Papua New Guinea Goroka Festival And Highlands Tribes Tour

Today we will meet at Port Moresby airport to fly to Goroka on Air Niugini PX160 at 0855, landing at 0945. Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province. A town of approximately 19,000 people, 1600m above sea level. it is on the "Highlands Highway", about four hours from Mt. Hagen. It has a mild climate, known as a "perpetual Spring". The mountains and valleys around are fertile and produce some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Every September the town hosts the amazing and unique Highlands Cultural Festival, when up to 150 different tribal groups gather for the weekend closest to Independence Day, the 16th of September. Around 350 foreign visitors are privileged to be able to attend, vastly outnumbered by tens of thousands of locals from the surrounding areas. Once we have settled in to our guesthouse accommodation, we will go for a walk around town. Lunch at your own cost, dinner provided.

Half-an-hour west of the town lies the Asaro Valley and its fascinating Asaro Mudmen, one of the iconic cultural groups of the country. That's some going for a country that is home to up to 900 different languages. The Asaro are happy to explain their story, through eery representations of battle, cannibalism, and communion with their gods. The valley also has some stunning walks and viewpoints, birds of paradise and many orchid species, as well as the refreshing Asaro River.  Today we will learn about Asaro traditions through three different performances, preparing a "mumu" (earth oven), try our hand at archery practice, watch mask making demonstration, and learn about a few other tribes from the area too. 

VIP access to the spectacular Highlands Cultural Festival. Up to 150 tribal groups attend to show off their traditional finery in a riot of colour and sound. Tens of thousands of locals come to watch. It is an unforgettable experience. We can take photos and videos freely all day. Activities Goroka Festival with VIP pass Basis Dinner, Bed and Breakfast