IRIAN JAYA or PAPUA is the western half of New Guinea. It became part of Indonesia in 1963 when it was acquired from the Dutch and is Indonesia’s largest Province. It is 421.981 square km, mainly jungle. PAPUA is the other name for Irian Jaya and it is administratively dedicated by Indonesian Government in year 2002 for the indigenous people in the island. This Eastern Province is part of one of the world‘s last frontiers and almost totally covered in tropical rainforest.

This area is essential keeping the reach of natural sources which refers to its character. The world has known its name through out the expeditors and scientists who have made a foot steps on this island for some periods while the most famous tribes for Irian Jaya such as Asmat with outstanding for its wooden crafts, Dani people in Baliem Valley with its incredible stone age cultural heritage, Koroway people with their jungle isolated life, and Yali highlanders in its traditional cultures.

The population of this province is about 3 (three) millions and 10 percents live in central highland around Baliem valley as the home for ancient tribes of the Dani, Lani, and Yali.

The temperature in the highland can be very hot at the day time which sometimes reach to 27 Celsius degrees but may drop quickly at night to 14-15 Celsius degrees. While down in the lowland, the humidity might reach to 85% and yet the temperature doesn’t seem cooler at night. The rain fall is high which averagely about 1,000 cm per annum - therefore this region possesses some of Indonesia’s largest rivers.

BALLIEM VALEY TOUR

5 Days / 4 Nights F/B

DAY 01 : JAYAPURA arrival - WAMENA
Arrivals in the morning at Jayapura airport, meeting service then fly by Trigana within 40 minutes to Wamena. On arrive at Wamena airport, transfer to your hotel, then proceed to visiting Napua hill & Sinatma village, drive down to the town for having lunch. continue to Wesaput village to see the hanging bridge, local market and surrounding. Back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 02 : TREKKING ALONG BALIEM RIVER / Sogokmo - Kurima
After having breakfast, you will be transferred by car within 35 minutes to Sogokmo in the South of Baliem valley. Then start to have a day trek for about 4-5 hours to Wesaput passing thru Dani sweet potatoes gardens and cross hanging bridge over Baliem river. Along the trail you will see the local people activities and enjoy the beauty scenery as well. Lunch box will be provided enroute. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 03: WAMENA - JIWIKA (Pig feast & dance) - WAMENA
After breakfast, drive 30 minutes to Jiwika in the North of Baliem valley to see the 250 years old Mummy. Then walk 10 minutes to village of Anemoigi where you can view the Dani Mock battle and Pig feast. You will see how the Dani make fire traditionally, kill a pig with bow and arrow and cook them into the hot-burned stone with vegetables and sweet potatoes. Afternoon return to hotel.

DAY 04 : WAMENA - JAYAPURA
After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Wamena airport for your flight back to Jayapura. Arrival at airport of Jayapura You may have a full day sightseeing tour to visit ; Mac Arthur World War II monument, Sentani lake. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, continued to visit the Anthropology museum, Hamadi market and Jayapura city. Afternoon drive back to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 05 : JAYAPURA - DEPARTURE (B)
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to next destinations.

SOUTHERN - NORTHERN BALIEM VALLEY TREKKING
8 Days / 7 Nights : Fullboard

DAY 01 : JAYAPURA ARRIVE
Arrive at Sentani airport of Jayapura, meet by our guide or representative and transfer to Sentani Indah hotel for accommodation with dinner.

DAY 02 : JAYAPURA WAMENA YOKOSIMO HITUGI
Breakfast at hotel, then transfer  5 minutes to Sentani airport for your departure to Wamena by Trigana flight. Upon arrival at Wamena airport , transfer to Baliem Pilamo hotel for a short briefing  by guide about the tour and trekking. From hotel you will drive 30 minutes to Sogokmo where the trekking begins with guide, cook and porters. Walk and crossing the metal suspension bridge on Baliem river near Sogokmo then hike 5 hours through the beautiful countryside and Dani village to Hitugi. You will encounter and greeted by the Dani people who work in their step sweet potato garden, arrive in Hitugi in the afternoon, accommodation at the head of the village house. Lunch and dinner will provide by our cook.

DAY 03 : HITUGI SYOKOSIMO
From Hitugi village, we hike 1.5 hours down to Mugi river and cross the small traditional rope bridge near a small waterfall. From the waterfall we still hike 30 minutes and will arrive in the village of Syokosimo, accommodation at the teachers house. After lunch in the village, we hike the two Dani compounds lie on the top of the hill to explore and experience the Dani daily life and culture. Late afternoon we return back to our accommodation in the village, for dinner and overnight.

DAY 04 : SYOKOSIMO USEREM IBIROMA
Today we hike up and down, the trail is steep and could be very sleeper if it is rains. The first 2 hours hike to the village of Userem is through the steep sweet potato garden near the Baliem river, but the scenery is spectacular. In Userem village we cross another metal suspension bridge on the mugi river, and after 30 minutes walk from mugi river we will encounter and crossing another longer ( 40 m ) width traditional suspension bridge on Baliem river. From the Baliem river the trail is going up and takes 2.5 hours to arrive in the village of Ibiroma. Our accommodation is at a local traditional guesthouse.

DAY 05 : IBIROMA KURIMA JIWIKA
From ibiroma village in the southern of Baliem Gorge, we hike 2.5 hours to Kurima. The still traditional Dani village are very close and can be briefly explore during the hike to Kurima. The local people life and tradition remain unchanged here, and the sophisticate agriculture system has been practiced along time ago. Arrive in Kurima  by noon, we drive 1.5 hours to Jiwika in the north of the valley via the town of Wamena. Lunch at a local restaurant in the town, afternoon we may walk and visit the Dani villages near Jiwika, including the 250 years old mummy at sumpaima village and view the Dani Pig feast and dance in the village of Anemoigi. Accomodation at Lauk Inn ( a very basic tourist accommodation)

DAY 06 : JIWIKA PIG FEAST WAMENA
After breakfast we hike 1 hour up to Iluerainma to see the Dani make salt by soak banan stalks into the brines pool, dry and carry them home. Lunch today is in the village of Anemoigi where we can view the Dani Mock battle and Pig feast. We will see how the Dani make fire traditionally, kill a pig with bow and arrow and cook them into the hot-burned stone with vegetable and sweet potatoes. Late afternoon we drive 40 minutes back to wamena, dinner at local restaurant in town, accommodation at Baliem Pilamo hotel.

DAY 07 : WAMENA JAYAPURA
Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to Wamena airport for a flight departure to Jayapura on Trigana. Upon arrival at Sentani airport of Jayapura, transfer to Sentani Indah hotel then touring the area. You will view some of the WW II memorial sites, e.g. : Mc. Arthur Monument at Ifar Gunung, and 1 hour boat excursion in the lake of Sentani to see the local tribe life in the village. Lunch at Yougwa restaurant in the side of lake, afternoon continue touring and visit the museum Abepura and Hamadi market. Dinner and accommodation at Sentani Indah hotel.

DAY 08 : JAYAPURA - DEPARTURE
Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to Sentani airport for your flight departure.