Papua New Guinea Mount Hagen Festival Tour & Bougainville Tour

9 days / 15 days 11 Aug, 2026 – 19 Aug / 25 Aug, 2026

Start Date

11 Aug, 2026

End Date

19 Aug / 25 Aug, 2026

Duration

9 days / 15 days

Price

2945 / 5945

On our 2026 Mount Hagen Festival Tour, now a yearly classic, YPT will be making the most out of one of the most remote parts of the world and partaking in the festival celebrations allowing you to see the traditional Papua New Guinean life in all its feathered glory. The Mt. Hagen Festival consists of hundreds of tribes from all over the island showcasing their tribe’s traditional clothing, dances and games.

The tour begins at the capital, Port Moresby where you’ll meet our local guide and fellow travellers, doing a city tour of one of the most dangerous towns on earth, before heading out to the Yacht Club for dinner.

The following day we'll board our domestic flight and head out to the highlands. The majority of those who do come to witness the celebrations usually depart the country straight instantly. We want to give you a better insight of the real PNG. We will journey deeper into the highlands, visiting the cities of Goroka and Lae. You'll find yourself breaking bread with locals over a Pig Mumu feast and participating in lesser-known festivals. Thus breaking away from the resorts and experience the legit Papua New Guinea!

For Group B, you will have the chance to explore one of YPT's new favourite secret - the island of Bougainville. Bougainville is extremely distinct from mainland Papua, with its own cultures and languages. Here you'll continue with us deeper into the thick jungle seeking not only abandoned tanks and cannons but also the pride of WWII relics hunter: the plane wreck of Admiral Yamamoto. Bougainville is a pristine part of the world with peaceful lodges and incredible snorkelling, which we will certainly partake in!

One of the major highlights of our Group B tour is to not only be the third group of foreigners to visit the micronation of the Twin Kingdom of Me'ekamui and Papaala. but actually meet the King. The Kingdom rules over a single village where the locals have access to their own currency and defence force. The king wears an actual crown of gold.

And if all that was not enough, we will also get the chance to take part in the Bougainville Cultural Show known as Tama Festival, which incorporates guest interaction, as well as a local food festival.

Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to see one of the least explored parts of the world!

Please note: Flights in this part of the world are often known to cancel but can also sell out quite quickly. We recommend booking the Mount Hagen Festival Tour early so that we can secure your included flights.

Tour Highlight

Spectate the incredible Mt Hagen Festival - over 100+ tribes conducting performances and dances which include skeleton men, the Huli Wigmen, and the Waipa mass dance.
Head deeper into the Highland Regions: visiting the cities of Goroka and Lae
Go hiking in the jungle of Bougainville, encountering rare wildlife and the plane wreck of Admiral Yamamoto

Included

Full eVisa Support
Twin-shared accommodation
Private transportation
Domestic flights
Entrance fees & travel permits
Mumu feast
Micronation visa
Meals in Bougainville outside of Buka and Arawa
Local guide and YPT guide

Excluded

eVisa fee
Single supplement (Group A: $650, Group B: $1300)
International flights to and from Papua New Guinea
Meals and drinks in Port Moresby and the Highlands
Personal expenses
Tips for the local guide
Travel insurance

Group	Start date	End date	Duration	Price	Single Supplement
Group A: Mount Hagen only	11 Aug, 2026	19 Aug, 2026	9 days	2945	650
Group B: Mount Hagen & Bougainville	11 Aug, 2026	25 Aug, 2026	15 days	5945	1300

Print Itinerary

Full Itinerary

Tuesday 11th August – Port Moresby

Morning

Arrive at your convenience into Port Moresby – the capital city of Papua New Guinea which is well connected with flights from Australia, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong – and transfer to our centrally located hotel.
Enjoy lunch at your own convenience.

Afternoon

Join the group and your YPT guides for a 2:00pm departure on a tour of the highlights of Port Moresby! We’ll explore the nature park, visit the national museum, go on a guided tour of parliament, stop by the official gift shop of the National Cultural Commission, and enjoy a photo opportunity at the iconic “Amazing Port Moresby” sign located at Ela Beach.
Depart Ela Beach and take the quick drive to the Port Moresby Yacht Club for dinner, drinks and the official pre-tour meeting. (Transportation from the hotel to the Yacht Club can be arranged for any group members arriving too late to join the city tour)
Overnight in Port Moresby.

Wednesday 12th August – Mount Hagen

Morning

Breakfast at hotel.
Early morning transfer to the airport to catch our flight to Mt. Hagen with PNG Airlines departing at 8:30am and arriving in Mt. Hagen at 9:30am.
Upon arrival, we will meet our local guides and transfer to our hotel for check in.

Afternoon

After check-in, we will go on a guided tour of Mount Hagen, starting with a visit to the city’s main market, where locals sell clothes, fresh produce, and other staples. Here, you can sample street food and buy delicious locally grown fruits and vegetables.
We’ll take a break for lunch at our favourite café before heading into the surrounding countryside to visit coffee plantations and a local processing plant, finishing the day with a scenic stop overlooking Mt. Hagen.
For dinner tonight we head to Mt. Hagen’s most posh local restaurant which boasts the best drink and wine selection in the city.

Thursday 13th August – Mount Hagen

Morning

For the early risers, there’s an optional 5:00am excursion to our local guide’s village, where we’ll take a forest hike to a special viewpoint and watch the Birds of Paradise as they begin to stir with the first light of dawn.
After breakfast, we will begin making our way deeper into the highlands to our local host’s village where we will be welcomed by his family and elders. Sing-sing groups will showcase the tribe’s unique cultural identity through song, dance, and elaborate costumes. For those wanting to join the festivities further you’re invited to wear local tribal attire, which includes getting your face and body painted.

Afternoon

We will enjoy lunch in the village, usually consisting of delicious, locally sourced fried chicken, greens and fruits.
Return to back to Mt. Hagen city to freshen up – some may need to wash off their tribal face paint – before dinner and drinks at the Highlander Hotel for a treat!
Overnight in Mt. Hagen.

Friday 14th August – Mount Hagen

Morning

After breakfast, we will return to our hosts’ village for another day of cultural immersion. Our local guides will take us to the village grandstand, where they will explain the significance of various face painting patterns and traditional attire. They will also walk us through mock versions of traditional ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals.

Afternoon

The locals will prepare Beef Mumu. Beef Mumu involves the slaughtering of a cow, which is then prepared and cooked in a hole covered by hot rocks with yam, corn, bananas and greens.
While we wait for the mumu to cook, we’ll take part in a welcoming ceremony led by the village elders, where you’ll have the opportunity to introduce yourself in front of the village and share where you’re from. This will draw excitement from the crowd as they hear about the diverse nationalities that have come to visit Mount Hagen.
After a massive mumu feast, we’ll say goodbye to the village and head back to Mount Hagen City where we will freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Mount Hagen.

Saturday 15th August – Mount Hagen Festival Day #1

Morning

Breakfast at a local cafe and market just beside the festival grounds.
Today’s the big day! We head to the local football field which converts into the site hosting the Mount Hagen Festival. We’ll arrive early to ensure you can meet and photograph each of the members of the tribes preparing their costumes to get more of an insight of the event.
You may choose to participate and have locals prepare your dressings and make up. (optional extra)

Afternoon

During the show, we will have a chance to sample some snacks and street food prepared on the grounds by locals.
You will have the unique opportunity to meet and photograph over 60 Papua New Guinean tribes, each showcasing their traditions. Highlights include the Huli’s feathered headdresses, Asaro Mudmen’s clay masks, Chimbu’s vibrant dances, and Sepik tribes’ spiritual carvings.
Once the show completes we’ll return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight in Mt. Hagen.

Sunday 16th August – Mount Hagen Festival Day #2

Morning

Breakfast at a local cafe and market just beside the festival grounds.
Day 2 at the festival – get in on those final photo opportunities you might have missed on day one!

Afternoon

Lunch at the hotel.
After the show we’ll head further out rural to a river where we can not only swim and jump into the way from a great vantage point.
As our last night in Mt Hagen we will visit a local village where you will have the opportunity to purchase local fire water. We then head to the communal tribal house with a fire built in the middle for our dinner and drinks. Singing, dancing and partying PNG style!
Overnight in Mt. Hagen.

Monday 17th August –Mt Hagen – Simbu – Goroka Road

Morning

After breakfast, we’ll begin our long days drive through Simbu province to reach Goroka on our private bus to explore more of the highlands regions. This will be an incredibly scenic drive as we pass across Papua New Guinea’s stunning highlands, traversing from the Western Highlands to Simbu and concluding in the Eastern Highlands.
As we leave Western Highlands Province and enter Simbu Province, we will stop by the village of Mindima which is home to the iconic Skeleton Tribe. Their distinctive black and white body paint, which represents skeletal figures, serves as a connection to their ancestors. Historically, this body art was used to intimidate rival tribes, symbolizing the presence of ancestors and acting as a formidable tool against enemies. Today, they continue to honour this tradition during cultural festivals and special events.
After settling in, the tribesmen will perform the “Simbu Monster Dance.” Legend has it that the ancestors of this tribe were tormented by a monster in a cave full of bones. So to attack the monster they disguised themselves as skeletons in order to blend in and surprise attack the monster. We will watch as they engage in a theatrical battle against a monster.

Afternoon

Back on the road for a quick stop at a bakery/cafe in Simbu province to grab lunch on the go.
Just outside of Goroka, we’ll discover the Asaro Mudmen, famous for their unique mud masks, which were originally used for camouflage in warfare. Experience their performances and learn about their ancestral traditions during your visit, making it a highlight of the tour.
Arrive late afternoon in Goroka.
If time allows, we’ll visit the J.K. McCarthy Museum, where several rooms feature an impressive array of exhibits. You’ll find everything from WWII relics to traditional PNG artifacts. A standout is a collection of photographs that illustrate Papua New Guinea’s first encounters with Australians in the 1930s.
Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday 18th August – Lae

Morning

Breakfast at our hotel.
We’ll continue our journey across the Highlands as we enter the Western Highlands Province, making our way toward the coastal town of Lae, the capital of Morobe Province and the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. Along the way, prepare to be take in the scenery as we descend from the mountains down to the coast.

Afternoon

As one of the many stops on the way, we will go to a local market which offers fried foods and staples such as grilled chicken, bananas, sausages and coconuts.
Late afternoon arrival in Lae where we’ll partake in a quick city tour which will include a visit of the WWII cemetery, visit the the shipwreck of the Myoko Maru, and drive by the Amelia Earhart Memorial for a quick photo.
Dinner, drinks and overnight in Lae.

Wednesday 19th August – Port Moresby – Buka

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Board an early flight departing Lae at 7:25am back to Port Moresby arriving at 8:10am
Group A members conclude the tour. YPT can arrange ongoing transport, optional tours of the area or advice on flights out.
Group B members continue the tour onwards to Bougainville as we depart on our next flight to Buka.

Afternoon

Upon our arrival at Buka Airport, we’ll be welcomed with a traditional Bougainville greeting ceremony, featuring plant garlands and a ceremonial hand washing. After this introduction to the local culture, we’ll be escorted to our accommodation.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Our first stop will be a local village, where we’ll be greeted with a warm Bougainville welcome. Here, we’ll have the chance to meet the villagers and enjoy a demonstration of traditional music. One of the highlights is a performance using plastic piping instruments, where musicians create infectious rhythms by striking the pipe openings with the soles of their shoes.
On our return to Buka, we’ll make a stop at the Catholic Diocese of Bougainville, where approximately 80% of the population identifies as Catholic. Established in 1966, it remains the largest Christian denomination in the region. Currently led by Bishop Dariusz Kałuża, who may be available for a brief meeting if his schedule allows, the diocese plays an important role in education, healthcare, and peacebuilding efforts. Just a short distance from the church, we’ll check out a well-preserved Japanese WWII bunker.
Before returning to the hotel, we will stop in town at a site is known as the mass graveyard for the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the Bougainville civil war. Our local guide will share facts of what happened during those troubled times.
Dinner and overnight in Buka.

Thursday 20th August – Buka – Arawa – Tama Festival Day #1

Morning

Breakfast at hotel.
Board an iconic banana boat and cross the Buka passage to Kokopau.

Afternoon

Jump in our 4WDs and embark on a 4-hour journey to Arawa with stops along the highway for photo opportunities.
On arrival we check into our accommodation to freshen up and have lunch.
Get ready to dive into the Tama Festival held at the Arawa Peace Park! This festival differs greatly from PNG’s major cultural shows. It centres around “tama,” a delicious traditional delicacy made from ingredients like cassava, banana, taro, and coconut milk, all wrapped in fresh banana leaves and cooked to over an open fire. The Tama Festival is a celebration of Bougainville’s heritage, featuring with music, dance, and culinary delights. In contrast, the Hagen Festival takes a different approach, featuring a grand cultural exhibition that celebrates the many tribes of the Highlands with traditional costumes and competitive performances among various tribes. While both festivals foster cultural pride and community spirit, the Tama Festival is all about the sounds and tastes of Bougainville, whereas the Hagen Festival offers a broader showcase of Highland traditions.
Before leaving Arawa Peace Park, we make a quick photo stop at the Bougainville Crisis Memorial.
Dinner, drinks and overnight at hotel.

Friday 21st August – Arawa – Tama Festival Day #2

Morning

Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast, we’ll visit Kieta Memorial Park, where Japanese WWII relics like a Zero fighter plane, tank, and old naval guns are displayed alongside a memorial to Baros of Sirovi, a local hero executed in 1943 for protecting Allied coast watchers.

Early Afternoon

Drive back to participate in Tama Festival for one more day. It features a variety of activities, including tama-making competitions, traditional fire-making contests, cultural performances, kaku (canoe) carving. If we are lucky they might repeat the Miss AROB (Autonomous Region of Bougainville) competition.
Lunch at festival.
As the festival comes to a close, we’ll have the opportunity to hear speeches from local government officials, who will address a variety of topics concerning Bougainville. They’ll emphasize the importance of further developing Bougainville as a premier tourist destination, highlighting the region’s potential and the steps needed to enhance its appeal to visitors.
Dinner and overnight in Arawa.

Saturday 22nd August – Arawa – Buin Region

Morning

Breakfast at homestay.
Just outside of Arawa, we visit the decommissioned Panguna Mine – this mine used to be the largest open cut mine in the world with a total width of 2 kilometres and a depth of 430 metres. Farmers protested for the mines closure in 1989 which sparked the secessionist movement in Bougainville and the civil war. It’s common to see locals engaging in artisanal mining and panning for gold. Here you’ll explore the abandoned installations of this monstrous monument to careless exploitation and friendly locals are often more than happy to talk you through their makeshift mining processes.

Afternoon

Begin the scenic drive to Buin, Bougainville’s “second city” after Arawa and the administrative and commercial centre of Southern Bougainville.

Afternoon

Stop at a local guest house for lunch.
Back on the road to finish the drive and arrive in Buin. After checking into our accommodation, we’ll venture to the southernmost tip of Bougainville to view the nearby Shortland Islands of the Solomon Islands, clearly visible across the water. Watch boats zigzag between the islands flying Bougainvillean and Solomon Islands flags. This pier here functions as a border crossing for Bougainvillean and Solomon Islands citizens. Explore World War II relics, including a cannon, pillbox and extensive bunkers.
Overnight at hotel

Sunday 23rd August – Buin – Twin Kingdom – Asio Bay

Morning

Breakfast at hotel.
We’ll take our 4WD as far as possible but eventually we’ll need to get out and explore by foot for roughly two hours until we reach the wreck of Admiral Yamamoto. Admiral Yamamoto was the leader of the Japanese Army who planned the attack against Pearl Harbor – thus declaring war against the US. Yamamoto was flying to inspect his troops within a certain region of PNG. His flight itinerary was intercepted by the Allies and a surprise attack caused Yamamoto’s plane to crash into the remote jungle.
Tour highlight – Visit the micronation of the Twin Kingdom of Me’ekamui and Papaala. During the civil war of Bougainville, and after the takeover of Panguna Man, the leader of the rebellion group, Francis Ona, owned half of the island and proclaimed himself as Kim of Me’ekamui. However, on the other side of the island, another man known as King David Peii II proclaimed himself King of Papaala. Upon Francis Ona’s passing, King David Peii II then combined both kingdoms of the island into a Twin Kingdom. YPT have brought some of the very first tourists to set foot in this fascinating micronation.

Afternoon

We’ll continue our drive north, arriving in Asio Bay by late afternoon. From there, we’ll board boats that will transport us to our accommodation on a private island. The setting promises a perfect escape, offering a peaceful atmosphere to unwind and relax.
Fresh seafood for dinner, and our little own party on the island!
Overnight at Asio Bay.

Monday 24th August – Asio Bay – Pokpok Island – Pidia – Arawa

Morning

Breakfast at resort.
Board our private boats for an afternoon of island hopping where we can swim, snorkel and fish in Bougainville’s turquoise waters.
We’ll stop to explore the abandoned Arovo Island Resort, the first ocean resort established in Papua New Guinea. Opened in 1971, the resort’s operations were interrupted by the civil war in 1988. Today, the remnants of this once-luxurious destination, along with an impressive shipwreck, serve as striking reminders of the island’s former splendour.

Afternoon

Continue by banana boat to Pokpok Island followed by Pidia village. If you are familiar with the movie ”Mr. Pip”, staring Hugh Laurie, which tells the story of a girl in Pidia village going through the events of the Bougainville civil war. It was filmed here!
After dinner at the resort, we’ll pack up and make the drive back to Buka.
Overnight in Buka.

Tuesday 25th August – Arauwa – Buka – Port Moresby

Breakfast in Buka.
Transfer to airport for the 12:35pm flight arriving at 1:05pm
Tour concludes: YPT able to help with Papua New Guinea tour extensions, or ongoing transportation.

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