Mount Hagen Show 2023

Meet on arrival at Mt. Hagen airport and transfer to the lodge and check in. After check in brief tour of Mt. Hagen market, coffee and tea plantations and retire to hotel/lodge.  Continue with dinner and overnight. Overnight:  Traveler’s Hut

Early breakfast and transfer to Paiya village for the Paiya mini show. Paiya village is about 20kms - 45 minutes’ drive from Mt. Hagen town.  Welcome by young girls (in traditional attire) on arrival, then explore village life and watch the performers who are carefully getting ready for the festival/dance.  You are free to take photos from the preparations to rehearsal and actual dance in the main arena. Paiya pre-show involves diverse groups from different parts of the province/country – expect to see 12 groups. Performers decorated with head dress/ wig, plumes of bird of paradise, body ornaments and grass skirts, face decorations with clay, charcoal and other traditional paints.   An opportunity to see them from preparation to actual show on the main arena followed with mock fighting using shields, bows and arrows, traditional marriage - exchanging pigs, money and other valuables.  The day ends with local cuisine called “Mumu” prepared in an underground oven covered with hot stones, leaves and veggies. The Paiya mini show has been highly commended because of the village setting that perfectly blends with the environment and friendly people.   In the afternoon, retire to the lodge.

Early breakfast and transfer to Mt. Hagen show ground for the Mt. Hagen cultural show. This festival ordinarily involves more than 70 dancing groups from the Highlands and coastal PNG.  Transfer early in order to see the preparations before the performance. You will be allowed to enter the main arena with VIP badges.   You are free to take photos, watch the groups perform, shoot video, mingle with performers and learn about different cultures. In the afternoon retire to the lodge and refresh for few minutes and then continue to the Waghi valley for coffee and tea plantation visits and Mt. Hagen market, one of the best markets in PNG that sells mostly vegetables and fruits. Note: the same performers/dancers will appear on the next day – Sunday 18th.