Mt Hagen Show – August 2025

Welcome to Papua New Guinea! Upon arrival at Mount Hagen airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for lunch and time to freshen up. (Tok Pisin: Maun Hagen) is the third largest city in Papua New Guinea, with a population of 46,250. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of 1,677 m.

The city is named after the old, eroded volcano Mount Hagen, located about 24 kilometres to the northwest. Traditional culture and beliefs remain strong in Mount Hagen and its surroundings. The Mount Hagen show was first staged in 1961, before PNG's Independence, as an event to unify warring tribes; but since then, the show has become more of an attraction for those seeking to witness the fabulous sight of thousands of painted warriors dancing and singing to the beat of Kundu drums.

Today you will join some more travellers who are doing our extended Mt Hagen for sightseeing around Mt Hagen. Mt Hagen City and Plantation Visit Enjoy a city tour around Mount Hagen this afternoon, with a stop at the tea and coffee plantations that this region is renowned for before checking in to your hotel.

Enjoy exploring the city and feel the buzz in the air as locals prepare for the biggest event of the year. Paikona Village Time permitting you will drive to Paikona Village where you can enjoy learning about village life, the people of the Central Highlands region, the famous face painting done by Mount Hagen women, and try ‘mumu’, a local dish cooked in a stone oven at URUP KIAP – MELPA Tribes. Continue on foot to a nearby village to witness the WAIPA dance, a dance performed by young males and females who are courting. Meals Breakfast, in-flight snack/brunch, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar Services Airport transfers Private vehicle with English-speaking guide Sightseeing: Mt Hagen City Tour, Plantation Visit, Paikona Village Mt ARART LODGE/KURI LODGE ( LD )

Enjoy an early breakfast before meeting your guide in the hotel lobby (time to be confirmed) Sing-Sing Groups Enjoy  the EARILY BIRD TOURS , mingle around with SIngsing Groups to Witness the Early bird tours seeing and experiencing the Women and men dressing in their custumes, Head Dress and Face paining before the show.

After early bird tours you depart to visit the Sing-Sing groups (tribal gathering groups) from different provinces outside the arena. Witness how their body decorations, colourful traditional costumes and vibrant face painting are done.

Your guide will offer explanations outlining the various types of costumes and their significance in the differing cultures of these tribespeople. Mount Hagen Festival Follow the tribes into the showgrounds where you will witness hundreds of warriors, all dressed in their very finest traditional regalia, dancing and chanting - each group has their own cultural style and language with the intention of outclassing all the other groups.

You will then have the truly unforgettable opportunity to walk amongst the dancers, even shake their hands and meet them, before enjoying a picnic lunch at the showground. Later in the afternoon, you will return to the hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will return to the hotel. Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation or similar Service Private vehicle with English-speaking guide Sightseeing: Sing-Sing Tribal Gathering, Mt Hagen Festival. Mt ARART LODGE/KURI LODGE ( BLD )

Before the Show Tranfers, you will have the Highlands Vegetabes Market .

Full Day at the Mount Hagen Festival Following breakfast, transfer to the showground to enjoy another full day at the Mount Hagen Festival. Immerse yourself in the upwards of 100 tribes peacefully sharing their cultural traditions through costume, dancing and music. Disguised in anthropomorphic body paint, clad in elaborate headdresses, jewellery made of shells and boars’ tusks and skirts made from leaves and fur, the groups perform their primal dances; the tribe that garners the most applause and the biggest reaction from the crowd wins.

Enjoy lunch at the showgrounds again today and return to your hotel later in the afternoon. Dinner this evening is in your hotel. Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation  Mt Ararat Lodge / Kuri Lodge Resort or similar Service Private vehicle with English-speaking guide Sightseeing: Mt Hagen Festival. Mt ARART LODGE/KURI LODGE ( BLD )

After breakfast this morning, farewell the rest of your group and make your way to Mount Hagen Airport for your onward journey. Meals Breakfast Services Airport Transfers End of Service

After breakfast at 7:00 am, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Port Moresby. Meals Breakfast Services Private vehicle and guide End of Services. (B)

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