JOURNEY INTO THE STONE AGE
IRIAN JAYA, NEW GUINEA 2008

(FILLED)

ITINERARY

 (updated 5 June

[Click here for additional photos of Irian Jaya]

Wed. Oct. 15:            Welcome to Jayapura, Irian Jaya, New Guinea!  Transfer to our hotel.
HOTEL:  (JAYAPURA)

Thur. Oct. 16:            Full Indonesian breakfast at our hotel.  This morning we will get our jalans (police permits) to enter the Baliem Balley.
flight from Jayapura.  As you fly into the interior, and cross the great green mountain wall that separates the valley from the outside world; you will understand how remote this area was undiscovered until 1938; and its people, living as in the stone age, were not touched by “civilization” until the late 1950’s.
Arrive Wamena. Possession of alcoholic beverages is illegal in the Baliem Valley.  Wamena is a settlement of two dirt streets, along which Dani tribesmen wander except for horim (penis gourds), feathered headdresses and boar’s tusk nose rings.  These friendly people (who; nonetheless, still wage war among themselves for sport) might offer to sell you a shell-fossil pendant or a stone knife for self-mutilation.  Although few tourists come here; it is apparent that cultural destruction is pressing.
HOTEL:  (WAMENA)

Fri. Oct. 17:               This morning we will divide into four groups of four passengers each for chartered flights to the remote airstrip at angguruk.  From there we will begin an extremely rigorous trek; that has been custom-planned (with a great deal of local advice), to visit the Yali tribe of Eastern Baliem.  These people; in this specific area, have been exposed to hardly any outside influences.  We will be furnished with an experienced English-speaking Dani guide/cook; and porters to carry up to a strict maximum of 30 pounds per person.  All meals will be prepared for us from the time we arrive in Angguruk until we return to Wamena.
CAMP:  (WALI VILLAGE)

Sat. Oct. 18:             Trek to Kebianggen.
CAMP:  (KEBIANGGEN VILLAGE)

Sun. Oct. 19:            Trek to Nisiki village, then on to Sankalpuna.
CAMP:  (SANGKALPUNA VILLAGE)

Mon. Oct. 20:            Trek to Pasekni.
CAMP:  (PASEKNI VILLAGE)

Tues. Oct. 21:            Trek to the villages of Muhomo, Tenggili, Tulukima, Farlo, Pandele; and then to Angguruk.  This evening there will be a festival of tribes from the surrounding area, commissioned in our honor.  Pigs will be shot with arrows; then released to run into the jungle; eventually to be brought down and cooked with sweet potatoes in vine covered pits.  All of this is frowned upon by the few missionaries that have penetrated the area.  There will be uninhibited dances and mock wars between the tribes.  On my first visit, I had the opportunity to be one of three outsiders at such a ceremony.  The mounting ferocity of the swirling, charging, roaring hordes is something to behold!
CAMP:  (ANGGURUK)

Wed. Oct. 22:            Four morning charter flights to Wamena.
HOTEL: (WAMENA)

Thur. Oct. 23:            Morning flight from Wamena.
Morning arrival, Jayapura.  Private hotel transfer.
HOTEL: (JAYAPURA)

Total cost of $3,400.00 ($3,638.00, effective Friday, June 6 for new participants) per person, double occupancy*, except on the trek, includes all hotel accommodations; services of a Dani English speaking guide/cook and porters on the trek; all meals provided from Angguruk to Wamena; tribal festival and, full Indonesian breakfast in Jayapura.

A non-refundable payment of $1,700.00, payable to W.S. DONAHOO and received at:

Post Office Box 3415
Winter Park, Florida 32790, USA

is required for a reservation.

AVAILABLE SPACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED TO 16 PARTICIPANTS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS, UPON RECEIPT OF DEPOSITS.

ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE; Payments are not transferable to other passengers nor other trips.  Credit cards are not accepted.

* There is no additional cost for those signing on alone.

Final payments will be due in July, 2008.  Failure to pay on time will result in the cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of your initial payment.

Items in italics are not included, but are suggestions based on location and time available.  Initial flights into; and returning flights from Jayapura, departure taxes at foreign airports, cost of police permits and gratuities are not included.

Buz Donahoo, Condor Adventures
Post Office Box 3415
Winter Park, FL 32790,  USA
Tel/Fax (407) 645-0490
buz@condoradventures.com