West Papua Tours and Travel

Day 1 – Bali – Jayapura

Morning

• Upon arrival into Jayapura, you’ll be greeted by our guides and enjoy a well-deserved breakfast at a nearby cafe.
• Jayapura is the main city of West Papua, located in the north of Western New Guinea in Papua Province of Indonesia. It used to be called Hollandia, and its Dutch colonial history is still prominent in the city.
• We’ll then head straight to the hotel to check in, catch up on rest, freshen up, and gather again at 1:00pm for lunch. You should try the Papeda, a traditional Papuan dish made from sago starch. It has a unique stretchy texture that looks almost like glue, but it’s soft, mild in flavour, and perfectly paired with the yellow turmeric fish soup. It’s one of the most iconic dishes in Jayapura and a must-try for first-time visitors.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon, we’ll head to the governor’s residence area, which is the best example of Dutch colonial villas and gardens. If we’re lucky, we may have the chance to meet the granddaughter of Thontje Meset, the first Papuan Regent of Jayapura. She is still living in the area and has welcomed us into her home for a very interesting conversation about local history.
• Next, we’ll visit the Jayapura City Tower, where you have panoramic views of the entire city, the coastline, and even Papua New Guinea in the distance on a clear day.
• We’ll round off the day at a spot on the beach popular with locals for the sunset, while enjoying our dinner with a beer or two.
• Overnight in Jayapura.

Day 2 – Jayapura-Wamena and Northern Baliem Valley

Morning

• After breakfast in the hotel, we will drive out by car to “Teletubbies Hill”, named for its rolling green hills that resemble the landscape from the children’s show. From there, we can spot Lake Sentani, the homeland of the Sentani people, an indigenous community whose villages are spread around the lake just outside Jayapura.
• Head to the General MacArthur memorial, a site that commemorates the legendary World War II figure and his role in the Pacific campaign. We’ll see more Dutch colonial houses on the winding road up and get great views from the top.

Afternoon

• We’ll have a quick lunch before heading to the airport to catch the 2:10pm flight to Wamena, arriving at 3:10pm. Wamena is the heart of West Papua, the main town in the Indonesian Papua Highlands, and the gateway to the Baliem Valley, home to the Dani people. Because the valley was largely isolated until the mid-20^th century, the Dani have been able to preserve their traditional way of life. They are known for their thatched houses, terraced gardens, and distinctive woven clothing.
• After arriving in Wamena, we will check into our hotel before heading straight out to tour Aikima in the northern part of the valley.
• We’ll go for a 1-2 hour hike where we can see the traditional thatched houses of the Dani people in a stunning mountain setting. We’ll walk through fields and pine forests, crossing the Aike River, an important source of water for the local communities, before we head back to our hotel.
• Dinner and overnight in Wamena.

Day 3 – Central Baliem Valley

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We start the day driving up to Jiwika, a village in the heart of the Baliem valley. This area is a centre of Dani culture and is famous for its traditional salt springs, one of the few places in the highlands where salt is naturally produced.
• We’ll trek for about one hour up the mountainside through dense rainforest before we reach the salt spring.
• Here, we can see the traditional techniques of salt production. They collect salty water from natural springs and then boil it in large clay pots or hollowed-out wooden containers over open fires. Once the water evaporates, the salt is carefully scraped out and shaped into blocks for use in cooking, trade, and as a valuable part of their diet.

Afternoon

• We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the mountainside.
• Head back down towards a Kurulu hamlet. We’ll see the mummified remains of an elder from the Dugum clan, one of the local Dani family groups that still live in the valley today. We will see more traditional life in the village, including arts and crafts, as well as locally produced weapons.
• Drive back to the hotel.
• After returning from our trek, you’ll have the chance to taste traditional highland cuisine. One dish to try is Bakar Babi, or grilled pork, a specialty of the Baliem Valley.
• Overnight in Wamena.

Day 4 – Southern Baliem Valley

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Today, we drive down to the southern side of the valley to the village of Sogokmo, another traditional Dani Village, where we’ll begin a 3-4 hour trek.
• We’ll walk along the Baliem River, the lifeline of the valley, crossing a suspension bridge and following paths that connect small settlements.
• Along the way, we’ll pass through more Dani hamlets, with terraced fields and sugar cane plantations. It really doesn’t get more picturesque than this.

Afternoon

• In the early afternoon, we will reach Seima Church, where we will have a picnic lunch. Beyond its role as a place of worship, this church serves as a gathering point for the surrounding villages, hosting social events. Many Dani families combine traditional beliefs with Christian practices.
• After lunch, we’ll continue our trek along the river, crossing another suspension bridge.
• The trek concludes in Kurima, an important southern valley village and regional hub, where we’ll meet our driver and return to Wamena.
• Dinner and overnight in Wamena.

Day 5 – Baliem Valley Mock Battle

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We will head out to a local village and see a mock battle put on by the locals! Historically, the Dani fought to defend their clans and territory, and these mock battles preserve the rituals.
• On arrival, we will be given a special welcome, and the tribal members will assemble in their local outfits. The chief will carry out his traditional observance and give orders to all the people for celebrations!
• The mock battle itself is a choreographed display of spears, shields, and clubs accompanied by drumming, chanting, and movements. To say this is a unique opportunity for photos and videos is still an understatement!

Afternoon

• We’ll enjoy another picnic lunch in the village, this time with the locals.
• On our way back, we first visit the Kontilola cave, a site of natural beauty, known for its rock formations, before shopping at a local market, where you can find traditional crafts, woven textiles, and souvenirs.
• This is our last night in Wamena, and before leaving the highlands, we recommend trying another traditional Dani dish: Ubi Tumbuk, which is mashed sweet potato, a staple of the highland diet, served alongside grilled or roasted pork.
• Overnight in Wamena.

Day 6 – Wamena – Jayapura – Sentani Lake

Morning

• We’ll get up early and transfer to the airport to board the 6:15am flight back to Jayapura, arriving at 7:00am.
• Upon arrival, we’ll check in at the hotel and enjoy a few hours to have breakfast, rest, and freshen up.

Afternoon

• After lunch in Jayapura, we drive through the countryside toward Love Lake and Yoka village.
• Love Lake is a heart-shaped lake surrounded by hills, and local legend says its shape was formed by the natural power of love.
• From there, we’ll visit Yoka Village, a traditional settlement of the Sentani people along the shores of Lake Sentani, the largest lake in Papua. Yoka is notable for its stilted houses and lakeside canoes.
• From the jetty, we’ll take a boat and go for a sail on Lake Sentani, to call it by its proper name. The lake is both practical and cultural, being central to their legends and ceremonies.
• Our boat journey brings us to Assei Village, where locals will demonstrate the traditional art of bark painting, in which natural pigments are applied to sheets of tree bark to create bold geometric designs. This centuries-old craft was used to decorate ceremonial objects.
• After the demonstration, we’ll return by boat across Lake Sentani and drive back to Jayapura.
• For our last night in West Papua, we’ll head out for dinner before going for drinks at the relatively swanky Swiss-Bel Hotel.
• Overnight in Jayapura.

Day 7 – Jayapura – Bali

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We then head to the airport to catch our flight back to Bali at 9:00am, arriving at 3:50pm.
• Tour concludes with YPT able to arrange all sorts of further transportation, accommodation, and excursions all throughout South East Asia.

This tour has been taken directly from our main group tour intermarry and can be amended, or completely changed. We do not share all itineraries online. Contact us directly for a bespoke West Papua tour.