Lake Habema

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 at approximately 1800m altitude, giving it a pleasant temperature.
Today, we will visit a local market in town, a coffee plantation, and the traditional villages of Suroba and Dugun, which are majestically located, bringing you to the breathtaking landscapes of the Papuan highlands. You will meet the friendly and fascinating people of the Dani tribes.

Today, you will leave for Southern Baliem. This area has beautiful views and is surrounded by incredible mountains. You will cross over the rough Baliem River by suspension bridge to the local people's gardens and see their different vegetation. These gardens are sometimes built on very steep hills. The local people, whom you will have a chance to meet during the trek, are amiable. They are often on their way to carry their harvest to the markets in Wamena town. There are no road systems, and as some come from faraway villages, they might have to walk for a couple of days to get to Wamena. It is impressive to see how strong these people are.

Today is a day full of culture. In Jiwika, a typical Dani village, you will see a well-preserved, over 250-year-old mummy, which is the village's pride. He was the head warrior of his tribe and a very respected man. In the neighboring town of Jiwika, you will witness the great traditions of the mock wars and the famous pig feast of the Dani tribes. Before the people in the Baliem Valley came in contact with the outside world, they often had to defend their territory against other villagers. It is exciting 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. Another cultural event is still implemented nowadays during essential celebrations like weddings or religious celebrations. This is the pig feast that we call 'Barapen.' It is a traditional way of preparing food by using hot burned stones in a pit. The meat and vegetables will steam there until they are cooked. It is a delicious meal that you might also like to try.

After breakfast, we will go by 4-wheel drive jeep towards the Habema Lakes—one of the highest lakes in Indonesia at an altitude of 3225 meters. We will leave the valley behind and drive over winding roads, taking us through beautiful forests that look almost like a European forest in autumn. We will make several photo stops to enjoy the stunning views. After approx. 2 hours, we reached the region of  Habema. From here on, the road becomes terrible. We will find a suitable place to set up our camp. After lunch, we have time to go for a walk. If the season is dry enough, we can walk to the lakes. The area surrounding you is spectacular, and when night falls and the sky is clear, you will be accompanied by a thousand stars. A campfire will be set up to keep you warm. In the morning, you will witness a stunning sunrise. After breakfast, we will drive to the other side of the lakes to enjoy some fine views of savannahs-like landscapes. In the afternoon, we will be back in Wamena.