16Days Asmat & Koroway Tribe Adventure
DAY 01 : TIMIKA ARRIVAL Arrival in Timika Airport, meet direct transfer to Serayu Hotel or similar. Rest of the day is free at leisure while your guide and make preparation for the next day travel to the Asmat village. Lunch & dinner at Hotel.
DAY 02 : TIMIKA – AGATS/ASMAT VILLAGE (B,L,D) Wake up early this morning, soon after breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Mapuru Jaya where we will start our 9 hours speed boat or 11 hours by motorized canoe traveling on water to reach the Asmat area. During our long trip to Asmat we make few stops at the village near by the river or at a small island near the coast for stretching our leg and lunch. Please arrange the bag and camera to be covered by plastic or dry camera bag that it will not get wet from the rain or splashing water in the canoe/speed boat during the travel on water. Also prepare and cover your body from the water and put some of the sun block/cream should we have to travel on an open canoe without roof top. The tide is hard to predict, but from November to February is the period where the high tide use to hit the south coast during the west monsoon. However, if the sea is very rough while we travel in the sea, we can opted to travel longer inside inland rivers avoid the high tide along the coast. We arrive in Agats late in the afternoon and overnight at local house or Pada Elo guest house or local houses. Our dinner will provide in a small food stall in Agats or our trained cook.
DAY 03 : ASMAT VILLAGE, ASMAT TRIBE CEREMONIES (B,L,D) To accomplish your adventure in Asmat area, the ceremony demonstration will be held at the village to make more enjoyable trip , such as ritual song with drumming, and canoe racing ceremonies. Afternoon continue by motorized canoe to closer village in Asmat Area.
DAY 04 : ASMAT VILLAGE – SENGGO (B,L,D) Today we continue to travel up river on motorized canoe for approximately 7 - 8 hours to the village of Senggo in the north of Asmat land. There are more villages to be seen and visit during our trip in the river, and we might fascinated to see the forest and birds near the rivers. Lunch will be served on canoe or at a shelter/Befak near the river. Arrive in Senggo in the afternoon, we overnight at local house or at simple guest house.
DAY 05 : SENGGO - BASMAN (B,L,D) From Senggo we still continue travel on our motorized canoe further inland to the village of Basman – up river of Dairam . During the traveling in the river we can see more of the wild life and local tribe (Citak Mitak) tribe fishing on their local dugout in the river. We arrive at Basman village by noon, overnight at local house in Basman village. Afternoon we walk into the village and explore the life and culture of local people.
DAY 06 : BASMAN – JUNGLE (B,L,D) From Basman village, trekking through the rain forest closer to Yaniruma village for about 5-6hours, lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at tree house with mosquito nets or build tents on the ground.
DAY 07 : JUNGLE (B,L,D) After breakfast, move to another tree house community. The Koroway is semi nomadic people, therefore the trip is more like searching where they live. The terrain will always be wet and muddy. Sometime you have to cross one single log bridge to cross. The temperature is hot and humid. There are mosquitoes in the area, so make sure that all of you have malaria medicine and mosquito repellent. Dinner and overnight at tree houses or build tents on the ground.
DAY 08 : DAMBOL – YANIRUMA (B,L,D) where we start our adventure in to the Korowai land by paddle canoe or dugout crossing the Dairam Kabur river. From the bank of the river we begin our 5 - 6 hours trek through the swamps, sometimes walk over the log or fallen tree and crossing the river with or without bridge. This is the topic rain forest in the vast-green lowland of South Irian Jaya or Papua, there are many exotic things to be discovered and experienced but with a great deal with mosquito, swamp, heat and high humidity (85 - 100%). Our trek in the forest will support by our local porter who carry our bags or gears and will love to help you to do some difficult section of the trip when you need. The Korowai also a great hunter who hunted pig, Cus-Cus, birds most of their time in life. After we met the Korowai and family on their tree house, we may interact with them help by our guide and experience their life. Dinner and overnight at missionary guest house or local people houses.
DAY 09 : YANIRUMA – MANGGEMAHE (BLD)
Trekking through the swamps.
From Yaniruma, start your trekking in Korowai country to Manggemahe village up on Dairam Kabur river for about 4-5 hours. The trail could be wet and muddy, you will encounter some sleepery bridge on creeks. We mostly walk under the canopy of dense tropic rain forest but we sometimes walk through the area which is hot and very humid (95 %). This the vast lowland of south Irian Jaya. Korowai built their house individually high on the top the trees avoiding both mosquito and enemy’s attack. Arrive at Manggemahe village in the afternoon , accommodation at tent at the bible teacher’s house.
DAY 10 : MANGGEMAHE – YAFOFLA (BLD)
Trekking through the swamps.
Trekking further up to the village of Yafofla about 4 hours, from where you will walk into the interior to see the Korowai Batu who live deep into the jungle without any influence from out side world. Arrive in the afternoon in Yafofla, we will talk the people and ask them information about our next trip to the interior. We will also know from them if there is any feast take place while we are in the interior. Korowai use to have a “sago Grub Feast at least once every 2 years. The feast will hosted by local chief and continue to the next chief of the other clans. We sometimes participate in this interesting event upon their agreement. Accommodation at teacnt or at the Bible Teacher’s House in Yafofla.
DAY 11 : YAFOFLA – MAHE ( BLD) Today we will trek to the next place named: “ MAHE” for about 5 hours. Mahe is not a village , but a place where a group of Korowai Batu built their houses. We will see some tree houses and mingle with the local people. Accommodation at tent or at shelter or at the Tree house upon invitation.
DAY 12 : MAHE – SAYAK (BLD) Trekking through the swamps; From Mahe we trek to next place named :SAYAK for about 4 hours. Here we will see more than Tree Houses Of Korowai Batu and learn more about their life and culture. your guide arrange the best way to communicate and interact with local people. We use to have our contact people as our local guide who have been in contact with tribal chief that our visit to the area and people acceptable. In some cases , Korowai Batu don’t like and refused visitors come to their lands
DAY 13 : SAYAK – YAFOFLA ( BLD)
Trekking through the swamps.
Trek for 6 hours back to Yafofla, accommodation at tent or Bible Teacher’s House in Yafofla.
DAY 14 : YAFOFLA- YANIRUMA (BLD) Paddle canoe; Complete your trekking in Korowai, return to Yaniruma down river by paddle canoe for about 3-4 hours. The more current in the river, the more fast you travel. Arrive in Yaniruma, Accommodation at Missionary Guest House.
DAY 15 : YANIRUMA – WAMENA ( BLD)
Fly by charter aircraft; Fly back to Wamena, the rest of the day explore Dani villages in the north of the valley, including to view the 250 years old mummy in Sumpaima village. Accommodation with meals at Baliem Pilamo Hotel.
DAY 16 : WAMENA – JAYAPURA – NEXT DESTINATION (B) After breakfast at hotel, on time transfer to the Airport of Wamena where you will catch the Trigana flight to Jayapura. Arrival in Jayapura you will continue onward flight to the next destination . End of service .
The Itinerary/program is flexible, depend on local conditions, flights, weather, water high, etc.
