The Tumbuna Festival Papua New Guinea is an 11-day journey through the Highlands and Sepik River, culminating in the vibrant Tumbuna Sing-sing Festival.
The Tumbuna Sing-sing is a celebration of culture and tradition – celebrating ‘pasin bilong Tumbuna,’ the way of the ancestors. The Tumbuna Tour is an unescorted 11-day/10-night tour around 3 diverse locations in Papua New Guinea. It features a Sepik River cruise, a diverse PNG Highlands experience and culminates in the Tumbuna sing-sing show itself. The 2025 Tumbuna Sing-Sing will be a spectacular celebration, involving local tribes celebrating their culture in a colourful extravaganza of traditional dress, dancing and singing. Bringing together a few of the many tribal groups of Papua New Guinea, the Tumbuna Sing-sing is a unique opportunity to witness the diversity of this ancient and fascinating country.
Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start your planning offline!
Partner Tours 
On Arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, you are met by Trans Niugini Tours’ staff members who will then transfer you to the Airways Hotel. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. (D)
Overnight – Airways Hotel or similar
Transfer from the Airways hotel to Jacksons airport for your domestic Air Niugini flight to Tari (flight not included in tour cost – see “Flight Inclusions & Exclusions” section). The Huli tribe that inhabits 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 the day touring the villages and countryside of the iconic Huli tribe. The Hulis are famed for their colourful bilas (traditional dress) and the unique traditions. The Huli men pride themselves on their beautiful bilas with their elaborately constructed human hair headdress, which they lavishly decorated 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 mens’ 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, fly by charter flight into the deep heart of the jungle, where your wondrous journey continues at the Karawari Lodge in the Sepik region. From Karawari airstrip, you will be transferred to Karawari Lodge. 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
This morning, your journey continues on the Sepik Spirit River boat. Its unique design was inspired by the local art and architecture of the ‘Haus Tambaran’ or Spirit House. Enjoy lunch onboard as you begin the cruise along the swirling waters of the Karawari River, cruising past the remote villages and wild jungle that line the banks of the river. This afternoon, travel into one of the local villages to catch your first glimpse into the unique tribal traditions of the river people. (B,L,D)
Overnight – MV Sepik Spirit
Travel on the MV Sepik Spirit offers a unique and diverse experience of the remote Sepik region. The journey begins on the Karawari River, a tributary of the “Mighty Sepik River”, and traverses along the remote river waterways to the middle Sepik River. You will pass jungle-covered banks dotted with traditional fishing villages as you journey down the winding river for over 80 km to reach the Sepik River. As you meander along the Karawari River and Blackwater Lakes, you will experience remote villages, learn their customs and experience their day-to-day lives in modern times, which still closely reflect their traditional tribal lifestyle. The tribes of the Sepik are famed for their artistic carvings, which express their ancient traditional stories and beliefs. You will have plenty of opportunities to admire or purchase some of their unique artifacts while visiting the local villages. (B,L,D)
Overnight – MV Sepik Spirit
Begin the journey back up the Karawari River and prepare to leave the Sepik Spirit for your journey to Mount Hagen; the heart of the PNG highlands. This area is famed for its fertile lands and stunning mountain ranges, as well as the complex and fascinating cultural traditions of the Melpa tribe. Upon arrival at the Mount Hagen airport, you will be driven up a picturesque road past highlands gardens and on to the lodge. Perched high above Mount Hagen, with mist-filled views of the surrounding mountains and Wahgi Valley below, lies Rondon Ridge.
After settling in, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon on a guided birding and nature walk in the surrounding nature trails. The surrounding area is a pristine rainforest and home to numerous orchid species and a wide variety of birds. The lodge has hours of walking trails, providing ample opportunity to explore the unique ecology of this area. Over 180 species of birds have been recorded in the rainforest around Rondon Ridge, including twelve species of Bird of Paradise. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Rondon Ridge or similar
Today is spent at the Tumbuna sing-sing. The Tumbuna show is 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 traditional PNG bilas and sing-sing are a unique and distinctive feature of each of the more than 800 tribes of Papua New Guinea.
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. Guests will arrive at the showground with plenty of time to wander throughout the area where they can interact with the dancers as they prepare for the sing-sing. This is an excellent opportunity to take photographs.
As the morning progresses, we will gather together, and the groups will each perform their sing-sing. The performance gradually builds until each of the tribes is performing simultaneously to the sound of rhythmic drumming and singing voices. It is an unparalleled experience. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Rondon Ridge or similar
Transfer to Kagamuga Airport for your flight to Port Moresby (flight not included in tour cost – see “Flight Inclusions & Exclusions” section). Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by Trans Niugini Tours staff and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, enjoy a half-day tour to the Nature Park. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Airways Hotel or similar
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your outgoing international flight. (B)
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:
Group Size:
This tour will have a maximum of 18 travellers.
The minimum group size is from 12 to 15 guests. We will confirm with you once sufficient guests have booked for the tour to be a guaranteed departure.
Single Supplement:
Single Supplements do not apply at Rondon Ridge and on the Sepik Spirit.
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 $2670 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.
Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start your planning offline!
Contact our team to learn more or subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our upcoming tours.
Itinerary and pricing are accurate as of 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.
For full terms and conditions, please refer to https://www.crooked-compass.com/terms-conditions/
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.
Back to Pacific & Oceania
