snorkelling, beachwalking, outrigger canoe paddling, scenic hiking, line fishing or relaxing at the resort with the most perfect view in the world. 19:00 Dinner at the resort – tropical buffet. Overnight Tufi Resort www.tufi-experience.com
\ Traditional dance, Tufi Obseve Sago making	DAY 3: Sunday TUFI Morning: Boat trip to a local village for a village tour, traditional dance performance and demonstration of traditional skills like making sago (food staple), making ropes from natural fibres, making fire, and production of traditional handicrafts like tapa cloth and woven mats, bags and hats. Afternoon: Choice of snorkelling, beachwalking, outrigger canoe paddling, scenic hiking, line fishing or relaxing at the resort with the most perfect view in the world. 19:00 Dinner at the resort – tropical buffet. Overnight Tufi Resort www.tufi-experience.com
Ambua Lodge Huli Wigmen	DAY 4: Monday TUFI / TARI (AMBUA LODGE) 06:00 Breakfast and check-out. 07:00 Walk to the airstrip 07:10 Airlines PNG flight CG379 departs for Port Moresby (aircraft: 18-seat DHC6 Twin Otter turboprop). 08:25 On arrival in Port Moresby, connect with Air Niugini flight PX864 to Tari, departing 09:10 (aircraft: 36-seat Dash 8-202 turboprop). 10:40 On arrival in Tari you are welcomed by Ambua Lodge staff. Transfer by road to Ambua takes 45 minutes. 12:00 Lunch at Ambua Lodge 13:00 Half day visit to Huli wigmen tribe village. 19:00 Dinner at Ambua Lodge – a la carte or buffet. Overnight Ambua Lodge www.pngtours.com
Huli drum dance	DAY 5: Tuesday TARI (AMBUA LODGE) 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Choice of morning tours including scenic hike, bird watching or another Huli tribe visit. 12:00 Lunch at Ambua Lodge 13:00 Choice of afternoon tours including scenic hike, bird watching or another Huli tribe visit. 19:00 Dinner at Ambua Lodge – a la carte or buffet. Overnight Ambua Lodge
Exploring the river by motor canoe	DAY 6: Wednesday TARI / SEPIK RIVER (KARAWARI LODGE) 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Walk to the Ambua Lodge airstrip and board the lodge’s private aircraft for transfer to Karawari Lodge (aircraft: 9-seat PAC750 turboprop or 7-seat Britten-Norman Islander). 12:00 Arrive at Karawari Lodge, check in and have lunch. The lodge is located on the Karawari River, a tributary of the Sepik. 13:00 Afternoon Karawari River excursion by small motor boat or motorised canoe, stopping at villages en route. 19:00 Dinner at Karawari Lodge – a la carte or buffet. Overnight Karawari Lodge www.pngtours.com
Exploring the rainforest in search of bird of paradise	DAY 7: Thursday SEPIK RIVER (KARAWARI LODGE) 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Morning Karawari culture tour with sing-sing performance. 12:00 Lunch at Karawari Lodge 13:00 Afternoon tour: choice of rainforest nature trek (with bird watching), kayak or native canoe paddling excursion or motor canoe trip up to the Yimas Lakes. 19:00 Dinner at Karawari Lodge – a la carte or buffet. Overnight Karawari Lodge www.pngtours.com
Port Moresby stilt village	DAY 8: Friday SEPIK RIVER / MT HAGEN / PORT MORESBY / FLY OUT 07:00 Breakfast and check-out. 08:00 Transfer by boat to Karawari airstrip and board the lodge’s private aircraft for transfer to Mt Hagen. 08:30 Check in at Mt Hagen airport for Air Niugini flight PX181 to Port Moresby, departing 10:15 (aircraft: 98-seat Fokker F100 jet) 11:15 Arrive Port Moresby and connect with your outgoing flight to Brisbane, Sydney or Cairns. A packed lunch is provided for you while in transit at Port Moresby airport. A short city tour is available if you have time between flights. Tour ends
Click here to download a more detailed itinerary for EM41 with prices, list of tour inclusions and trip notes, click here (Adobe Acrobat PDF file, opens in a new window) ECOTOURISM MELANESIA LTD (home)