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.
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.
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Arguably the true heart of PNG, the Highlands offer a huge variety of different and most renowned tribes. Huli wigmen and the Asaro Mudmen are to be found dwelling here.
PNG’s largest populations of tribespeople are found among the mountain valleys and rushing rivers of the Highlands. Surrounded by peaks, the pleasant town of Goroka has a “perpetual” spring-like climate, with warm days and cool nights year-round.
It’s also a great place for planning treks into the nearby jungles and caves or arranging village stays. For an adventurous hike, take the four-day climb up Mt Wilhelm, the highest peak in PNG at just over 4,500m. On clear days, you can see both the north and south coasts from the summit.
The town of Tari in the Southern Highlands provides access to the spectacular Tari Valley, a renowned bird watching site. Tari is also one of the few towns where some people still wear traditional dress (though lots of people in rural areas still wear the garb of their ancestors).
A visit to the Huli Wigmen, who spend 18 months growing their hair to make bushy wigs to sell, provides an entertaining introduction to a local talent for self-decoration that reaches its apogee in the “sing-sings” (festivals) in which clans gather for sell-out shows in towns such as Goroka and Mt Hagen.
The Goroka Show is the country’s most colourful festival features an unforgettable line-up of full tribal regalia, live bands and much merriment. Over 1,000 performers from 70 different tribes participate. Book travel plans well in advance. Slightly smaller than the sing-sing held in Goroka, the Mt Hagen Show is nevertheless one of PNG’s most famous fests. Around 50 different tribes compete for top honours and prize money in magnificent costumes.
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
This holiday to Papua New Guinea offers a wonderful overview of this wild country’s main highlights, covering varied and fascinating landscapes and cultures.
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
After my degree in Fine Art I didn’t really know what career I wanted or what path I would take. The only thing I knew is that having spent a summer in America it had given me the desire to explore and see as many places as possible before becoming a grown up and entering the real world.
My first journey for Steppes was in 1999 when I set off to explore Thailand to gather those little details that constitute Steppes Travel’s trademark knowledge. I have since been lucky enough to travel extensively in Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East and India. A few special memories include being joined at dinner by an otter in Laos, proudly being shown an illicit picture of the Dalai Lama in Tibet and diving with manta rays on Christmas day in Indonesia. I’m pretty sure I always leave a country wishing I had done more, seen more, learned more ….. but I also always hope to return …
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01285 880 980These may be uncertain times but they are, without a doubt, still full of opportunity to discover the extraordinary safely. Through knowledge and expertise, we can connect you to those destinations embracing travellers with the added confidence of flexible booking and decades of insight.
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