5 Days Baliem Valley Treks
Day 1: Jayapura – Baliem Valley
Arrival in Jayapura, flight to Wamena, and transfer to The Baliem Valley Resort
When arriving at Jayapura airport, our manager Siprianus is here to welcome you and assist with the check-in for your direct onward flight to Wamena. At Wamena airport, you meet your local guide and your driver. On the way to The Baliem Valley Resort, we visit the market of Wamena. Here local Danis offer their agricultural products. Besides the very popular sweet potato, many other vegetables and fruits are offered. The market of Wamena is also the biggest trading place for the very sought-after wild boars. Once at The Baliem Valley Resort, you settle in your bungalow and, depending on the time of day, you can enjoy lunch or an afternoon coffee. Later, dinner is served in the restaurant.
Transportation: Flight time to Wamena: 30 minutes. 45 minutes of drive. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.
Day 2: Baliem Valley
Easy hiking in the southern Baliem Valley and encounter with the Dani people
Today we visit the southern Baliem Valley. We start our easy hike in the village of Sogogmo and we follow the mighty Baliem River. We cross suspension bridges, walk through Dani settlements, meet the locals and see them working in their terraced fields and wild sugar cane groves. For lunch, we enjoy a picnic with a magnificent view over the river and the narrow valley. We walk back on the other side of the river, passing more Dani fields and settlements, before we meet our driver again. In the late afternoon we are back at the Resort.
Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 4 hours hiking. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.
Day 3: Baliem Valley – Trikora trekking
Drive to magnificent Lake Habbema and start of our trekking adventure
After an early breakfast, we drive to Lake Habbema. The savannah-like landscape of the Baliem Valley gives way to fantastic mountain rainforests with monstrous tree ferns and screw pines, covered with moss, lichens and climbing plants. At 3.200 metres, Lake Habbema is located on a large high moor, surrounded by enchanting meadows full of dwarf cypresses, rhododendrons and many species of orchids. A very unique flora! We enjoy a picnic by the lake and if the sun is shining, we have a spectacular view over the Trikora mountain summit. After lunch we start our trek and complete the first stage on the way to Trikora. By afternoon we set up our camp in a suitable place.
Transportation: 2,5 hours of drive. 3-4 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.
Day 4: Trikora trekking
Trekking until Somalak cave
We hike all day through pristine valleys full of tree ferns until we reach Somalak Cave. Here we set up our tents right next to the cave, as the spacious cave itself is used for cooking and as a sleeping place for our porters. This cave was first used as a base camp in 1905 during Lorentz’s first expeditions to this area and has served as an important camp for all tours to Mount Trikora since then. It is very unlikely that we meet other people here. It is much more likely that our cuisine attracts a few wild dogs.
Full day of trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.
Day 5: Trikora trekking
Reaching the base camp
Today’s hike is shorter, so we have a little more time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. We set up our base camp at about 4,100 meters. From here we already have spectacular views over large parts of the central highlands and the Baliem Valley. We set up camp and rest a bit before we climb the summit of Trikora tomorrow.
3-4 hours trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.
Day 6: Trikora trekking
Climbing Trikora summit
Today, we get up at the break of dawn and start our final approach to the Trikora summit. Right at the beginning we have to surmount a very steep grass wall, probably the most difficult part of today’s climb. Afterwards the way is rather easy but long, and it should take us around 5 hours to reach the summit ridge. From here, the last few meters to the peak are rocky and difficult again. You can only reach it if you are an experienced mountain climber with equipment (we do not provide). In the morning, the weather is usually good but in the afternoon rain clouds often appear. Therefore, we quickly begin the descent. If we have enough time, we can walk a little detour to an old plane wreckage. In the late afternoon, we are back at our base camp.
Full day of trekking. Guide, cook and porters included. Accommodation: tent. Meals: full board.
Day 7 to Day 9: Trikora trekking – Baliem Valley
Walking back to Lake Habbema
We leave the base camp and start the way back on the same path we followed during the ascent. It takes us two and a half daysto get back to Lake Habbema. We arrive there around noon and our driver takes us back to The Baliem Valley Resort. We certainly appreciate the hot shower and the comfort of our bungalows.
3 hours driving back to the Resort. Full days of trekking. Guide, porters and cook included. Accommodation: tent, The Baliem Valley Resort on day 9. Meals: full board.
Day 10: Baliem Valley
Traditional pig festival, an unforgettable experience
Today is a very special day! After breakfast, we get ready to participate in a pig feast which takes place in a traditional Dani village. Many decorated people from the Dani tribe take part in the festival. Such pig feasts with hot stones and earth pits are probably the most interesting part of a trip to New Guinea. It is difficult to describe what exactly is so unique about these festivals because there is just too much happening at once. You have to see and experience it yourself. For lunch, there is a picnic but you can also eat the food from the traditional earth pit if you like. The freshly cooked pork and sweet potatoes are delicious! In the late afternoon, we return to the Resort.
The pig festival takes place in changing villages. Precise information on travel times cannot be provided. 1 hour walking. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.
Day 11: Baliem Valley
Hike to a Dani salt water spring and visit of the famous Jiwika Mummy
Today we drive to the village of Jiwika where we meet local Dani women of the Dugum clan who escort us to their salt water spring. Together, we hike through a fairy-tale mountain rainforest to reach the hidden spring. Up there, they show us the old techniques of salt gathering. Then we all enjoy a picnic before hiking down to the village and admire the 300 years old mummyof the clan. Seated in the men’s house, it is still decorated with its godeka and hair ornaments. It is a popular place because such mummies are very rare and usually difficult to see. Return to the Resort in the afternoon.
Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 2 to 3 hours mountain hiking (+1000m). Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.
Day 12: Baliem Valley – Jayapura
Last day in the Baliem Valley and transfer to Jayapura
After breakfast, you are transferred to Wamena airport for your flight back to Jayapura. Once at Jayapura airport, Siprianus is here again to accompany you. We first check-in at the hotel and then drive to the nearby Sentani Lake. After lunch in a restaurant on the lake shore, we start our boat tour to visit the famous artist villages of Asei and Ayapo. They are known for their traditional paintings called Maro – simple animal depictions on pressed tree bark in red, white and black. Originally worn as skirts, today they are mostly used as wall decoration. Later return to the hotel and dinner.
Transportation: Flight time to Jayapura: 30 minutes. 2 hours of drive. 2 hours by boat. Guide included. Accommodation: Horex Hotel. Meals: full board.
Day 13: Jayapura – Jayapura airport
Last day in Papua
You enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to Jayapura airport. Siprianus accompanies you to ensure a smooth check-in and a pleasant onward journey.
20 minutes of drive. Guide included. Meals: breakfast.
Trek Papua 