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Heroes and Heroines The Sepik
The Sepik is revered for its art.
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Papua New Guinea Holidays
A fascinating place in every respect; and one more akin to Africa than its Pacific surroundings. Come face to face with friendly tribes and bizarre customs while you traverse this stunning island.
Papua New Guinea is a wild, raw, captivating frontier of a country – more like Africa than any of its close neighbours. The Papuan people are proud and welcoming and their traditions and sometimes bizarre customs will enthral.
From the still prevalent Highland culture of ‘an eye for an eye’ to the fact that pigs remain the ‘glue’ which binds PNG society, as the number of pigs a man owns reflects his material wealth and social standing. It is not a cheap destination, however, if you have a penchant for adventure and the path less travelled, it really doesn’t get much better than PNG. Its tagline ‘land of the unexpected’ is very apt.
What to expect on your holiday to Papua New Guinea
This tropical land of extraordinary topographical variety encompasses the Highlands, with peaks over 14,000 feet, the lowlands of the Sepik River and an extensive coastline dotted with stunning outlying islands. The most linguistically diverse country on earth, Papua New Guinea has 850 languages and wonderfully rich flora and fauna. Home to numerous species of birds of paradise and marsupials including tree kangaroos and wallabies that took to the trees of PNG’s rainforests some five million years ago.
In such a topographically torturous country even now the road infrastructure remains modest and the best way to get around is by air. However, delays are inevitable and published departure times no more than a ballpark guide, so always travel in PNG with a good book and a sense of humour.
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Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea – Sepik River Adventure Cruise
This 11-day expedition cruise around PNG offers the chance to access secluded islands for world-class snorkelling and diving, as well as experiencing ancient tribal cultures and spectacular scenery. All from the comfort of the exceptional True…
Explore Papua New Guinea
- The Sepik River
- The Highlands
- Port Moresby
- Tufi Peninsula
- Islands of PNG
Experiences
A selection of activities and experiences you could consider including in your holiday to Papua New Guinea.
Where to stay..
Accommodation in PNG ranges from comfortable lodges in remote locations to coastal resorts and simple guesthouses. Our experts know many of them first hand so can help chose the right property to suit your taste and budget.
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What should I see?
Dive in the fjords of Tufi, a virtually unexplored underwater world or explore the Sepik River by dug out canoe, spotting crocodiles and bird of paradise and tree kangaroos.Meet the Huli Wigmen and Asaro Mudmen in the highlands, flying over the uninterrupted jungle below. The ‘cultural shows’ in both the Sepik and Highlands around Goroka are a particular highlight, though they may seem somewhat artificial, please be aware that they are helping to keep cultural traditions alive at a time of profound change in PNG.
Will I have one guide in Papua New Guinea throughout my holiday?
As a result of the extreme topography of PNG, huge diversity of languages and cultural differences between areas you will have different local guides in each place, rather than a single guide accompanying you throughout. The benefit of this is that you get a local guide in each place who is fully versed with regards to the local area, language and cultural mores.
Is it safe to be out in the sun?
Papua New Guinea is known for its extremely hot summers and it can take only 15 minutes in the sun for the skin to burn. Even on cloudy days, the suns rays are still very strong and protection will be needed. Make sure you bring a high factor, water-resistant sun cream, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and some form of cover-up. We always advise avoiding the sun during the middle of the day when it is at its most intense, and making sure you drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated.
What is the time zone in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea is 10 hours ahead of GMT and doesn’t observe daylight saving time.
How long are the flights to Papua New Guinea from the UK?
The flight time from London to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea via Singapore typically takes approximately 22 hours.
Are there laundry facilities?
Laundry facilities are available at all hotels, typically with a 24 hour turnaround time.
Will I have one guide in Papua New Guinea throughout my holiday?
As a result of the extreme topography of PNG, huge diversity of languages and cultural differences between areas you will have different local guides in each place, rather than a single guide accompanying you throughout. The benefit of this is that you get a local guide in each place who is fully versed with regards to the local area, language and cultural mores.
Is it safe to swim in Papua New Guinea?
You cannot swim in the Sepik (due to crocs), but do pack swimwear for snorkelling/ diving and use in pools when abluting in the Sepik, where a bucket of water is provided.
Can I use my mobile phone in Papua New Guinea?
The local PNG mobile network is surprisingly extensive; however, in remoter parts including parts of the Sepik there are obvious black spots. International network coverage can be sporadic (Blackberry for some reason doesn’t work at all) and tends to be unreliable.
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Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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