Our 2019 Highlands Tribes Tour was another roaring success, bringing together 18 clients from Canada, the USA, Australia, Serbia, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and the UK for a seven-night journey from Mt Hagen to Goroka. We kicked off with Bird of Paradise viewing from a hide, had a tour of Mt Hagen market, saw some more birds of paradise, learnt about the Melpa culture, and then journeyed to the Asaro Valley, home of the famous mudmen. The Asaro hosted us for two days of adventure and cultural exploration, with private Sing-Sings with the Nupaha and Akemeku tribes. The climax of the tour was the ever-amazing Goroka Highlands Festival with over 120 tribal groups present.

The 2019 Mt Hagen Festival is around the corner, and all our spots have been filled a while ago. If you have never been, here's a look at what you missed out on. If you would like to go, we are taking bookings for 2020 - August 13th to 17th, including the excellent and intimate Paiya Show on Friday 14th August as a warm up to the main event. These are great opportunities to discover and meet, and photograph the iconic tribes of the western and southern highlands. 4-night trips start at $1350 USD. Domestic flights will be available from $340 USD.

In September we took 12 clients up to the Sepik Region to experience river and coastal culture. We stayed at Kaminabit in the Middle Sepik, visiting Palimbei and Kanganaman villages and their Haus Tamabarans (spirit houses), and then spent a night at Aibom in Cambri Lakes, visiting Wambon's splendid Haus Tamabaran too. We were given a tradtional welcome at Aibom, got to see some of the village's famous pottery in the making, and enjoyed the abundant bird life on the lakes. After that, we headed to the island of Muschu, from where we went on a day trip to the hot springs in the sea at Kariru Island and snorkelled the reefs in front of our guest house. 

 Some snapshots from our 2018 tour to Mt Hagen, the Asaro Valley, and the Goroka Festival. Birds of Paradise and tribes galore.