Baliem Valley Festival

Discover the Baliem Valley and visit the famous highland festival

Minimum duration of 6 days/5 nights ● from/to Wamena, Papua ● semi-private Tour ● 5 nights in The Baliem Valley Resort ● Level of difficulty: None

This 6 days/ 5 nights special tour from/to Wamena is organized around the Baliem Valley Festival but you also experience selected excursions in the home of the Dani tribes. Surrounded by beautiful vegetation you pass through Dani hamlets, villages and fields. You have this unforgettable experience while staying in the most unique accommodation of the area: The Baliem Valley Resort. We attend the colorful Baliem Valley Festival, in which numerous Dani tribes from all over the highlands participate. The spectacular war and dance performances are overwhelming. As it can be very crowded, we also organize a private festival in a traditional village near our Resort on the second day of the public festival. On this day, our guests can choose to attend the public festival, or our exclusive festival.

Price per person
from/to Wamena, Papua

USD 2.290 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • PRIVATE TOUR
  • 05.08.-10.08.2025
  • Dates can slightly be modified
ENQUIRY
See all prices & conditions below

Day 1: Baliem Valley
Arrival in Wamena and transfer to The Baliem Valley Resort

When arriving at Wamena airport, you meet your local guide and your driver. On the way to The Baliem Valley Resort, we visit the market of Wamena. Here local Danis offer their agricultural products. Besides the very popular sweet potato, many other vegetables and fruits are offered. The market of Wamena is also the biggest trading place for the very sought-after wild boars. Once at The Baliem Valley Resort, you settle in your bungalow and, depending on the time of day, you can enjoy lunch or an afternoon coffee. Later, dinner is served in the restaurant.

Transportation: 45 minutes of drive. Local guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 2: Baliem Valley
Easy hiking in the southern Baliem Valley and encounter with the Dani people

Today we visit the southern Baliem Valley. We start our easy hike in the village of Sogogmo and we follow the mighty Baliem River. We cross suspension bridges, walk through Dani settlements, meet the locals and see them working in their terraced fields and wild sugar cane groves. For lunch, we enjoy a picnic with a magnificent view over the river and the narrow valley. We walk back on the other side of the river, passing more Dani fields and settlements, before we meet our driver again. In the late afternoon we are back at the Resort.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 4 hours hiking. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Chief's mummy of Meagaima
Hiking along the Baliem River

Day 3: Baliem Valley
The impressive 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.  Here we are taken one by one across the river in a canoe. Once on the other side, we visit the village of Meagaima, where there is also one of the very rare chief’s mummies to see. The mummy here is rarely visited due to its remoteness. Of course there is also time for a short rest in one of the local huts. From the village we take a beautiful walk through the Dani gardens until, after about two hours, we reach a suspension bridge that takes us back to the other side of the river where our vehicle is waiting for us.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. 3-4 hours walking. Local guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Day 4: Baliem Valley
Attending the public Baliem Valley Festival

After breakfast we drive to the Baliem Valley Festival taking place near Wamena. From the tribune, we have a good view of the performance area. Many villages from the Baliem Valley participate in the festival to present themselves with dance and fighting performances. Originally, the festival served to pacify the Baliem Valley. Once a year, the clans were to get together to interact in a peaceful, joyful atmosphere. This was to prevent possible tensions that could lead to warlike conflicts. Even today, the festival is mainly for the locals. However, the decorated warriors and the informal atmosphere attract more and more foreign visitors. After a certain time, you can freely walk the grounds and interact directly with the performers. In the afternoon, we drive back to the Resort.

Transportation: 2 hours of drive. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Dani performers at the festival
Local crowd attending the festival

Day 5: Baliem Valley
Attend the second day of the public Baliem Valley Festival or join our private traditional festival

Today you have the choice: either you go with your guide once again to the big public Baliem Valley Festival in Wamena. Or you can opt for another very special experience in a small group! In this case, after breakfast we get ready to participate in a pig festival that takes place in a traditional Dani village near the Resort. Many decorated people from the Dani tribe participate in the feast. We are among ourselves and can experience and enjoy the spectacle in privacy. Such pig festivals with hot stones and earth pits are probably the most interesting part of a trip to New Guinea. It is difficult to describe what is so unique about these festivals because too much happens at once. You have to see and experience it for yourself.  For lunch there is a picnic, but if you want you can also try the food from the traditional earth pit. The freshly cooked pork and sweet potatoes are delicious! In the late afternoon we return to the Resort.

Transportation: either 2 hours of drive or 1 hour walking. Guide included. Accommodation: The Baliem Valley Resort. Meals: full board.

Dani woman during a pig festival
Portrait of a Dani

Day 6: Baliem Valley
Last day in the Baliem Valley and transfer to Wamena airport

After breakfast, you are transferred to Wamena Airport in accordance with the departure time of your onward flight.

Transportation: 45 minutes of drive. Meals: breakfast.

PRICE & CONDITIONS

Baliem Valley Festival ● minimum duration of 6 days/5 nights ● Private Tour
Price per person from/to Wamena, Papua
USD 2.290 Price in EUR / IDR on request
  • 05.08.-10.08.2025
+USD 800 for single room
ENQUIRY
INCLUDES
  • 5x nights in The Baliem Valley Resort
  • Local guide
  • Tours as described
  • All transfers
  • All entrance fees
  • Meals full board
  • Surat Jalan travel permit
DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Flights to/from Wamena, Papua (airport code: WMX)
  • Additional drinks and personal expenses

For payment we accept USD, EUR, and IDR. Please let us know your preferred currency. We ask for a deposit of 15% of the tour price at the time of booking. The balance is due no later than 4 weeks before the start of the tour. Prices are subject to change. The final price will be quoted upon confirmation of the tour. Foreigners need a travel permit for Papua (“surat jalan”). We will take care of this permit before your arrival. For the permit we need a copy of your passports and passport photos. A list of equipment will be sent with the booking confirmation.

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