EM60 – SIMBAI TREKKING PACKAGE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS 6 nights ex-Madang Kanains to Dusin is a challenging trek through rugged terrain to remote villages in the Simbai sub-district of Madang Province. The people of the Simbai area (Kalam tribe) are subsistence dwellers living traditional lifestyles and see very few outsiders. This is very rewarding walking, with spectacular mountain scenery, a plethora of wild orchids and other exotic flora growing at the sides of the walking trails, and regular sightings of birds of paradise and native mammals (possums, cuscus, tree kangaroos). You’ll also enjoy candid encounters with locals in their tribal hamlets. Your chances of meeting another tourist out here are about nil. The first two days walking from Kanains to Simbai is graduated uphill hiking along an overgrown four-wheel-drive track that follows the contours of the ridges. The track is impassable to vehicular traffic for long periods due to landslides, and is mainly used as a footpath. This is the main walking route joining Simbai government station and Aiome mission station far below in the Ramu River valley, and as you walk along you will meet local walkers coming the other way, heading for Aiome. The last two days walking from Simbai to Dusin is much tougher, following narrow foot trails (no vehicular access, ever) with many steep climbs and descents over hillocks and ridges, many pig fences to straddle and many streams to wade through. Do not select this trek unless you are an experienced hiker and physically fit for 4 days challenging trekking with only basic food and amenities. On arrival at Dusin you can: - exit the standard 4 night package and fly back to Madang - fly to Timbunke and take the Sepik River extension through to Wewak - fly from Dusin to Aiome (15 min) and take the Ramu River extension back to Madang (3 extra nights). (It is also possible to reverse the Simbai Hard Trek, starting at Dusin and walking all the way down to Aiome and continue with the Ramu River extension through to Madang (6 nights total, though this is less-challenging downhill walking. For information on Simbai and the Kalam tribe, click here. To see prices, trip notes and detailed list of inclusions, click here to download the itinerary for EM60 in Acrobat (PDF) format.
Ariving at Kanains airstrip Welcome at Kanains	Please not EM60 itinerary has changed and the illustrated itinerary below is not yet updated. The correct and current package is detailed here. GENERIC ITINERARY DAY 1: MADANG / KANAINS / KAMBOIN 0700 Check in at Madang airport for your light aircraft flight to Kanains (your ticket will be available for collection at the check-in counter). NB Flights to airstrips in the Simbai area do not operate on a fixed schedule – departure and arrival times are flexible to meet the needs of passengers and cargo customers at various remote airstrips around the Madang province, and therefore you may need to be patient if the aircraft has to do a run to another airstrip and back before doing the Simbai run. Unless the weather is really bad, the Simbai flight always operates Mon-Sat but you may have to wait. On arrival at Kanains airstrip you will be met by our local guide with a few extra guys to help carry bags. From the airstrip it is a short walk to the Kanains Village Guest House for a welcome song from the village people, a cup of tea and a briefing with your guide. Then without further ado, start walking. Today’s hike will take about 6 hours including side-trips into the forest and occasional stops to visit villagers in hamlets en route, although this section of the trekking route is quite sparsely populated. This is dense montane forest with plenty of flora and fauna. Your guide and porters are expert hunters and will help you locate and view wildlife. While escorting you on your trek, they will resist their primal urge to trap and kill the animals, which is what they have been taught to do since they were old enough to walk. Shortly before you arrive at Kamboin you can turn off the trail and follow a creek upstream about 20 minutes to a waterfall marked on the map as “Falls”. Overnight Kamboin Forest Hut. People from a village down in the valley operate the hut and they will cater dinner for you. (Lunch and breakfast supplies are flown in with you from Madang and carried by your porters).
Kamboin rest hut	DAY 2: KAMBOIN TO SIMBAI About 6 hours trekking today including side-trips and stops. Stop at Kanembeng village for lunch. On arrival at Simbai, explore the tiny Simbai government outpost and continue another 15 minutes walking to Nugent satellite village, the site of the Kalam Guest House and little Kalam Culture Centre which has displays of traditional tribal artifacts. Overnight Kalam Guest House, Simbai. Tonight’s dinner will be a traditional feast and a traditional Kalam tribal sing-sing will be held in your honour.
Kalam culture house at Simbai Trekking to Kaironk.	DAY 3: SIMBAI TO KAIRONK From Simbai, trek north-west into the Kaironk River valley. The people in this area are significantly more remote and more traditional than those living in the villages along the vehicular track between Simbai and Aiome mission station, but the hiking in this direction is considerably more difficult with many ridges to conquer, many pig fences to straddle and many small streams to wade through. Trekking this route is not for the unfit. Walking in this area with your guide and a couple of porters is characterised by chance encounters with mountain people going to and from their gardens. You will also stop to visit them in their bush-material huts in little hamlets situated along the main walking tracks. People in this area wear a mixture of traditional dress and well-worn Western clothing (there is virtually no place in Papua New Guinea that has not yet been invaded by the T-shirt). Here in the mountains traditional clothing (known as ass-grass in Pidgin) didn’t offer much comfort from the cold and imported second-hand clothes were quickly embraced when they became available. However, if locals know you are coming they will insist on wearing their traditional finery as a matter of cultural pride. While trekking in this valley you will pass through a variety of habitats including grassland, woodland and marsh. Some river crossings may be required, depending on the route taken. Bring sandals, flip-flops or old sneakers for the water crossings. Your guide has instructions not to take you across rivers with strong currents or water deeper than your waist. Overnight village hut, Ainonk village.
Trekking to Dusin	DAY 4: KAIRONK TO DUSIN Another day of challenging trekking through the Kaironk River valley. Dusin village is at the end of the valley, located on a ridge overlooking the river. Dusin is the end of the line, the last Kalam tribal village - here the Kaironk River turns south and passes through uninhabited gorges before emerging in the Jimi Valley of the Western Highlands and emptying into the Jimi River.) Overnight village hut, Dusin village.
Mountain scenery near Dusin	DAY 5: DUSIN TO MADANG After breakfast, hike to the airstrip and wait for today’s light aircraft flight to Madang. Your guide and porters will hoof it back to Simbai. End of standard 4-night itinerary. To see prices, trip notes and detailed list of inclusions, click here to download the itinerary for EM60 in Acrobat (PDF) format.