“Know them better & be a friend that cares”
(Kenali-Lindungi-Peduli Yang Di Alam Bebas)
A JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE WORLD
“When looking at a map of Indonesia, a tiny archipelago lies at its most south-eastern border, wedged between Australia and Papua: these are the Aru Islands, capital Dobo. A group of islands off everything. Off time, off tourism guidebooks, off the usual beaten tracks. However, Aru is rich of an exuberant nature, its forests and seas still offer to the Melanesian inhabitants everything they need, as it has always been the case. Aru is a land of emerged coral, cut by rivers flowing from Papua during ice ages, rivers, which have since become channels that it is not always easy to discern from rivers. To travel over the waters of Aru is like getting lost in a water maze surrounded by the forest.
Along these channels, villages are scattered, dispersed, sharing, by groups, a dialect, and sometimes a common history. Our village, Wakua, the one you will discover if you follow us, houses a community of about 1,400 people. Getting to Wakua is like making a kind of journey into the end of the world, an immersion into the source of life, which flows like water in the channels fragmenting the Aru Islands: slowly, at tides and monsoons rhythm. In the surrounding forests, the Greater Bird-of-Paradise parade and send its unique and unforgettable cry into the air. Some villagers have decided to protect them after seeing us travelling again and again to Wakua to photograph and film the birds… For you, it is thus an almost guaranty to be able to observe them. Aru is also renowned for the sea that surrounds the archipelago. The Arunese waters are so crystalline that the number one pearl producer in the world, who grew up in the archipelago, still possesses pearl culture platforms. It is to discover these two emblems of Aru, the pearls and the birds-of-paradise, that we invite you on a unique and exclusive journey…” *(Kasoar Travel)
Aru island Apoda Paradise
In Brief,
I know it looks expensive, but this is Aru’s situation. Like in Papua, everything is more expensive (fuel, food).
In addition, we are probably the only travel that gives guests the opportunity to see birds of Paradise Eye to Eye, not from the bottom of the forest. The process of raising the guests with a high fare, in terms of human resources and equipment, and birds’ feed so that they are protected also has a price.
Our resort is also amazing in the middle of primary forest, with water flow, private terrace and rooms serviced daily.
Apart from being able to enjoy the bird of paradise dance, guests can trek in the forest at will with local organizers, day and night. Our experience (18 years!) There is also valuable: everything went well, guests were picked up, no need to think about what -2, just open your eyes and enjoy.
Last but not least, our project is an Eco-Tourism Project (E.T.P) to try to empower rural communities and be nature conservation. When guests come to Badi Gaki, they will become actors in conservation and capacity building projects.
Below I present the price without any activity; then, guests pay every time they want to enter the hide or want to walk into the forest with a guide (outside the surrounding bungalows-2). Of course it looks a lot cheaper, but in appearance: later every time you want to move you have to pay again, in the end, it’s the same.
Itinerary
ARU 2023/ 5 Days/4 Nights
Included
Nights in double room
Full board (except mentioned meals)
Water, tea, coffee
Transfers
Porters
Local English guide
Badi Gaki Conservation Forest entrance fee
Not included
Flights to/from Dobo
Accommodation/Meals in Dobo
Laundry
Beverages other than mentioned
Visits and excursions
Access to hides
Trekking
Personal expenses
Tips
Cancellation insurance
Unforeseeable program changes
Trek Papua 