Asmat & Korowai Tree People – 3 weeks

Schedule

2016

Jun 19 – Jul 9, 2016, code – asmat-0160619

Itinerary

Day 1: Participants meet at Jakarta airport (Indonesia) in the late evening hours. Then depart for Timika (Papua).
Day 2: Timika sightseeing, visit of a market place, arrangement of the necessary permits.
Day 3: Departure with a small plane (Twinotter) for Agatsu.
Day 4 – 6: We will travel with small motor boats against the river flow. Then we will stop in an Asmat village to see their fascinating woodcarving craft. Upon agreement the Asmat can arrange a demonstration of how were their small gouged boats used in war. Beautiful sceneries which can only be offered by a tropical river, with the possibility to go fishing (you need to bring fishing equipment).
Day 7 – 15: We hire porters and trek to the first Tree People village. Then spend the night in the village. Trekking across the Korowai territory. During this trek we stay longer in the villages, because we put emphasis on deeper understanding of the life of Korowai tree people.
Day 16: (facultative) Departure with a hired plane for Wamena – Baliem valley.
Day 17: Wamena sightseeing, local marketplace and visit of Lani tribe (short show).
Day 18: Visit of Dani tribe villages: Mummy in Jiwica, making fire, pig roasting, fascinating battle reconstruction, dances, songs, trip to a salt lake and the observation of how salt is “mined” using stems of banana palms.
Day 19: Departure by plane for Sentani (Jayapura) the capital of Indonesian province Papua. Sightseeing and shopping of souvenirs at the Hamadi market.
Day 20: Departure for Jakarta – participants who have connecting flights leave, the others spend the night in Jakarta and leave the following day (Day 20).

OPTION 1: extend the trip for other 3 days – stay on Biak Island – relaxation with the possibility to dive on Padaido Islands – a trip to Warsa waterfall, snorkel diving on an exquisite cliff only 30m from Marau beach – all with a local guide appointed by our travel agency.

OPTION 2 the possibility to extend the stay for diving in the north of Sulawesi (Manado-Bunaken Island and Lembeh Strait are some of the best places in the world to dive. Even National Geographic has reported on Lembeh Strait  – 11/2005). It is also possible to dive directly in the western part of Papua, which is perhaps the best diving place in the world. It has got this name because of its beautiful variety of coral reefs, the quantity and variety of fish species, and the multitude of other sea animals, including 8 species of pygmy sea horses. A week long visit comes with a guarantee of Manatee observation – fantastic experience. Please contact us for further information. For our clients, we organize diving trips for the standard prices of the local dive shops. We recommend only the really good, and well-tried ones.

The price includes:

All accommodation in local mid-range quality hotels (during the trek in huts of the aborigines or in your tents), all inland transportation, air transportation from and to Wamena, two flights by a small hired plane, a possible boating trip in gouged boats made by aborigines, 1 porter per person needed during trekking, an English speaking guide with a very good knowledge of the local environment, and where needed also a local guide. The price also includes safety expedition equipment: satellite navigational GPS system and a satellite phone. Our clients can use the satellite telephone for private calls (note that this requires your guide’s consent).

The price does not include:

The flight ticket to Asia (Jakarta) and back,the flight ticket from Jakarta to the Papua province Indonesia (Jayapura – Sentani) and back to Jakarta, food, entrance fees to attractions, and additional fees for taking photos and filming, extra porters needed during the trekking.

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