Tribes & Traditions Yacht Charter – Papua New Guinea

Home to around 312 tribes, Papua New Guinea offers rich and fascinating cultural traditions to explore. With more than 800 distinct languages spoken across its communities, it holds one of the greatest concentrations of linguistic diversity on Earth, with many tribes maintaining entirely separate tongues and traditions. It remains one of the world’s most remote frontiers, home to communities whose deeply rooted customs, ceremonial practices, and ancestral knowledge have endured for generations.

We have an exclusive collection of luxury super-yachts to explore a variety of islands, where you will meet local natives, see more birds in one place than you have seen in a lifetime, including the most iconic of all, the vividly plumed birds of paradise. Papua New Guinea, the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, is a land of extraordinary contrasts. It is defined by untouched rainforests, volcanic mountain ranges, and over 600 coral-fringed islands and archipelagos surrounded by some of the world’s richest marine biodiversity.

Its wildlife is among the richest globally, with many species still unnamed or yet to be discovered. The country hosts at least 25,000 beetle species, 6,000 moths and butterflies, and around 700 bird species, including parrots, hornbills, cassowaries, kingfishers, and, most iconic of all, the vividly plumed birds of paradise.

“From Melanesian seafarers to German colonists, the evidence of Papua New Guinea’s storied history takes the form of sunken aircrafts, tribal traditions, and scars of international Pacific Theatre Operations.

I T I N E R A R Y

Day One – Port Moresby Onboard Begin your adventure in Port Moresby, where you will be met and escorted to your private domestic flight. Your flight east will take you to Rabaul where you will meet your crew and get familiar with your floating home. Visit Admiral Yamamoto’s Bunker and begin discovering the history of the region. Spend the remainder of your afternoon enjoying watersports before a welcome dinner onboard.

Day Two & Three – Duke of York Islands Tribal Hiking Encounters Dolphins Rituals Slip into clear tropical waters to swim with spinner dolphins. Take traditional outrigger canoes to learn spearfishing techniques alongside locals. Learn to climb coconut palms with a nearby tribe and snorkel over sunken Japanese tanks. Heli deep into the Baining Mountains, where the Baining people welcome you for their mesmerizing fire rituals and Sing Sing.

If you are feeling adventurous, stay with the tribe overnight, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Climb a volcano at dawn to offer a symbolic ‘sacrifice’, before breakfast with the egg hunters of Matupit. Join the Tolai Tribe to gain a rare insight into their powerful coming-of-age ceremonies.

Day Four – Kimbe Bay  Fishing, Springs Water sports, Photograph Tender to the deep-sea grounds with local fishermen as they show you where to find spotted bass. Make use of the kayaks and eFoils on board your yacht for some afternoon water sports in the protected bay.

Head inland to bathe in the hidden Garu Hot River, warmed by volcanic springs at close to 104 degrees.

Hike with your naturalist guide who will assist you spot and photograph spectacular birdlife in the protected wildlife area.

Day Five – Borgen Bay Heli Trek Exploration – Waterfalls and Jungle Fly by helicopter into the densely forested Nakanai Mountain Range, where vast waterfalls tumble through the jungle and volcanic flows carve dramatic paths down the mountainsides. Pause for a remote picnic deep within the rainforest, before continuing to the Crater Lakes for an off-grid swim with your on-board naturalist guide. Explore a Neolithic obsidian-mining site, serving as one of the island’s earliest cultural landmarks.

Return to your yacht which will have repositioned to the calm waters of Borgen Bay.

Day Six – Long Island – Volcanic Swim Caldera-  BBQ Explore the remote Long Island, helicoptering across its rugged mountains to reach Wisdom Lake, an ancient caldera lake at its heart. Land on Wisdom’s shores and savor a private BBQ on a tiny islet within the lake.

Return to your yacht to SUP and snorkel over bright coral reefs replete with abundant fish species.

Day Seven – Madang and Asaro Tribal Encounters Magic- Feast Heli into the Asaro Valley, soaring over verdant jungle, complex river systems and vast untouched wilderness. Land in the Valley and learn about the region’s magic traditions from a local witchdoctor. Enjoy the spectacle of the ceremonial ‘moka’ system, where neighboring tribes compete to present the most lavish and generous feast celebration. Heli back to Madang, before setting sail for Sepik overnight.

Day Eight – Sepik Crocodile Traditions Tribal Day Journey further up the coastline to meet the world-famous “Crocodile Men” at Sepik. Uncover the rituals of scarification which have left their bodies permanently marked, and how the totemic patterns are deeply connected to their spiritual and social identity. Appreciate the artistry of the Sepik people, witnessing magnificent wood carvings, clay pottery, and garamut drums resembling totem animals.

Sit down for a final performance of Sing-Sing from the Sepik people, who move through crowds of dancers and drummers with giant crocodile puppets.

Day Nine – Sepik Disembarkation  Departure Enjoy a final breakfast onboard and bid a fond farewell to your crew. Disembark your yacht and head to Sepik Airport where you will begin your journey home.

Areas and tribes:  New Britain: Baining People, Tolai Tribe , Egg Hunters in Matupit . Asaro Valley: Asaro Mudmen. Sepik: Crocodile Men 

YACHTS: Depending on your choice of yacht, there are charter yachts, then there luxury super-yachts like no other, these yachts boast a go-anywhere, do-anything attitude where nothing is impossible.

Designed for expedition cruising, with talented experienced crews who have explored the world’s most amazing locations. Each crew member brings years of experience and expertise in their field. Dedicated to excellence and committed to delivering the ultimate adventure experience. A charter aboard these yachts might have you tracing the coastline after breakfast and trekking through the jungle before lunch. 

PNG

Onboard, enjoy a range of amenities, including a gym, massage room, observation deck, and multiple relaxation and entertainment areas. When it comes to super yacht toy collections, many of these yachts have a plethora of water toys. Explore the most inaccessible coastlines in tenders. Dive into a world of fun with an array of toys and inflatables, from SeaBobs and water skis to scuba diving gear and jet skis. Take a kayak safari, catch waves on a surfboard, these super yachts promise endless excitement and adventure on the water.

Highly Recommend Private Exclusive Adventure in Papua New Guinea!

Inspiring Travel Stories: Meet Lorelle Pacello

What an unattractive tussle or brawl for an End of Year Prize; craved yet not deserved Prize for Peace. Individuals eligible for prestigious awards are generally nominated by an esteemed committee, and genuine efforts must be exhibited to win. 

My recent arduous ship Journey in Papua New Guinea, introduced me to a woman who should receive the Prize for Travel Stamina and Fitness. I am not a cruise person, however, one of the best methods of seeing the intriguing Tribes of New Guinea is by ship.

Lorelle Pacello

My first afternoon aboard the Ponant, le Jacques Cartier, all passengers participated in the Muster Drill… a mandatory emergency safety exercise. I spotted an exuberant fast-moving cane toting petite woman, lining up in her assigned group. Pert and at attention, in her bulky bright orange life jacket.

PNG is tropical, below the equator, translating to consistent hot and humid weather with sporadic downpours, many utterly drenching. This area is no walk in the park! Plus, the transport to little islands or atolls requires getting in and out of small Zodiacs to a wet landing on a beach or a dry landing onto a pier. Using a sailor’s grip, keep your weight low in a rocking boat, and move deliberately, critical for stability in a calm sea. Even more so when boarding after an expedition, bouncy waves cause the Zodiac to smash the pier, precise timing and balance are essential to step aboard the ship. Not for the timid or frail!

On our daily expeditions, I continued to spot this tiny force of nature scurry across a wide expanse of uneven ground, camera out, cane dangling from her wrist, backpack slung over her shoulder. Barely 5 feet tall, I was intrigued and enthralled by this adorable whippersnapper traveling alone exploring the atolls and their native tribes. End of day, we gathered for a summary and a presentation of tomorrow’s tribes and villages. There she was, notebook in hand, phone ready. Finally, I approached, marveled at her tenaciousness and enthusiasm, with I must know you! My inspiration! 

Lorelle Pacello, the diminutive traveler, is Australian and has traveled alone for years. In her professional life, she was a Chemistry teacher, her comprehensive knowledge of music, birds, cultures is extraordinarily impressive. Lorelle, in her 83rd year loves traveling by herself, following her passions. Her grown kids struggle to keep track of her Journeys! Her iPhone calendar was bursting with activities and trips for next year. Cruises, city visits, lectures.

A little interview: What words of advice would you give to a senior traveler? I try to research the places I intend to visit on a tour so know what to look for and be prepared.

Think back to when you were younger, is there one piece of advice or word of wisdom you would give your younger self?  I travelled a little when I was younger. Perhaps it would have been nice to have been able to do more then.

Do you travel with friends your age? No. I have my interests and am quite happy to travel by myself.

You shared that you learned how to download your phone photos to your laptop. In regard to technology, how has travel changed over your lifetime? Enormously. It is easy to obtain information via the internet, and now my photographs are taken on my phone rather than carrying a camera with interchange lens.

From an 83-year-old! I have friends who didn’t know Siri talks and takes instructions! Lorelle, of course, taught herself to download her photos to her tablet.

Lorelle Pacello, exploring the world!

Do you have a favorite gadget or essential item you always pack for a trip?  No. I try to pack lightly so I carry essentials.  I have a general packing list on my computer which I print and then use this and tick off as I pack.

This is a lesson to me, who always overpacks – for ‘just in case’ or I want options!

Never a complaint from her; many times, I heard her exclaim:  Why, wasn’t that interesting?

We had hours of swimming and snorkeling, which she declined saying she wasn’t as strong a swimmer as she once was. Know your strengths, is a good life lesson!

A typical landing on the banks of Lake Sentani in the Village of Pulau Ase

The first few days, I was stealthily taking snapshots of her and texting to friends: look at this amazing woman, we need to hold her as our example for aging well and enjoying life to the ultimate! I often felt like I was stalking her just to ask more questions or hear her observations. I was never disappointed when we bumped into each other after an outing or enjoyed lunch together. She, of course attended the stretching classes, lectures and napped every afternoon; she avoided evening karaoke!

My Prize for Travel Resilience and Unmatched Exuberance for Life is presented to Mrs. Lorelle Pacello!

My Papua New Guinea Journey was greatly enhanced by meeting Lorelle.

Remain Curious!

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
―― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad / Roughing I