All-in-one: Baliem Valley, birdwatching, whale sharks & Raja Ampat cruise

20-day example tour for an unforgettable Papua journey

20 days/19 nights ● from Wamena/to Sorong, Papua ● Private Tour (except cruise) ● 4 nights in The Baliem Valley Resort ● 7 nights on board a cruise ● 3 flights included ● Level of difficulty: None

This 20 days/ 19 nights tour to Papua and West Papua takes you on a truly unique journey through some of the most fascinating and remote regions of Indonesia. You begin in the Baliem Valley, home of the Dani and Lani tribes. During private excursions, you visit traditional hamlets and walk through beautiful highland scenery. A traditional pig festival offers a deep insight into Dani culture and is without doubt one of the most unforgettable moments of any trip to Papua. Next, you travel to the lowlands for a night in Nimbokrang, where you’ll go on early morning walks in search of the rare birds of paradise. A short stopover in Sentani gives you the chance to explore scenic Lake Sentani by boat before continuing to Nabire, where you’ll spend three nights. Here, you can swim, snorkel, or dive with whale sharks – a rare and truly breathtaking experience. After that, you head into the lush forests of the Klasow Valley staying in simple yet charming accommodations. This is the perfect place to go birding and on nature walks, and to fully immerse yourself in the sounds and sights of the lowland rainforest of Papua. To round off your adventure, you board a superior yacht for a multi-day cruise through the spectacular islands of North and Central Raja Ampat. Pristine beaches, world-class underwater landscapes, and breathtaking scenery await you—the perfect finale to an extraordinary journey.

This itinerary is a sample and can be tailored to suit your preferences, available time, and budget. It’s meant to give you an idea of what’s possible – and we’re happy to tailor it to your needs.

USD 8.990 Price in EUR / IDR on request

SEMI-PRIVATE TOUR

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
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. Local guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 3: 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 4: 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. Local guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 5: Baliem Valley – Jayapura – Nimbokrang
From the Baliem Valley to a bird of paradise sanctuary

After breakfast, you are transferred to Wamena Airport for your flight to Jayapura. Upon arrival you are directly driven to Nimbokrang. There you meet Mr. Alex, an ornithologist known for his guided tours to see the birds of paradise. His guesthouse has simple but clean rooms. After a lunch prepared by Mr. Alex’s family, you set off on your first guided birding tour with him. The walk through the forest is easy. The most important thing is to be patient. If it is not raining, you have a high chance to observe different species of birds of paradise, including the Lesser Bird of Paradise, the King Bird of Paradise and the 12-wire Bird of Paradise. Almost every day, the males come to their spots to impress and attract the females with their singing and dancing. In the evening, you have dinner at the guesthouse.

Transportation: Flight time from Wamena to Jayapura: 45 minutes. 2,5 hours of drive. Walking time: 2 hours. Guide included. Accommodation: Guesthouse Nimbokrang. Meals: full board.

Day 6: Nimbokrang – Jayapura
Early birding tour and transfer back to Jayapura, visit of Sentani Lake

The sun rises and you head back into the forest. The very early morning hours are the best time to see the birds of paradise, which are very active at this time of day. By late morning you are back at the guesthouse and your driver brings you back to Jayapura. Once in Jayapura, we first check-in at the hotel and then drive to the nearby Sentani Lake. After lunch in a restaurant on the lake shore, we start our boat tour to visit the famous artist villages of Asei and Ayapo. They are known for their traditional paintings called Maro – simple animal depictions on pressed tree bark in red, white and black. Originally worn as skirts, today they are mostly used as wall decoration. Later return to the hotel and dinner.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 2 hours by boat. English speaking guide included. Accommodation: Hotel Horison. Meals: full board.

Day 7: Jayapura – Nabire – Cendrawasih Bay
Transfer to Cendrawasih Bay and first dive/snorkel with whale sharks

After breakfast, we provide a transfer to Jayapura Airport for your onward flight to Nabire. Upon landing at Nabire Airport, your driver awaits to escort you to Wagi jetty. This 2-hour journey offers a first glimpse of the local scenery. At the jetty, a boatman from the resort greets you and speeds you across the waters to your final stop. This brief boat ride leads to a secluded peninsula, surrounded by dense vegetation and accessible only by boat. Managed as a non-profit by the community, the resort offers a simple yet welcoming ambiance. Luxury isn’t the focus here; it’s all about the raw experience. Nestled amidst pristine nature, the resort’s main draw is the whale sharks, not its accommodations. After settling in and enjoying a late lunch, you dive into your first exciting encounter with the whale sharks.

Transportation: Flight time from Jayapura to Nabire: 45 minutes. 2 hours by car, 30 minutes by speed boat. Accommodation: Basic double room. Meals: full board. 1 dive and/or snorkeling session included.

Day 8: Cendrawasih Bay
Diving or snorkeling with the whale sharks

The day unfolds with diving and snorkeling alongside whale sharks. Following breakfast, you step onto the dinghy, journeying to the favored haunts of these majestic beings. Drawn to the fishing boats and their catch, these gentle giants are often nearby. It’s common to find yourself swimming alongside not just one but perhaps a group of these curious and friendly creatures. After an invigorating morning in the water and a return to the resort for lunch, you gear up for another dive or snorkel session in the afternoon. These moments bring you up close with the whale sharks, offering unforgettable interactions in their natural habitat.

Transportation: Around 1 hour by speed boat. Accommodation: Basic double room. Meals: full board. Up to 2 dives and/or snorkeling sessions included.

Day 9: Cendrawasih Bay – Nabire
A last morning dive/snorkel with the whale sharks and transfer back to Nabire

Start your morning with one last dive or snorkeling session with the whale sharks after breakfast, soaking up these final moments in their majestic presence. Post-lunch at the resort, your journey back to Nabire town begins at 2pm. Relax during the 30-minute speedboat ride followed by a 2-hour car trip as you reflect on your incredible experiences. Upon arrival in Nabire town around 5pm, you check into your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to unwind or explore at your own pace. For dinner, consider trying the hotel restaurant for a taste of local cuisine.

Transportation: 2 hours by car, 30 minutes by speed boat. Accommodation: Double room at Grand Hotel Papua, Nabire. Meals: breakfast and lunch. 1 dive and/or snorkeling session included.

Day 10: Nabire – Sorong – Klasow Valley
Flight from Nabire to Sorong and transfer to Sausapor District

After breakfast, we provide a transfer to Nabire Airport for your onward flight to Sorong via Jayapura. Upon arrival at Sorong Airport, your guide and driver greet you and take you by 4WD to the rainforest of Klasow Valley. The journey takes about 3 hours, leading you to a charming hotel right on the beach. After settling into your room, you head out for your first birding tour in the area. You may spot species like the Pacific Golden Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Lesser Frigatebird, Black-naped Tern, Little-ringed Plover, Lesser Crested Tern, Beach Thick Knee, Torresian Crow, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Eclectus Parrot, Singing Starling, and more. Later dinner is served in the hotel restaurant.

Transportation: Flight time from Nabire to Sorong via Jayapura: 3 hours. 3 hours of drive. With English speaking birding guide. Accommodation: double room in comfortable hotel. Meals: lunch and dinner.

Day 11: Klasow Valley
Birding tours in Sausapor District

Early wake-up for a 4:30 AM departure. We take a packed breakfast and head to the perfect spot to watch the Lesser Bird of Paradise perform its morning dance. The birding tour continues, where we may also spot the King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, and other species such as the Hooded Butcherbird, Yellow-faced Myna, Spangled Drongo, Brown Oriole, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, and more. We return to the resort for lunch and rest before exploring the forest along an off-road trail, where we might see the Emperor Fairywren, Mimic Meliphaga, Shining Flycatcher, Olive-backed Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra. After dinner, we take a night walk along the beach to look for nocturnal birds such as Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, and others.

With English speaking birding guide. Accommodation: double room in comfortable hotel. Meals: full board.

Day 12: Klasow Valley
Heading to the village of Klabili for more birding tours

After an early breakfast, we check out and head to Klabili village, a 90-minute drive away. Upon arrival, we check into our humble local guesthouse before setting out to search for the Magnificent Riflebird, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Golden Myna, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Pitta, Hooded Pitta, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Frilled Monarch, Boyer’s Cuckooshrike, and more. After lunch and some rest, we return to the forest at 3 PM for more exploration, hoping to spot birds such as the Black-browed Triller, Black Butcherbird, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, and Yellow-bellied Longbill. After dinner, you can opt for a night walk to look for nocturnal animals and birds like the Papuan Frogmouth.

Transportation: 1h30 hours of drive. With English speaking birding guide. Accommodation: double room in local guesthouse. Meals: full board.

Day 13: Klasow Valley – Sorong – Raja Ampat Superior Cruise
Last birding tour, transfer to Sorong, and board your cruise

We take one last early morning walk through the nearby forest, hoping to spot birds we haven’t seen yet. Then, we return to Sorong, where you will be transferred to the cruise meeting point. From there you will be transferred to Sorong Harbor to embark on your Raja Ampat cruise. You will be greeted with a welcome drink while the cruise director provides a briefing on safety precautions and the itinerary. As you settle into your cabin, begin the journey north to Waigeo. The program begins with an opportunity to dive or snorkel for the first time, followed by lunch on deck. Throughout the day, there will be additional chances to explore the underwater world. After sunset, enjoy your first dinner under the stars, which marks the end of this intense day.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. With English speaking birding guide, later with English speaking cruise director. Meals: full board.

Day 14: Raja Ampat
Kri Peninsula

Waking up to the sound of tropical birds, you enjoy a fabulous breakfast on the upper deck. Next, you head to Mioskon Bay, perfect for snorkeling among mangroves or kayaking along the peaceful coastline. The day continues with a visit to the Kri Peninsula, renowned for its exceptional marine life and vibrant coral slopes, offering excellent opportunities for underwater exploration. The journey includes a stop at Mansuar Island, where you get a glimpse of local culture with a leisurely stroll through the village.