Baliem Valley-Korowai Trekking & Raja Ampat

During this private tour  you will visit the Baliem Valley and later on you go on a mind-blowing journey to the Korowai tree house nomads. We start our trip in Papua with an easy hike to meet the Danis in their villages and fields. Of course, we also experience a traditional pig festival, one of the absolute highlights of any Papua trip. After our exciting days in the Baliem Valley, the real adventure begins. We take a flight to the lowlands, from where we travel, first by boat and later on foot, to the land of the Korowai. On our 8 days/ 7 nights jungle trip into the Korowai territory, we meet
authentic tribesmen who live in tree houses and still hunt with bows and arrows. And after this amazing adventure travel in Indonesia some days in Raja Ampat. You are never going toforget this unique adventure.

DAY 1 JAYAPURA-BALIEM VALLEY 
Arrival in Jayapura, flight to Wamena, and transfer to The Baliem Valley Resort.
When arriving at Jayapura airport, our manager Siprianus is here to welcome you and assist with the check-in for your direct onward flight to Wamena. At Wamena airport, you meet your local guide and your driver. On the way to The Baliem Valley Resort, we visit the market of Wamena. Here local Danis offer their agricultural products. Besides the very popular sweet potato, many other vegetables and fruits are offered. The market of Wamena is also the biggest trading place for the very sought-after wild boars. Once at The Baliem Valley Resort, you settle in your bungalow and, depending on the time of day, you can enjoy lunch or an afternoon coffee. Later, dinner is served in the restaurant.

DAY 2 BALIEM VALLEY- TRADITIONAL PIG FESTIVAL
Traditional pig festival, an unforgettable experience
Today is a very special day! After breakfast, we get ready to participate in a pig feast which takes place in a traditional Dani village. Many decorated people from the Dani tribe take part in the festival. Such pig feasts with hot stones and earth pits are probably the most interesting part of a trip to New Guinea. It is difficult to describe what exactly is so unique about these festivals because there is just too much happening at once. You have to see and experience it yourself. For lunch, there is a picnic but you can also eat the food from the traditional earth pit if you like. The freshly cooked pork and sweet potatoes are delicious! In the late afternoon, we return to the Resort.
The pig festival takes place in changing villages. Precise information on travel times cannot be provided. 1 hour walking. Guide included.

DAY 3 THE BALIEM VALLEY RESORT-KELISE VILLAGE
First trekking day in the southern Baliem Valley and meeting with the Dani people
In the morning we leave The Baliem Valley Resort and drive to the southern Baliem Valley. The road ends at the village of Sogogmo and our trekking tour along the roaring Baliem River begins here. We are accompanied by a team of porters and a cook. We cross the river on a suspension bridge and continue through Dani settlements with their terraced fields and wild sugar cane groves. We enjoy magnificent views over the river and the narrow valley. After lunch, we continue our hike until we reach the village of Kelise where we stay overnight in a local guest house.
Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 4-5 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: guesthouse. Meals: full board.

DAY 4 KELISE VILLAGE- SYOKOSIMO VLLAGE
Second day of trekking
After breakfast we continue our hike. Today’s trail is a little bit more demanding. First, we go down a steep slope which brings us directly to the Baliem River. We cross the river at the suspension bridge of Lelipso village. For this crossing you should not be afraid of heights as the bridge is quite shaky. Afterwards, we have lunch at a small waterfall where we can also freshen up a bit. Then the path gets narrower and we have to cross another river. Finally, we reach our final destination, the village of Syokosimo, where we stay for the night in a guesthouse. The villagers surely bring us some delicious fresh sweet potatoes to roast on the campfire.
5-6 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: guesthouse. Meals: full board.

DAY 5 SYOKOSIMO VILLAGE- HITUGI VILLAGE 
Panorama over the Baliem River and the Baliem Valley
We start our third day of trek in the Baliem Valley with a path that leads steeply upwards. Once at the top, we have a fantastic view over the Baliem River and the valley. We take our time and enjoy the view before continuing to follow the path. We are not far from Hitugi village. On the way there, we pass another typical Dani village and a small market place. When we arrive in Hitugi, we again spend the night in a local guest house.
4-5 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: guesthouse. Meals: full board.

DAY 6 HITUGI VILLAGE- THE BALIEM VALLEY RESORT 
Last day of trekking and return to The Baliem Valley Resort
We leave Hitugi and follow the ridge for a while until we reach the beautiful and flowery village of Seinma. From here, the path leads us through a mountain forest and can be muddy in places. We slowly descend and soon more Dani fields appear, mainly with sweet potatoes, but also corn, cassava and exotic plants like ginger. We cross the suspension bridge of Sogogmo and after a short climb we are back on the road where our driver is waiting for us. Night and dinner at The Baliem Valley Resort.
Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 3-4 hours of trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

DAY 7 WAMENA-DEKAI 
Flight to the lowlands and start of the boat trip towards the Korowai area.
In the morning, we drive to Wamena airport for our flight to Dekai which is located on the upper reaches of the Brazza River. After arrival, we visit the local market and do the last shopping for the tour. After lunch in a local restaurant, we drive to the port of Dekai where our motor longboat and crew are waiting for us. We go downriver until we reach the village of Patipi Dibawa. Here we set up our first camp on the riverbank. This short stage gives us an idea of what to expect in the next days: pure jungle landscapes!
Transportation: Flight from Wamena to Dekai: 30 minutes. 1 hour of drive, 2 hours by boat. Guide and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 8 DEKAI-MABUL
Arrival in Mabul and preparation of the trekking
After breakfast, we continue downriver in our longboat. We pass lush forests and every now and then hornbills, flying foxes and other birds appear at the sound of the passing boat. Around noon, we reach the mouth of the mighty Siret River. After the lunch break, we go up the Siret River until we reach the Korowai settlement of Mabul. On our way the Siret changes its face. The current gets stronger, sandbanks appear,big tree trunks often block parts of the way, and less and less local boats can be seen. Under the best conditions, we reach Mabul in the early afternoon. Mabul is a small settlement established by the Indonesian government for the Korowai in the hope that they leave the forest and give up their nomadic life. We use this settlement as a starting point for our trekking expedition into the Korowai corridor. With a bit of luck, we can pitch our tents and kitchen in an empty stilt house. Later, we start recruiting our porters for the next days.
Transportation: 6-8 hours by boat. Guide and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 9  MABUL-KOROWAI SETTLEMENT 
Start of the trek, visit of the first Korowai settlement
After breakfast, we meet our team of porters who accompany us for the next days. We leave Mabul heading East. Within only 50 meters, we are standing in a dense forest which we will not leave for the next days. Today we need about 4 hours to reach our first destination: a fantastic jungle settlement with several tree houses. The Korowai are very loving people and they welcome us immediately. We set up our camp amidst the tree houses - or maybe even inside a tree house.
4-5 hours of trekking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 10 KOROWAI SETTLEMENT
Full day with the Korowai tribe and demonstration of sago processing
Today we follow the Korowai into the sago forest. Here we experience a spectacle from another world. The forest nomads cut down a huge sago palm with their stone axes, open the trunk and start to smash the sago. The sago pulp is processed by women who wash it in primitive "washing machines" - built only from leaves, twigs and rotan. Photo lovers will never forget this day! In the afternoon, we are back to the tree houses where our cook starts preparing our next real jungle dinner. Besides the fresh sago we probably enjoy papaya, vegetables, sago larvae and plantains!
1-2 hours of easy hiking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 11 KOROWAI SETTLEMENT
Trekking to another Korowai settlement
We leave our first Korowai camp and go back into the forest. Today we want to trek to another Korowai village and spend the night there. The trekking through the untouched tropical forest is unique and sometimes challenging. It may be necessary to cross small rivers or swamps. We expect to arrive at the Korowai village in the early afternoon. After setting up our tents and kitchen, we spend the rest of the day with the local Korowai. They often repair their tree houses at extreme heights. They still make and use bows and arrows - the most important weapons here. Or maybe we accompany the Korowai on a journey into the forest to seek food. They are true hunters and gatherers: in a few hours their nets are filled with spiders, larvae, grasshoppers and other exotic animals. They even shoot flying foxes from the trees.
4-5 hours of trekking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 12 KOROWAI SETTLEMENT-MABUL 
Another day in another world
This is our last day with the Korowai and in this wonderful forest. We thank our hosts and hike back to Mabul. Today’s forest walk takes about 4 hours. Arriving in Mabul, we have time for an extensive bath in the river. We set up our camp for the night again or - depending on the weather - we get back into the boat and cover the first part of the return journey. In both cases, we have another night in tents and dinner from the campfire.
4-5 hours of trekking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 13 MABUL - PATIPI DIBAWA 
Return by boat
In the morning we leave our camp and follow the river downstream. After about 2 hours, we pass again the mouth of the Brazza River and continue our way back to Patipi Dibawa. In the late afternoon we set up camp in the small village on the upper reaches of the Brazza River.
Full day by boat. Guide and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

DAY 14 PATIPI DIBAWA- JAYAURA 
Back to Jayapura
Today we leave very early in the direction of the port of Dekai. After a 2-hour drive, we reach our destination and say goodbye to our boat crew. By car we drive directly to the airport of Dekai. Around noon, we fly back to the capital Jayapura. Once at Jayapura airport, we first check-in at the hotel and then drive to the nearby Sentani Lake. After lunch at a lakeside restaurant, we depart on our boat tour to visit the artist villages of Asei and Ayapo. They are known for their traditional paintings called Maro - simple depictions of animals on pressed tree bark in red, white and black. Originally worn as skirts, they are now mostly used as wall decorations. In the afternoon, check in to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Transportation: Flight from Dekai to Jayapura: 45 minutes. 2 hours by boat, 1,5 hours of drive. Guide included. Accommodation: Horex hotel. Meals: full board.

DAY 15  JAYAPURA-SORONG
You enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to Jayapura airport. Siprianus accompanies you to ensure a smooth check-in and a pleasant onward journey. 20 minutes of drive. Then flight to Sorong where you will spend one night before heading to Raja Ampat island! Accommodation: Swiss Bellin Sorong.

DAY 16  SORONG-PAPUA PARADISE ECO RESORT

Transfer to the port to take the ferry to Papua Paradise Eco Resort. Rest of the day free at your own leisure. Meals : breakfast and dinner

DAYS 17-18-19 : PAPUA PARADISE ECO RESORT

Free days at your own leisure. Here s you can enjoy a wonderful quality of stay and some of the best diving around.

Papua Paradise Resort lies along the pristine shoreline of the uninhabited island of Birie, Raja Ampat. The island is teeming with exotic bird life, lush jungle foliage, and a spectacular array of fauna, while the reefs in the surrounding area offer world class diving.

Built in traditional style, Papua Paradise offers an exceptionally high standard of comfort and service. This ideal retreat away from civilization, echoing with only the sound of the birds and the lapping of the waves under the bungalows, Papua Paradise offers simple yet comfortable accommodation, and a high standard of service. The resort also offers the only luxury spa in Raja Ampat. Spa in Paradise is a place of healing, relaxation and rejuvenation.

This tailor made paradise for divers is the perfect place to see manta rays, sharks, and shoals of schooling fish, and explore reef slopes with some of the widest diversity of corals in the world. Seek out rare dugongs, hike at sunrise to see the stunning birds of paradise, and meet the wonderful local people of Raja Ampat. All this and more before ending the day with a perfect ocean sunset view from your private balcony. Meals: full board

DAY 20  PAPUA PARADISE ECO RESORT SORONG -OUT

Transfert to Sorong to take your flight out. We hope you will always remember this adventure trip in Indonesia. 

Note: All of our itineraries can be tailored to your requirements, allowing us to create the perfect tailor-made trip in Indonesia just for you. Contact us with your holiday ideas and we’ll start planning your unique personalized trip!