Baliem Valley

Baliem valley-Grand Valley Dani (West-Papua-highland New Guinea-Indonesian Part)

West-New Guinea-Papua. In the central mountain of Papua, lies a grand valley with 72 km long and 16 – 31 km wide, inhabited by Neolithic warrior and farmer, the Dani Tribes and other sub tribes of Yali and Lani with their complex and primitive cultures, which looks more like “stone age” cultures.

Welcome to the beautiful grand Baliem Valley, Dani.

We will take you to experience an exciting adventure by exploring the Baliem Valley and the unique, primitive traditions and way of life of the tribes who live in the valley.

Baliem valley itself is located in Wamena regency in West Papua which is well known as the home of the Dani tribe.To reach this area, you have to fly from Jakarta or Bali to Jayapura (the capital province of Papua), and then fly from Jayapura to Wamena. We can fly from Jakarta to Jayapura and then from Jayapura to Wamena in the same day.

This valley has been the most visited part of the island, especially in recent years. The Dani Tribe speak related Papuan, or non – Austronesian language and live in the high central range of Papua Island, the most eastern province of Indonesia.

Until the last decades the Dani tribes were some of the most isolated populations by swamps and mountains. They grew root crops, raised pig and used polished stone axes and adzes. They didn’t make pottery (which means “sign of the modernity”), but otherwise their technology was very much like that of the Neolithic of the Old and New Worlds.

There may be 250,000 Dani Tribe living in the central mountains, many live scattered among the steep mountain slopes. The Baliem Valley has one of the highest densities of population in Papua Province. The Dani Tribe build their huts in a compound nicely express both environmental adaptation and Dani’s character. The men’s and women’s huts have thick thatched roofs which keep rain, yet retain the heat from the earth, along with just enough smoke to discourage the mosquito.

The temperatures of the highland are ranged from 26 degrees Celsius at the day time and 12 degrees at night.

The highlights of sightseeing are Dani Market in Wamena town, Woma Village and, which can be easily reach on foot or by car from Wamena. Farther out are AIKIMA, with its 250 years old mummy, Suroba, Jiwika and neighboring villages.

With 2 hours climbing, you can see the salt spring where the Dani Tribe women make salt in primitive way fashion for centuries. Outer adventures are southward to Kurima area, where the Dani and Yali Tribes’ way of life mixed into a unique combination.

Baliem Valley Festival:

The Baliem festival itself will be held on every august. This festival is so unique. The main point of interest of the festival will be the massive tribal attraction involving different tribes living on the villages around Baliem Valley such as Dani, Lani and Yali tribe. All tribes group will deliver their envoy to attend the festival while bringing all tribes attributes, Kotekas, art and craft. The Baliem festival is a right chance to observe the rich culture of the hinterland. Baliem valley area is mainly occupied by three main big clans, namely Dani, Yali and Lani. They have different physical feature, culture and way of life as well as unique custom. many kinds of tribal attraction will be performed by the stone-age tribe group. Among them are the Mocked War, Pig Feast, Earth Cooking ceremony, traditional mouth Harpa/ or we called it Pikon”, etc.

Each tribe group will come over with their own identity. Here you will see clear difference among them refer to their dressing. The Dani man only use small koteka (penis gourd / penis cover), the Lani tribes use bigger Koteka, their body is much bigger than the average Dani tribe, while the Yali has long slender Koteka with rattan belt covered waist length.

By attending the massive baliem festival (August 6th -8th 2020), you will have a great chance to know and learn the culture of each attending tribes without having to make the visit to their compounds deep in the hinterland of West Papua.

Beside to present during the days of the festival, we will also held a trekking trip in Jiwika village in the suburban of Wamena to see the old smoked mummy and salt pool where you will enjoy and see how to make salt in their traditional way. As you will enter the site, you will return to the Stone Age era. Grass dressed woman, dresses man, just having a long slender penis cup, man with arrows and bows, and with the body ornaments.

More info regarding trip cost, ping us +62812-47628708 (Whats App)