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Original Travel Papua New Guinea
Original Travel are a creative travel company who take a thoughtful approach to creating tailor-made holidays that perfectly fulfil their clients’ needs. The team of experts use personal insights and exceptional knowledge of destinations worldwide to craft bespoke trips.
Papua New Guinea offers diversity in spades, be it discovering the people and culture and the over 800 active languages spoken throughout the country, or admiring the abundance of wildlife, in particular the hundreds of colourful bird species that can be found here.
Original Travel’s Papua New Guinea specialists know the very best ways to explore the country, whether you want to do this in relative luxury, with private planes and exclusive lodges, or you’re looking for more of an adventure and want to trek through the jungle, wash in rivers and stay in local villages, they can arrange it all for you.
The nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG) comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, second largest island in the world, as well as many other Pacific islands, some of a considerable size such as New Britain and New Ireland, and many much smaller islands and atolls.
The most linguistically diverse country on earth, PNG has more than 850 mutually unintelligible, indigenous languages reflecting at least as many different traditional tribal societies. This astonishing cultural variety has given rise to many different forms of expression, including art, carving, dance, singing, music and flamboyant costumes and hairstyles. The colourful cultural heritage is celebrated annually at numerous large regional festivals and sing-sings, including Goroka and Mt Hagen and lesser-known Tumbuna and Kundu.
Habitats range from dense tropical rainforest to savannah and wetland plains, volcanic mountains to white sand beaches and coral reefs. The forests are home to many rare species of marsupial such as tree kangaroo, insects including the Queen Alexandra birdwing (the world’s largest butterfly) and birds such as the cassowary. However, PNG is best known for Sir Richard Attenborough’s favourites: the brilliantly coloured birds of paradise, with 38 of the 43 known species found there.
Papua New Guinea is truly one of the world’s last travel frontiers. Nature and humanity unite in a heady mix of sights and sounds, and many parts of the country remain blissfully unaffected by the ever-advancing ways of the western world. However, PNG is definitely up and coming (it received the Most Emergent Destination award from Wanderlust Magazine in 2014) and, now that Reef & Rainforest can put together tours at reasonable cost, there should be many more visitors, so go now while it’s still authentic and unspoilt.
The country’s ancient cultures still thrive and age-old traditions are still practised – visitors can attend fire-dancing ceremonies and interact with the masked mud-men of Goroka – while remnants of more recent historic events still litter some of the towns and jungles; Japanese war relics are still present in New Britain province from the second world war.
Visitors can find themselves heading to the Highlands to discover the country’s incredible birdlife, before experiencing first hand the culture and traditional lives of the indigenous Huli Wigmen, with vibrantly-painted faces and extravagant headdresses. The explosive Mt Tavurvur – an impressive stratovolcano on the coast of New Britain – is a ‘must see’ when exploring the country’s eastern islands and active travellers seeking a challenge can opt to tackle part of the gruelling Kokoda Trail through rugged landscapes to retrace the steps of wartime POWs.
The video above, courtesy of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, offers a glimpse into the annual Sepik River Crocodile & Arts fetival, a cultural celebration held by the traditional communities of the Sepik River area, in which the freshwater crocodile is revered. Speak to Stef about joining our brand new group tour which attends this event in 2019, and learn about the beliefs and legends that surround this animal.
Lying just south of the equator and bordering Indonesia, Papua New Guinea is situated just 160km north of Australia and is part of a great arc of mountains stretching from Asia in to the South Pacific. The unique topography and prolific marine life make this an enticing country for tourists from all over the world. This fascinating land boasts more than 600 islands with magnificent scenery and beautiful coral atolls.
An experience in Papua New Guinea is truly an unforgettable one. The sublime natural beauty is simply indescribable; from rugged mountains and tropical rainforests to large wetlands and a stunning coastline. Its unique variety of wildlife includes of marsupials and birds, including the Raggiana bird-of-paradise (the national symbol) and several species of tree kangaroos. Untouched coral reefs compete with spectacular World War II wrecks for the attention of divers, and the hiking is out of this world.
Diving…
Papua New Guinea famously has a reputation for being one of the best diving destinations in the Pacific. Boasting spectacular dive sites with crystal-clear warm water, the coast of Papua New Guinea has also been nicknamed as the ‘underwater photographer’s paradise’. With potential sightings of hammerhead and whale sharks, dolphins, pilot whales, turtles and sea snakes as well as a wealth of macro opportunities in the variety of much dives available, it’s very easy to see why.
The vibrantly colourful coral atolls, walls, sea grass beds and barrier reefs provide the perfect setting for enjoyable and relaxing dives amongst the plethora of mesmerising marine life. The remoteness of these dive sites accounts for their pristine condition, with new marine species still being discovered.
Wrecks divers will be thrilled at the phenomenal wreck diving opportunities available. Dive in to history and explore the fantastic range of dive sites on a variety of World War II aircrafts, ships and submarines.
From our HQ in London, we curate some of the world’s most unique travel offerings.
Having travelled extensively to all corners of the globe over the past 30 years, along with my team of travel experts, there is nothing that thrills us more than crafting extraordinary travel experiences for like-minded clients.
Working alongside our clients we adopt a consultative approach to truly bespoke travel planning. Just as no two clients are the same, we believe no two experiences should be the same. Whether you want to explore hidden beaches along the Amalfi Coast with your family aboard a sublime yacht, or be strapped into a live ejection seat in a fighter jet screaming through the air at near supersonic speed – we have a proven track record of delivering the right experiences designed just for you.
The renowned art scholar, John Rewal, once remarked of French post-Impressionist artist, Paul Gauguin, who lived, painted and travelled extensively from Tahiti to the remote Marquesas Islands, “we cannot all go and live on South Sea islands”. Alas, but we can certainly try…
Combining otherworldly underwater adventures and surprisingly diverse far-flung island hopping, few people who fantasise about the South Pacific ever actually make the journey. Perhaps thanks to the largely unexplored nature of these islands – from the coral forests of Fiji to the volcanic peaks of French Polynesia – stretching from Polynesia to Micronesia, Melanesia and Papua New Guinea, for those who do dedicate time to explore one of the most remote parts of our planet there is an incredible world that awaits.
DIVEQUEST – THE ULTIMATE IN DIVE TRAVEL
What makes Divequest stand out from the crowd? Why have we been leaders in our field since 1995? The answer is simple: our level of expertise. We know far more about the underwater world, never mind the details of dive travel itself. Enjoy reading our Divequest destination descriptions: we are sure they will convince you!
Divequest arranges professionally-organized, dedicated diving trips to the finest dive destinations in the world. All our trips are ‘tailor-made’. We have no rigid packages that you cannot change. Total flexibility is our watchword!
Divequest provides diving tours to:
Photo courtesy of www.divequest-diving-holidays.co.uk
As one of the last unexplored corners of the world, Papua New Guinea lies in the centre of the Coral Triangle and offers some of the finest diving on earth. You can also extend your trip with an excursion into the heart of the land to experience unique cultures, communities and festivals.
3 recommended trips. Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Dive and Discover PNG
Uncover the magic of Papua New Guinea, one of the world’s last remaining frontiers, on this adventure to two exceptional diving areas – both renowned for macro life and pelagic encounters on vibrant coral reefs.
• When to go: Apr-Jun, Sep-Dec
• Duration inc. flights: 17 days
• Price inc. flights: From £4,995 pp
• Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea
Explore Tufi & Walindi
Dive two famous locations in Papua New Guinea. Both Tufi and Walindi offer pristine reefs, unique dive sites and untouched WWll wrecks. You’ll need a macro and wide angle lens here, the biodiversity is amazing.
Adventure in Tufi
The undiscovered Tufi region is blessed with stunning marine diversity and pristine WWII dive sites, as well as majestic fjords, perfect for kayaking. This trip also offers a fascinating insight into PNG’s indigenous culture.
Photos Courtesy of www.ethostravel.co.uk
Ethos Travel was founded in 2007 by two young, enthusiastic South East Asian experts in Sam Collins & Tim Willcox who were convinced that service-led specialists would overcome the ‘race to the bottom’ in service and standards we were witnessing amongst online travel companies at the time.
And we believe we were right! Seven tough and educational years later we retain the passion for South East Asia and take great pride that over 40% of our clients are repeat or recommendations – for which we owe you a great big thank you for trusting your dream holiday or honeymoon to us.
The New Guinea Encounter allows the traveler with limited time the opportunity to visit remote villages and gain an insight into life as it has been for thousands of years. It gives the opportunity to encounter ancient cultures of the Karawari and Melpa Peoples. An extremely rich diversity of plants and bird life in both areas is sure to give the nature enthusiast a taste of this amazing and exotic country. This program is suitable for international flight connections to Cairns and Brisbane.
Where Adventure Holidays Begin
45 years experience of taking people on extraordinary adventures.
At Exodus, we love adventure travel and always have. There’s something about the feeling of visiting a new country, culture or environment – whether that’s a mountain range, desert or jungle – that just can’t be beaten. We first took a group of travellers to the Himalaya 45 years ago, and have since expanded to offer more than 500 itineraries across more than 90 countries. So, if you’re looking for an adventure holiday, or are in need of some travel inspiration for your next activity holiday, you’ve come to the right place.
Our trips include walking and cycling tours that take in awe-inspiring scenery and breathtaking wildlife encounters. And we have adventure holidays designed specifically for families, mixed-activity holidays and seasonal getaways, perfect for those interested in winter sports. There are unforgettable experiences in top destinations the world over. From your own African odyssey, to a journey of discovery in Central America and pioneering expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, with Exodus these are just some of the memories waiting to be made. We’ve also launched a collection of new adventure holidays for 30s and 40s to help busy professionals maximise their annual leave. Join us now for the adventure holiday of a life time.
The adventure travel experts
Since launching in 1981 with only six tours in a four-page brochure, Explore has grown to offer over 500 trips; from classic ‘discovery’ group tours, solo traveller holidays and active family adventures, to walking holidays, cycling trips and even self-guided options. Choose from over 120 countries and explore cultures, landscapes, wildlife and communities from Asia to Africa, the Arctic to the Americas.
Read on to find out why people travel with us again and again.
1. Unforgettable experiences
On our trips you’ll see a mix of famous sights and hidden gems that others miss, or don’t even know about. As travellers, we want to experience a country, not merely observe it. We’ll take you closer to the country, its culture and people, often in unscripted, spontaneous, impossible-to-replicate ways. You’ll come home having seen and experienced the country in a way that other travellers might never have.
2. Expert local guides
As your resident expert, your guide (or tour leader) will use their insider knowledge and local connections to make the most of unexpected opportunities. You might be invited to watch the sunrise from a lighthouse or to join family Diwali celebrations. They’ll be on hand to make sure your trip goes smoothly, taking care of logstics. Our tour leaders are all hand-picked and trained by our experienced team to ensure consistently high standards.
3. Small groups
Our average group size is just 12; big enough to meet like-minded people but small enough to get to the heart of a destination. All sorts of people travel on our trips; groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites everyone is an adventurous spirit, sense of fun and a desire for real travel experiences. Call us to learn more about the group already booked on a particular trip (age range, solos vs couples etc).
4. Carbon neutral travel
We’re carbon offsetting all trips booked with us from 1 January 2020. We recognise it’s not perfect, but believe that carbon offsetting is the most effective way of addressing carbon emissions in the short-to-medium term.
By working with ClimateCare, a Gold Standard provider, we will offset the transport, accommodation and flights booked with us. This is part of a bigger project to reduce carbon, as part of our long-standing commitment to sustainable travel.
