Tour Overview
| Duration | 5 Days / 4 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Papua New Guinea — Islands Region |
| Price From | $5,221 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Festival / Volcanic Adventure |
| Data Source | TourRadar — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Rabaul
Fly from Port Moresby to Tokua (Rabaul). Transfer to Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort. Afternoon orientation — Rabaul was once called the “Pearl of the Pacific” before the 1994 volcanic eruption buried much of the town. Visit the Volcanological Observatory for an introduction to Rabaul’s dramatic geology. Overnight in Kokopo.
Day 2: Rabaul Mask Festival
Full day at the Mask Festival in Kokopo. This festival celebrates the mask cultures of PNG’s islands region — the Tolai tubuan (secret society masks), Baining fire dance masks, and the dramatic dukduk masks of the Duke of York Islands. The climax is the Kinavai ceremony at dawn, when canoes arrive from the sea bearing masked figures. Overnight in Kokopo.
Day 3: Tavurvur Volcano & Matupit Island
Drive to the base of Mount Tavurvur, the volcano that destroyed Rabaul in 1994 and remains active. Walk among the steaming vents and sulfur deposits. Visit Matupit Island, where survivors rebuilt their village on the volcanic ash. The resilience of these communities is inspiring. Afternoon hot spring bath at the base of the volcano. Overnight in Kokopo.
Day 4: Baining Fire Dance
Morning visit to the Japanese WWII tunnels and barge tunnels — Rabaul was a major Japanese base and General Yamamoto’s headquarters. Afternoon at leisure. Evening: travel into the Baining Mountains to witness the legendary Baining Fire Dance. Masked dancers leap through towering flames, kicking burning embers into the night sky — one of the world’s most spectacular cultural performances. Overnight in Kokopo.
Day 5: Depart Rabaul
Morning visit to the Kokopo War Museum. Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 4 nights at Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort
- Daily breakfast
- Mask Festival entry
- Tavurvur volcano tour
- Baining Fire Dance excursion
- All transfers
- Return flights POM-Rabaul
Why Rabaul Mask Festival
- Kinavai dawn ceremony — once-in-a-lifetime spectacle
- Baining Fire Dance — unlike anything else on Earth
- Active volcano — steam vents, hot springs, and recent history
- WWII history — Rabaul was Japan’s most important South Pacific base
- Island culture distinct from the Highlands
