Korowai Tribe Trekking

Day 1: Flight To  Yahukimo (-/L/D)

Early morning arrival to Jayapura – the capitol of West Papua province and the largest city on the Indonesian side of the island. Meeting with the military authorities to pick up the necessary permits for further travel.  (Please note: flights are very often delayed due to weather conditions and we strongly recommend carrying baggage as needed for your trip in the Koroway Territory. We will help you to arrange it and keep it with us before leaving). Check in for another flight to Dekai. Approximately hour-long flight over Jayawijaya Mountains giving a  fascinating  experience  itself  -  from  the  windows  of  the  aircraft  extends  an unforgettable view of the wild interior of the island - dense stretches of rainforest, serpentines of mighty rivers, hills and jagged mountain peaks, with few traces of human presence in the vast ocean of the jungle. Landing in Dekai – once a small town set by missionaries, is now the center of a new district dawned by the government.  The town has been under permanent construction for years and its rapid expansion makes it the last bastion of civilization in the region. We will have our dinner in local style and spend a night in very basic accommodation. Btw, you might be surprised by what “the best hotel available” means in this town. NOTE: All inner flights in Papua depend on the weather condition! There are no fixed time tables for any flights at all!

Day 2:  Dekai -  Koroway Territory  (B/L/D)

You won’t be sleeping on bed for next 3 days. After breakfast we will transfer you by pick-up truck to a little harbor on the bank of river Brazza. Loading of all equipment and supplies to the boat and beginning of the all-day-long trip along the Siretsj River. There is a lot of wildlife to be seen on the way – sometimes the world’s biggest crocodiles lurking in the water, sometimes water turtles, sometimes just birds and parrots. Late in the afternoon you shall reach the village of Mabul – a starting base for all expeditions to Korowai Proceeding with all necessary preparations for further expedition to the jungle – negotiation with a chief of the village, getting more supplies, selecting the porters  and  scouts  –  these  moments  are  always  memorable  for  the  expedition’s participants. From now on forget about privacy – the Papuan kids will be following your every single step and watching you closely. Westerners are probably bigger attraction for Papuans than Papuans for Westerners. Dinner prepared by hired cook and night spent in the local house.

NOTE: These is a small chance that we’ll reach Mabul  druing two days trip – all depends on weather conditions. In such case we’ll spend one night in one of the Citak tribe’s villages on the way.

Day 3 - 5: Trekking Through Korowai Territory  (B/L/D)

A 3days-long trek through the territories of the Korowai. Depending on  weather conditions and the pace of the march (this is always adapted to the slowest  person in the group), we will visit several "rumah tinggi” and its inhabitants. We will choose the most accommodating spot to spend more time there thus we’ll be able to take a closer look at the daily life of Korowai and learn their – sometimes shocking - customs. Everyday  we’ll be marching approximately 3 to  4

 hours a day taking into account many stops and “photo breaks. Be ready for getting wet and dirty! Our way will go through huge swamps and rainforest and will  cross rivers. Sometimes to cross the river we’ll chop down a tree and build a provisional bridge. The group will be at all times accompanied by porters and a local guide / hunter hired in the first village. During the 3 days in the jungle, we will not only visit several settlements cut off  from civilization, but also have a unique chance to experience the beauty and menacing power of one of the wildest stretches of rainforest in the world. The participants of the expedition will get an opportunity to admire the untouched flora and fauna, learn a few basic rules of survival in the jungle, possibly with a chance of going hunting. We’ll also see how to make sago, build a trap for a wild pig.

But above all – you will meet remarkable people from a completely different world. The tribes of Korowai  is one of the most isolated and least known ethnic groups of Melanesia, still steering clear of the missionaries who have been more and more successful at converting other tribes in the past three decades. The Korowai is so rarely visited by groups of white people that it is hard to tell who will be a greater attraction – our expedition for them, or the other way around. 

Day 6: Return To Dekai  (B/L/D)

Early in the morning return to the Mabul village. Farewell to the porters and local guides and repacking our equipment. All-day-long boat trip on the Brazza and Sirzet River back to Dekai. Pick up from the harbor and drive back to town. Accommodation in a local hostel (very basic conditions). Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 7:   Fight Return To Jayapura  (B/L/-) 

By flight back to Jayapura, the flight time will depend on the weather conditions. By boat to the islands of Sentani Lake inhabited by the Sentani Tribe.  Continue drive in direction to the city center proceed to visit  an  interesting art  market  where  the finest samples of handcrafts from all over New Guinea can be purchased. Dinner will be on your account and stay overnight in the town of Jayapura.

Day 8: Jayapura Departure  (B/-/-)

Early morning transfer to the airport of Sentani and flight to Sorong, rajaampat, Makasar, Jakarta, Denpasar