30/04/2019
BALIEM VALLEY FESTIVAL
AUGUST 6-10 2019 (5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS)
The Dani, Lani and Yali are the main tribes inhabiting the striking Baliem valley of Papua. These tribes still firmly hold on to their cultures and traditions. This is most apparent in the clothes they wear when performing rituals. Not bothered with the cold climate of the highlands, men only wear Koteka (p***s cover). The women dress themselves in Sali, frilly skirts made of ferns, coupled with a Noken bag that is curled around the head, and made of the same material as the Sali. During festivities, they dress themselves up in colorful headdresses made of feathers from Cendrawasih birds, cassowaries, forest chickens, parrots, and cockatoos.
The residents of the Baliem Valley use the Noken to carry around anything from crops to small children.
Every August the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival is held in the Jayawijaya regency. The festival started in 1989 and is usually held before the celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. It is the oldest cultural festival in Papua and celebrates Baliem-style traditions. Each District sends a contingent to participate in this festival. The Jayawijaya Regency counts 40 districts. As the contingent of each district contains around 30 people or more, there will be at least 1200 people performing. Imagine the hustle and bustle taking place in the festival arena. War Dances with various background scenarios form as the main menu. Tribal wars used to be an inseparable part of the inhabitants of the Baliem Valley. War first, talk later. Currently wars are fought out in the arena of the festival shows. In this show of warfare, the performers are fully ornamented and wear various traditional attributes.
We offer a program of attending the Baliem valley festival. An experience you shall not going to get anywhere else. Celebrating the majestic of these humble people. Of which performing the best way they can for the continuity of the culture they embrace proudly.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Tuesday, August 6, 2019. Jayapura – Wamena
Flight: Jayapura – Wamena, Meals: lunch, dinner.
Arrive in Jayapura, then we continue to fly to Wamena (± 1 hour flight). After lunch, we go straight to Obia village, Kurulu, district. To watch the locals performing dances and stone burning (bakar batu). Then we check-in to the hotel in late afternoon.
Day 2: Wednesday, August 7, 2019.
Baliem valley festival arena.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast, we go to the festival arena to see the opening ceremony. We will spend the entire day at the festival. Watching the excitement of the locals performing their traditional acts.
Day 3: Thursday, August 8, 2019.
Around the Baliem valley.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Today we will go to several spots in Baliem valley. Start by going up to Lake Habema, one of the highest lake in Southeast Asia. Then we head for Baliem Valley Resort to check the stunning landscape of Baliem. Afterward we will visit one of the village who still kept the mummified “Great Chief”
Day 4: Friday, August 9, 2019.
Around the Baliem valley and the festival arena Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, we shall go to few other spots in Wamena. After lunch we go back to the festival arena to watch the closing ceremony and the announcement of the winners from the performers.
Day 5: Saturday, August 10, 2019.
Wamena – Jayapura
Meal: breakfast
After breakfast, we will be drop to the airport to fly to Jayapura. From Jayapura, we fly back to each of our origin city.
The journey’s end.
Notes:
*An Extension program to trek the southern side of the Baliem Valley are also available. This extension program duration are 4 days and 3 night. For the details, you may contact us.
Registration:
April 2019 to July 12, 2019
Limited seats available:
Minimum 8 people, maximum 10 people.
Booking fee: 33% from quotation.
Repayment should be done 14 (fourteen) days before the departure date.
Starting point:
Sentani airport, Jayapura, Papua. Tuesday, August 6, 2019.
End Point:
Sentani airport, Jayapura, Papua. Saturday, August 10, 2019
Baliem valley festival deluxe
(5 days 4 nights): 1095 US$/person
Included:
• Flight tickets Jayapura – Wamena – Jayapura
• 4 (four) nights hotel in Wamena (shared
room, 1 room 2 person)
• Land transport
• Meals as being mention in the itinerary
• Giveaways for the locals
• Traditional performances
• Local guide
• Entrance fee if needed
• Local permits
• Travel insurance (Zurich Indonesia)
Not included:
• Flight tickets to and from Jayapura
• Personal expenses
• Personal interest
• Tipping
Things to bring:
• Consuming anti-malaria medications beforehand
• Adequate amount of clothes
• Warm clothing
• Anti-mosquito lotions
• Flashlight
• Sunblock and hat
• All-terrain shoes
• Sandal
• Raincoat or small umbrella
• Personal medications
• Favorite foods or snacks
• Camera.
