Expedition Itinerary:
The expedition total duration will be 15 days. The expedition is planned such that the team will arrive in Port Moresby on a Saturday and leave Port Moresby in 2 Saturdays' time, so that those taking time off work from Australia can undertake this expedition by taking 2 weeks leave.
There will be 11 trekking days, with the first day spent reaching the start point by road and river while days 13 and 14 are spent in Buna and day 15 is the return flight to your home destination.
A typical trekking day starts with breakfast at 6am with trekking commencing at 7am. We walk at a regular pace with drink, snack, rest and swimming breaks at regular intervals, before reaching our destination at around 3pm. Rest, relaxation and dinner follows, and we usually head to bed around 7pm for a good night's sleep and recovery. Meals are high quality expedition food supplemented with local fresh fruit and vegetables. Snacks are high quality and include high energy food such as protein bars.
As a summary:
Day 1: Saturday. Arrive Port Moresby on early flight. The start village of Kwikila is approximately 75km by road south-east from Port Moresby and will be traveled by vehicle, followed by a boat trip of approximately 10km along the beautiful Kemp Welch River. Overnight in a riverside village.
Day 2: Sunday: We continue upstream by boat for approximately 7km, and then we start hiking the Kapa Kapa Trail towards the Owen Stanley Range, immediately entering pristine forest with several steep hard climbs and descents. Overnight in a riverside village.
Day 3: Monday: A long day through spectacular jungle terrain. We leave the Kemp Welch River and follow jungle streams before climbing a series of ridges to reach a unique village perched high on a ridge with great views of the Ghost Mountain.
Day 4: Tuesday: A steep descent followed by a 1600 metre climb to reach a fascinating village perched high in the clouds.
Day 5: Wednesday: Easier hiking today as the terrain evens out before we descend and once again reach the Kemp Welch River. There are several villages in this area including some with extraordinary tree houses. We continue to the uppermost village on the Kemp Welch River where we stay in a guesthouse before ascending the Ghost Mountain the next day.
Day 6: Thursday: Today we climb part way up the 3000 metre Ghost Mountain, along the way managing our way through a series of fast flowing white water streams. We camp in cloud forest on the side of the mountain in a dramatic and very remote and beautiful location.
Day 7: Friday: We ascend to the top of the Owen Stanley Range at 2780 metres with spectacular views back across the terrain we have journeyed so far on our expedition. After resting at the top, we descend steeply to the northern side of the range and camp by a jungle stream teeming with butterflies.
Day 8: Saturday: We continue through the jungle for much of the day to reach our first village on this side of the range. We once again enjoy village hospitality in this remote and small village.
Day 9: Sunday: We make our way through easier terrain with numerous stream crossings. At lunchtime we reach a larger village, before we continue through jungle and stream crossings to reach a warm and friendly village set on a ridge.
Day 10: Monday: Today we continue on relatively easier terrain and pass a number of beautiful villages before staying the night in a coconut palm fringed village.
Day 11: Tuesday: Flatter terrain today and we make good distance passing through numerous small villages and river crossings before staying the night in an interesting village nestled on the side of Mount Lamington.
Day 12 Wednesday: An early start and we continue alongside the Girua River passing through a couple of villages before the dramatic finale of ending our trek at the Girua River bridge on the Popondetta-coast road. From here we take a short drive to Popondetta, gather some supplies, and then proceed to our beautiful guesthouse on the beach at Buna.
Day 13 Thursday: Rest day and sight seeing at Buna. Overnight in the same beachside guesthouse as the night before.
Day 14: Friday: Flight to Port Moresby, and overnight in a hotel.
Day 15: Saturday: Transfer to airport and flights to your home destination.
The expedition total duration will be 15 days. The expedition is planned such that the team will arrive in Port Moresby on a Saturday and leave Port Moresby in 2 Saturdays' time, so that those taking time off work from Australia can undertake this expedition by taking 2 weeks leave.
There will be 11 trekking days, with the first day spent reaching the start point by road and river while days 13 and 14 are spent in Buna and day 15 is the return flight to your home destination.
A typical trekking day starts with breakfast at 6am with trekking commencing at 7am. We walk at a regular pace with drink, snack, rest and swimming breaks at regular intervals, before reaching our destination at around 3pm. Rest, relaxation and dinner follows, and we usually head to bed around 7pm for a good night's sleep and recovery. Meals are high quality expedition food supplemented with local fresh fruit and vegetables. Snacks are high quality and include high energy food such as protein bars.
As a summary:
Day 1: Saturday. Arrive Port Moresby on early flight. The start village of Kwikila is approximately 75km by road south-east from Port Moresby and will be traveled by vehicle, followed by a boat trip of approximately 10km along the beautiful Kemp Welch River. Overnight in a riverside village.
Day 2: Sunday: We continue upstream by boat for approximately 7km, and then we start hiking the Kapa Kapa Trail towards the Owen Stanley Range, immediately entering pristine forest with several steep hard climbs and descents. Overnight in a riverside village.
Day 3: Monday: A long day through spectacular jungle terrain. We leave the Kemp Welch River and follow jungle streams before climbing a series of ridges to reach a unique village perched high on a ridge with great views of the Ghost Mountain.
Day 4: Tuesday: A steep descent followed by a 1600 metre climb to reach a fascinating village perched high in the clouds.
Day 5: Wednesday: Easier hiking today as the terrain evens out before we descend and once again reach the Kemp Welch River. There are several villages in this area including some with extraordinary tree houses. We continue to the uppermost village on the Kemp Welch River where we stay in a guesthouse before ascending the Ghost Mountain the next day.
Day 6: Thursday: Today we climb part way up the 3000 metre Ghost Mountain, along the way managing our way through a series of fast flowing white water streams. We camp in cloud forest on the side of the mountain in a dramatic and very remote and beautiful location.
Day 7: Friday: We ascend to the top of the Owen Stanley Range at 2780 metres with spectacular views back across the terrain we have journeyed so far on our expedition. After resting at the top, we descend steeply to the northern side of the range and camp by a jungle stream teeming with butterflies.
Day 8: Saturday: We continue through the jungle for much of the day to reach our first village on this side of the range. We once again enjoy village hospitality in this remote and small village.
Day 9: Sunday: We make our way through easier terrain with numerous stream crossings. At lunchtime we reach a larger village, before we continue through jungle and stream crossings to reach a warm and friendly village set on a ridge.
Day 10: Monday: Today we continue on relatively easier terrain and pass a number of beautiful villages before staying the night in a coconut palm fringed village.
Day 11: Tuesday: Flatter terrain today and we make good distance passing through numerous small villages and river crossings before staying the night in an interesting village nestled on the side of Mount Lamington.
Day 12 Wednesday: An early start and we continue alongside the Girua River passing through a couple of villages before the dramatic finale of ending our trek at the Girua River bridge on the Popondetta-coast road. From here we take a short drive to Popondetta, gather some supplies, and then proceed to our beautiful guesthouse on the beach at Buna.
Day 13 Thursday: Rest day and sight seeing at Buna. Overnight in the same beachside guesthouse as the night before.
Day 14: Friday: Flight to Port Moresby, and overnight in a hotel.
Day 15: Saturday: Transfer to airport and flights to your home destination.