Papua Explorer Tours & Expeditions 2010

Baliem Valley -
Among Stone Age Farmers
in Papua

Individual tour

15 days - from / to Frankfurt

Tour possible at any time of the year,
booking on request - Minimum 2 persons

The legendary Baliem-Valley, the second biggest mountain-valley in Papua,
is settlement of the Dani tribes.

In 1938 the American ornothologist Archbold discovered the Dani by accident. Until this decisive contact the Dani, who are surrounded by 5.000 meters high mountains, believed that they are the only humans in the world. Experience on this very interesting journey an original Papua culture, an overwhelming mountainous country with a fantastic vegetation and enjoy your days in the beautiful THE BALIEM VALLEY RESORT. The huge nature resort offers you a grand view and a highly comfortable ambient inside the stone-age and beautiful nature.

EUR 3.450,-- per person in ˝ double bed room
EUR    350,-- single supplement

Minimum: 2 persons

Level of difficulty *

 

Planned itinerary of this unique tour:

 

1. day: Departure from Frankfurt to Denpasar, Bali.
2. day: Around noon arrival in Denpasar/Bali/Indonesia. Transfer to hotel IDA in Kuta. Rest of day free. Common dinner. At night transfer to airport and flight to Jayapura/Papua, operated by Garuda Indonesia. 

3. day: Departure from Bali: around 02.50h local time, arrival in Papua: around 09.00h local time. After short transit connecting flight to Wamena, located in the highlands of Papua. Arrival around noon. Transfer to THE BALIEM VALLEY RESORT. Lunch. Rest of day no program. Dinner.
4. day: (Every day after breakfast, we offer one of our daytours, which can be operated in a different sequence.)
Wamena, Sinakma, Wesaput and surrounding (Tour 1)
In the morning drive from the resort to the big native market in front of the town. Here you can meet hundreds of Dani who sell their agrarian products every day. Traditional arts and crafts like stoneaxes, grassnets, arrows and bows are sold too. Drive to the local market near the Wamena bridge. Again many interesting photo motives. Visit to the water power station at the upper course of the beautiful Wamena-River. Here we have lunch break surrounded by wonderful nature. Drive on to the powerful Baliem-River near Wesaput, where a big suspension bridge has to be crossed due to the traditional Dani hamlets on the other side of the river that we want to visit. Before we drive back to the Resort you have the possibility to make some small purchases in Wamena.

5. day: Saltspring, Kurulu-Mummy, traditional Dani hamlet (Tour 2)
In the morning one hour drive to Jiwika in the central Baliem-Valley. Start of an one hour long walking-tour uphill (about 300 heightmeters) trough a beautiful mountain-rainforest to the traditional saltspring of a Dani clan. Native women in traditional costumes accompany us. They will demonstrate the old technics of the salt production. After the relegation we have lunch on the mountains base. After lunch we walk to the close Kurulu hamlet, where a very old mummy of the famous Dugum clan can be admired. Afterwards the women show us how the brought brine is processed. In the neighbourhood we see more picturesque hamlets. Everywhere the friendly natives offer their arts and crafts, weapons and curiosities. In the afternoon drive back to the Resort.
6. day: Traditional pig-cooking-party (Tour 3)
All day long traditional “pig-festival” in an old Dani-hamlet within the Resorts´ area or in the Jiwika region. Many dressed up clan members in traditional costumes celebrate the party with us. A “pig-festival” with the hot stones and the earth pits is probably the most interesting thing to see on a travel to Irian Jaya. Photographers and movie makers will totally be satisfied to day. The unique of such an event can hardly be described by words. You have to see it with your own eyes. Lunch will be inside the hamlet. Of course there is also the opportunity for each guest to eat out of the traditional earth pit. The fresh pig meat and the sweet potatoes taste delicious. Back to the Resort in the late afternoon.

7. day: Trekking south Baliem-Gorge (Tour 6)
In the morning we drive to the southern Baliem-Valley. The road ends in a village called Sogogmo, about 3 km before Kurima. Our walking tour along the powerful Baliem-River begins here. First of all a suspension bridge has to be crossed. After that the tour goes on through romantic Dani settlements with terraced fields and wild groves of sugar-cane . All the time we have a wonderful view over the river and the narrow valley. In the early afternoon we reach the church of Seinma where we have lunch surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Before we reach Kurima a suspension bridge has to be crossed again. And before we reach our bus some small side valleys have to be passed. Today one will find a lot of unique photo motives. In the late afternoon we reach the Resort.
8. day: Trekking Pugima-Valley (Tour 7)
Drive in the morning to the church of Siepkosi. Our easy walking tour into the Pugima-Valley starts here. On our way we reach a cave where the Yuan-River comes back to the surface. The wide and fertile Pugima-Valley is highly populated by Mountain-Papuas. In one of the farms we visit the valleys´ only pottery. Beautiful pottery is made here under very simple circumstances. Many objects have already found their way to the Resort´s inventory. In the early afternoon we reach the Baliem-River in the region of Wesaput, where we have lunch. Before we reach our bus a big suspension bridge has to be crossed. On our way back we pass Wamena where we have enough time for a short shopping.
9. day: Drive to the Pass-Valley, Kotilola-Cave, Meagaima-Mummy (Tour 8)
After breakfast we drive over Jiwika and Kurulu to the northern part of the Baliem-Valley. A few kilometers behind Kurulu we visit the famous Kotilola-Cave. The huge cave has partly broken down, a condition that allows a lush vegetation. Drive on northly to the market-place Uwosilomo where more photo motives are waiting for us. From here we drive up the mountains to the Pass-Valley. Mountain forest along the way. Lunch break during our ride in a suitable surrounding. Small trips through the beautiful botany are possible. On our way back stop in Meagaima where an old chief-mummy can be seen in a small Dani-hamlet next to the Baliem-River (about 30 min walking). We reach the Resort in the late afternoon.

10. day: Drive to the Pyramid-Region in the north-western Baliem-Valley (Tour 9)
Start in the morning. First of all we visit the big native market in Wamena. After that we drive along the western side of the valley. Landscape in the west part is different compared to the east. The west is dominated by grass-savannas; often we pass high acacia woods near the river. All the time there is the possibility to make short photo stops. Short breaks in the bigger market places Elagaima and Kimbim. In the region of Pyramid a drive to the Magi-Mountain is planned (depending on weather- and street condition). Here we have an interesting view over the western Baliem-River. Lunch break in a suitable surrounding. The settlement of Pyramid in the northern Baliem-Valley was one of the first missionary stations in the early 50´s concerning the highlands of West-Papua. Later cosy drive back to the Resort. (180 kms altogether).
11. day: After breakfast transfer to airport and flight to Jayapura. Transfer to hotel. Citytour including lunch and dinner. Visit of the Museum and Souvenir Market. Overnight at local hotel. (On request against surcharge overnight possible at Swiss BelHotel, best hotel in town).
12. day: After breakfast transfer to airport and flight to Bali, operated by Garuda Indonesia. Departure: around 09.00h local time, arrival in Bali: around 13.50h local time. Transfer to hotel IDA in Kuta. Rest of day free. (Overnight incl. breakfast).
13. day: Breakfast at hotel IDA. (Overnight incl. breakfast).
The following days until departure do not include any program. Everyone is free to do whatever he likes. Lunch and dinner are not included!
14. day: Breakfast at hotel IDA. Transfer to airport and flight back to Frankfurt.
15. day: Arrival in Frankfurt. End of this unique tour.



Please note:
Passport has to be valid minimum 6 months at entry. Please check with your embassy about the visa procedure. At entry to Papua, each participant must bring 2 pass photos for the surat jalan (travel permit for Papua). At departure from Bali you require IDR 150.000,-- airport tax.

Price inclusions:

  • International flights from/to Frankfurt and national flights in eco-class
  • Hotels and transfers as itinerary
  • Overnight in Jayapura at simple, local hotel
  • Fullboard in Papua, in Bali only breakfast
  • Program and tours as itinerary
  • English speaking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Organization of travel permit for Papua

Not included:

  • Meals in Bali
  • Drinks in hotels + restaurants
  • Overnight at Swiss BelHotel in Jayapura against surcharge
  • Visa fees for INDONESIA
  • Airport taxes in Indonesia
  • IDR 150.000,-- airport tax in Bali at departure
  • Private expenses

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