|
|
Remote Tribes of Indonesia
offered by supplier M15964 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 15
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Indonesia
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Ecotourism
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3250 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3250 US Dollar (USD)
|
|
Indonesia is an archipelago of over 13,000 incredibly fertile volcanic islands that make up part of 'The Ring of Fire'. During our journey, we will stay in villages rarely visited by foreigners, see ancient tombs, massive megaliths, and beautifully colored lakes. From Sumatera to Irian Jaya we cross this country in search of remote tribes and rarely visited areas.
"West Papua", the western half of New Guinea Island, formerly termed Irian Jaya, is a last frontier for travel amongst unique cultures that have had little contact with, or influence by ‘modern’ civilization. We fly into the misty highlands of the remote Dani tribes, where we trek along reasonably good mountain trails.
We trek between tree houses perched far above our heads and cultivated lands. Some tribes were fierce headhunters just 20 years ago. While this practice has stopped, little else has changed. They remain people on the edge of the Stone Age!
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Jakarta – Indonesia
After our arrival at Jakarta International Airport, we are met by our host and taken to our hotel. The rest of the day is free. Overnight: Hotel Le Meridien, Jakarta. (1 night)
Day 2: Jakarta / Padang (flight)
After a good rest and a leisurely breakfast, early in the afternoon we are taken to the airport, in time to catch our flight to Padang, West Sumatera. Upon arrival at Tabing Airport in Padang, we meet our local guide, who will drive us to the hotel. We check in and later have a city tour by visiting the local Museum, the Muara Beach and the fish market.
The land of the Minangkabau (the name Minangkabau means triumphant buffalo), West Sumatra has a distinct culture, which distinguishes it from the rest of the island. A land of scenic beauty with blue green lakes and mountains, West Sumatra's Center of culture and tourism is Bukittinggi in the highlands, north of the provincial capital of Padang. Overnight: Hotel Muara, Padang. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Padang / Sungai Penuh (drive)
After breakfast our real adventure begins, as we drive to Sungai Penuh. We will stop en route for several stops of interest, to see Lake Diatas, Lake Dibawah and Telun Berasap Waterfall, or pass several Minang Kabau Villages, and pass by the tea plantation at Kayu Aro, before arriving at Sungai Penuh, the area of Kerinci Seblat National Park.
The Kerinci Seblat National Park comprises an area of 1.5 million ha in four provinces: West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu and South Sumatra. A large part of the biggest national park of Sumatra lies above 400 m and is relatively cool. The park probably contains the largest contiguous population of the Sumatran Rhino, estimated at between 250 and 500 individuals. Overnight: Hotel Busana, Sungai Penuh. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Sungai Penuh / Bangko (drive)
Our morning starts with a visit to the Simerup Hot Spring, where we refresh ourselves and from here we go to the Old Historical Mosque, with its Giant Drum, followed by a stop at Lake Kerinci. On our way to Bangko, we pass tropical rain forests with its typical flora and fauna and stops will be made at several interesting places. When we arrive at Bangko, we check in to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Permata, Bangko. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Kubu Primitive Tribe
After breakfast we drive to a tribal village nearby in the jungle, then walk into the real jungle to explore the nomadic life of the Kubu people. Witness their daily activities, their traditions and their culture. We will share our picnic lunchtime with them and providing they’re in the ‘mood’, we might enjoy a small performance. We then return to Bangko and to our hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Bangko / Bukittinggi (drive)
This morning, after breakfast we drive to Bukittinggi via the Trans-Sumatra Highway and again have several interesting stops: at Muara Bungo, at Singkarak Lake and at the charming town of Minangkabau before arriving to Bukittinggi, where we proceed directly to our hotel. The heart of the highlands, Bukittinggi is up on the Agam Plateau.
A center of attraction is the town's clock tower, topped with a horn-shaped roof and referred to by the people as Jam Gadang. It overlooks the market square and the city's magnificent surroundings. Overnight: Hotel Denai, Bukittinggi. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Bukittinggi / Padang (drive) & Padang / Jakarta (flight)
We drive back to Padang in the morning, via the Anay Valley, where we’ll stop at the Anay Waterfall. En route, enjoy the spectacular scenery of the valley, before we arrive at Padang Airport to embark our flight to Jakarta. Once in Jakarta, we’ll overnight at an airport hotel, since our flight for Irian Jaya tomorrow is leaving early morning. Overnight: Hotel Sheraton Bandara, Jakarta. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 8: Jakarta / Jayapura (flight)
We fly early in the morning to Jayapura, the main hub for Irian Jaya. After we arrive at Sentani Airport of Jayapura, we met our local guide, who will drive us to our hotel. The afternoon is free for us to relax or just wander around. Irian Jaya is a land of exceptional natural grandeur. Its jungles are among the wildest, most impenetrable in the world.
It has scenic beaches in abundance as well as immense stretches of marshlands. Cool grassy meadows lie at the foot of the towering mountains. Almost all the rivers have their origin in the Jayawijaya range, cutting through dark forests until their sluggish, crocodile-infested mouths disgorge the water into the sea. There are some beautiful lakes, spread over several regions and varying in size. Overnight: Hotel Sentani Indah, Jayapura. (1 night) (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Jayapura / Wamena (flight) & Sogokmo (drive) & Kilise (trek)
We fly to Wamena in the morning, by the 1st available flight. Once there, we’ll have a short drive to Sogokmo, the starting point of our easy trek with our guide, cook and local porters. The trek will be for approx. 4 hours (including several stops for resting and photo sessions) through Kurima Tribal District in Baliem Valley and passing some Dani sweet potato gardens.
We arrive in the afternoon at Kilise village and we may walk around, while our cook will prepare our dinner. The Baliem Valley, lying in the central part of Irian Jaya, in the Jayawijaya regency, is very well known. The natural beauty is enhanced by the people's faithful adherence to their ancestral customs and traditions.
Kilise is a traditional village in this valley, where one can observe the marriage customs of the Dani tribe and the mummification of corpses. Overnight: Guesthouse in Kilise. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Kilise / Kurima (trek)
After breakfast, we proceed to Kurima and descend the hill, cross a traditional hanging bridge across Baliem River, down to this tribal village. Today’s walk is a little harder with narrow and slippery paths, but we will enjoy nature’s beauty and later stopping at the small waterfall to get refreshed while the cook prepares lunch. En route we’ll see working tribe-men on their fields.
The Dani peoples reject any form of clothing, other than the grass skirt worn by the women and the penis sheaths of the men. They are, however, extremely fond of body ornamentation and decorate themselves elaborately with feathers and shells, especially for celebrations. They have both a complex social organization and agricultural system as well as considerable engineering skills in constructing their suspension bridges and homes.
The Dani live in fortified compounds, which enclose the separate roundhouses of the men and women, their gardens of sweet potatoes and their domesticated pigs, which are raised as members of the family as they are believed to possess a soul similar to that of man. Overnight: Guesthouse in Kurima. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 11: Kurima / Sogokmo (trek) & Wamena (drive)
After breakfast, we’ll leave Kurima and return to Sogokmo. The walk today is an easy one, the terrain is not difficult, the trails are wider and the panorama is so evicting. We end up in Sogokmo where the car is ready to take us back to Wamena. Lunch will be served en route. Overnight: Hotel Baliem Pilano, Wamena. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 12: Wamena / Jiwika / Wamena (drive)
After breakfast and a short drive, we arrive to Jiwika at the North end of Baliem Valley where we’ll first see the 250 years old Mummy. Then we walk to a nearby village of Anemoigi, where we can view the Dani ‘Mock battle and Pig feast’.
Will learn how the Dani make fire traditionally, how they sacrifice a pig with bow and arrow and cook them into the hot-burned stone with vegetables and sweet potatoes. After lunch, we can either climb to the salt pool, on top of Mili Mountain, or visit the cave of Wosilimo. Later in the afternoon we return to our hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 13: Wamena / Jayapura (flight)
After breakfast we are transferred to Wamena airport for our flight back to Jayapura. After arriving in Jayapura, we’ll have a sightseeing tour, including the Mac Arthur World War II Monument, the Sentani Lake (by a short boat trip), and after Lunch we’ll visit the Anthropology Museum, the Hamadi Market & Jayapura city-centre. Overnight: Hotel Sentani Indah, Jayapura. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 14: Jayapura / Denpasar – Bali (flight)
We leave this enchanting island today as we are transferred to the airport and will fly to Bali. Upon arrival in Bali, we’ll check in to our hotel and have the rest of the day free for personal activities. Overnight: Hotel Kuta Pradiso, Bali. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 15: Bali / Homebound
Today we may bid farewell to this exotic journey through the isles of Indonesia as we are taken to the airport, or better continue with our tour to Komodo, Flores, West Timor and Sumba, to immerse ourselves more into these fascinating ethnic lifestyles. (Breakfast)
Price includes:
- All Hotels and accommodations as mentioned in the itinerary (or similar)
- All meals as specified
- All transfers and sightseeing by AC cars or minivan
- English-speaking local guide / driver & tour escort
- Entrance fees to Villages, tourist objects, museums, monuments
- Parking fees, road taxes, Driver’s overnight wages
- All Domestic airfares (as per flights mentioned in the itinerary)
- Boat ride, ferry ride, where mentioned
- Tax and service charges throughout
Price does not include:
- Airport taxes at all airports
- Visa fee on arrival and insurance
- Excess baggage fee on local air carriers
- Any personal expenses such as laundry bills, phone bills, drinks,
- Meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips or other such costs
- Any other expenses not mentioned above
Tour highlights:
- Remote tribes in Sumatera and Irian Jaya and all the natural beauty
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour cost for 2008
USD: 3,250.00 / CAD: 3,410.00 - per person in double occupancy
Single supplement USD: 380.00 / CAD: 400.00
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Indonesia
Cultural Journey
Ecotourism
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
|
|
|
