14 Day $2090pp. Irian Jaya, western New Guinea, is a last frontier for travel amongst unique cultures that have had little contact with, or influence by, western "civilization". A charter plane flies us into the mist shrouded highlands of the Yali tribes. In these mountains we make a traverse along reasonably good but steep trails between villages. The Yali are recognized by the rattan hoops and penis gourds worn by the men and the fiber skirts worn by the women. Few people visit the Yali area, so we will be a real curiousity to the locals. The Yali were fierce headhunters when they were first contacted just 20 years ago. While this practice has stopped, little else has changed. We then hike around the gorgeous Southern Baliem Valley, home to the Dani. Here the men wear only gourds and the women wear grass skirts. This trip is easier and shorter than the Journey Into The Stone Age expedition, but the unique culture seen is still unrivaled anywhere in the world. They remain people on the edge of the stone age!

Includes: All airport transfers, lodging, meals as indicated, porters in tribal areas, and English speaking guide services.

Dates: January, June, September & December

Difficulty: Moderate

Day 1 Depart USA. Leave the west coast in the evening.
Day 2 Today is lost due to the International Date line. It will be regained on the way back.
Day 3 Arrive Jakarta. Arrive Jakarta to catch our flight onward to Jayapura. Overnight on plane.
Day 4 Arrive Wamena. You will arrive in Sentani, near Jayapura, in the early morning (about 7:00 AM). From there we catch a flight to Wamena in the Baliem Valley. We will be transferred to the Baliem Pilamo Hotel. At 5000 ft., this is the home to the Dani tribe. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing from our flights or exploring the Dani culture. In the town market locals dressed only in 'koteka', or penis gourds, and bone amulets, work side by side with Indonesian businessmen. An afternoon hike could take us to the Southern Baliem Valley consisting of Dani villages and expansive views of the valley. Overnight Baliem Pilamo Hotel or similar. (L,D)
Day 5 Wamena - Jiwika -Wamena. In the morning we drive to the village of Suroba (25 minutes), then continue on foot (20 minutes) to the village. Before we reach the village we will encounter the small traditional ropes bridge over the Aike River and see the watchtower; built by villagers of Suroba for Traditional Dance shows. The walk into the village is pleasant under the shadows of a small forest, and the village of Suroba is beautiful with its mountain wall background. After we meet the local people in the village, we walk back to the car in the main road and continue to Jiwika further to the north of Baliem Valley. Arriving in Jiwika, we walk 10 mimutes to the village of Sumpaima to view the 250 year old Mummy. We then continue with a one hour hike-up to Iluerainma to see the Dani people making salt. They do this by soaking bananna stalks in a small brine pool and bringing them home in woven net bags. From Iluerainma we head down to Jiwika for lunch at a small restaurant (Lauk Inn). In the afternoon we drive further to the north to see the Limestone Cave in Waga-Waga and explore the nature surroundings. Late in the afternoon, we drive back to Wamena and have dinner at the hotel's restaurant or at Mentari restaurant. Overnight Baliem Pilamo Hotel (or similar).(B,L,D)
Day 6 Wamena - Kosarek. After an early breakfast at the hotel we will transfer to Missionary airfield and fly by chartered plane to Kosarek (30-minute flight) - the home for Yali or Yalemo tribe. Upon our arrival in Kosarek, we walk to the Missionary Guest House where we will stay overnight. Lunch will be provide by our cook . In the afternoon we hike 30 minutes to the village of Wesaltek to explore the Yali traditional community and life. Our trail is steep and slippery, but the scenery and the village is beautiful. In the afternoon we hike down to Kosarek on the same trail. Overnight at a Mission guest house. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Kosarek - Nohomas - Uldam. Hike 1.5 hours to Nohomas village through steep, sweet potato gardens and beautiful landscapes. Nohomas is the largest village in the Kosarek area. Their traditional houses are built on the ridge of the mountain to easily recognize the arrival of the enemy during a raid. People in this village are willing to offer you any of their traditional tools or weapons to buy. We walk into the village and explore the traditional life of the Yali. From Nohomas we hike another 1.5 hour up to the village of Uldam. The trail is steep and passes through sweet potato gardens. We will arrive in Uldam villlage by noon. The church is built on the ground and the floor where we sleep is covered by dried tall grass. Total walking time: approximately 4-6 hours. Overnight Uldam church, Minister's house or tent. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Uldam - Serkasi. From Uldam village we hike straight up a steep section of Kosarek Mountain (approximately 2.5 hours). Once we arrive on the top we rest and enjoy the spectacular views of this highland mountain and the surrounding forest. The trail then heads down through a small forest (2 hours) to the village of Serkasi. Once again we are hiking through sweet potato gardens. We will make a stop at the river for lunch before we continue to Serkasi. Total hiking time: approximately 4.5 - 6 hours. Overnight at the head of the village house in Serkasi or at church. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Serkasi - Hombuga. From Serkasi village we hike down to the river for about 30 minutes. The trail is steep and passes through the sweet potato gardens. The rest of our trail today to Hombuga village is going up and down hills (additional 2 hours). We arrive in Hombuga by noon for lunch and exploration. In the afternoon we walk around the village and meet some of the Yali families in their homes. Total hiking time: 2.5 - 4 hours. Overnight Minister's house. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Hombuga - Kosarek. After breakfast we enjoy the Yali Pig feast and dance held in Hombuga, and by mid-day we hike down to the river(about 40 minutes) where we eat our lunch at the river's bank. The trail down to the river is very steep and difficult, before we cross the wooden bridge we will encounter some very slippery rocks on parts of this narrow trail. After lunch the trail will continue upward to Kosarek. On the way we will view a small waterfall. We will hike through steep, muddy and slippery conditions before we finally arrive in Kosarek in the afternoon. Overnight at Missionary Guest House. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Kosarck - Wamena - Ibroma. After breakfast, we'll make the short charter flight back to Wamena. Once we arrive at the Wamena Airport we'll proceed by car to Sogokmo/Kurima (1 hr.), then on foot to Ibroma. These villages are in the southern reaches of the Baliem Valley. Our hike (2 - 4 hours) is through beautiful countryside, farmlands and traditional Dani villages. We enjoy the spectacular view along the Baliem River as we hike. Hiking time: 2 - 4 hrs. Hiking Level: easy to moderate. Overnight Ibroma guest house. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Ibiroma - Wamena. From Ibiroma we hike to village of Wanem (2.5 hours). The trail will be through Dani sweet potato gardens with great views of the Dani villages in the Baliem Gorge. We arrive in Wanem by noon. In the afternoon we walk to the nearby Dani compounds to explore and learn more of the Dani life and culture in the village. The Dani are great farmers who plant and grow some of the new cash-crop plants. They've learned new technology but their way of living is still traditional. We learn many interesting things from these people during our short visit here. Overnight in Wanem head of the village house or school. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Wanem - Kurima - Jiwika - Wamena. From Wanem village we hike 1.5 hours down to Sogokmo/Kurima, then we continue by car to Jiwika via Wamena. Lunch at Mentari restaurant. In the afternoon we continue our drive to Jiwika where we walk 5 minutes to Anemoigi village to view the Dani Mock War and dances. Late in the afternoon we return to Wamena for dinner. Hiking time: 1.5 - 2.5 hours. Overnight Baliem Pilamo Hotel.(B,L,D)
Day 14 Wamena - Jayapura. Fly to Sentani (near Jayapura) in the morning. The rest of the day is spent exploring the Sentani area, its lakes and culture. Overnight Sentani Indah (or similar). (B,L,D) Day 15; Saturday: Jayapura - USA. Fly to Jakarta early in the morning. We arrive in Jakarta in time to catch a flight back to the USA. We arrive back in the USA the same day due to the International Date Line. (B)

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