Perhaps the most famous cultural show in Papua New Guinea amongst locals, the Mount Hagen Show brings together sing-sing groups from all over the country in an amazing conglomeration of colour, beauty and culture.
The Discoverer cultural tour program is a 9-day/8-night unescorted program that offers a unique opportunity to discover the rich cultural and natural landscapes of one of the most fascinating countries in the world, Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a veritable smorgasbord of colour, culture and excitement. The highlight of the Discoverer program is attendance at the famous Mount Hagen Cultural Show, a world-famous cultural gathering that features many of the opulently decorated cultural groups of this incredibly diverse land.
You will begin your journey at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby and on the next day proceed to Rondon Ridge for the Cultural pre-show, and for an up close and personal experience with a selection of tribal groups. This will be followed by two full days at the Mount Hagen Cultural Show. As the show comes to an end, travel to Karawari Lodge in the Sepik Region. From this stunning lodge in the heartland of one of the most remote areas of the country, you will travel each day by river boat down the Karawari River to visit the small villages scattered along its shores. The villages provide a unique opportunity to visit traditional homes, witness ceremonial dances and celebrations and glimpse traditional village life. Explore the famous art and sculpture of the Sepik tribes, who express their beliefs through their creative carving of artistic masks, drums, baskets and sculptures.
From Karawari, fly over untouched rainforests and mountains to the Tari Valley. The Huli tribe that inhabits this area is the largest as well as one of the most colourful and iconic tribes of PNG. From here, you will explore the local villages that will display the daily life of these mountain people and their unique and ancient traditions. Depart Tari full of rich and unforgettable memories of Papua New Guinea.
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Partner Tours 
Welcome to Papua New Guinea, a country defined by its rugged landscapes, complex tribal cultures and strong connection to tradition. On arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours’ staff members who will then transfer you to the comfort of the Airways hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure as you settle in and prepare for the journey ahead into the Highlands and beyond. (D)
Overnight – Airways Hotel (or similar) in the Bacchus Wing
This morning, transfer from the Airways Hotel back to the airport for your flight to Mount Hagen (commercial flight not included).
Today is spent at the Hagen Cultural Pre-show; an intimate gathering of a dozen or more different PNG tribal groups, each performing their unique sing-sing while lavishly decorated and dressed in full bilas; tribal dress. The show takes place at a beautiful outdoor showground on the Rondon Ridge property. The stunning mountain vista framed by the distinctly vast highlands’ sky serves as the perfect backdrop for this unique demonstration of PNG tradition.
The celebrations will begin as the tribes arrive and gather to carefully adorn themselves with their complex headdresses, face and body paint and traditional clothing. As the morning progresses, we will gather together as the groups each perform their sing-sing. The afternoon also includes demonstrations of the traditional Melpa bridal price exchange, warfare demonstration and a shared mumu; the traditional earth-oven used to prepare food for feasts. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Highlander Hotel (or similar) in a Premier Room
This weekend you will attend the annual Mount Hagen Cultural Show. The Mount Hagen Show is truly a unique and splendid cultural experience, unparalleled both in diversity and authenticity. The show itself is a stunning reflection of the incredible diversity of Papua New Guinea’s cultural landscape. The Show brings together more than 80 unique and colourful sing-sing groups from across Papua New Guinea; each of whom share their unique celebration display through colorful traditional dress, dance and song.
The celebrations will begin as the tribes arrive and gather to carefully adorn themselves with their complex headdresses, face and body paint and traditional clothing. You will arrive at the show grounds with ample time to wander throughout the tribal groups where you can interact with and photograph the performers as they prepare themselves for the festivities.
Soon after the show will begin, as each tribal group enters the showground and proudly performs their unique sing-sing to the enraptured audience. The performance gradually builds until each of the tribes is simultaneously performing to a cacophony of rhythmic drumming and hundreds of voices. It is truly an awe-inspiring experience. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Highlander Hotel (or similar) in a Premier Room
This morning fly by charter flight into the deep heart of the jungle where your wondrous journey continues at the Karawari Lodge in the Sepik region. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, the lodge boasts a spectacular view of hundreds of kilometres of dense tropical jungle. Proceed with lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to a nearby village to learn about the customary process of harvesting and preparing the sago palm. Sago is the staple food for the Karawari tribes. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Karawari Lodge or similar
Enjoy one full day travelling along the Karawari River to visit the small villages that line its shores. The villages provide a unique opportunity to visit traditional homes, witness ceremonial dances and celebrations and glimpse traditional village life. The Karawari tribes express their beliefs through their skilful and artistic expressions of sculpture and art. Enjoy this opportunity to admire or purchase the beautifully woven baskets, carved masks, drums and sculptures. At the end of each afternoon, you will return to the comfort of the Karawari Lodge in time to refresh and relax before dinner. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Karawari Lodge or similar
This morning you will take a short flight across untouched rainforest and mountains to the Tari Valley. The Huli tribe that inhabit this area is the largest as well as one of the most colourful and iconic tribes of PNG. Once you arrive you will be transferred to Ambua Lodge; nestled at the edge of the lush green rainforest and overlooking the serene Tari Valley below.
Spend the afternoon enjoying Ambua’s winding forest trails that take you through lush rainforest, past gushing waterfalls and over traditional vine bridges. While on the nature walk, you may chance to observe up to 13 species of birds of paradise alongside a wide variety of coloured flowers, exotic plants and insects. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Ambua Lodge or similar
Spend one full day touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. The Huli are famed for their colourful bilas (traditional dressing) and unique traditions. The Huli men pride themselves on their beautiful bilas with its elaborately constructed human hair headdress, which they lavishly decorate with flowers, mosses and ornate bird feathers. Their bilas, combined with their unique sing-sing, is intended both to enrapture their audience as well as intimidate enemies. Visit the men’s wig school and tour the local villages to experience how this proud mountain tribe has evolved in the modern age, while still maintaining the stories, beliefs and traditions of their ancestors. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Ambua Lodge or similar
This morning, you depart for Port Moresby (commercial domestic flight not included in cost). Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your ongoing international flight.
This is a Partner Tour, operated by our trusted local partner Trans-Niugini, made easy through Crooked Compass.
Travel with ease on a carefully selected group departures run by Trans Niugini, Papua New Guinea’s leading inbound operator. Established over 38 years ago, these larger group tours, which average between 17-22 guests, are designed and operated by Trans Niugini, while Crooked Compass takes care of your booking and provides additional support along the way. Enjoy the convenience of booking through Australia, knowing that you have our team behind you to make the process simple and stress-free – so you can focus on the adventure ahead.
Why you will love Partner Tours:
Tour Operator – Trans Niugini Tours
Travel with ease on a carefully selected group departures run by Trans Niugini, Papua New Guinea’s leading inbound operator. Established over 38 years ago, these larger group tours, with up to 18 guests, are designed and operated by Trans Niugini, while Crooked Compass acts as an agent for Trans Niugini Tours and takes care of your booking, providing additional support along the way. Enjoy the convenience of booking through Australia, knowing that you have our team behind you to make the process simple and stress-free – so you can focus on the adventure ahead.
Group Size:
This tour will have a maximum of 18 travellers.
The minimum group size sis from 12 to 15 guests. We will confirm with you once sufficient guests have booked for the tour to be a guaranteed deparature.
Single Supplement:
Single Supplements do not apply to days 2, 3 & 4 in Mount Hagen.
Luggage Limit:
As you have 2 charter flights on this itinerary, maximum baggage allowance is 10kg per person and a maximum of 5kg carry-on baggage per person. Large, hard-sided suitcases are not permitted on charter aircraft.
Charter Flights Aircraft Details:
The aircraft is a P-750 – XSTOL, taking up to 9 passengers.
Power: 750 Hp Pratt & Whitney Turbine Engine
Speed: 260 km / hr
Quiet and comfortable with a powerful, ultra-reliable engine and high lift wing, the PAC-750 purpose-built STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) masters our flying conditions with ease.
Air Charter Flights – Included in Cost:
Your itinerary includes 2 x charter flights for the following sectors:
The amount of $3012 AUD per person for these flights is included in your total tour cost
Commercial domestic Flights – Not included in Cost:
The following domestic flights are not included in the cost of your tour and need to be booked separately:
You book and ticket the domestic Air Niugini flights together with your international flights. We can assist with this, or alternatively your Travel Agent will be able to book these for you.
Deposit:
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 AUD per person + Air Charter Flights cost is needed to confirm your booking.
Final payment is due 60 days prior to travel.
Before deciding whether Papua New Guinea should be on your bucket list, it’s important to know if this unique, rugged travel experience suits your travel style. To help guide your decision, here are some aspects of travelling in Papua New Guinea that past travellers have faced—are you ready for the adventure? Click here to read the full blog.
Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start your planning offline!
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Enquire about travelling on a private departure that suits you.
Enquire About a Private OptionA non-refundable deposit of 35% per person is required to secure your place plus any additional airfares. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Crooked Compass. For full terms and conditions, please click here.
Itinerary and pricing are accurate as at 15 October 2025 and are subject to change by Trans Niugini Tours without prior notice. Crooked Compass acts solely as an agent for Trans Niugini Tours, the principal operator. All travel arrangements are made subject to the terms and conditions of Trans Niugini Tours and Crooked Compass. Trans Niugini Tours reserves the right to amend tour inclusions, routing, accommodation, or transportation due to weather, operational requirements, or other unforeseen circumstances. Deposits including Air Charter flight costs are non-refundable once paid to the operator. Deposit, final payment, change and cancellation terms follow Crooked Compass’ standard booking conditions, available at crooked-compass.com/terms-conditions. For the full Terms and Conditions of Trans-Niugini Tours please refer to https://pngtours.com/terms/
Strict luggage limits apply for charter flights. Minimum group size applies and we recommend not booking flights until we advise you that your tour is a guaranteed departure. Travellers are responsible for ensuring they meet all passport, visa, health, and entry requirements for Papua New Guinea. Travel insurance covering medical evacuation, cancellations, and delays is mandatory.
Small group tours providing intimate connections to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection to the community, tribes, cultures and lands explored.
Exploring the world’s most remote reaches and challenging destinations requires a high level of expertise which can only be learned from first-hand experience. We know because we go.
In an ever-changing global landscape of rules, regulations and restrictions, rest-assured you are being looked after by those in the know. Given the remote regions that we explore, our passengers safety is our top priority.
Stay up to date with the latest travel trends and new destinations opening up. To be the first to go, you need to be the first to know.
Travel professionals are welcome. For partnerships or agent enquiries, we recommend contacting us directly.
This category of tours involves light trekking, walking, cycling, rafting or kayaking for a few hours each day with a small amount of inclines and declines. You will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health to participate. It is important to note that due to the nature of some of our trips, they may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and can involve long travelling days on various modes of transport.
Suggested preparation : At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake aerobic exercise (this may include jogging, cycling or fast walking) for 30 minutes, three times a week. It is also advised to walk on variable terrain and in variable weather conditions. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week is recommended and for adventures which involve paddling and kayaking, it is important to gain confidence and rhythm rather than speed prior to departure.
This category of tours involve trekking, kayaking and cycling for period of 6 to 8 hours a day at a fairly consistent pace. Ideal for people looking to slightly increase the heart rate. For our moderately rated tours, you must have a good level of fitness and also be in good health. It is also important to be prepared for variable weather conditions. Altitude may also come into play. This category of tours may involve visiting remote areas where facilities can be quite basic. Accommodation may also involve camping, homestays or basic accommodation where facilities may not be considered of western standards. To enjoy this style of travel, it is suggested for travellers to have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a positive attitude, as well as a fairly active lifestyle. An open mind is also required.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake 45mins – 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. Some potential exercises that could be beneficial include hill walking with a backpack on over variable terrain and weather conditions, as well as running and cycling dependent on the activity you plan on undertaking.
This category of tours involves trekking, kayaking, cycling or other adventure activities in remote areas for up to 8 to 10 hours a day. It is important to note that with the remoteness of some regions comes a variety of other challenges such as variable weather conditions, accommodation as well as facilities. You must have an excellent level of fitness and good health to be able to partake in this category of tour. You must have confidence in your own ability and be in good physical condition. Includes extended periods of endurance.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 to 4 months of strenuous exercise, four times a week. When preparing for treks it would be beneficial to participate in hill walks with a weighted day pack (approximately 5-8 kg) once a week for aerobic fitness and strengthening of leg muscles. It is also important to do this on variable terrain to prepare for challenging adventures. When preparing for cycling adventures, regular bike riding (at least 4 to 5 times a week for 1-4 hours is essential). It is also important to cycle on uneven surfaces or even participate in other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming to build up strength and stamina. Altitude may also be a factor in these tours.
This category of tour often involves extreme trekking, cycling or other extreme adventure activities. It is important to expect remote and poorly defined tracks and to be prepared for variable weather conditions for 10 to 12 hours per day (may sometimes be more depending on weather and altitude). These adventures are suitable for travellers who have prior experience in strenuous travel and activities, are extremely fit and have excellent health. It is also important to note that some of the terrain on these adventures will involve trekking in snow, at high attitude levels and may require technical equipment.
Suggested preparation: It is important to note that physical fitness should be an ongoing activity, commencing around 5-6 months prior to departure, or even before if you have no prior fitness. Exercise should focus on building maximum endurance and stamina. Four to five hard sessions of 40-60 mins per week should be completed and can include exercises such as going to the gym, running, swimming or cycling to focus on building aerobic stamina. It could also be beneficial to prepare by hiking on rough terrain, in extreme weather conditions or partake in altitude training.
Our Signature Tours are the cornerstone of the Crooked Compass journey: meticulously designed small-group itineraries that balance authenticity, comfort, and ease. These are destinations where travel can be complex—from navigating evolving logistics to reaching places far from the usual tourist path—yet our expertise ensures your experience feels smooth, effortless, and deeply rewarding.
From the moment you arrive, every detail is handled with care. You’re welcomed personally on arrival and met for a private transfer to your accommodation, where you’ll join the rest of your group. Your guide will walk you through an orientation, helping you understand the rhythm of the journey ahead and settling you in with clear, practical insights from the very start.
Accommodation is selected for both comfort and character, reflecting the richness of its locality through thoughtful design, creative ingenuity, and a genuine sense of place. Whether it’s a boutique property, a sustainable lodge or a homestay, each choice is made to connect you meaningfully with the destination.
Cultural integration sits at the heart of our approach. Every itinerary is crafted with respect for local communities, aligning sensitively with their values and protecting the authenticity of their culture. Through this, travellers experience a deeper connection —stories shared firsthand, traditions encountered in their true context, and moments that shift perspectives long after returning home.
With a maximum of 12 travellers and our most trusted local partners, you explore with confidence, guided by teams who combine deep regional knowledge with an intuitive understanding of Western traveller expectations. Through the powerful medium of storytelling, our journeys inspire personal reflection and spark genuine emotion, turning travel into something transformative.
For travellers seeking even more flexibility or personalisation, our Tours By Design journeys are crafted with the same care — mindfully designed around your interests for a more tailored experience.
Why travellers love our Signature Tours:
More about our Tour Styles.
Our Founders Tours are rare, one-of-a-kind journeys personally hosted by Crooked Compass founder, Lisa Pagotto. Designed for the traveller who seeks more than just adventure, these exclusive small-group expeditions uncover places few have ever seen – experiences not featured in our regular collection, chosen for their depth, beauty, and story.
Each itinerary is hand-crafted by Lisa to offer meaningful connection and unique access built through years of trust and collaboration with local communities. Travelling alongside her gives you an unparalleled perspective into the world of ethical exploration – from the behind-the-scenes partnerships that shape our journeys, to the human stories that inspire them.
With an intimate group size and seamless support from our expert team, a Founders Tour is less a trip, and more a masterclass in discovery.
Why travellers love Founders Tours:
More about our Tour Styles.
Set sail on a rare journey across remote islands, wild coastlines, and untouched ecosystems aboard a small, luxury expedition vessel. Travelling by sea unlocks access to places few travellers ever reach – from isolated villages and pristine reefs to dramatic landscapes that can’t be accessed by land – while each evening, you return to the comfort of your beautifully appointed cabin.
These voyages blend adventure with refinement. Expert-led excursions bring you face-to-face with raw nature and vibrant cultures, while exceptional onboard dining, service, and comfort allow time to unwind and reflect.
To complete your experience, Crooked Compass can seamlessly craft pre- or post-cruise land extensions, ensuring your journey flows effortlessly from sea to shore.
Why travellers love our Expedition Cruises:
More about out Tour Styles.
Our Tours by Design experiences are private journeys curated exclusively for you by the Crooked Compass team. Whether you’re drawn to one of our existing itineraries, wish to adapt a small-group tour for private travel, or want to design something entirely new, we’ll craft a journey that reflects your pace, passions, and sense of discovery.
Why pay for inclusions that don’t fit? With Tours by Design, every detail is intentional – from the destinations and experiences to your style of travel and choice of accommodation. Each itinerary is hand-built through our deep local partnerships and expertise, ensuring authenticity, comfort, and connection in every moment.
Why travellers love Tours by Design:
More about our Tour Styles.
Our Partner Tours are carefully chosen group journeys operated by our long-standing, in-country partners — experts who share our values of authenticity, cultural respect, and meaningful connection. These departures, averaging between 17 and 22 travellers, are designed and delivered by our partners, while Crooked Compass manages your booking and provides full support from start to finish.
Enjoy the reassurance of booking through an Australian-based company, delivering our same personalised service and attention to detail you expect from Crooked Compass. We take care of the logistics, so you can focus on what matters most – the journey itself.
Why travellers love our Partner Tours:
More about our Tour Styles.
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