There’s so much more to Papua New Guinea than the Kokoda Track.
Rivers, valleys, gorges, mountains, volcanoes, lagoons and inlets carve up this country like it’s nobody’s business, and this has allowed a multitude of cultures to develop in virtual isolation to each other – and the outside world.
There’s no better window to Papua New Guinea’s diverse tribal tapestry than the National Mask Festival – a spectacle of song and dance, rhythm and drama, costume and colour. Take in the re-enacted canoe landing that kicks off the Kinavai Ceremony, watch grown men dance through flames at the astounding Baining Fire Dance, and, either side of the festival itself, discover the fascinating wartime sites, unique local markets, friendly island villages and volcanic hot springs that many visitors overlook.
Why you'll love this adventure
- Marvel at an active volcano, tuck into a shoreline barbecue and experience a traditional sing-sing in the Duke of York Islands
- Discover how the World Wars played out in the Pacific
- Be mesmerised by the chants of the Kinavai ceremony as the canoes paddle across the magical dawn
- There's nothing in the world like the Baining fire dance. Watch as men engulf themselves in flames to the beat of the bamboo drum and escape unharmed
Dates
This trip can be tailor made for your perfect travel dates. Please make a booking enquiry for more information.
Itinerary
This trip includes an action packed itinerary! Please make an enquiry and we'll send you the full itinerary for each day including meals, activities, travel and accommodation.
What's included
- 8 breakfasts, 1 dinners and 2 lunches
- Hotels (7 nights), Homestay (1 night)
- Private vehicle , Boat
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Matupit Island – Day trip
- Rabaul – Yamamoto’s Bunker
- Rabaul – Karavai Ceremony
- Rabaul – Rabaul Markets
- Rabaul – Old Niugini Club
- Rabaul – Japanese Submarine Base & Tunnels
- Duke of York Islands – Mioko Island tour & sing sing
- Kokopo – Bitapaka War Cemetery
- Kokopo – Blue Lagoon
- Kokopo – Dolphin watching & snorkelling
- Kokopo – Kokopo Markets
- Complimentary Airport Departure Transfer
Trip notes
Price
Min age
Accommodation
Hotels (7 nights), Homestay (1 night)
Meals
8 breakfasts, 1 dinners and 2 lunches
Who is this trip for?
Is this trip right for you
With very limited departures per year, this is a niche trip. It’s perfect for those interested in tribal cultures, war history, village life or volcanic landscapes – or who simply love to take the path less travelled.
There are lots of water-based activities, so being comfortable on a boat is essential.
We spend one night in a village community without running water and electricity, in basic accommodation. The experience, of course, is well worth the sacrifice of creature comforts!
Additional notes
Your fellow travellers
As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group – patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone’s travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don’t keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well – this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
This is the beauty of our style of travel: many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.
As a solo traveller, you will be paired up with another traveller of the same gender as per your passport information. Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour. Pre-trip and post-trip accommodation booked through us will on a single room basis.
If you’re not comfortable sharing a room with someone of the same gender, you also have the choice to pay for a single supplement (available on the majority of our trips).
If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly.
Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on an open gender, multi-share basis and where applicable this will be specified in our Essential Trip Information.
Covid-19
This operator has a policy in place for COVID-19 and their adventures. Please request full details so we can share the most up to date information with you. Thanks!
Tour operator
We love this operator for the freedom and flexibility they give travellers to get off the tourist trails and really experience local cultures. Their style of small group travel is perfect for solo travellers, couples or small groups of friends and their grassroots style of travel seeks to have a positive impact on the communities they visit.
They use local leaders, local accommodation & transport and support local community projects, ensuring sustainability is at the centre of everything they do.
In addition, they expect their staff and travellers to demonstrate the principles of responsible travel – respecting people, cultures and local environments; in the distribution of wealth; in good will and cross-cultural sharing; and in contributing to sustainable development.
Enquire today
Papua New Guinea National Mask Festival
Please complete the enquiry form above with as much detail as you can and we will send you all the trip information and connect you with the operator so you can make a booking directly.
If you have queries and questions about the trip include those in your form and we’ll personally reply to you within 24 hours.
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