Thank you for the interest concerning a tour to Papua. We have put together
a 12 day itinerary that will take you to some of the most interesting areas within
the Korowai/Kombai area. The Korowai/Kombai are a very interesting tribes.
We have visited their areas many times and we are always discovering
something new about their unique "stone age" cultures.

The Korowai/Kombai people live in tree houses that range in height from
6- 12 meters high. Sometimes the tree house is built from a single tree. But usually
the base for the tree house is made up of several live trees and
then wooden poles added for extra stability.

The area in the rain forest that we will visit have only recently seen westerners.
And the westerners that they've seen have all been with us. Other tour companies go to the more "established" areas in Korowai/Kombai. These tribes that we will visit still have stone and bone implements. But, have recently aquired metal axes and machetes.
They carve their arrows with shells, Cuscus teeth and mice teeth.

Our main objective is to visit the Waira tribe. A clan of mixed Korowai and Kombai
people. And try to visit another new tree house in their area.

WAIRA: NEW EXPLORATION IN THE KOROWAI /KOMBAI  12 DAYS

Day 1
We will get our travel permit (surat jalan) from the police in the morning.
And in the late morning/early afternoon we will fly on a domestic
airlines to Wamena. We'll check into our hotel.

Day 2
We will fly in the early morning on a chartered Pilatus Porter airplane to the
Kombai area. The flight departure time is dependent upon the weather.
This is aspectacular flight and you really get to experience the lay of the land.
We cross the rugged cordillera that is the central mountain range. And you can see for yourself the remoteness of Papua and see why it is the largest rain forest in all of south east Asia. Once we land in the Kombai area we will get our porters ready and then spend some time getting to know the village chief. And we will overnight in a former Missionary house.

Days 3,4,5,6,7,8

We will spend 7 days trekking is some of the most pristine lowland rain-forest in the world. Along the way we will stay at the various Kombai tree houses in the area. We will try and make camp each day by a tree house and at one tree house we may spend 2 nights. The Kombai usually live in isolated tree houses. Sometimes 2-3 families will live in one tree house. These tree houses are usually 2-6 hours of walking apart. And the tree houses range in height from 6-12 meters high. And some even higher.

After a few days of trekking and visiting various Kombai tree houses,
we will enter into the Waira tribe area. We first were allowed into the Waira area in 2009. Before that we had made several attempts to contact them.
But, they didn't want us, so we left. But now we've been there already 2 times
and they are okey with us visiting again. We talked with them and they said
they will help us out when we want to visit another new tree house in the area.

The Waira are a Kombai tribe at the edge of the Kombai/Korowai border.
Some Korowai have married with Kombai at the Waira tree house.

We will try and push a bit past the Waira tree house and visit another tree house.
A tree house that hasn't received tourists, but knows of them because the Waira have
spread word that tourists sometimes come. A generous gift is given to the Chief of
the Waira and in return he will help the tribe out with machetes or tobacco.

They still do practice cannibalism in the Kombai area.
Don't worry they won't kill and eat us. It is ritual cannibalism among themselves
and we are outsiders, so there is nothing to worry about.
And this practice is only used in the most remote places within the Kombai area.



We will make camp by their tree houses and spend our days with the Kombai people
and also witness them in their everyday lives. They will look for sago trees to fell
and get the pith out of to eat. Sago is their primary source of food and the experience
of watching them fell the tree (using a stone axe) and how they process the sago is really a unique experience. And great for photographs! They will gather sago grubs (which they are crazy about) and eat them. And we can watch as they build fish traps and try and catch small fish from the streams. And the amazing thing about all of this is that they use nothing from the outside world. Everything is made of materials that
they have gathered from the forest. Something they have done for thousands of years.

Really, these are some of the only real "stone age" people left in the world.
And they are accessible, because we use a charter airplane to get close to their area.

We have high quality rain proof North Face and Kelty tents to sleep in
and Therma-Rest ground pads that are very comfortable to sleep on.
Porters will carry all of your equipment. All you will need to carry (if you want) is your day pack with camera and water bottle.

Day 9
We will trek back to the village where the plane dropped us off.
And we will overnight in that village

Day 10
The chartered Pilatus Porter airplane will come in the morning to pick us up
and take us back to Wamena. We will overnight at a hotel. If time permits,
we will take a tour of the interesting vegetable market in Wamena. Time of the
flight pick up is dependent upon the weather.

Day 11
We will fly in the morning on a domestic airlines to Jayapura. We will check int
our hotel and then go by chartered automobile to take a tour of Jayapura and the surrounding area. We will stop in the arts and crafts village of Hamadi,
in case you want to pick up some souvenirs from Papua.

Day 12
You will fly from Jayapura back to your connecting destination.
The tour wil be concluded.

NOTE:
We will need to charter a Pilatus Porter airplane for the drop to the Kombai area
and the pick up and return to Wamena. This plane is expensive.
That is normal for chartering a plane anywhere in the world that is remote.
The Pilatus Porter is a Swiss built airplane especially designed for flying in mountains.
It is a very reliable plane and much safer than a smaller Cessna.
The Pilatus can carry a load of up to 850 kilograms(1873lbs).
It can fit 8 passengers including the pilot and gear.

COSTS FOR THE WAIRA:
NEW EXPLORATION IN THE KOROWAI/KOMBAI 12 DAYS
2 PESONS: PRICE PER PERSON $US 6950 ·
3 PESONS: PRICE PER PERSON $US 5750 ·
4 PESONS: PRICE PER PERSON $US 4950 ·
5 PESONS: PRICE PER PERSON $US 4450 ·
6 PESONS: PRICE PER PERSON $US 4200 ·

NOTE:
Prices are subject to change depending on the cost of the chartered Pilatus airplane
and the domestic airline tickets in Papua

THIS TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
Round trip airfare Jayapura-Wamena, the chartered Pilatus Porter charter airplane,
all accommodation, all meals and beverages on the trek, travel permit,
English speaking guide, porters, ceremonial fees and airport taxes.

NOTE:
Papua Adventures can help arrange your booking and payment of domestic
airline flights to and from Jayapura, Papua.

THIS TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Airfare to and from Jayapura Papua, alcoholic beverages, meals
and beverages in Jayapura and Wamena, laundry, tipping, travel insurance
and personal health insurance.

This is a very interesting tour and you will experience something
that you will never see anywhere else in the world.

A reference list of past clients is available upon your request.

Sincerely,
Papua Adventures
PT. Biak Papua Adventures

Under the new autonomy law governing Papua, all tour and independent groups
must use a travel company that is registered in Papua.
You must show proof of using a registered tour and travel company within Papua,
before you will receive your surat jalan (travel permit) from the police.

PAPUA ADVENTURES is a registered tour and travel company in Papua
and is licensed under the name PT. BIAK PAPUA ADVENTURES.

Many tour groups have been barred from traveling in Papua
because they did not follow the new regulations.
If you are a tour company or an independent group wanting to travel in Papua.
Then PAPUA ADVENTURES can help you secure
the necessary documents to ensure your entry into Papua.

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