Korowai Exclusive Adventure

Access the seldom-visited eastern sector with charter flights in and out

7 days/6 nights ● from/to Wamena, Papua ● Private Tour ● 4 nights in tent ● Charter flights in & out of the jungle ● Level of difficulty: 3***

During this 7 days/6 nights private tour from/to Wamena, you embark on a true adventure journey to visit the Korowai treehouse nomads. This tour offers a genuine jungle outdoor adventure, taking you far away from modern civilization in the most time-efficient way possible. From Wamena, we charter a flight to the lowlands, which will drop us at the Yanirumah airfield, situated within the Korowai territory. From there, we will directly access the rarely visited eastern part of the Korowai forest. We will spend 3-4 nights in the forest, immersing ourselves in the lives of these authentic tribesmen who reside in treehouses and still practice traditional hunting techniques using bows and arrows. Finally, we are picked up again by a charter flight from the airfield and flown back to Wamena in the Baliem Valley.

Price per person
from/to Wamena, Papua

for minimum 2 guests
USD 6.640 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: Wamena – Yanirumah – Korowai settlement
Charter flight to the airfield of Yanirumah in the Korowai territory

After breakfast, we are transferred to Wamena airport, where we proceed to the missionary terminal for our charter flight to Yanirumah. Accompanied by our guide, cook, equipment, and food, we fly directly into the Korowai forest. The charter flight is operated by a Pilatus Porter aircraft. Yanirumah is a small settlement in the Korowai territory that can only be reached by plane. We use this settlement as a starting point for our trekking expedition into the Korowai corridor. Upon arrival, we immediately begin recruiting our porters for the next days. If we arrive early in Yanirumah, we may have enough time to enter the forest directly and spend the first night in a Korowai settlement. Otherwise, we will set up camp in the simple house of the local priest and start early the next day. To leave Yanirumah, we first need to cross the Dairam River in small boats. It takes some time for us and our team to navigate across the river. Shortly after, we find ourselves amidst a dense forest, which we won’t leave for the next few days. Today, it takes us about 2 hours to reach our first destination: a fantastic jungle settlement with several tree houses. The Korowai people are very welcoming, and they greet us warmly upon our arrival. We set up our camp amidst the tree houses—or perhaps even inside one of them.

Transportation: Charter flight from Wamena to Yanirumah: 45 minutes. 45 minutes of drive. 2 hours of trekking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

We start our Korowai expedition with a charter flight to the airfield of Yanirumah

Day 3: Korowai settlement
Full day with the Korowai tribe and demonstration of sago processing

Today we follow the Korowai into the sago forest. Here we experience a spectacle from another world. The forest nomads cut down a huge sago palm with their stone axes, open the trunk and start to smash the sago. The sago pulp is processed by women who wash it in primitive “washing machines” – built only from leaves, twigs and rotan. Photo lovers will never forget this day! In the afternoon, we are back to the tree houses where our cook starts preparing our next real jungle dinner. Besides the fresh sago we probably enjoy papaya, vegetables, sago larvae and plantains!

1-2 hours of easy hiking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.

Day 4: Korowai settlements
Trekking to another Korowai settlement

We leave our first Korowai camp and go back into the forest. Today we want to hike to another Korowai village and spend the night there. The trekking through the untouched tropical forest is unique and sometimes challenging. It may be necessary to cross small rivers or swamps. We expect to arrive at the Korowai village in the early afternoon. After setting up our tents and kitchen, we spend the rest of the day with the local Korowai. They often repair their tree houses at extreme heights. They still make and use bows and arrows – the most important weapons here. Or maybe we accompany the Korowai on a journey into the forest to seek food. They are true hunters and gatherers: in a few hours their nets are filled with spiders, larvae, grasshoppers and other exotic animals. They even shoot flying foxes from the trees.

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

This is our secret Korowai tree house in the eastern sector
A Korowai adorned with traditional nose spikes

Day 5: Korowai settlement – Yanirumah
Another day in another world

This is our last day with the Korowai and in this wonderful forest. We thank our hosts and hike back to Yanirumah. Today’s forest walk takes about 4 hours and we again have to use boats to cross the river. Arriving in Yanirumah, we have time for an extensive bath in the river. We set up our camp for the night in the house of the local priest and the rest of day is at leisure.

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

Day 6: Yanirumah – Baliem Valley
Charter flight back to Wamena

We have breakfast, prepare our luggage and then wait for the sound of the plane. Once we hear the plane approaching, we walk to the airfield nearby, say good bye to our porters and board the plane back to Wamena. We again fly in a Pilatus Porter. After arrival we are transferred to the Baliem Valley Resort and depending on the time of day we have lunch or afternoon coffee before later dinner is served.

Transportation: Charter flight from Yanirumah to Wamena: 45 minutes. 45 minutes of drive. Guide and cook included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Field kitchen during trekking
River crossing during trekking

Day 7: Baliem Valley
Last day in the Baliem Valley and transfer to Wamena airport

After breakfast, you are transferred to Wamena airport for your onward flight.

Transportation. 45 minutes of drive. Meals: breakfast.

PRICE & CONDITIONS

Korowai Exclusive Adventure ● 7 days/6 nights ● Private Tour
Price per person from/to Wamena, Papua
for minimum 2 guests
USD 6.640 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • +USD 300 for single room/tent
for 3-6 guests
USD 4.990 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • +USD 300 for single room/tent
for 1 single guest
on request
  •  
ENQUIRY
INCLUDES
  • Charter flight Wamena - Yanirumah - Wamena, flown in Pilatus Porter
  • 2x nights in The Baliem Valley Resort
  • 4x nights in tent
  • English speaking local guide
  • Cook and porters during the trek
  • Equipment (tents, cooking, dishes etc)
  • All transfers
  • All entrance fees
  • Meals full board
  • Surat Jalan travel permit
DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Flights to/from Wamena, Papua
  • Sleeping bag and mattress
  • Additional drinks and personal expenses
  • Costs for excess luggage

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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