Adventure Tour in The Baliem Valley

With a 4-day South Baliem Trekking

8 days/7 nights ● from/to Wamena, Papua ● Private Tour ● 3 nights in tent ● 4 nights in The Baliem Valley Resort ● Level of difficulty: 2**

This 8 days/7 nights private tour from/to Wamena is the perfect combination of culture and adventure to really get to know the way of life of the Dani tribes and the landscapes of the Papua highlands. You visit Wamena, the mummy of Meagaima, and Kotilola Cave before you go on a 4-day trekking tour to the southern Baliem Valley, an area that is difficult to reach and can only be explored on foot. 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 overnight in tent and the other nights you stay in the most unique accommodation in the area: The Baliem Valley Resort.

Price per person
from/to Wamena, Papua

for minimum 2 guests
USD 2.100 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.

Hiking along the Baliem River
The mummy of Meagaima

Day 2: 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.

Day 3: The Baliem Valley Resort – Kelise village
First trekking day in the southern Baliem Valley and meeting with the Dani people

In the morning we leave Baliem Valley Resort and drive to the southern Baliem Valley. The road ends at the village of Sogogmo and here our trekking tour along the roaring Baliem River begins. We are accompanied by our guide, a team of porters and a cook. We cross the river on a suspension bridge and continue walking through Dani settlements with their terraced fields and wild sugar cane groves. We enjoy magnificent views over the river and the narrow valley. After lunch in the small village of Seinma, we continue our hike until we reach the village of Kelise. We pitch our tents in the mayor’s garden and our team moves into one of the local huts for the cooking area.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 4-5 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

Cooking at the campfire

Day 4: Kelise village – Wamerek village
Second day of trekking

After breakfast we continue our hike. Today’s trail is a little more challenging, as it is quite steep downhill at times. Our destination today is Wamerek, a typical Dani settlement whose houses and gardens are situated on a mountainside. The gardens enclosed with natural stones and round, grass-covered huts look as if from another time. Depending on the pace, we are in Wamerek for a late lunch. Here there is a large meadow right next to a small stream where we pitch our tents. The team again finds shelter in a local hut and we will also have our meals here in case it rains. After a refreshing swim in the river, there is still enough time in the afternoon to visit the settlement. There are also some metres of altitude to climb on this tour and we are getting a better and better feel for what daily life must feel like for the villagers. And for sure we will find some fresh sweet potatoes to roast at the campfire.

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

Day 5: Wamerek village – Tangma village
Panorama over the Baliem River and the Baliem Valley

We start our third day of trekking in the Baliem Valley with a steady climb until we reach the village of Tangma. This village has a small airstrip and most of the houses are built around the short airstrip. Only small planes can land on the grass runway and air traffic is not to be expected. After a short rest, we continue on our way, which leads us steadily uphill. At lunchtime we look for a shady spot along the path for a longer lunch break. Freshly strengthened, we continue our way until we reach the pass. At the top, we have a fantastic view over the Baliem River and can even see Wamena in the distance. We take our time and enjoy the view before continuing along the trail. We are not far from the settlement where we want to spend the night. We pitch our tents on the meadow in front of the church. Later we have dinner in one of the houses.

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

Highland scenery
Hike through the beautiful landscape of the Dani land

Day 6: Tangma village – The Baliem Valley Resort
Last day of trekking and return to The Baliem Valley Resort

We leave the Tangma area and cross a side valley until we have to cross a side river of the Baliem. There is no bridge and when the water level is high, the crossing can take some time. From here the trail takes us through a mountain forest and can be muddy in places. We descend slowly and soon more Dani fields appear, mainly with sweet potatoes, but also maize, cassava and exotic plants like ginger. We rejoin the tarmac road of our starting point and are picked up by vehicles. We want to be back at the resort for late lunch.

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

Day 7: 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.

During a pig festival in the Baliem Valley
During a pig festival

Day 8: 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 ● 8 days/ 7 nights ● Private Tour
Price per person from/to Wamena, Papua
for minimum 2 guests
USD 2.100 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • +USD 210 for single room/tent
for 3-6 guests
USD 1.680 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • +USD 210 for single room/tent
for 1 single guest
USD 3.570 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • In single room
ENQUIRY
INCLUDES
  • Local guide
  • 4x 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
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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