The main tribes inhabiting the beautiful Baliem Valley in the central highlands of Papua are the Dani, the Yali and the Lani. Although now modernized, the Dani still strongly adhere to their traditions and customs, most notably the dress of the men. Even in this cool mountain climate, men wear only a penis gourd, known as koteka, though complemented with elaborate headdress of bird of paradise or cassowary feathers, while the women wear grass or fern fiber skirts (sali or saly) slung around the waist. And to carry pigs or the harvest of sweet potatoes, women carry a string bag, called noken, slung from their forehead.
To defend their villages or to raid others to avenge for tribe members killed, the Dani practiced regular warfare. However, anthropologists note that the “Dani wars” are more a display of prowess and opulence of dress and decoration rather than an all out war to kill the enemy. Dani warfare displays competence and exuberance, rather than the wish to kill. Weapons used are long spears, measuring 4.5 meters, and bows and arrows. Most often, therefore, there are more wounded than killed, and the wounded are quickly carried off the field.
Nowadays, Dani mock battles are held yearly at the Baliem Valley Festival in Wamena during the month of August. At this feast, which has as its highlight the mock battles among the tribes, the Dani, Yali, and Lani send their best warriors to the arena, wearing their best regalia. The festival is complemented with a Pig Feast, Earth cooking and traditional music and dance. There are also arts and crafts exhibited or for sale.Each tribe will come with their own identity, and one can see clear differences among them and identify tribes according to their costume especially the penis gourds each wears. The Dani men usually wear only a small koteka (penis gourd / penis cover), while the Lani tribesmen wear larger koteka’s, since their bodies are bigger than the average Dani, while the Yali wear long slender kotekas held by a rattan belt, strapped at the waist. By attending the massive Baliem Valley Festival, visitors will have a rare chance to learn and experience firsthand the different traditions of each tribe participating in the Festival without having to make the difficult trek to their compounds deep in the hinterland of West Papua.
Event Duration: 6Days5Nights
Event Date: 5-10August2019
The Baliem Valley Festival will be held on August 7 – 9th Aug 2019
*This trip is very popular, do make an initial deposit and confirm your slots as there will be limited slots due to shortage of hotels in Wamena-Papua.
PACKAGE COST: (Deposit SGD1000 for confirmation) as we need to book domestic flights and accommodation, confirmation is on first payment basis only.
Standard Package – SGD1480/pax (Standard hotel at Grand Sartika Hotel Wamena (clean and has a hot shower) shared 2 person per room. Based on availability)
Deluxe Package – SGD1680/pax (Deluxe room at Baliem Pilamo Hotel Wamena (clean and has a hot shower) shared 2 person per room. Based on availability)
EVENT LOGIN FORM: (Ask for password once you made the payment)
https://goo.gl/forms/UAFeHiWKVEhTXR7m1
Overview of Itinerary:
You can book your own flights as per the itinerary below and briefing will be done prior to the event on all the details.
5 AUGUST 2019 / SINGAPORE – JAYAPURA
Depart from Singapore to Jayapura on the flights as per the itinerary.
6 AUGUST 2019 / JAYAPURA – WAMENA (D)
08.00 Meeting by your arrival at Jayapura Sentani Aiport, our local guides will transfer you to the flights to Wamena
10.00 Flight to Wamena with Wings Air or Trigana Air
11.00 Arrived at Wamena and our local guides will help in clearing all the immigration process of permits and then transfer to Hotel
14.00 Today is free and easy at the hotel
- Dinner (Included) – *Lunch at own cost
7 AUGUST 2019 / FULL DAY BALIEM FESTIVAL (B, L, D)
08.00 After breakfast head to Festival Place at Walesi Village
09.00 The opening of the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival 2019
12.00 Having lunch at the festival area with lunch box
16.00 Return to Hotel then free and easy
19.00 Dinner at the local restaurant
8 AUGUST 2019 / BURNING STONE – MUMMY JIWIKA (B, L, D)
08.00 Heading to Kurulu Village approximately 40 minutes
09.00 Short trekking to get the village for 10 minutes
11.00 You will see the war, dance and traditional cooking by burning stone
15.00 Visiting Mummy Jiwika which is more than 300 years
16.00 Return to Hotel then free and easy
19.00 Dinner at the local restaurant
9 AUGUST 2019 / BALIEM VALLEY RESORT – BALIEM FESTIVAL (B, L, D)
08.00 In the morning, head to Baliem Valley Resort
09.00 Enjoy the coffee or tea with the view of Baliem Valley
11.00 Heading to Festival Location at Walesi District
15.00 Closing Ceremony of The Baliem Valley Cultural Festival
17.00 Return to Hotel then free and easy
10 AUGUST 2019 / WAMENA – JAYAPURA (B)
07.00 Breakfast then prepare for check out
08.00 Transfer to Wamena Airport 2 hours before departure
12.00 Ending trip at Jayapura Airport
17.00
TRIP INCLUSIVE OF:
- Local Airfare JAYAPURA – WAMENA (return)
- Airport Tax· Mentioned meals (B, L, D)·
- *4 nights stay at Wamena Hotel for Standard Package – Sharing Basis ·
- *4 nights stay at Baliem Pilamo Hotel for Deluxe Package – Sharing Basis·
- All permits and permissions in Papua and Festival·
- Special Permission for Foreign Tourists in Papua Region·
- Entrance Tickets for Festival·
- Donations for local tribes and villages ·
- Land transportation during the trip·
- Tour Leader (Local Guide)
TRIP EXCLUSIVE OF:
- Visa for Indonesia ·
- Airfare to/from Singapore to Jayapura Airport·
- Cost of photography at the village·
- Excess baggage (more than 15kg)·
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary·
- Pig or Chicken for burning stone at the tribal village·
- Tipping and personal expenses
Flight Details: Once you are confirmed for the trip we will email you the flight details to book.
SINGAPORE – JAYAPURA – SINGAPORE (Flights not included Approx Cost: SGD600/pax)
JAYAPURA – WAMENA – JAYAPURA (Flights is included in the package)
You need to make sure you book this flight from
JAKARTA – JAYAPURA – JAKARTA ( https://www.batikair.com/en/)
Batik Air Indonesia
IMPORTANT TO BRING
- Backpack
- Spare clothes for 6 days
- Jacket / hat / sunglass
- Hiking shoes / sandals
- Sun protection
- Camera with enough memory and battery
- Personal medicine
- Spray anti Malaria
- Enough cash money (small money for giving children)
Conditions in the Field:
Sentani and Wamena town is a small town that does not have many accommodation options, especially when the festival took place sometimes difficult to find a hotel room, for it did eventually pay your Down Payment. Not much Star Hotel Accommodation, only standard Hotel but clean and relatively comfortable & Safe for the Rest.
Toilet conditions, along the way to Festival and in the Traditional village, it’s hard to find clean toilet (sometime), we suggest for women do not forget to always be ready to have your tissue in your bag.
Reminder for tourist sites at the event we will visit are very influential with the weather factors that exist, some events and itinerary may change along the weather conditions.
Throughout the festival that takes place, we’ll give you the freedom to explore around the festival Walk around and take pictures. Please keep all your luggage safely and always remember where the meeting point set by the organizers to meet up with your group.
Things To Do & To Bring # TO DO:
Drinking anti-malaria drug, at least 2 weeks before departure. Repeat every week on the same day during your trip. 2 tablets per week after meals, is sufficient to prevent Malaria parasites develop in your body. Continue this dose upon arrival at home, up to 4 weeks after your return home. These tablets are sold freely in pharmacies. The drug is widely available in pharmacies with a variety of brands, recommendation: Malarone, Cloroquin, Docycyclin, Pills Kina, Recocin-bayern. (Always consult your doctor prior for any medication)
Always Bring Cash, along the journey difficult ATM machines meet so bring enough cash but in Sentani you still can found BCA, Mandiri & BRI but in Wamena city only Mandiri and BRI available.
Prepare a budget for each of your photo shooting session, because here photographing must pay (especially in the Wamena region). Ask for permission in advance to anyone who you wants take for your pictures, if he asked for some money ask first how much he asked for. Usually Photographed Rates for everyone here ranges from 5000- 10000 per person for one snap only. So if you press the shutter speed as much as 10 time is mean you have to pay him a minimum of 50 000 per person, so if your subject in one session is 5 person mean that you must pay: 5 people x 5000 x 10 shot= 250,000. So be careful taking pictures there, especially in traditional villages visited. And to issue and photographing hundreds of years old mummy, you have to pay 150,000 to 200,000 rupiah. Unlike in the Festival, here you can take pictures a little free, do not have to pay them (excl they asked it ) but be prepared candy/lollipop (for kids) and cigarettes as much as possible. So, exchanged, and prepare a small fraction of money before your departure.
For Non Indonesia, send a copy of your passport, passport photo and Indonesia Work Permits (If you have) to the Organizer in advance before the day of departure. Because we need to prepare special permit for your visit in Papua, please bring your passport and travel along this trip. Never leave passport at hotel. (It takes a special permit from the Police Office in Jayapura for Foreign Tourists remind of strong political factors are still exist in here)
TERMS & CONDITIONS : http://sgtrek.com/terms-conditions/
For any queries related to the event do contact below person:
Phone: +65 92700908 (Watsapp)
Email : contact@sgtrek.com
This trip is organised by :
SGTREK PTE. LTD.
Reg. No. 201816267K
STB License No. 03160
Address : 28A, Kandahar Street
Singapore 198889
Email: contact@sgtrek.com
Whatsapp: +6592700908
Website: www.sgtrek.com
