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Mount Hagen is the capital city, and a bustling commercial centre where wealth from coffee and tea plantations has brought rapid change to traditional life style.

Set in the large Wahgi Valley, with its neat villages, gardens, coffee plantations and groves of casuarinas, this busy town has a feel of the wild west about it.

The market, located at the corner of Wahgi Parade and Kum Road, is the place to see colourfully attired locals, particularly on Saturdays. Walks and treks can be taken from the town through forest, or to visit villages and planatations, or you can take longer and more demanding hikes, for instance, to Mount Hagen or Mount Kubor. The Baiyer River Wildlife Sanctuary, north of Mount Hagen, is one of the best places to see Papua New Guinea’s colourful birds of paradise.

View suggested itineraries

Key info

  • Ideal for viewing: King of Saxony bird of paradise, Macgregor’s bowerbird, Stephanie’s astrapia, Loria’s bird of paradise, Huon tree kangaroo
  • Where: Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Wildlife trips

This wildlife location is featured in the following itineraries:

Birding in Paradise

An ideal location for birders, Papua New Guinea’s forests are home to a remarkable 700 species that includes 38 of the world’s 43 birds of paradise. Based in excellent remote wilderness lodges, knowledgeable local guides will introduce you to the country's extraordinary wealth of culture and wildlife. Find out more about Birding in Paradise

  • Price (inc. flights): 16 days from £8,945
  • Trip type:
    Tailor-made Holiday
  • When to go:
    • J
    • F
    • M
    • A
    • M
    • J
    • J
    • A
    • S
    • O
    • N
    • D

Discover Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea resonates as a land of spectacular birds and unparalleled natural beauty. This introduction combines the prolific marine bounty of the Coral Triangle and lowland rainforest, with the culturally rich Western Highland region, home to multiple species of birds of paradise. Find out more about Discover Papua New Guinea (was Reef & Highlands)

  • Price (inc. flights): 12 days from £6,395
  • Trip type:
    Tailor-made Holiday
  • When to go:
    • M
    • J
    • J
    • A
    • S
    • O

East Sepik & Mount Hagen Highlights

Combine the rainforest clad lowlands of the Sepik River with the undulating Western Highlands on this adventure to discover the contrasting flora and fauna of Papua New Guinea. Renowned for birds of paradise, a heady mix of endemic wildlife and ancient cultures await in this truly fascinating place. Find out more about East Sepik & Mount Hagen Highlights

  • Price (inc. flights): 13 days from £8,095
  • Trip type:
    Tailor-made Holiday
  • When to go:
    • M
    • J
    • J
    • A
    • S
    • O

Papua New Guinea’s Birds of Paradise with Mike Dilger

Secluded, untouched and home to many of the world's birds of paradise, Papua New Guinea is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Led throughout by TV naturalist Mike Dilger, this itinerary has been specially designed to maximise our chances of encountering birds of paradise and other endemic birds. Find out more about Papua New Guinea’s Birds of Paradise with Mike Dilger

  • Price (inc. flights): 19 days from £12,895
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • When to go:
    • J
    • J
    • A
Suggested accommodation options are shown below. Please contact us for further recommendations.

Kumul Lodge

Kumul Lodge

Kumul Lodge is one of Papua New Guinea's best-known eco-tourism lodges. Constructed entirely from local materials, it is owned and managed by local people, and your stay here directly contributes to the preservation of the surrounding forest, home to some of the most beautiful and unusual birds in the world. Find Out More about Kumul Lodge

Rondon Ridge Lodge

Rondon Ridge Lodge

Located a short drive from Mount Hagen, this hotel offers magnificent mountain views, and all 12 rooms have 180 degree views. The surrounding area is home to ten species of birds of paradise and numerous orchids, and walking trails from the lodge make it easy to get out and see the area’s unique ecology. Find Out More about Rondon Ridge Lodge