Last updated: 2010-02-15

Day by Day

Day 1-2

Gathering at our hotel in Denpasar on Bali. Flight to Timika on New Guinea. There is a divine mixture of people, lured there by the big gold mine, owned by the American corporation Freeport. Its operation in New Guinea is much disputed and increases the tension between the Papuans and the Indonesian regime.

Day 3-6

To the Kamoro District, by traditional boats, on the south west coast. The landscape is dominated by mangrove forests, lowland rainforests and an eternity of river and canals. People use motorboats or canoes to transport themselves and goods from one place to another. The tide rules life and the houses are built on poles. During four days you travel by boat and visit and stay over night in different villages. Kamoro is known for wood carving. The trade is quite vivid and in most villages you will see craftsmen at work. Back to Timika by boat.

Day 7

Flight to Jayapura, the Papua Provinces capital, which is beautifully situated in a bay.

Dag 8

Flight to the highlands. Wamena is the main town in the Baliem Valley and is situated at 1600 m height. The area is inhabited by the dani, lani and yali tribes. The different ethnic groups live completely separated from each other. Both men and women dress traditionally, the men only wearing koteka, penis encasement.

Day 9-13

During five days you trek between the villages in the area around the Baliem Valley. You trek in small groups of 2-4 persons, with a local guide and stay over night in villages on the same conditions as the inhabitants. The landscape is very beautiful and hilly. Proper trekking shoes are recommended since it can get very slippery. Many interesting meetings with people await you during the coming days. You will see how people prepare food with hot stones, without any kind of pots, in cooking holes. The habitants of the Baliem Valley live in a very primary way and a visit here is like travelling hundreds of years back in time. None of the ethnic groups here have been reached by civilization in a remarkable way. The contrast to the surrounding modern society is striking and the threats towards the traditional way of life are many.

Day 14

One day in Wamena. In one of the villages you can take part in a traditional ceremony with war game, singing and pig slaughter.

Day 15-16

Flight via Jayapura to Manokwari, a pleasant small town by the sea and with rainforest around the corner. Take a walk in Gunung Mejas nature sanctuary, visit the fish market och take a swim at Pasir Putih-the white beach.

Day 17-20

By car along the coast to Ransiki. During five days you travel by rented boat through Cenderawasih, Indonesia’s biggest marine sanctuary. One of the worlds richest in species marine environments and a large quantity of different bird species. You snorkel over the reefs and stay over night in villages on different islands. There are over 18 islands, of which five are inhabited. The inhabitants live on fishing, beetle nut farming, fruits etc. Few tourists come here. You will be welcomed with open arms. You return to Manokwari the last day.

Day 21

One more day in Manokwari, a chance to see what you missed before.

Day 22

Flight to Denpasar on Bali.

Day 23

The journey is finished.