Papua New Guinea Cruises

Permanently berthed in the Middle Sepik, the Sepik Spirit offers daily cultural touring programs to many of the regions remote villages, providing guests with the opportunity to mingle with local people and experience traditions, cultures and lifestyles that are witnessed by very few. 

The MV Sepik Spirit is right at home on the Sepik River and is be permanently berthed at Kamininbit village, located in the Middle Sepik where most of the population lives.  This is one of the richest areas for art and culture in the Sepik region. It is accessible by light aircraft from Mount Hagen (Rondon Ridge), Karawari and Ambua Lodges.

She is a (Floating) ’’Wilderness Lodge'' - fully staffed, fully air-conditioned and as luxurious as ever - a perfect retreat after a day exploring in the Sepik heat.  The entire vessel is air-conditioned and up to 18 guests are accommodated in 9 spacious berths, each with en-suite bathroom, large windows and river views. Onboard facilities include a comfortable lounge, well stocked bar, dining area and a covered, insect-proofed upper observatory deck.

Daily explorations into the smaller tributaries and their remote and isolated villages are done using jet-boats with guests returning to the MV Sepik Spirit before sundown. Depending on the particular itinerary, guests may visit the Blackwater Lakes, Chambri Lakes and villages in the Middle and Upper Sepik.  A stay on the MV Sepik Spirit allows one access to incredibly remote villages and provides the traveler with the opportunity to mingle with local people and experience traditions, cultures and lifestyles that are witnessed by very few outsiders each year. The river banks are dotted with villages, each with their own 'Haus Tambaran' or 'Spirit House' decorated with ancestral figures, carvings, massive garamut drums and secretive ritual flutes. The Sepik Region is a gallery of tribal art. Each village boasts its own unique style and every villager is an artisan.

Jungle Lodges & Sepik River - 10 days

The Sepik Spirit, "Floating Lodge" luxury live-aboard vessel was built along the lines of the traditional and sacred spirit house. The Sepik Spirit accommodates a maximum of 18 passengers in 9 twin-bedded cabins.

Day 1. Port Moresby to Mt Hagen.
Fly from Port Moresby to Mount Hagen, in the upper Wahgi Valley - a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Perched high on Mount Kuta is Rondon Ridge, with unbelievable views of the Wahgi Valley.

Rondon Ridge. (3 nights) LD

Days 2-3. Mt Hagen.
Enjoy two full days exploring the area, home to the Melpa people, a people with a strong culture, who still live traditional lifestyles. A stunning array of bird, orchid and plant life can be seen in the area. BLD

Days 4-5. Sepik River.
Fly from Mount Hagen to the Sepik, a region of dense tropical rainforest. You will be transferred by river boat to the air conditioned comfort of the MV Sepik Spirit. Two full days are spent exploring the many waterways of the Sepik and its tributaries including visits to traditional Sepik Villages.
MV Sepik Spirit. BLD

Day 6-7. Karawari. Transfer by river boat to Karawari Lodge. Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over dense tropical jungle, and is inspired by local architecture and built with traditional materials. Spend 2 days exploring the Kawawari region.

Karawari Lodge. BLD

Day 8. Karawari-Tari. Fly to Ambua over the Central Ranges, which are some of the most rugged and impressive landscapes in the world. Ambua Lodge is set in the Tari Valley - home of the Huli, a colourful and proud people. The afternoon is spent exploring the area.
Ambua Lodge (2 nights) BLD

Day 9. Tari. Enjoy a further full day of cultural and ecological touring. The Tari area is home to an incredible 13 species of birds of paradise, as well as numerous orchid species.

Day 10. Depart Port Moresby. Fly to Port Moresby to connect to your onward flight.

DEPARTURES:

Fridays.

PRICE INCLUDES:

Accommodation for nine nights, meals as indicated by BLD, transfers, domestic flights Mt Hagen to Sepik Spirit and Karawari to Ambua and sightseeing as specified in itinerary.

NOT INCLUDED:

Flights Port Moresby to Mt Hagen and Tari to Mt Hagen.