Cultures and Nature in Papua New Guinea

This Ponant 13-day Expedition cruise aboard Le Lapérouse will take you to discover the wonders and ancestral tribes of Papua New Guinea. You will board your ship in Cairns. With its many colonial buildings, its picturesque port and its exceptional panorama of the surrounding natural environment, this city in the north-east of Australia is sure to win you over. Sail up to Alotau in Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay Province and learn about the historical significance of the area with the WWII memorial as well as Japanese and American battlegrounds, and stories of pearlers, miners and missionaries. The...read more two volcanically active islands of Ferguson and Dobu are next on your itinerary.

Join your expedition team on a walk to the DeiDei geothermal hot springs through spectacular forests, and learn about the Methodist Church of Australia, which established a mission station on Dobu Island. Your call at Tufi will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your voyage. You will fall under the charm of this picturesque region, dubbed the 'Scandinavia of the Tropics', with its deep fiords or locally known 'rias' formed through volcanic activity. In this unique setting the local Papuan tribes will share their customs, beliefs and artwork with you.

After a stopover in Tami Islands, you will head north along the coast to Madang, nicknamed the most beautiful city in the South Pacific. This captivating province features great geographical diversity and 170 different languages are spoken here. Madang's festival showcases the rich, colourful traditional performances or 'sing sings' by many of the cultural groups of the province. These include the mysterious Asaro Mudmen, who re-enact a warrior episode from their history, wearing masks of mud, their bodies coated in clay. For the first time ever, Le Lapérouse will set sail for Dregherhafen, at the eastern end of the Huon Peninsula.

You will have the chance to experience the local hospitality during discussions about their customs and traditions. In Kitava, in the Trobriand Islands, you will be welcomed by spectacular cultural performances and traditional ceremonies by the local islanders, and you will have the opportunity to snorkel and swim in the local clear and prisitine waters. Learn about the traditional 'Kula' trading system on the island of Kiriwina, as well as local village life, through their spectacular cultural performances. Then you will head back to Cairns, your port of disembarkation.