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HIGHLIGHTS
- 14 day PNG tour with 11 nights on this new track across the Owen Stanley Ranges
- Experience many villages on your adventure where few white men or women have been
- Walk up and alongside many rivers before we climb the main range. This is literally a rivers trek
- Walk through beautiful savannah grasslands before we cross the mighty Musa River
- Boat ride from Embessa down the crocodile infested Musa River to Foru Island for overnight stay
- Early morning boat ride from the mouth of the Musa across the Solomon Sea to Oro Bay
- Experience magnificent scenery, wonderful sunsets and star gazing along this new adventure in PNG
- NB only available to previous GT Kokoda trekkers who are fit and can handle a category 2 walk
Day 1
Arrive in Port Moresby. Airport pick up and transfers to accommodation. Join your fellow adventurers tonight for an evening meet & greet then a program brief.Day 2
Today will be your first taste of breaking new ground in PNG. What a surreal feeling. After breakfast we hop on board our PMV for the drive down the highway to Moreguina. After a 5 hour drive plus trekking, we set up camp on the banks of the Uma River, maybe enjoy a swim, and then relax. 3 / 6Day 3
An early morning start. Our walk begins up one of the many rivers in the foothills of the Owen Stanley’s. We pass by the impressive Gamgee Falls on the Aisa River (NB, we have some history here). We will set up our overnight camp on the banks of the Aisa and maybe enjoy another swim, then relax. 5 / 9Day 4
Our trek continues along the Nicosia River as we climb the Owen Stanley Ranges, until we bivouac camp at Old Maraube village. 6 / 12
Day 5
We cross the scenic and yet devastated Ukuma River some 65 times throughout the day, as we make our way downstream to the beautiful village of Domearu, for a well earned break in a wonderful guest house. This river in particular, was hit by the rains from Cyclone Guba in November 2007. 7 / 11
Day 6
We must start very early today as we will complete 20 kms over 9 hours of hard trekking. We stay in the village of Jari, another wonderful village that has not seen taubadas for some time. We are now roughly half way through the trekking side of the tour. 9 / 20Day 7
This morning we will firstly head off to visit a WW2 bomber some 2 hours walking distance. On our return, we set off for a relatively easy walk to the village Babira 2. 7 / 18Day 8
A relatively easy walk today, as we receive a traditional welcome in our Trek Masters village of Yauri and stay in the recently built guest house for GT trekkers. 2 / 4Day 9
We go to Safia today, a village that has an airstrip built by the Americans during the war. We journey through the villages of Babira 1 and Domara and possibly visit another WW2 bomber. 5 / 10Day 10
An early start to the day as this is a big one. We camp at Ovessa, a small but beautiful village in the middle of the rainforest. We will enjoy our stay after a tough day on the track. 10 / 24Day 11
Today we complete the walking section of our adventure as we arrive at the large village of Embessa in the morning for a wonderful traditional welcome. An afternoon of rest or getting into the local culture, as there will be plenty of that in this remotest of villages. 2 / 7Day 12
We board our boat for the voyage down the crocodile infested Musa River. By nightfall we reach Foru Island at the mouth of the Musa as it enters the sea. We spend the night in huts on stilts by the riverside, listening to the ocean in the distance, ensuring we are careful to avoid the crocs. The sunsets here can be magnificent. At this point, we have learned to expect the unexpected! 8 / 135Day 13
Arise well before sunrise for our boat ride from the mouth of the Musa River across the Solomon Sea to Oro Bay. From there, we make our way to Popondetta (POP) on a PMV, then to Girua airport for the short flight to Port Moresby, where once again we sleep in a real bed in our comfortable hotel. Look back on your day and consider the reality of your journey from the Musa River to Moresby – all in a day! 4 / 60Day 14
We have packed our bags the previous night as we have learned to be prepared well in advance in this country that is Papua New Guinea. Hopefully the head and body are in good shape after the previous nights celebrations of your trek of a lifetime. Then we’re off home. Unreal!Key to notes: 3 / 6 = 3 hours over 6 kms (approx)
Trek Cost - $ 3,995.00 (based on minimum 8 participants)
Note: The cost of this trek has been reduced significantly due to a favourable currency exchange rate. This represents great value for money!
Inclusions
• 14 day fully escorted tour ex Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG)• Airport transfers and overnight accommodation in Port Moresby (POM) for 2 nights
• All meals in POM at start and end of trek
• People moving vehicle (PMV) to MMR trek start point at Moreguina
• PNG & MMR track experienced leader
• Personal carrier (normal cost $650)
• All food whilst on trek (supplemented with village fruit & vegetables and possibly freshly caught fish)
• Boat pick up & transfer to Foru Island / Oro Bay with qualified / experienced boat operator and boat boy
• Boat is a 5-6 metre fibreglass dinghy with a 40hp Yamaha Enduro four stroke outboard. This type of craft is common throughout PNG and is used for transport and fishing in both rivers and the open sea. We have organised for a Biminy type shelter to provide some protection from the elements.
• PMV to Popondetta & Girua International airport
• Domestic flight from Girua to Port Moresby
Exclusions
• All items of a personal nature, including trekking equipment
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Visa to PNG
• Alcohol in POM or POP
Your Safety Is Our Priority
To ensure your journey is memorable for all of the right reasons, our attention to safety is second to none. Getaway Trekking staff are experienced leaders and trekkers in PNG and have completed the MMR Track previously. All have Wilderness First Aid training. GT leaders will carry an extensive wilderness First Aid kit, but you are expected to bring your own for personal use. We have an excellent support network both in POM & Australia. We are in regular contact via satellite phone to our logistics base. Getaway Trekking can assist you in your physical preparation and help you with the correct selection of clothing and equipment.
NB. As previously stated, this tour will only be available to previous Getaway Trekking Kokoda trekkers who are fit and can handle a category 2 walk.
Risk
Please be aware and take note; this tour is not for the faint hearted. You will experience many river and log crossings which are potentially dangerous. You will spend an entire day in a boat voyaging down a crocodile infested river and across the ocean. Getaway Trekking leaders will assess each risk at every point of the journey, but we cannot control the weather conditions or the environment in which we travel. There will naturally be a high likelihood of accident and / or injury. We have allowed extra time for contingencies beyond our control such as torrential rain and flooded rivers.
Weather conditions in Papua New Guinea are often unreliable and it is advisable that plenty of time is allowed for travel transits. Getaway Trekking is not responsible for any costs incurred by connections that are not made.
Please note; for your own safety, Getaway Trekking need to be satisfied that you are capable of completing this tour and your acceptance into any group will solely be at the discretion of Getaway Trekking principals.