Adventure Tour in The Baliem Valley

With a 4-day Lake Habbema Trekking

10 days/9 nights ● from/to Wamena, Papua ● Private Tour ● 3 nights in tent ● 6 nights in The Baliem Valley Resort ● Level of difficulty: 3***

This 10 days/9 nights private tour from/to Wamena is the perfect combination of culture and adventure to get to know the way of life of the Dani tribes and the landscapes of the Papua highlands. You start your journey with a selection of exciting day tours before you follow the path of the first explorers on a 4 days/3 nights trekking tour starting at Lake Habbema. Back from this great adventure, you attend a traditional Dani pig festival, an absolute highlight of every trip to New Guinea. During the trek we will be camping and the other nights you will be staying at the most unique accommodation in the area: The Baliem Valley Resort.

Price per person
from/to Wamena, Papua

for minimum 2 guests
USD 2.930 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • PRIVATE TOUR
ENQUIRY
See all prices & conditions below

Day 1: Baliem Valley
Arrival in Wamena and transfer to The Baliem Valley Resort

When arriving at Wamena airport, you meet your local guide and your driver. On the way to The Baliem Valley Resort, we visit the market of Wamena. Here local Danis offer their agricultural products. Besides the very popular sweet potato, many other vegetables and fruits are offered. The market of Wamena is also the biggest trading place for the very sought-after wild boars. Once at The Baliem Valley Resort, you settle in your bungalow and, depending on the time of day, you can enjoy lunch or an afternoon coffee. Later, dinner is served in the restaurant.

Transportation: 45 minutes of drive. Local guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 2: Baliem Valley
Hike to a Dani salt water spring and visit of the famous Jiwika Mummy

Today we drive to the village of Jiwika where we meet local Dani women of the Dugum clan who escort us to their salt water spring. Together, we hike through a fairy-tale mountain rainforest to reach the hidden spring. Up there, they show us the old techniques of salt gathering. Then we all enjoy a picnic before hiking down to the village and admire the 300 years old mummyof the clan. Seated in the men’s house, it is still decorated with its godeka and hair ornaments. It is a popular place because such mummies are very rare and usually difficult to see. Return to the Resort in the afternoon.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 2 to 3 hours mountain hiking (+500m). Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Hiking along the Baliem River
mummy close-up
The mummy of Jiwika

Day 3: Baliem Valley
Easy hiking in the southern Baliem Valley and encounter with the Dani people

Today we visit the southern Baliem Valley. We start our easy hike in the village of Sogogmo and we follow the mighty Baliem River. We cross suspension bridges, walk through Dani settlements, meet the locals and see them working in their terraced fields and wild sugar cane groves. For lunch, we enjoy a picnic with a magnificent view over the river and the narrow valley. We walk back on the other side of the river, passing more Dani fields and settlements, before we meet our driver again. In the late afternoon we are back at the Resort.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 4 hours hiking. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 4: Baliem Valley
The impressive Kotilola cave and the Meagaima mummy

After breakfast we drive to the famous Kotilola Cave with its gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. The cave has collapsed in some places, which favours lush vegetation. With the torch you can go a little deeper into the cave until you reach an underground river. There are also a lot of bats living here. After visiting the cave, we drive along the Baliem River until we get off at a small village.  Here we are taken one by one across the river in a canoe. Once on the other side, we visit the village of Meagaima, where there is also one of the very rare chief’s mummies to see. The mummy here is rarely visited due to its remoteness. Of course there is also time for a short rest in one of the local huts. From the village we take a beautiful walk through the Dani gardens until, after about two hours, we reach a suspension bridge that takes us back to the other side of the river where our vehicle is waiting for us.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 3-4 hours walking. Local guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Driving up to Lake Habbema

Day 5: Baliem Valley – Habbema Lake
Drive to magnificent Lake Habbema and start of our trekking adventure

After an early breakfast, we drive to Lake Habbema. The savannah-like landscape of the Baliem Valley gives way to fantastic mountain rainforests with monstrous tree ferns and screw pines, covered with moss, lichens and climbing plants. At 3.200 metres, Lake Habbema is located on a large high moor, surrounded by enchanting meadows full of dwarf cypresses, rhododendrons and many species of orchids. A very unique flora! We enjoy a picnic by the lake and if the sun is shining, we have a spectacular view over the Trikora mountain summit. Then, we go for a walk along the lake and you can even go for a cold swim! With our cook and porters, we set up the camp for our first night in tents.

Transportation: 2,5 hours of drive. 1-2 hours walking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

Day 6: Habbema Trekking
First day of our trekking through magical cloud forest, following the path of the first explorers

We wake up in the middle of the unique landscape of Lake Habbema. From here we start our hike, which takes us back to Wamena following the trail of the first explorers. In fact, they used Lake Habbema to land with seaplanes and from there reach the Baliem Valley. At that time, this was by far the easiest way to make it to this isolated valley. The path they used is the path we are hiking today. The first part of the trail follows the Ibele River on its way down into the valley. The mountain forest up here is pristine and we have it all to ourselves as this trail is rarely used by locals. In the afternoon we reach a clearing in the forest which is a perfect place for our camp. Night in the tent.

5-6 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

Trekking along Ibele River...
... and through beautiful mountain forest

Day 7: Habbema Trekking
Second day of our trekking, reaching the first settlements of the Baliem Valley

We start the day with breakfast in the middle of this beautiful forest. We continue trekking along the path and around noon we step out of the forest. Now we have arrived in the Baliem Valley and already after a short time we see the first fields and settlements of the Lani tribe. We have lunch next to the Ibele river which is very nice for a quick swim. We hike a bit further before we reach a Lani settlement where we set up camp for the night.

5-6 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

Day 8: Habbema Trekking – Baliem Valley
Last day of trekking and return to The Baliem Valley Resort

Today we only need to walk half a day until we reach a small mission station with an airfield. This station was the main base camp of the first expeditions to the Baliem Valley. The Peabody expedition, in which Michael Rockefeller participated, also had its camp here. From here, the road starts again and we are picked up by car for the return drive to The Baliem Valley Resort. Dinner at the Resort.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 3-4 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Preparing the cooking pit
During a pig festival

Day 9: Baliem Valley
Traditional pig festival, an unforgettable experience

Today is a very special day! After breakfast, we get ready to participate in a pig feast which takes place in a traditional Dani village. Many decorated people from the Dani tribe take part in the festival. Such pig feasts with hot stones and earth pits are probably the most interesting part of a trip to New Guinea. It is difficult to describe what exactly is so unique about these festivals because there is just too much happening at once. You have to see and experience it yourself.  For lunch, there is a picnic but you can also eat the food from the traditional earth pit if you like. The freshly cooked pork and sweet potatoes are delicious! In the late afternoon, we return to the Resort.

The pig festival takes place in changing villages. Precise information on travel times cannot be provided. 1 hour walking. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 10: Baliem Valley
Last day in the Baliem Valley and transfer to Wamena airport

After breakfast, you are transferred to Wamena Airport in accordance with the departure time of your onward flight.

Transportation: 45 minutes of drive. Meals: breakfast.

PRICE & CONDITIONS

Adventure Tour in the Baliem Valley ● 10 days/9 nights ● Private Tour
Price per person from/to Wamena, Papua
for minimum 2 guests
USD 2.930 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • +USD 330 for single room/tent
for 3-6 guests
USD 2.360 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • +USD 330 for single room/tent
for 1 single guest
USD 4.980 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • In single room/tent
ENQUIRY
INCLUDES
  • Local guide
  • 6x nights in The Baliem Valley Resort
  • 3x nights in tent
  • Cook and porters during the trek
  • Tent & sleeping mattress
  • Equipment (cooking, dishes etc)
  • All transfers
  • All entrance fees
  • Meals full board
  • Surat Jalan travel permit
  • Lorentz National Park permit
DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Flights to/from Wamena, Papua (airport code: WMX)
  • Sleeping bag (!)
  • Additional drinks and personal expenses

Travelling to remote areas of Papua is difficult, the conditions are harsh, there is no comfort at all. If you can handle such conditions, you will enjoy this trip. If you have any doubts, ask us before you book it. We are happy to help!

For payment we accept USD, EUR, and IDR. Please let us know your preferred currency. We ask for a deposit of 15% of the tour price at the time of booking. The balance is due no later than 4 weeks before the start of the tour. Prices are subject to change. The final price will be quoted upon confirmation of the tour. Foreigners need a travel permit for Papua (“surat jalan”). We will take care of this permit before your arrival. For the permit we need a copy of your passports and passport photos. A list of equipment will be sent with the booking confirmation.

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