Sepik River Expedition

This morning you fly from Port Moresby into the remote lowlands of the Sepik region, landing at a small airstrip and transferring by boat to a lodge on the Karawari, a tributary of the great Sepik, deep in the rainforest. The change is dramatic, from the capital to steamy lowland jungle and the winding, brown river, lined with villages and dense forest. You settle into your atmospheric river lodge, set high above the water with sweeping views over the river and rainforest, and spend the afternoon cruising the Karawari by boat, visiting your first riverside village, meeting the people, and getting a first sense of the extraordinary culture revolving around the river, the crocodile and the spirits. As the sun sets over the river and the sounds of the rainforest rise, you settle in, immersed in the remote, timeless world of the Sepik region, and the anticipation of the cultural wonders to come builds.

A full day exploring the extraordinary culture of the Karawari region by boat and dugout canoe. You visit riverside villages famous for their spirit houses and carving, meeting the villagers, elders and carvers, and immersing yourself in a way of life deeply connected to the river and the spirits. You take in the soaring 'haus tambaran' (spirit houses), the elaborately decorated ceremonial heart of village life, and watch the master carvers at work, creating masks, figures and canoe prows of haunting beauty and power, some of the finest tribal art on earth. You learn about the spirits, ancestors and beliefs that shape river life, and, perhaps, witness a ceremony or dance. Gliding the river and its tributaries in dugout canoes, past jungle and villages, you immerse yourself in the remote, timeless world of the Sepik. The authenticity, remoteness and cultural richness are profound. As the sun sets over the river, you return to your lodge, having journeyed into a living, ancient world.

Another day exploring the remote villages, tributaries and culture of the Karawari region, deep in the rainforest. You glide the river's labyrinth of tributaries and lagoons in dugout canoes, visiting remote villages rarely reached by outsiders, meeting the people, watching daily life, fishing, gardening, carving, and immersing yourself in the ancient rhythm of the river. You take in more spirit houses, extraordinary carving, and the deep culture revolving around the crocodile and the ancestral spirits, and may witness ceremonies, dances or the making of art. You also take in the wild beauty of the rainforest, watching for birds, crocodiles and river life. The warmth and genuine hospitality of the Sepik people, who share their homes and culture, leave a deep impression. This deep immersion in the remote, authentic villages and culture of the Karawari is a profound and unforgettable experience. As the sun sets over the river and the rainforest sounds rise, you return to your lodge, reflecting on the extraordinary living culture you have witnessed.

Today you journey to the Middle Sepik, the classic heartland of Sepik culture, travelling by boat (and, where needed, a short flight) to reach the villages of the mighty main river. The Middle Sepik is famous for its spectacular spirit houses and its extraordinary carving, considered the finest on the river, and its villages, such as Tambanum, Kaminibit and Palambei, are the cultural jewels of the region. On arrival you settle into simple village guesthouse accommodation or a river lodge, immersed in the world of the great river, and visit your first Middle Sepik village, taking in its spirit house and meeting its carvers and people. The change of scenery, to the wide, majestic main Sepik, and the anticipation of the region's extraordinary art and culture, are palpable. As the sun sets over the mighty river, the sounds of the rainforest all around, you settle in for the cultural heart of your expedition, deep in one of the most culturally rich regions on the planet.

A full day exploring the extraordinary art and culture of the Middle Sepik, the classic heartland of Sepik culture. You visit the famous villages of the region, taking in their spectacular soaring spirit houses, some of the finest and most dramatic on the river, elaborately decorated with carvings, paintings and masks, and their extraordinary carving, considered the finest tribal art in the world. You meet the master carvers at work, watching the creation of masks, figures, canoe prows and slit-gongs of haunting beauty and spiritual power, learn the meaning and significance of the art, and can acquire genuine pieces directly from the artists. You immerse yourself in the deep culture of the region, its spirits, ancestors, ceremonies and beliefs, and, perhaps, witness a ceremony or dance. Gliding the mighty river in canoes between the villages, you take in the majesty of the Sepik. The artistic and cultural richness of the Middle Sepik is extraordinary. As the sun sets over the great river, you return to your accommodation, having witnessed one of the world's great art and cultural traditions.

A final day immersed in the extraordinary culture and life of the Middle Sepik. You explore more villages, each with its own art, spirit house and traditions, and learn about the deep crocodile culture of the river, the crocodile revered as a powerful ancestral spirit; in some villages you may see the results of the extraordinary initiation in which young men are ritually scarred to resemble the crocodile's skin, and learn about its profound spiritual significance. You watch carvers create their haunting art, meet villagers, glide the mighty river and its lagoons in dugout canoes, watch for birds, crocodiles and river life, and immerse yourself in the timeless rhythm of the Sepik. The remoteness, authenticity and cultural richness are profound. As the sun sets over the great river, the sounds of the rainforest all around, you enjoy a final Sepik evening, reflecting on the extraordinary culture, art and spiritual world you have witnessed, one of the most authentic and culturally rich experiences in the Pacific, and rest ahead of flying out tomorrow.

Today you leave the mighty Sepik and journey by boat and flight back to Port Moresby, taking in the extraordinary transition from the remote river and rainforest to the capital, and reflecting on the profound cultural journey you have made. On arrival, you transfer to your hotel, with the afternoon free to relax, arrange any final Sepik carvings you have acquired, visit the National Museum, or simply reflect on your expedition into one of the most culturally rich and least-visited regions on earth. This evening, a farewell dinner celebrates the extraordinary experiences you have had, the mighty river, the soaring spirit houses, the haunting carving, the crocodile culture, and the remote, authentic villages, and you reflect on the profound privilege of journeying into a living, ancient world. As you toast your expedition, the memory of the extraordinary culture, art and warm people of the Sepik stays with you. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow, carrying home one of the great cultural adventures of the planet.

After a final morning in Port Moresby, you are transferred to the airport for your onward international departure. You leave having journeyed into the cultural heart of Papua New Guinea, the mighty Sepik River, exploring villages of soaring spirit houses and extraordinary carving, encountering the deep crocodile culture and ancient initiations, and immersing yourself in a living, ancient world largely unchanged for centuries. The images and encounters stay vivid long after you land, the winding brown river, the towering spirit houses with their haunting carved faces, the master carvers at work, the dugout canoes gliding the water, and the warm, dignified people of the river. The Sepik offers one of the most authentic, remote and culturally rich experiences in the Pacific, a genuine expedition into one of the most fascinating cultures on earth, and you depart already treasuring the memory of the great river, its extraordinary art and culture, and its warm people, one of the great cultural adventures of the world.