The Rabaul Mask Festival is a dynamic cultural event in Papua New Guinea, featuring traditional masked dances, fire rituals, and ceremonies. The Tour is a 4-night, 5-day experience in July, offering private transfers for 1–9+1 pax.
Coming Up in July 2025 – Book 60 Days in advance.
Rabaul Mask Festival
The Rabaul Mask Festival is a vibrant annual event in Papua New Guinea, showcasing traditional mask dances, fire performances, and cultural ceremonies.
Rabaul Mask Festival - Itnearary
Welcome to Papua New Guinea. Upon arrival in Rabaul, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, meet your tour leader for a welcome meeting at 6:30pm in reception followed by dinner.
KOKOPO VILLAGE RESORT (LD)
After an early breakfast, you will visit Admiral Yamamoto’s command bunker before exploring the town markets. From here drive up to the Malmaluan lookout for a wonderful view of the town below. Check out the wartime airstrip of Vunakanau and finally visit the Toma lookout for panoramic vistas across the Kerevat River valley to the Bainings Mountains before returning to your hotel for lunch.
Following lunch, witness the opening of the Wagwira and Mask Festival. Welcome the Taubuans, who have paddled their canoes from thei villages. The elder men wearing fiery masks and leading the initiated boys towards the festival area with the beating of the kundu drums.
The Kinavai ceremony is a re-enactment of the landing of the Tolai People in Rabaul. You will hear the rhythmic chanting long before you will See the canoes paddling across the water. The stillness in the air coupled with the chanting makes this a very special experience.
KOKOPO VILLAGE RESORT
After breakfast this morning, your tour leader will give you a briefing on what to expect at the show before transferring to the show grounds for the festival. Today you have free reign to explore the festival at your own pace and take in the spectacular sites and sounds. Witness an amazing assortment of colours, songs and musical instruments as dance groups perform throughout the day. Each clan has its own unique beat and each culture has distinct dances on show.
KOKOPO VILLAGE RESORT (B,L,D)
Enjoy another day at the festival and become totally immersed in this
fascinating cultural display. You may wish to return to the hotel for a refreshing swim before an early dinner. After dinner, you will be transferred to Kainagunan or Gaulim Village (approx. 90mins) in the Bainings area. This evenings spectacular Bainings Fire Dance is performed only by men from the Bainings clans, where they immerse themselves into the flames of the fire and escape completely unharmed. This amazing ritual is not performed anywhere else in the world.
One of few cultures in Papua New Guinea who do not use the Kundu drum as their rhythmic percussion instruments, the Bainings clan instead use bamboo, and the sound is just as unique as the fire dance itself. After the performance at 2:00pm, we will arranged to drive to Rabaul and up to Mt Tuvuvur Vlcanoe, you you have a chance t hike up to the top . visit and taste the wild foul egg ever ready boiling at the hot stream. Return back to your hotel late in the evening.
KOKOPO VILLAGE RESORT (B,L,D)
Farewell your group and tour leader after breakfast today. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Port Moresby. Upon arrival, transit to international departures to meet your onward flight. KOKOPO VILLAGE RESORT (B)
END OF OUR SERVICES – PNG HIGHLANDS ADVENTURES – PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Cost Includes
- Tour Guide
- Twin Share Accomodation
- Transport
Cost Excludes / Additional Costs
- ADDITIONAL COSTS:
- Single Room Supplement AUD$600.00
- DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
- We recommend that you book and purchase domestic Air Niugini -air sectors together with your international sectors as it is cheaper when you purchase domestic air sectors from outside of PNG
- Domestic air sectors you are to book and ticket are:
- POM/RAB PX 275
- RAB/POM PX 276
- Basic costs includes accommodation (Premium Deluxe in 2* Hotels) Deluxe Premium. All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5, transfers, tours cultural activities, entrance fees, show admission VIP tickets and services of a tour guide.
- Basic costs do not include – domestic air sector, departure tax, services of personal nature i.e alcohol beverages and laundry services etc.