Baliem Valley Festival 2024

Make sure to book the earliest flight from Jayapura to Wamena as flights are often delayed. Upon arrival in Wamena our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in town. Wamena town lies on approximately 1800m altitude, giving it a pleasant temperature.
Later in the afternoon, you will go on a city tour in Wamena. You will visit a local market in town, a coffee plantation and a few beautiful traditional villages.

Today you will be introduced to the village life of the Dani people. You will head to the southern part of the Baliem Valley for a tour and trek. This area has beautiful views and is surrounded by great mountains. You will cross over the rough Baliem River by suspension bridge and pass the gardens of the local people to see their different crops. The gardens are sometimes built on very steep hills. The local people that you will meet during the trek are very friendly. They are often on their way to carry their harvest to the markets in Wamena town. Some come from villages far away and have to walk for a couple of days to get to Wamena. It is very impressive to see how strong these people are.  This is a great day to get to know the people in the valley, see where they live and learn about their local life style before witnessing the beautiful festival the next days.

The Baliem Valley Festival is a 3-days festival held in August 2024, in Wamena. The villagers are proud to show their culture and traditions and the festival is a way to honor their origins. Dates of the festival can slightly change, so make sure to contact Travel Papua to receive the latest updates. The festival is held on a beautiful location in the midst of the great mountain range of Jayawijaya Regency. Indigenous tribes from several clans (Dani, Lani tribes) travel from their isolated villages all the way to Wamena town to celebrate their traditions. And you can be part of that! During the festival you will see the tribes in their local attires wearing the famous penis gourds and dancing around with their war equipment’s like their bows and arrows. Also you will have the chance to see the pig feast called Barapen. A traditional way of preparing food using hot burned stones in a pit and where vegetable and meat steam in the ground until it is cooked. Other than that make sure not to miss out on the local pig racing activities, which is a fun activity to watch. The villagers are proud to show their culture and the festival is a way to keep their dying traditions alive. To take pictures, ask the local people politely and you are certain to bring some of your most precious memories back home. .

Today we will visit Jiwika village. Jiwika is a typical Dani village, where you will see a well-preserved, over 250 years old mummy,  the pride of the village. He was the head warrior of his tribe and a very respected man. We will continue to Kontilola Cave. The moss covered stairs and rocks will lead us to this interesting site passing lush vegetation.  Some interesting wall-painting can be seen once you are inside the cave. Pay attention to the huge stalactites and stalagmites, where bats sheltering from day light and listen closely to the river flowing deep below you. Welcome to a different world.

You will be transferred to the airport from your hotel.