The southern highlands are one of the most remote provinces of PNG. You can still experience authentic tribal cultures rich in traditional dress and life style. The scenery is spectacular, with deep valleys shrouded between impressive limestone peaks and rushing rivers. Equally impressive is the majestic Sepik River, where you can visit local villages, whose people are revered world wide for their craftsmanship and artistic creations.

There are two boats in the deluxe category that travel the Sepik River.

It takes 18 passengers, all staterooms have facilities with picture windows. The villages are visited by smaller boats that leave the mother vessel. The boat does two trips a week, Fridays and Mondays. The Friday departure goes out of Karawari and the Monday departure goes Out of Timbunke. On the Monday departure, you must spend one night At the Karawari Lodge.

The trips are 3 nights, and transportation to the Sepik River is by charter Flight from Mt. Hagen.

Price:
The price for the Sepik Spirit is: 1,287.00 -  3 nights.
The price for the air charter is: 350.00 -  Round trip.

The Melanesian Discoverer is also a deluxe boat. This catamaran carries up to 44 passengers. All cabins have large picture windows. There are two boats that have an any access to the river by a hydraulic lift. They are used for tours along the river to the villages.

The Melanesian Discoverer operates 4 and 5 night trips along the Sepik. Their schedule is more limited than the Sepik Spirit because they also go out into the Bismarck Sea, and on to the Trobriand Islands. They also do trips from Madang to Irian Jaya (Indonesia). The rates run about 400.00 a day. Charter flights are 225.00 each way from Mt. Hagen to Timbunke.