Baliem Valley

Prices for- Indonesia Trekking and Adventure

BALIEM VALLEY TREKKING AND DANI CULTURE

Our trip to Baliem Valley is a journey into a deeper reality. Experience the so-called stone age cultures and way of live of the ferocious- looking yet friendly Dani and Yali tribesmen in their spectacular highland.

Trekking up down the hill (some days could be 6 hours trekking) to their villages to discover their primitive ways of life, complex social organization and agricultural system as well as considerable engineering skill in constructing their suspension bridges and homes.

Seeing the men dressing solely in the "koteka" or penis gourd, with pig teeth pushed through their noses and their bodies decorated in clay-and-grease war-paint, while the women wear the grass skirt. They are, however, extremely fond of body ornamentation and decorate themselves elaborately with feathers and shells, especially for celebrations.

They will welcome you in inevitable pig-feast which will be your rite of passage into their unique culture for an engrossing a four or five hour intense experience. You will find yourself in a simple, traditional compound surrounded by fully greased and painted Dani tribes-people wearing their ceremonial best dresses.

INDONESIAN PAPUA

West Papua Province (before called IRIAN JAYA) somewhere in the southern pacific, there have not probably many people known the Papua very well except for those who like adventures.

The province comprises the western half of the huge island of New Guinea situated just northern tip of Australia. The eastern half of the island is another country of Papua New Guinea.

Almost half of this province - was once base of the American and Allied Force during the Pacific War led by General Douglas Mc Arthur - is hilly or mountainous and about ten major peaks reach over 4,000 meters. The tallest is Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 meter above sea level/16,023 feet from which flows a glacier.

THE PEOPLE AND WAY OF LIFE

The indigenous people of this province are Melanesians with black skins and curly hair. They generally have a root crop subsistence agriculture based on sweet potatoes and taros.

The people of Papua obtain their starch from the sago palm which gives and extremely generous yield for remarkably little effort. Feral and domesticated pigs on the island is originally came from Southeast Asia was an event which has had vast cultural and ritual significance for its people. Pigs are often treated as members of the family and are sometimes suckled by women.

While many other people of the world were still hunters and gatherers, Papua people had begun to garden. After fairly recently, many of them lived with a simple Stone Age Culture wearing little clothing and decorating their bodies with paintings, shells, pig tusks, feathers and skins. There is a plethora of language in the province, perhaps some 250 in all, each representing a tribal group which mixes little with the others. Some of the more remote groups still have virtually no contact with the outside world.

THE FLORA AND FAUNA

Papua Island may have the richest wildlife and concentration of plant life in all of Indonesia, or perhaps the world. No other islands in the archipelago can match its various kind of Birds of Paradise, Parrot families, pigeons and Flightless Cassowary.

This province is also home of 150 species of lizards, 30,000 species of beetles, 200 frogs and 800 spiders. A high percentage of the island's 100 snake species are poisonous, including all 17 species of sea snakes.

There are altogether some 2,700 species of orchids found in Papua Province, 600 species that are medicinal importance and over 124 endemic genera. The lush vegetation of the province is in fact a deceptive cover over poor soils badly leached by heavy rain and containing no rich volcanic materials. Mangroves and Nipah Palms ensnare the brackish estuaries of the coast.

BALIEM VALLEY

The Baliem Valley, set in the central highland and the most visited part of the island, especially in recent years.

The highlights of sightseeing are Dani Market in WAMENA Town, WAUMA 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 neighbouring villages. With 2 hours climbing, you can see the salt spring where the Dani 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.

Situated on 1550 M above the sea level, the temperatures of the highland are ranged from 26 degrees Celsius at the day time and 12 degrees at night.

WAMENA

The main town of Baliem Valley is Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya District. The town is a neat and an ideal base to explore nearby native villages and the countryside.

There is no land road connect the region to the province’s capital. It makes the town is expensive as everything of needs should be flown from Jayapura, where the most goods arrive from western Indonesia.

DANI TRIBE

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 living in the central mountains, many live scattered among the steep mountain slopes. The Valley has one of the highest densities of population in Papua Province. The Dani Tribes 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.

BALIEM VALLEY CULTURAL TOUR

Duration: 05 DAYS / 04 NIGHTS

Starts/Ends: SENTANI AIRPORT – JAYAPURA

DAY 01: JAYAPURA – WAMNEA

Upon your arrival at Sentani Airport – Jayapura, our guide meets you for airport assistance of flight connection to Wamena. After 45 minutes flight, you arrived Wamena Airport where our local guide meets you and direct transfer to Sinatma Hotel, a pleasant accommodation in Wamena for your overnight stay. Rest of the day is free own your leisure to relax after a long flight on the previous night. You could also walk around the hotel to observe the surrounding area. Lunch & dinner at hotel or local restaurant (L, D)

DAY 02: JIWIKA

Morning after breakfast, we take an hour drive to Jiwika Village, visiting a saltwater-well where the Dani women make salt in their traditional way. Walk down in 50 minutes to Sumpaima Village to see the old mummy of Mabel's family. After lunch at local restaurant in Jiwika, we continue our journey Kontilola Cave that contains the bones of victims of past tribal war. Late afternoon drive back to Wamena with a stop at local market. Dinner and overnight at Hotel (B,L,D).

DAY 03: AIKIMA

After breakfast at hotel, heading to Aikima Village by 20 minutes drive. Continue by 1,5 hours walk to Suroba Village to enjoy the Traditional Dani's Pig Feast and Dance as well as to observe their way of life while lunch served in box. Late afternoon drive back to Wamena with a stop another traditional market at Wesaput. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight stay at hotel (B,L,D).

DAY 04: WAMENA – JAYAPURA

After breakfast at hotel, transfer airport for your flight to Jayapura. From Sentani Airport, we drive you to the capital Jayapura with en route stops and sightseeing for: Mc. Arthur Memorial Hill for a stunning view of beautiful Sentani Lake, State or University Museum, Hamadi Beach, Hamadi Market and Souvenir Shops then lunch at local restaurant. After check in at Yasmin Hotel, if time is allowed, heading to Base G beach by passing through fishing family houses for an opportunity to swim. Late afternoon drive back to your hotel and dinner at a local restaurant (B, L, D).

DAY 05: JAYAPURA AIRPORT – OUT

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Sentani airport for your flight departure to the next destination. (B)

BALIEM VALLEY CULTURAL & TREKKING

Duration: 05 DAYS / 04 NIGHTS

Starts/Ends: SENTANI AIRPORT – JAYAPURA

DAY 01: JAYAPURA – WAMNEA

DAY 02: WAMENA – JIWIKA

Morning after breakfast, we transfer you by car to Suroba Village for 5 hours trekking passing through native villages that comprised of several self-contained fenced compounds as well as to observe local’s daily activities. Lunch is served en route. Late afternoon arrived Jiwika while dinner and overnight at Lauk Inn, a simple guesthouse (B, L, D).

DAY 03: JIWIKA – WAMENA

After breakfast at Lauk Inn, a short trek to visit a saltwater-well where the Dani women make salt in their traditional way. Afterward 50 minutes walk down to Sumpaima Village to see the old mummy of Mabel's family. Return to Lauk Inn for lunch then back to Wamena with a stop at local market, proceed to Sinatma Hotel, a pleasant accommodation in Wamena for your overnight stay and dinner (B,L,D).

DAY 04: WAMENA – JAYAPURA

DAY 05: JAYAPURA AIRPORT – OUT

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Sentani airport for your flight departure to the next destination. (B)

What to Bring for trekking trip in Papua

Paper Work:
* Valid passport: your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of departure from Indonesia

* Four additional passport photos (please keep these handy as we will need these as soon as we arrive in Jayapura)

* Second photo ID (e.g., a driver's license)

* Photocopy of your passport

* Airline ticket and expense money

* All expense money should be exchanged in Jakarta/Denpasar/other major cities upon arrival, as the exchange rate is approximately 25% higher in Jakarta than it is in Jayapura

* In general, credit cards are not accepted in Irian Jaya, so please plan appropriately.

* Travel insurance

Footwear:
In general, our experience tells us that heavy, leather hiking boots are not appropriate for trekking in most parts of Irian Jaya. The reason for this is we spend quite a bit of time walking through water and mud, and the leather gets very saturated. Given the moist climate, the leather will not dry out and could begin to fall apart. We do recommend lightweight trail shoes or even running shoes. The best qualities to look for in choosing shoes to bring to Irian Jaya are as follows:
1. Comfort. Can you walk up to 6 hours in these shoes? (your shoes should be broken in before your trip!)
2. As much synthetic material in the construction as possible
3. Sticky rubber on the bottom sole.
4. Flexible sole (a very thick sole will not allow you to feel where you are placing your feet when on wet logs, etc.)
5. Support for the ankle and the bottom of the foot

Socks:
We recommend synthetic or wool blend socks with a thin, capilene-type liner as a first layer. Cotton socks tend to absorb too much water and hold an interesting 'scent' if used repeatedly while trekking.

Clothing List:
* 2 pair Trail Shoes (one replacement pair, just in case!)
* Tevas (or something similar for bathing in streams, around camp, etc.)
* 4 pair of synthetic blend socks (wool blend works well)
* 2 pair thin liner socks
* 1 pair of shorts (quick-dry or supplex nylon material)
* 2 pair trousers (quick-dry or supplex nylon material)
* 1 bathing suit
* 1 lightweight sweater, sweatshirt or fleece
* 4-6 short sleeved shirts (it is best to avoid cotton)
* 1 long-sleeved shirt (quick-dry or supplex nylon material)
* Underwear
* Sleepwear and SLEEPING BAG

Travel Clothing:
* 1-2 dress, skirt or comfortable light-weight trouser
* 2 shirts or t-shirts
* Socks and underwear

In general, it's a smart idea to either wear or carry one pair of your 'trekking shoes' with you just in case your bags should be lost or delayed. While most things can be replaced, it is very tough to replace a good-fitting pair of shoes for trekking!

Gear:
* Large durable, nylon or waterproof duffle bag

* Small collapsible duffle for storing travel clothing and any additional gear that you may decided not to bring trekking)

* Day pack that can fit water bottle and camera

* Rain cover for day pack

* Sleeping bag (rated to 60 degrees)

* Ziplock bags (we recommend that you pack absolutely everything you bring in ziplock bags. It is also wise to bring a 5-10 extra to separate wet clothing from dry)

* Camera

* Recording device and blank tapes (roughly 4-6 hours worth of blank tape)

* Binoculars

* Sunglasses with hard case

* Flashlight

* Extra batteries (for camera, tape recorder and flashlight)

* Quick dry camping towel

* 1-2 bandannas (can be used to cool you off during the day as well as for a wash cloth)

* Broad brim (collapsible) hat or baseball cap

* Medical & Toiletries Kit:
- Personal Toiletries (including bio-degradable liquid soap)
- Sunscreen (preferably with Deet)
- 2-3 bottles Deet-Such as REI's Jungle Juice (remember to pack each bottle in a ziplock bag, as Deet can dissolve certain materials)
- Second pair of eye glasses (if you need your eye glasses on a daily basis)
- Aspirin, Tylenol, Aleve or something similar
- Personal medications (anything you normally take at home and any precautionary items such as migraine medications, if you are prone to that).
- Cold medicine
- Allergy medicine
- Anti-diarrhea medicine (e.g., Immodium and an antibiotic)
- General Antibiotic
- Eye drops
- Poly or Neosporin
- Assorted BandAids (fabric adheres better than the plastic in humid conditions)
- Ace bandage and safety pins
- Anti-fungal cream for the feet (prescription strength is best)

Important: Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival Information for the latest joining instructions. This will be sent to you upon receipt of final payment.

All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.

Prices for- Indonesia Trekking and Adventure