
Thanks
for the email concerning a tour to Papua with us, Papua Adventures. I
have put together a 15 day itinerary that will take you to some of the
most interesting areas within the Kombai area. The Kombai are a very interesting
tribe. I have visited their area many times and I am always discovering
something new about their unique "stone age"
culture.
The area in the rainforest that we will visit have only recently seen
westerners. And the westerners that they've seen have all been with me.
Other tour companies go to the more "established" areas in Kombai.
These tribes that we will visit still use stone and bone implements in
everyday life. They carve their arrows with shells, Cuscus teeth and mice
teeth. I have been to many places within Papua and visited with many tribes,
and the Kombai, are one of the more interesting tribes within Papua.
That is why we offer several tours a year to the Kombai area. We specialize
in visiting tribes that have had minimal contact with the outside world.
And the areas that you will visit on this tour are both pristine in nature
and tradition. I believe this is the kind of experience that you want
from Papua.
15 DAYS KOMBAI - TREE HOUSE PEOPLE
Day 1
We will fly from Denpasar, Bali to Jayapura, Papua. Check into our hotel
and get our travel permit. We will also get the necessary food supplies
that we will need for our trek in the Kombai area.
Day 2
We will fly in the early morning on a chartered Pilatus Porter airplane
to the Komobai 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.
Day 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11
We will spend these 9 days trekking is some of the most pristine lowland
rain-forest in the world. Along the way we will stay with the various
tribes that inhabit the region. We will try and make camp each day by
a tree house and sometimes we will spend 2 nights at one tree house. 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 8-12 meters high. And
some even higher.
The area of the Kombai that we will visit are still living a stone age
existence. They still use only stone and bone tools and have only experienced
outsiders (westerners) from the previous clients that I've brought there.
And 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.
We will make camp by their tree houses and spend the days with these tribes
and also be able to witness them in their everyday lives. They will look
for sago trees to fell and get the pith out of to eat. We will experience
this with them. 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 plants,
vines and tree bark.
Really, these are some of the only real "stone age" people left
in the world. And I have to tell you that every time I go into the Kombai
area, I am deeply touched.
I 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.
Days 12
We will trek back to the village where the plane dropped us off. And we
will overnight in that village
Day 13
he chartered Pilatus Porter airplane will come in the morning to pick
us up and take us back to Wamena. We will check into our hotel and explore
around the Wamena area.
Day 14
We will fly to Jayapura in the morning. We will check into a hotel in
Jayapura and have the day and early evening to explore around the city
of Jayapura. We will go to the arts and crafts village of Hamadi. There
you can purchase handicrafts from various places within Papua.
Day 15
We will fly from Jayapura back to Denpasar, Bali. The tour will be concluded.
The Kombai area that I go to is still pristine. The culture is still "stone
age". Other areas in the Kombai are mixed with traditional and modern
conveniences. And that is not what you are coming half way across the
world to see.
Also, we will need to charter a Pilatus Porter airplane for the drop
to the Kombai area and the pick up and return to Wamena. These planes
are expensive, that is normal for chartering a plane anywhere in the world
that is remote.
COSTS FOR THE KOMBAI - TREE HOUSE PEOPLE TOUR (15 DAYS)
2 PEOPLE: PRICE PER PERSON $US 7200 ·
3 PEOPLE: PRICE PER PERSON $US 6300 ·
4 PEOPLE: PRICE PER PERSON $US 5800 ·
5 PEOPLE: PRICE PER PERSON $US 5500 ·
6 PEOPLE: PRICE PER PERSON $US 5300 ·
This tour price INCLUDES
Round trip airfare (Denpasar, Bali to Jayapura, Papua) round trip airfare
(Jayapura-Wamena), the Pilatus Porter charter airplane, all accommodation,
all meals and beverages, travel permit, all guide fees, porters, ceremonial
fees and airport taxes.
This tour price does NOT INCLUDE
Alcoholic beverages, laundry, tipping, travel insurance and personal health
insurance.
Price is subject to change, depending on the cost of the charter airplane
This is a very interesting tour and you will experience something that
you will never see anywhere else in the world.
If you have a question about an itinerary or any other tour to Papua.
Feel free to contact us at Papua Adventures.
A reference list of past clients is available on request.
Sincerely,
Kelly Woolford
Papua Adventures
Tel. 62 8123961438
© 2000-2008, PAPUA ADVENTURES

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