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.
| Start date | End date | Days | Prices from | Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/07/22 | 15/07/22 | 13 days | £12,995 ex. flights | £3,895 | Nathan Bately | 10 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
Evoke your senses and prepare for a cultural immersion like no other. Discover diverse tribal tapestry’s in the Sepik river, ancient cultures and rituals of Papua New Guinea’s highlands and the dramatic costumes, colours and rhythm of Rabaul’s annual Mask Festival.
Begin with five days cruising the mighty Sepik River aboard the Kalibobo Spirit yacht. Enjoy unforgettable encounters with villagers still living a completely subsistence lifestyle off the fish they catch daily and the sago cultivated in the surrounding lowland waterways.
From here, take a privately chartered light aircraft up to the highlands region to continue the journey of discovery. The Highlanders first contact with the outside world didn’t occur until 1930, and rich cultural practices and beliefs still hold strong today. This experience, offers the chance to get up close and personal with the ghoulish Asaro Mudmen, perhaps the most distinctive tribe in Papua New Guinea. Hear the incredible tale of guile and survival which forged their identity. Learn about sorcery and witchcraft, take part in a Mumu (traditional feast), learn about traditional tribal warfare and try to catch a glimpse of the Papua New Guinea’s national symbol, a Bird of Paradise in the wild!
The tour culminates with time spent witnessing Rabaul’s Mask Festival. This three-day festival is a cacophony of colour, sound and movement, as tribes from far and wide summons their ancestors through performance and ritual with elaborately decorated masks and extravagant dances. Witness the breathtaking spectacle of Baining Fire Dancing, where, initiated young men adorning ornate masks displaying their lineage flit in and out of the shadows and into the fire, scattering sparks into the night.
Nathan Batley has been accompanying trips as a guide since 2017. Nathan is driven by the desire to show guests the absolute best this diverse region has to offer, and in doing so to support local tribes to celebrate their ancient traditions, to protect the unique endemic wildlife, preserve their pristine natural environments and move prosperously towards a bright tomorrow.
Cruise the Sepik, home to remote villages nurturing traditions, rituals and legends
Encounter Asaro Mudmen, Huli Wigmen and birds of paradise in the Highlands
Experience sing-sings, fire dances, and elaborate, ritualistic costumes and masks
Spend three days witnessing a wide range of cultural dancing, sing-sings, and ritual performances at the annual Mask Festival.
Day 1
Port Moresby - Mandang
Day 2
Madang
Days 3 - 6
Sepik River
Days 7 - 8
Mount Hagen and the Highlands
Day 9
Mount Hagen to Rabaul
Days 10 - 12
Mask Festival
Day 13
Rabaul to Port Moresby
Day 1
Port Moresby - Mandang
Arrive into Port Moresby. Enjoy a morning city tour before flying to Madang in the early evening.
Day 2
Madang
In the morning explore Madang. After lunch, transfer to the port to embark the Kalibobo Spirit, before departing for the Mighty Sepik.
Days 3 - 6
Sepik River
Spend the next four days exploring remote villages along the Sepik River.
Days 7 - 8
Mount Hagen and the Highlands
Visit the local remote villages of the Mount Hagen region. Whilst here, learn about sorcery and witchcraft from real Sangarum (witch doctors).
Day 9
Mount Hagen to Rabaul
Transfer back to Mount Hagen for your flight to Port Moresby. From here, fly to the beautiful East New Britain, home of National Mask Festival.
Days 10 - 12
Mask Festival
Spend three days witnessing this incredible festival. We have strategically booked accommodation right next door to the showgrounds which allows you to come and go as you please – to retreat to the air conditioning, recharge cameras and refresh whenever you feel the need.
Day 13
Rabaul to Port Moresby
Depart on an early morning flight to Port Moresby to connect with your flight home.
Boasting four levels of luxury, the Kalibobo Spirit features separate indoor and outdoor dining and a comfortable lounge area with a well stocked cocktail bar and ample covered deck space for relaxing on three decks. The master suite, 6 queen sized and 2 single guest cabins, accommodating up to 16 guests.
Refitted to cruise the waters of Papua New Guinea, this beautiful vessel – manned by experienced crew – brings the ultimate boat experience to the waters of the South Pacific.
The Sepik River runs over for well over a 1000 kilometres from its source deep in the central mountains through to the Bismarck Sea. This remote region made up of vast river systems, beautiful coastlines and mountain ranges takes you well beyond the beaten track to villages with one foot still in the stone age.
The timeless mystery of Sepik folklore is still proudly displayed right throughout the region with insights into the origin of the country’s greatest tribal adornments, traditions and artefacts.
Papua New Guinea’s largest populations of tribes people are found among the mountain valleys and rushing rivers of the Highlands. This region is considered to be the true heart of Papua New Guinea. The Highlands offer a huge variety of different and most renowned tribes. Huli wigmen and the Asaro Mudmen are to be found dwelling here.
At dawn the beating of kundus and chanting of elders evokes the male and female spirits of the Duk Duk and Tambuan for the for the Kinavai Opening Ceremony. From across the water in dugout canoes, through the mist to the crescendo of drums and voices they come. This spine-chilling opening sets the scene for three days of immersion among some of the most ancient cultural ritual in the world, still practiced today. Welcome to Papua New Guinea’s International Mask Festival in Kokopo, East New Britain, the rising star of PNG’s renowned festival scene.
We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Our average group size is typically eight to ten people, smaller than other group tours typically offered – a factor which many of our clients appreciate. Travelling as part of a smaller group provides a more intimate, personalised and relaxed atmosphere.
We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.
Steppes Travellers are like-minded people – interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.
Our tours are well-priced to ensure you get real value for money. We include gratuities on the majority of our tours and do not pass on currency surcharges. We strive to look after single travellers as well as we can, keeping single supplements to a minimum.
When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days | Prices from | Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/07/22 | 15/07/22 | 13 days | £12,995 ex. flights | £3,895 | Nathan Bately | 10 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.
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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.
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