Indonesia - West Papua Photo Tour 2028
Please note that costs & dates for 2028 are subject to change as not all our partner properties and local airlines have released their rates. Should we need to revise costs, we will endeavour to keep fees & dates as close to the original.
West Papua, part of Indonesia since 1963 but formerly known as Netherlands New Guinea, is a former Dutch colony that is over large portions of its landmass still a wild, forested zone that is home to some of the most spectacularly adorned birds, and indigenous tribes on Earth. ORYX’s scheduled tour is culturally focused and centres on two areas with very different indigenous groups, namely the Dani of the misty highlands, and Asmat of the steamy lowlands. The Dani people of the Baliem Valley are well known for their festivals and feathered headdresses which showcase some of the sensational plumes of the famous birds of paradise, while the infamous former headhunters, the Asmat, live in the humid coastal zone in the south west of the country and are known for their amazing ancestral totems, woodcarving and usage of canoes to navigate the myriad of rivers and mangroves that line the area they inhabit. ORYX’s trip offers unique photographic opportunities and an in-depth exploration of two of the most fascinating tribes on this planet!
Why this Photo Tour is for You
Destination Allure
West Papua, part of Indonesia since 1963 but formerly known as Netherlands New Guinea, is a former Dutch colony that is over large portions of its landmass still a wild, forested zone that is home to some of the most spectacularly adorned birds, and indigenous tribes on Earth. ORYX’s scheduled tour is culturally focused and centres on two areas with very different indigenous groups, namely the Dani of the misty highlands, and Asmat of the steamy lowlands. The Dani people of the Baliem Valley are well known for their festivals and feathered headdresses which showcase some of the sensational plumes of the famous birds of paradise, while the infamous former headhunters, the Asmat, live in the humid coastal zone in the south west of the country and are known for their amazing ancestral totems, woodcarving and usage of canoes to navigate the myriad of rivers and mangroves that line the area they inhabit. ORYX’s trip offers unique photographic opportunities and an in-depth exploration of two of the most fascinating tribes on this planet!
Month of Travel
Our photo tour takes place in September when the weather in West Papua is typically warm and tropical. This is the tail end of the dry season, so you can expect mostly clear skies, with occasional light showers—perfect for capturing the vibrant landscapes and unique wildlife of the region.
Wildlife
Ubud area of Indonesia. A variety of temples and scenic rice paddies around Ubud, which is one of the cultural hotspots of Indonsia. Experience a private Balinese costume dance. Komodo and associated islands. The famous Komodo Dragon, snorkelling and sailing around islands in the Indonesian Archipelago in a “traditional” Phinisi boat; beautiful island scenery of Sepilok area. Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary give excellent introduction to some of the island’s special mammals. Borneo is famed for its rainforest wildlife and memorable photographic experiences may include interactions with Bornean Orangutan, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, the long bulbous-nosed Probosics Monkey, Red Leaf Monkey, Bornean Gibbon and possibly even the adorable Western Tarsier, while appealing bird species include colourful kingfishers, broadbills and mighty rainforest hornbills.
Small Group Departures
Travel to this exotic location with like-minded individuals and share your photographic bucket list together.
Guided Experience
Local knowledge of the region and its wildlife is key to crafting the ultimate photography tour experience. Combined with the photographic expertise of your ORYX Photo Tour Leader, and you are in for an adventure that will further fuel your excitement for photography and the destination.
10 Days
6 Guests +1 ORYX Leader
Classic
- Destination:
Indonesia
- Departure:
Wamena Airport
- Person Sharing:
USD 24,195
- Single Supplement:
USD 908
- Photographic Highlights:
Culture, Scenic Landscapes, Komodo Dragon,Bornean Orangutan, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, Proboscis Monkey, Red Leaf Monkey, Bornean Gibbon, Danum Valley rainforest at dawn, large and colourful kingfishers, broadbills and rainforest hornbills
- Guide:
Mike Dexter
- Tour Price(Per Person):
USD24,195
- 1
Day 1: Arrival Wamena Airport, transfer to Baliem Valley
After arrival at Wamena Airport and having collected luggage, you will meet your local guide and driver. On the way to The Baliem Valley Resort, we visit the market of Wamena. Here local Danis offer their agricultural products.
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Day 2: Baliem Valley - Sweet potato harvest with traditional cooking
Today, we will dive into the daily life of the Dani people, with a focus on their food traditions. After breakfast, we head to a nearby settlement (around 30 minutes’ drive away) to help harvest and cook sweet potatoes, the staple food of the highland Papuans. You'll learn the traditional method of cooking with hot stones and enjoy the freshly prepared meal. Afterward, we return to the resort where we meet several decorated Dani and Lani for a photo shoot (the Lani are close neighbours of the Dani, and were sometimes referred to as the “western Dani”).
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Day 3: Baliem Valley, Kotilola cave and the Meagaima mummy
After breakfast we drive to the famous Kotilola Cave with its gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. The cave has collapsed in some places, which favours lush vegetation. With the torch you can go a little deeper into the cave until you reach an underground river. There are also a lot of bats living here. After visiting the cave, we drive along the Baliem River until we get off at a small village.
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Day 4: Baliem Valley: traditional pig festival
Today is a very special day! After breakfast, we get ready to participate in a pig feast which takes place in a traditional Dani village. Many decorated people from the Dani tribe take part in the festival. Such pig feasts with hot stones and earth pits are probably the most interesting part of a trip to New Guinea. It is difficult to describe what exactly is so unique about these festivals because there is just too much happening at once – it is something that has to be seen and experienced in person!
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Day 5: Depart Baliem Valley, charter flight from Wamena to Agats (Asmat area) and Asmat Museum visit
After breakfast, we drive to the mission station at Wamena Airport. We take a charter flight operated by the mission—usually in a Cessna Caravan—directly to Agats (charter flight time Wamena to Agats is approximately 1 hour). This flight over the highlands of Papua down to the coast is a highlight in itself. Asmat is a region on the south coast of Papua and, alongside the Sepik region in neighbouring Papua New Guinea, is one of the most important cultural areas of New Guinea. Upon arrival in Ewer, an airstrip on an island, we transfer by boat to Agats.
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Day 6: Asmat: Drum Ceremony in an Asmat Village
This section of the tour focusses on the infamous Asmat tribe in the southern lowlands of Papua. The former headhunters and cannibals were once very feared and have only been safe to visit for a few decades. To this day, many Asmat villages are wild and culturally intact.
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Day 7: Asmat - Boat Ceremony in Asmat Village
Today consists of a full-day boat trip in the Asmat region to visit the villages of Per and Uwus, about 2–3 hours from Agats. We navigate through a labyrinth of narrow river channels in the coastal mangrove forest, admiring lush tropical flora up close. In Uwus, a grand boat ceremony awaits. The Asmat will show us how important guests were traditionally received. Over 50 traditional dugout canoes, each with 3–6 decorated men, emerge from side channels, paddling synchronously with rhythmic shouts. They skillfully manoeuvre the wobbly canoes, striking them with long paddles to the sound of singing, throwing shell lime, and splashing water. With at least 200 men, this impressive formation escorts us toward the village, where drummers on the riverbank heighten the excitement.
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Day 8: Asmat: Exploring further Asmat villages
Today, we'll embark on a boat trip to explore the surroundings of Agats. Numerous mangrove channels connect this transportation hub with the surrounding Asmat villages, and some channels are only navigable at high tide. The lush mangrove forests offer a fascinating glimpse into the region's unique ecosystem. Along the way, we'll meet many fishermen and might have the opportunity to purchase fresh lobsters, which we can grill over an open fire for lunch. We'll spend our midday break in the shade of a men's house in an Asmat village. Naturally, we'll get to know the village during a tour before returning to Agats.
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Days 9: Asmat - Last Day in Asmat area, scheduled flight to Timeka
In the morning, we'll take a boat transfer to the airstrip in Agats for our flight to Timika. The scheduled flight to Timika (around 45 minutes in duration), aboard a large ATR propeller plane, is stunning in good weather—you fly over endless rainforest. Upon arrival in Timika, we'll transfer to the Hotel Horison. Here, you can spend the afternoon by the pool, unwinding and reflecting on the intense experiences of the last few days. Dinner will be at the hotel.
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Day 10: Transfer to Timka and depart
After breakfast, transfer to Timika Airport for your onward flight.
