Cultural Baliem Valley

Upon arrival in Wamena our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to Baliem Pilamo hotel, the best 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. You will visit a local market in town, a coffee plantation and the first traditional villages.

Today we will bring you to admire the Napua Hills where you will enjoy beautiful views of the wide Baliem Valley. From there you may choose to do a short trekking downhill. After lunch, you will visit the traditional villages of Suroba and Dugun which are majestically located bringing you to the breathtaking landscapes of the Papuan highlands. You will make a walk here passing the gardens of the Dani tribes and visiting beautiful villages. You will meet the friendly and fascinating people of the Dani tribes in these villages.

Today is a day full of culture. In Jiwika, a typical Dani village, you will see a well-preserved, over 250 years old mummy which is the pride of the village. He was the head warrior of his tribe and a very respected man. In a neighbouring village of Jiwika, you will witness the great traditions of the mock wars and the famous traditional feast of the Dani tribes: Before the people in the Baliem Valley became in contact with the outside world, they often had to defend their territory against other villagers. It is very interesting to see how they prepared themselves to go on such wars. Today we will see their war dances and rituals in their beautiful local attires. You also see another cultural event that is still implemented nowadays during important celebrations like weddings or religious celebrations. This is a feast that we call 'Barapen'. It is a traditional way of preparing food by using hot burned stones in a pit in the ground. The meat and vegetables will steam there until they are cooked. A very tasteful meal which you might like to try as well.

Note: A pig is not included in this feast. Pigs hold significant cultural and economic value. The local people view pigs as a crucial part of their social and economic life.

Today you will head to the southern part of the Baliem Valley. 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 vegetation. 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. There are no road systems and 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 last day to spend in the Baliem Valley.

You will be transferred to the airport from your hotel.