Korowai & Dani: tribes of the lowlands and highlands of Papua

After perhaps catching a glimpse of Carstenz Peak and its last tropical glaciers, you land in Jayapura in the early morning. Transfer to the hotel and prepare your trekking permits. The rest of the day is free. Opportunity to visit the Sentini market and the surrounding area.

Transfer to the airport in the morning and flight to Dekai (1h flight), located south of the Papuan mountain range and at the gateway to Korowai country, the famous "tree people". The rest of the day is free. Option to visit the town on foot.

After a short overland transfer to the port of Dekai, the day is devoted to a long trip on the Brazza river, in a motorised canoe, to Mabul (8-10 hours by boat), the last "civilised" village before your exploration of Korowai country.

In the early morning, you begin a trek through the jungle (2 hours) to reach Korowai country. The path is quite muddy and you will often have to walk on slippery logs, or even cross rivers with or without bridges. Typical landscapes of the equatorial jungles of Papua's lowlands, where humidity can reach extreme levels (between 85 and 95%). During your trek among the Korowai, you will be accompanied by a team of porters, always ready to help with the more difficult passages. The Korowai are nomadic people who are always on the move. They move every 3 years and live in small groups. That's why you'll only see 2, 3 or 4 tree houses in each village. The men are excellent hunters (wild boar, tarsiers, birds, etc.) and some of them, when you meet them, will be happy to introduce you to their habits and customs. In any case, you will sleep at the foot of the trees, in makeshift shelters, and you will have time to share the daily life of your hosts: harvesting sago, setting traps, fishing… and building houses in the trees, at an altitude of 25-30 m.

The day is devoted to observing the traditional life of the Korowai. In particular, you will help them to set animal traps. In the afternoon, you head for the village of Haliganop, where you settle in for the night. In the late afternoon, you can take advantage of the cooler weather to chat with your hosts in their high perched house.

You will spend two days in this village, studying how your hosts harvest sago and how the women fish with nets in the nearby river. As a reward, you'll be treated to a superb sago ceremony.

It's time to say goodbye to your hosts. After a moving farewell, you set off back to Mabul, then by motorboat to the village of Pepera.

Long boat trip to Logpond (5-6 hours), then transfer by vehicle to Dekai (30 minutes), where you return to civilisation. The rest of the day is free.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Wamena (30 mins), capital of the Baliem valley. Check-in at the hotel and the rest of the day is free. Opportunity to visit the town and its traditional market.

In the early morning, transfer to the village of Sogokmo (45 mins), where you will meet your porters and cook, who will accompany you for the duration of your trek through the valley. You then begin the first part of the trek towards Kurima, then Kilise (3h30 walk). On a well-marked path, you pass through the first Dani villages, which are established farmers. Their yam and sweet potato gardens are superb. In the afternoon, you'll have time to learn a little more about the local customs and traditions as you stroll around Kilise.

In the early morning, you continue on your way to Syokosimo, located at the bottom of the hill, close to the Baliem river. As you pass through the village of Hihundes, you will meet the local people who are cultivating their fields. In the distance, the Baliem gorges are superb. Later, in Syokosimo, you can share in the daily life of the Dani people.

After breakfast, you begin the last leg of your trek to Sogokmo (3 hrs). The trek passes through the traditional village of Ugem, where the locals are delighted to welcome you. Arriving in Sogokmo, you are transferred to Wamena (45 mins). Check into the hotel. The rest of the day is free, and you can visit the local market nearby.

The day is devoted to visiting the area around Jiwika, where you will witness a tribal war re-enactment and local dances. You will also share an excellent traditional meal, for which a suckling pig will have been sacrificed according to an age-old ritual. Return to Wamena in the afternoon.

Early morning flight to Jayapura. This is the perfect time to explore the area around the superb Lake Sentani, visit the Museum of Anthropology and the old Hamadi market in Jayapura.