Indonesia adventure holiday
Indonesia’s most remote province, mysterious and dramatic Papua, is home to some of the most fascinating ethnic groups on our planet.
Tucked away in the Baliem Valley live remote tribes of Dani, Yali and Lani people who up until recently have had very little contact with the outside world and have maintained fascinating traditions that cannot be seen anywhere else. Often wearing little else but penis gourds or grass skirts, and headdresses made from the feathers of forest birds, these intriguing people are a tangible link with our ancient past and follow very traditional lifestyles, hunting animals and raising pigs in villages hidden in the forest, as well as mummifying their chiefs.
This trip explores the Baliem Valley on foot – the only way to reach many of the remote villages where traditions and customs are at their most vibrant. Camping and staying in village huts, we are privileged to experience an utterly unique way of life, which the modern world has barely touched. There are few more exciting places for anyone with even a slight interest in ethnology or anthropology.
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1: | Sanur (Bali). Arrive in Bali and transfer to your hotel in Sanur, an attractive and relaxed beach town in Bali. Overnight Puri Kelapa or similar. |
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Day 2: | Sanur – Jayapura. Free day to explore the town or relax on the beach. Overnight flight from Bali to Jayapura. (B) |
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Day 3: | Jayapura – Sentani. Arrive in Jayapura. Transfer to Sentani where the rest of the day is free. Overnight Hotel Ratna Manunggal or similar. (B) |
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Day 4: | Wamena. We fly to the highland town of Wamena, situated at an altitude of 1,600m in the heart of the Cyclops Mountains. This is where we will see our first glimpse of the tribes of the Baliem Valley. Overnight Baliem Pilamo Hotel or similar. (B) |
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Day 5-9: | Baliem Valley Trek. We begin our trek through the Baliem Valley, one of the most isolated and beautiful places on earth. We trek along forest paths through highland pasture with views of jagged peaks and cross raging torrents on rope bridges. The valley teems with wildlife and there are an extraordinary variety of exotic plant species. Along the way we visit remote wilderness villages and tribes like the Dani, Lani and Yali, often wearing little but penis gourds and following a traditional way of life that provides us with a glimpse of our ancient past. At night we camp or stay in village huts. (BLD) |
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Day 10: | Wamena. Today we walk out of the wilderness and back into Wamena. Tonight a hot shower, good food and a clean soft bed awaits you. Overnight Baliem Pilamo Hotel or similar. (B) |
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Day 11: | Jayapura – Biak. Fly via Jayapura to the island of Biak, renowned for its unspoilt beaches. We stay in Kota Biak, a small and attractive town positioned close to the best beaches. Overnight Hotel Aerowisata or similar. (B) |
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Day 12-13: | Biak. Free days to relax in or near Biak; there are lots of options including boat trips to the Padaido Islands and fabulous snorkelling opportunities in the crystal clear waters. Overnight Hotel Aerowisata or similar. (B) |
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Day 14: | Sanur. Fly back to Bali and transfer to Sanur for our final night. Overnight Puri Kelapa or similar. (B) |
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Day 15: | Sanur. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B) |
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
This tour travels through some of the most remote regions in the world, away from the well beaten tourist trail. Our guides will brief travellers on appropriate behaviour, both cultural and environmental, and when camping we make a point of ensuring that we leave no permanent traces of our stay behind, taking all rubbish with us. We work with our local suppliers to highlight best practice in terms of environmental issues, and introduce them to ‘green thinking’, which often does not feature as an issue in the tourism industry in Indonesia.
Community
While trekking through the Baliem Valley we employ local guides and porters from the area, providing employment and income for isolated communities which often do not have many opportunities to earn money. We also make use of village houses where possible, again providing local income which stays with host community.
Our leaders and local guides will carefully explain the customs and cultures of the various tribal groups visited to ensure that our travellers are able to behave sensitively towards fragile communities, and help them gain from tourism while not being affected by some of its more negative aspects. By visiting these communities, many of whom live outside the cash based economy, you are able to contribute to their ability to trade with mainstream society and gain some of the associated benefits. These communities are often looked upon as backward, and as something to be assimilated into society – it is hoped that by increasing interest from tourism less enlightened local administrators will realise the intrinsic value of their cultural diversity. Also, by showing the tribes of the Baliem Valley that their culture is something worth preserving, it is hoped that younger generations will not abandon old traditions.
Travellers also have the opportunity to support local communities by purchasing local handicrafts.
In our pre-departure information we include guidelines about photography – this is particularly relevant in Papua where some of the tribal groups are incredibly photogenic. Although many people are happy to be photographed, others are not, and we emphasise to our travellers the importance of respecting people’s wishes.
Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced. We also try to engage with our suppliers on an equal basis – getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.
We believe that tourism is a double edged sword that needs to be wielded very carefully. Our philosophy is to have a limited amount of departures – usually between one and three a year - for each of our itineraries. By limiting our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile, we hope to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops and encourage our clients to interact both financially and socially with the communities that they are passing through. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
