Baliem Valley & Raja Ampat: Cultural & Underwater Adventure

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A once-in-a-lifetime adventure, this western New Guinea tour combines the best of land and sea in the Baliem Valley and Raja Ampat. In the Baliem Valley, with its 2,700 species of orchid and 124 endemic plants, we meet the Dani and Lani people, known for their dress of feathers, orchid-fiber fabrics, and boar tusks. We move on to Raja Ampat, a centerpiece of our western New Guinea expedition. Witness 75 percent of the Earth’s coral species as you dive and snorkel among these stunning islands. We round out our Baliem Valley and western New Guinea adventure travel expedition in Bali, a romantic close to a truly unique experience.

Baliem Valley & Raja Ampat Expedition highlights include:

• Visit to Jakarta, including a special cultural lunch at Rumah Jawa and tour of the 14-room museum.
• Two full days of Baliem Valley adventure travel; ample opportunities for visiting with the local people, including a magnificent pig feast prepared by village hosts.
• Seven nights of snorkeling and diving in Raja Ampat; see barracudas, sea horses, mantas, reef sharks, and hawksbill turtles.
• Luxury accommodations aboard the Sea Safari VIII during our Raja Ampat expedition, a 12-cabin, traditional Pinisi Buginese Schooner, made of ulin wood.
• Rich birding opportunities; see sulphur-crested cockatoo, beach kingfisher, spice imperial pigeon, singing starling, and more in the Misool Island Group.

What to expect:

Baliem Valley and Raja Ampat adventure travel is for experienced travelers only. As we journey in this remote land, remember that the infrastructure is poorly developed in some areas, leading to occasional delays and itinerary amendments. For the hiking portion of our Baliem Valley tour, participants should be fit and capable of hiking/trekking five to six hours at a moderate pace along forest trails, which are often uneven and muddy. The Raja Ampat expedition is recommended for intermediate and advanced snorkelers and for Advanced Open Water–certified divers. Bring a healthy spirit of adventure and flexible attitude and you’ll gain much from this unique journey. Temperatures will range from the upper 70°s to upper 80°sF.