Papua: immersion among the Una, Yali & Dani

Reception at Bali airport and transfer to Canggu. Night in guest rooms.

Day off. Transfer in the evening to the airport and night flight to Jayapura. Night on board.

After perhaps having had the chance to see the Carstenz peak and its last tropical glaciers, you land early in the morning at Jayapura.

Transfer to the Sentani hotel, and preparation of trekking permits.

Morning flight to Wamena and visit of the surrounding area. Night at the Baliem Pilamo hotel.

The day is devoted to visiting the surroundings of Jiwika, where you will attend a tribal war reenactment and local dances, around an excellent traditional meal. Return to Wamena in the afternoon. Night in the same hotel.

Early morning flight in Pilatus Porter from the AMA mission to Langda, high in the Jayawijaya mountains. A superb hour of flight between gorges and ancient glacial peaks.

Langda is the capital of the Una territory and the gateway to the last stonemasons on the planet.

The rest of the day is devoted to exploring the surrounding villages.

After getting to know your porters, departure for the village of Jalar, following the steep hillsides.

6-7 hours of walking on a very narrow path.

En route, you cross the Mumnye River on a rickety bridge. Arrival in the afternoon at the village of Jalar.

Night in the village church, the best accommodation, sheltered from the torrential rains of the night.

Early in the morning, you set off again towards Larie. It is first a matter of going down a very steep path to the river which separates the two villages, and also going up “dry” the slopes of the hill opposite.

After about 4 hours of walking, arrival at the end of the morning at the village of Larie to the astonishment of the population, very happy to find strangers, the “envoys of the Lord”. Installation in the village church.

Two days are necessary to observe and understand local customs.
Stronghold of the last stonemasons of Papua, we discover this village with round huts, perched on a steep hill. The yowa is the men's hut, and the dibah that of the women, where they nurse young children as well as young pigs, sources of wealth in Papua.
You take the opportunity to stroll through and around the village, particularly along the yam fields where the women plant and harvest sweet potatoes. Many children accompany you, and the elders, in front of the men's hut, peacefully polish the stones. 2 hours of walking. Night in the church.

Today, a dizzying descent (300/400 m difference in altitude) with men who specialize in stone, along the Hei River (also called Heime).

You then explore the banks in search of basalt blocks – sent by the mountain gods, which will be used to make beautiful adzes. You attend the prayers and incantations before your hosts break these blocks of stone with the force of their wrist or using the fire method.

This is probably the highlight day of your tour.

Slow ascent towards Larie, in the afternoon, with all the stone blocks recovered, considered real trophies. Once in the village, the Una, at the foot of the men's hut, show us how they cut and polish this basalt, in order to make adzes.

4/5 hours of walking. Night in the church.

At the beginning of the morning, it is time to say goodbye to these endearing people, and you head back to Langda, along a path that is still narrow, and on very steep slopes.

After 4 hours of walking, stop at the village of Kenyelengde, where you will spend two nights. Night in the village church.

In your honor, the villagers organize a ceremony, because they consider that you made the effort to come from very far away to meet them. One or two pigs will in fact be sacrificed according to an ancestral bow ritual.

The preparation of the meal is then accompanied by dancing and singing, while our guests are adorned in their most beautiful clothes made from orchid fibers, or even bird-of-paradise feathers. You then share the meal, stewed and it is also an opportunity to exchange adzes, bows, arrows and decorations for souvenirs from Europe. Night at church.

When leaving the village, part of the population accompanies you for part of the way. Return to the Langda mission. At the end of a long descent towards the confluence of the Heime and Mumnye rivers, you cross a suspension bridge, then undertake the final ascent towards Landga.

Installation and night in the mission offices. 5 hours of walking.

Early in the morning, flight to Kosarek, in Yali country (30 min flight). Installation in the mission offices.

In the afternoon, first exploration of community life around the village. 1 hour walk.

This morning, you begin a several-day trek to Angguruk, the capital of the Yali region.

The first stop is the village of Serkasi. Crossing a tropical forest along a path just as narrow as among the Una. Along the way, you will take a break in the village of Walsadek, ideal for discussions and meetings with the natives.

4 hours of walking. Night at a local’s place.

New day of walking, which first requires the – quite steep – ascent of Mt Jenggu (3 hours of walking). Then, the descent towards Telambela (2 hours walk) is no less difficult. Night with the village teacher.

After a busy day of walking the day before, you are happy to relax, today, in the village of Telambela, warmly surrounded by natives, who offer you - like a few days ago - a traditional ceremony, during from which a pig is once again sacrificed.

This shows that in every region of the Papuan Highlands, the pig is an important and sacred animal, a source of life and wealth. Night with the village teacher.

Today's hike (4-5 hours of walking) takes you to the village of Membaham, on the other side of the mountain. The landscapes are varied and magnificent, as you cross the Tumolo and Punum rivers, and follow the Walom falls. If you are lucky, you will even have the opportunity to observe different species of birds and other small mammals. Night at a local’s home in Membaham.

Today's trek is the longest of the circuit (between 7 and 8 hours of walking), but promises you a spectacular panorama between ascents and descents of hills. The effort is therefore worth it. Night at a local’s home or at the village school.

At the start of the morning, quite steep and difficult descent towards the Obahek river (2h). After crossing a suspension bridge, you begin the final ascent towards Angguruk (2-3h), the final stage of your trek in Yali country.

Morning flight to Wamena.

Meeting with your porters, and journey to Kurima.

Start of the trek towards the village of Kilise (3h30), which crosses superb gardens cultivated with yams and sweet potatoes. In the afternoon, meeting with the villagers, who share their daily life. Night at a local’s place.

Last morning of immersion with the Dani, then walk back towards Sogokmo (2h30), before reaching Wamena by vehicle.

Night at Baliem Pilamo Hotel.

Flight to Jayapura and visit the surroundings of Lake Sentani. Night at the hotel of the same name.