Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s last frontiers, and its forests are home to an unparalleled array of bird species, including 38 of the world’s 43 birds of paradise.
The world’s second largest island is a land of extraordinary contrasts with 4,500 metre high mountains, vast expanses of rainforest, huge river systems and pristine coral atolls. It is remote (travelling from the UK involves two consecutive overnight flights) and on arrival you are plunged into a utterly different world.
The indigenous population is extremely diverse, and more than 700 languages are spoken. Age-old traditions remain at the heart of everyday life and people share their heritage with genuine openness. As well as its cultural vibrancy, Papua New Guinea has one of the world’s richest and most varied avifauna. The 708 bird species identified to date include 578 land and freshwater species, 40 seabirds and 90 migrants from countries that lie to the north and south.
Of the world’s 43 known species of bird of paradise, 38 are found in Papua New Guinea. The growth of the millinery trade significantly affected the populations of these beautiful birds and, as a result, birds of paradise are now protected species in Papua New Guinea, and it is illegal to export their plumes.
The island’s non-perching birds include cassowaries, birds of prey, megapods, pigeons and doves, cuckoos and coucals, owls and frogmouths, lorries and lorikeets, parrots, cockatoos, kingfishers and hornbills. Perching birds include cuckoo-shrikes and trillers, shrikes, thrushes, logrunners, babblers, warblers, fairy-wrens, fantails, monarchs and robins, whistlers and pitohuis, honeyeaters, finches, starlings, mynahs, orioles, drongos, wood swallows, butcherbirds, bowerbirds and birds of paradise.
Excellent wilderness lodges are located in some of the remotest parts of the country, providing comfortable bases from which to sample the culture and witness the various ecological niches, where experienced and knowledgeable local birding guides are available to escort birding tours.
Due to the inherent difficulty of travelling within a challenging environment, we work with an established local partner that is almost entirely self-sufficient, with its own fleet of aircraft, plus vehicles and boats at each property. This ensures a reliable, safe and efficient service throughout your stay.
On arrival at Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, connect with an afternoon domestic flght to Mount Hagen in Western Highlands Province. On arrival at Mount Hagen you will be met and transferred to your accommodation, a drive of around 30 minutes.
Cultural tours from Rondon, with a local guide to explain the cultural complexities, take you through the traditions and customs of the Melpa people who inhabit the surrounding area.
Accommodation: Rondon Ridge, 3-nights
Take a morning transfer back to Mount Hagen airport to catch a charter flight to Tari in the Southern Highlands. On arrival at Tari airstrip, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Accommodation: Ambua Lodge, 4-nights
This morning you will be transferred back to Tari airport in time for the charter flight on to Karawari. On arrival at Karawari private airstrip you will be met and transferred to your accommodation nearby.
Accommodation: Karawari Lodge, 3-nights
This afternoon you will be transferred back to the airstrip for a charter flight back to Mount Hagen. On arrival at Mount Hagen airport, connect with a domestic flight to Port Moresby and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Airways Hotel, 1-night
After a free morning to relax, this afternoon you will be transferred back to Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, to check in for the international flight to Singapore and onward overnight flight to the UK.
Port Moresby, the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea, stands on the shores of the Gulf of Papua. The city offers a choice of centrally located hotels for an overnight stay, or you may choose to head out to nearby Varirata National Park, one of the best places to see the Raggiana bird of paradise. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Also home to the flamboyant Huli people, the Tari Valley is a utopia of pristine, mid-montane jungle, a birdwatcher's paradise! An eiderdown of interlocking tree tops, with splashes of colour from high altitude orchids. Nature trails take you across traditional vine bridges, tracing clear mountain streams to secluded waterfalls. Find Out More about {acc:title}
At 1,126 kilometres, the Sepik River is Papua New Guinea's equivalent to the Amazon and it is the people of the Sepik that makes this region an exciting and fascinating place to visit. Life revolves around the river, and locals are unique in their belief in the spirit world with its mythical stories and rituals. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Located in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, the Tonda Wildlife Management Area is a wetland of international importance and the largest protected area in the country. It has a diversity of birdlife, with 250 species of resident and migratory birds, including most of the world’s population of little curlew. Find Out More about {acc:title}
The Mount Hagen area is the home of the Melpa people, a people with a strong culture, who still live largely traditional subsistence lifestyles. From the lowland rainforest to alpine grasslands, it is a land of colour and vibrancy and one of the best places to see Papua New Guinea’s birds of paradise. Find Out More about {acc:title}
This province covers a surface area of 4,300 square kilometres. Home to the world’s largest population of birds of paradise, the rainforest habitat houses an abundance of wildlife of all sorts. It is traversed by a number of well-maintained trails, making it one of the most pleasant locations for hiking in the highlands. Find Out More about {acc:title}
This spectacular region is characterised by lush, high valleys sandwiched between towering limestone peaks and several roaring rivers. Due to its isolation, the province is home to New Guinea’s most fascinating tribal culture, and you can also find a fascinating range of birds, including several species of birds of paradise. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Airways Hotel is Papua New Guinea's leading accommodation and one of the most unique airport hotels in the world. Nestled into the mountainside, each room opens onto a balcony with mountain or garden view, and facilities include a stunning pool, restaurants (poolside and fine dining), spa and tennis court. Find Out More about Airways Hotel
Ambua is an award-winning, eco-friendly lodge set in a spectacular mountain landscape, with magnificent views of the Tari Valley. The lodge is a world-renowned birding destination, with over 200 species having been identified in the area, and knowledgeable local birding guides cater for all levels of interest. Find Out More about Ambua Lodge
Karawari Lodge stands on a lone ridge above the Karawari River, overlooking an endless expanse of dense tropical lowland rainforest in one of Papua New Guinea's most remote and unspoilt areas. Accommodation is in ten cottages, inspired by traditional architecture and constructed using local materials. Find Out More about Karawari 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
British Travel Awards
Awarded Silver in Favourite Tour Operator for Nature & Wildlife 2024 & 2025
Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards
Awarded Bronze in Best Travel Company for Wildlife & Nature Holidays 2024
