Papua New Guinea Goroka Festival & Asaro Mudmen – 6 Days Highland Culture

Tour Overview

Experience the incredible cultural diversity of Papua New Guinea on this 6-day highland culture tour, from the vibrant capital of Port Moresby to the Eastern Highlands town of Goroka, the mysterious Asaro Mudmen, the traditional villages of Bena Bena, and the famous Goroka Show (one of the largest and most spectacular cultural festivals in the world, where thousands of tribespeople gather in their traditional regalia for a celebration of song, dance, and culture). Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, with over 800 distinct languages and a rich variety of traditional cultures.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Port Moresby & to Goroka

Arrive at Jacksons International Airport (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea). Transfer to the domestic terminal for your flight to Goroka (approximately 1 hour), the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province, located in the beautiful highlands of Papua New Guinea at an altitude of 1,600 meters. Goroka is the cultural heart of the Papua New Guinea highlands, famous for the annual Goroka Show (one of the largest and most spectacular cultural festivals in the world), the Asaro Mudmen, and the diverse traditional cultures of the Eastern Highlands. Upon arrival at Goroka Airport, transfer to your hotel or lodge. Explore Goroka: visit the Goroka Market (a bustling highland market with its fresh produce, coffee, sweet potatoes, pigs, and local crafts, a great place to experience the vibrant highland culture), the National Film Institute (the PNG film archive, with its collection of historical films about Papua New Guinea), the Goroka Show grounds (where the famous annual festival is held), and the beautiful surrounding countryside with its lush green hills, coffee plantations, and traditional villages. Visit the nearby village of Kefamo and the Bena Bena area, experiencing the traditional culture of the Eastern Highlands. After lunch, visit a traditional village and meet the local people, learning about their traditional way of life, their agriculture (the highlands are famous for their sweet potatoes, coffee, and pigs, which are a symbol of wealth and status in highland culture), their social structure, and their customs. Visit the nearby coffee plantations (Papua New Guinea is famous for its high-quality Arabica coffee, grown in the highlands). Evening welcome dinner with PNG cuisine including mumu (a traditional highland feast, with food cooked in an underground oven with hot stones, including pork, sweet potatoes, taro, bananas, and other vegetables), kokoda (fish marinated in lime juice and coconut cream, a popular PNG dish), fresh tropical fruits, and locally grown coffee. Overnight in Goroka.

Day 2: Asaro Mudmen & Bena Bena Villages

Morning visit the Asaro Mudmen (one of the most famous and mysterious cultural groups in Papua New Guinea, from the Asaro Valley near Goroka, known for their unique and terrifying masks made from mud and bamboo, with their long fingers and frightening expressions). The Asaro Mudmen tradition dates back centuries, with the masks originally used to intimidate enemy tribes in warfare (the mudmen would cover themselves in mud and wear the terrifying masks, appearing as spirits or ghosts, and scaring their enemies into retreating). Today, the Asaro Mudmen perform their traditional dances for visitors and at cultural festivals, keeping their unique tradition alive. Visit the Asaro village and meet the mudmen, watch them prepare their masks and costumes (the masks are made from mud from the Asaro River, with bamboo frames, and the fingers are made from long bamboo poles), and watch their traditional dance performance, with the mudmen in their full regalia, dancing to the rhythm of drums and chanting, creating a mysterious and awe-inspiring spectacle. Learn about the history and legends of the Asaro Mudmen, including the story of how the tradition began (according to legend, a warrior from Asaro was defeated by an enemy tribe and fled into the Asaro River, where he covered himself in mud to hide, when he emerged from the river covered in mud, the enemy tribe thought he was a spirit and fled in fear, and from that day on, the Asaro people used the mud masks to intimidate their enemies). After the Asaro Mudmen visit, visit the Bena Bena area (a beautiful valley near Goroka, home to the Bena Bena people, known for their unique culture, their traditional weaving, and their beautiful villages). Visit a traditional Bena Bena village, meeting the village chief and elders, and learning about the traditional Bena Bena culture, their social structure (the big man system, where influential men gain status and power through their wealth, generosity, and leadership), their customs, and their traditional crafts including weaving, pottery, and woodcarving. Watch a traditional Bena Bena dance performance, with the dancers in their traditional regalia (headdresses made from bird of paradise feathers, shell jewelry, face paint, and grass skirts), dancing to the rhythm of drums and chanting. Visit the Bena Bena craft workshops and see the traditional weaving (the Bena Bena women are famous for their beautiful woven bags and bilums (string bags, an important part of PNG culture, used for carrying everything from babies to food to firewood)). After lunch, visit the nearby village of Kami and the surrounding countryside, enjoying the beautiful highland scenery with its lush green hills, terraced gardens, and traditional villages. Visit a local school and meet the children and teachers, learning about education in the PNG highlands. Evening return to Goroka. Dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in Goroka.

Day 3: Goroka Show (Sing-Sing Festival) – Day 1

Full day at the Goroka Show (also known as the Goroka Sing-Sing, one of the largest and most spectacular cultural festivals in the world, held annually in September in Goroka, the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea). The Goroka Show brings together over 100 tribes from all over Papua New Guinea, with thousands of tribespeople gathering in their traditional regalia for a celebration of song, dance, and culture. The festival is a vibrant and colorful spectacle, with the tribespeople wearing their traditional costumes including elaborate headdresses made from bird of paradise feathers, shell jewelry, face paint, body paint, grass skirts, and traditional weapons. Each tribe performs its own traditional dances (sing-sings), with rhythmic chanting, drumming, and synchronized movements, telling stories of their history, mythology, and culture. The atmosphere is electric, with the beating of drums, the chanting of the tribes, the vibrant colors of the costumes, and the energy of the performers. Spend the day at the festival, watching the various tribes perform, taking photos, and interacting with the tribespeople (many of whom are happy to pose for photos and talk about their culture). Visit the various stalls and exhibits, where you can buy traditional crafts, artifacts, and souvenirs. Visit the food stalls and try the traditional PNG cuisine. The Goroka Show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering a unique window into the incredible cultural diversity of Papua New Guinea, with over 800 distinct languages and a rich variety of traditional cultures. Evening return to your hotel after the first day of the festival. Dinner with local cuisine and a debrief of the day’s experiences. Overnight in Goroka.

Day 4: Goroka Show (Sing-Sing Festival) – Day 2 & to Mount Hagen

Morning return to the Goroka Show for the second day of the festival, watching more tribes perform and experiencing more of the vibrant culture. The second day of the festival often includes the grand parade of all the tribes, with all the performers marching into the show grounds in their full regalia, creating a spectacular and colorful procession. Watch the final performances and the closing ceremony of the festival. After the festival, say goodbye to the tribespeople and the other visitors. After lunch, fly or drive from Goroka to Mount Hagen (approximately 30 minutes flight or 2-3 hours drive), the capital of the Western Highlands Province, another important cultural center in the Papua New Guinea highlands, famous for the Mount Hagen Cultural Show (another major cultural festival, held annually in August), the Huli Wigmen (from the nearby Southern Highlands, known for their elaborate wigs made from human hair and decorated with bird of paradise feathers), and the diverse traditional cultures of the Western Highlands. Upon arrival in Mount Hagen, transfer to your hotel or lodge. Explore Mount Hagen: visit the Mount Hagen Market (a bustling highland market with its fresh produce, coffee, sweet potatoes, pigs, and local crafts), the Mount Hagen Show grounds (where the famous annual festival is held), and the beautiful surrounding countryside. Visit a traditional village near Mount Hagen and meet the local people, learning about their traditional culture and way of life. Visit the nearby coffee plantations (the Western Highlands is also famous for its high-quality coffee). Evening dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in Mount Hagen.

Day 5: Mount Hagen & Huli Wigmen Culture

Morning visit the Huli Wigmen (one of the most famous and distinctive cultural groups in Papua New Guinea, from the Southern Highlands Province, known for their elaborate wigs made from their own hair (the men grow their hair for years, cutting it and shaping it into elaborate wigs, which are then decorated with bird of paradise feathers, flowers, and other decorations), their traditional face paint (they paint their faces with yellow clay and red ochre, creating distinctive patterns), and their unique culture and traditions). The Huli people are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Southern Highlands, with a population of over 250,000, and they have a rich and unique culture with their own language (Huli), their own social structure (clan-based, with a strong emphasis on pigs as a symbol of wealth and status, and the tradition of paying bride price in pigs), and their traditional beliefs (including the belief in the power of magic and sorcery, and the importance of the ancestors). Visit a Huli village and meet the Huli Wigmen, seeing their elaborate wigs and traditional regalia, learning about their unique culture and traditions, and watching a traditional Huli dance performance (the Huli are famous for their dramatic and energetic dances, with the wigmen in their full regalia, chanting and dancing to the rhythm of drums). Visit the Huli wig school (where young Huli men learn the art of making and caring for their wigs, a process that takes years and requires great patience and skill). Visit the nearby villages and experience the traditional Huli way of life, including their agriculture (they grow sweet potatoes, taro, and other crops in their gardens), their pig farming (pigs are central to Huli culture, used for bride price, compensation, and ceremonial feasts), and their social structure. After lunch, visit the nearby Tambul area and the beautiful scenery of the Western Highlands, with its lush green hills, terraced gardens, and traditional villages. Visit a traditional market and see the local products, including the famous PNG coffee, sweet potatoes, and crafts. Visit the nearby village of Koge and the surrounding area, experiencing the traditional culture. Evening return to Mount Hagen. Dinner with local cuisine and a traditional cultural performance. Overnight in Mount Hagen.

Day 6: Mount Hagen to Port Moresby & Departure

Morning take a final walk around Mount Hagen or visit a local village for last-minute cultural experiences. Do some last-minute shopping for PNG products including traditional carvings, weavings, bilums (string bags), shell jewelry, bird of paradise feathers (where legally available), coffee, and local crafts. Visit the Mount Hagen Market or the craft shops for souvenirs. After breakfast, fly from Mount Hagen back to Port Moresby (approximately 1 hour). Upon arrival in Port Moresby, depending on your flight schedule, visit the National Museum and Art Gallery (with its excellent collection of artifacts from the various regions of Papua New Guinea, including traditional masks, carvings, weavings, and the famous Sepik River art), the Parliament House (with its beautiful architecture inspired by traditional PNG design), the Port Moresby Nature Park (a beautiful park with its native wildlife and botanical gardens), or the Ela Beach (a beautiful beach in Port Moresby). Do some last-minute shopping at the Port Moresby markets or the duty-free shops. Transfer to Jacksons International Airport for your departure flight. Concluding your 6-day Papua New Guinea Goroka Festival and Asaro Mudmen highland culture tour.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses