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Papua New Guinea Expedition: Firedance Festival

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TESD
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Overview
Destination:
Papua New Guinea
Start:Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
Finish:Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
Duration:9 days
Type:Group tour (max 18)
Style:
Adventure,
Expedition,
Festival,
Festivals and Events,
Travel Period
September 2025 - September 2026
Intrepid Big Sale: Save 15% Off - Members Save More^
Travel deep into Papua New Guinea to experience local cultures, natural splendour and island life on a nine-day adventure culminating in the spectacular Firedance Festival. Watch as local villagers invite you into their communities and perform a traditional dance around the fire – a culturally rich and awesome sight to see. Along with this festival, discover the wild beauty of the Duke of York Islands, learn of the fascinating military history of East New Britain, encounter resident spinner dolphins, and let local island life delight your senses. For those interested in a South Pacific adventure that is definitely one-of-a-kind, let Papua New Guinea’s islands capture your imagination.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. An arrival & departure transfer is included on this trip. Please provide us with your flight arrival & departure time for Rabaul (RBA) no later than 7 days before your trip commences. If we do not receive this information we will not be able to meet you at the airport. Late-night arrivals in particular will be difficult and daunting to make your way to our starting point on your own.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes the Island & Village Homestays where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

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Standard inclusions
  • Meals: Meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners.
  • Transport: Private vehicle, Boat.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights), Island Homestay (2 nights), Village Homestay (1 night).
  • Rabaul - Historical tour.
  • Duke of York Islands - Cultural activities.
  • Duke of York Islands - Boat tour including snorkelling.
  • Duke of York Islands - Cultural activities.
  • Firedance Festival.
  • Melanesian welcome ceremony.
  • Traditional mumu lunch.
  • Firedance Festival.
  • Firedance Festival.
  • Kokopo - Blue Lagoon.
  • Kokopo - Bitapaka War Cemetery.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Rabaul - Kokopo
Welcome to Kokopo and Papua New Guinea – a land of dense jungle, bright coral reefs and wartime secrets. There aren’t any activities planned for today until an important welcome meeting at 6.30 pm where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. For those arriving today, you’ll be met at Tokua (Rabaul) Airport for an included transfer to your accommodation. If you do happen to arrive early, good for you! Why not get out and about and soak up the chilled-out vibe of East New Britain. Wherever you are, you’ll be sure to see the dominating Tarvurvur Volcano looming in the distance.
Day 2: Rabaul - Vunagum Village - Kokopo
Set off on a historical tour of Rabaul town with your group. There’ll be some walking on uneven surfaces, so pack some good walking shoes. Today’s tour will include stops at military sites including Yamamoto’s bunker, the Japanese submarine base and the Japanese tunnels, as well as the Rabaul markets and the New Guinea Club, where you’ll gain some insight into life in Rabaul before PNG’s independence and the 1994 devastating volcanic eruption. We'll also spend some time in nearby Vunagum Village today. Learn how to make agir (a traditional coconut stew) from scratch for lunch, explore the peaceful village making new friends and maybe even enjoy a passionate performance from the local church choir. Return to your Kokopo and our hotel for the evening.
Day 3: Duke of York Islands
The neighbouring islands all have their own personality, customs and cultures, and today you’ll cruise around a few to explore and experience the ‘real’ Papua New Guinea. Your destination today is the Duke of York Islands, but on the way, be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife too, as dolphins and even dugongs are known to play in these crystal-clear waters of the Pacific. A local village will host you while you visit Duke of York and there’ll be opportunities to learn about traditional weaving, cooking and fishing. Head on a tour of the island with your group leader, and then have plenty of time to relax into island time. All that you’ve got to worry about this afternoon is sitting back and enjoying the warm hospitality and magical singing voices of the Duke of York islanders at your overnight homestay.
Day 4: Duke of York Islands
Rise and shine early for some time out on the water for swimming and snorkelling around the Duke of York Islands. Your leader and boat skipper will find the best place based on tides and weather conditions. Look out for dolphins! Work up an appetite then head back to the village for breakfast and further immersion in local life.
Day 5: Duke of York Islands
Rise and shine early for some time out on the water for swimming and snorkelling around the Duke of York Islands. Your leader and boat skipper will find the best place based on tides and weather conditions. Work up an appetite then head back to the village for breakfast and further immersion in local life.
Day 8: Kokopo
Explore historic sites around Kokopo today including the Bitapaka War Cemetery – where soldiers from World War I and II have been laid to rest, local markets and the Blue Lagoon. Enjoy a final night dinner with your group tonight.
Day 9: Kokopo - Rabaul
With no activities planned for today, you are free to depart at any time after breakfast. Please note that a transfer to Tokua (Rabaul) Airport is included today, so please ensure you inform us of your departure flight details.
Day 8: Vairiki village - Firedance Festival
This morning, make your way to the Vairiki village where the festivities continue with a number of masked performances, as well as a closing party during which the village will farewell their guests. After saying goodbye, you’ll make your way back to the group’s hotel and settle in for lunch. The afternoon is free for you to relax and share photos with your group of last night’s performances.
Day 9: Rabaul
With no activities planned for today, you are free to depart at any time after breakfast. Please note that a transfer to Tokua (Rabaul) Airport is included today, so please ensure you inform us of your departure flight details.
Departure dates

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Travellers

Operator
Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
^Intrepid Big Sale Save 15% Off: Terms & Conditions
Save 15% on this Intrepid adventure as part of their Big Sale - Members save more. Book by 12 February 2025. 
 
Savings reflected in the prices shown.
 
Conditions apply. 
1. Big Sale offers apply to new bookings made and deposited between 12:01am AEDT 13 January 2025 to 11:59pm AEDT 12 February 2025. Offer applies to selected trips departing between 13 January 2025 – 14 December 2025 unless otherwise specified.  
 
2. The following discounts apply to trips departing between 13 January 2025 – 14 December 2025: 
 
20% off: YXOR, TVZKC, TVKB, TVXA, KFSR, BMXH, ERKT, ETFT, ERXL, TTZF, TTST, TTSK, YGOT, YGPT, YKXA, YKXM, YGOMC, YKXCC, YXORC, BMSMC, ZMSH, ZMSI, ZMSJC, ZMZZ, ZMZLC, UBOH, UBOSC, YBOP, ZMXL, ZMXV, ZMZP, GGKPC, GGXI, GGXSC, HQXP, ZMZSC, PHXC, PHXF, PHXQ, HNXL, HNXS, HNSW, HNXR, UBKEC, UBKN, UBPN, YXOAC, YXOF, XMSS, XMZF, ZMSQC, XMRW, XMSB, XMXC, QVRQC, QVRXC, QVRZC, QBSY, ZKZM, CJFK, YGFAC, YGFK, YGOCC, YGOK, YXOBC, EEPJ, EESJ, EEXC, ELKD, ERFJ, CJRB, CJSD, CJSO, CJXC, CJZF, ZMFI, ZMSK, ZMSKC, ZMXT, ZMZB, ZSRA, ZMKF, ZMSS, TISW, TIFA, TIXB, HHZM, HHFI, HHSW, HHXC, HHPR, BIKH, ZMXD, QVRPC, ZMSAC, ZMSEC, ZMSM, ZMSW, KFZG, AMXC, AMXL, XEKJC, XEPDC, XEPE, XEPJC, XESB, XESPC, XEFJC, GMDA, GMDB, GMDC, GMDD, GMDE, GMDP, GLFB, AMSB, ZMXDC, ZMXP, AMSNC, QUKA, QUKP, WMSK, WMSLC, ZMZC, ZSRT, ZSRU, ZSRUC, QCFB, QVRJ, QVSR, GGSS, GGSSC, GGSC, CBFA, CBST, TKZP, UBKF, WBSE, PJXB, PJXE, PJXF, PJXT, PJXU, PZKK, PZKS, PZRC, PZRK, GPXU,  GGTA.
 
15% off: UBKHC, YXOS, YXOSC, YXOWC, TKPJC, TKSKC, TVSKC, TLSXC, TTSVC, TVFA, TVKT, TVPV, TVSF, TVZY, TVST, TESFC, TESV, KFSRC, SSEM, SSSO, SLKZ, SSFP, SSKX, BMSF, BWSL, BWSO, YGPRC, YGPU, KFSM, ERPCC, ERPMC, ERKB, ERKF, ERPT, TEST, TTFAC, TTFS, TTSN, TTSLC, YGFA, YXOQ, YXOHC, YXOIC, YXOQC, AMSAC, HPXC, ZMPVC, ZMPS, ZMSG, ZMSN, UBKK, UBOE, UBPC, UBPK, ZMZMC, TESS, TESSC, ZMSZ, ZMXG, TOSN, GGKP, GGBL, GGBNC, GGBTC, GGBZC, GGPP, GGPPC, GGXM, GGKY, GGKIC, TESD, QVRC, BMSH, PHRN, PHRO, PHRS, PHRWC, PHRXC, PHSQ, PHSQC, PHSW, HNPN, HNXAC, HNSC, HNXV, UBPDC, UXOGC, YXOEC, XMFB, XMFK, XMKC, XMSC, XMSF, XMSQC, XMXM, ZSRM, QVRRC, QVRYC, QVZA, QBSI, QVRM, HPSM, TMPB, TMSC, YBSN, TLSV, CJXS, YXOVC, YGPCC, YGPEC, YGPKC, KFSK, KFSKC, EERJ, EEXA, CJFP, CJKJ, CJSTC, ZGXT, ZMFDC, ZMPL, ZMSFC, ZMSL, ZMSQ, ZMSSC, ZMSV, ZMXI, ZSRS, ZGXA, ZMFD, ZMSC, BMSA, TISK, HHRS, HHFK, HHKS, BMSI, BIFI, BIKW, BMSW, ZMRVC, QVRA, QVSB, ZMZG, ZLSA, ZMSE, ZSRK, ZSRV, ZSRZ, ZVPI, KMPC, BMSP, ZFXM, ZFXB, BMFF, TESF, AMKG, XEFG, XEKBC, XEKI, XEPN, GMQA, GMQB, GMQC, GMQD, GMQE, GMQF, GMQG, GMQH, GMQI, GMQJ, GMQK, GGRR, GGRX, GGSH, AMRA, AMRBC, AMRC, AMSCC, AMKB, QUSH, ZMPY, WMSJC, ZMPJC, ZMPUC, ZMRC, ZMRI, ZMSF, ZMSUC, ZMSY, ZMXB, ZMXBC, ZMZEC, ZMZJ, ZSDS, ZSSD, QVSS, QVXC, GGXS, CBSD, GPXW, GGPC, SWKW, TKFB, TKPC, TKRR, TKSD, TKSE, GGSR, UBOQC, ZMXY, GGBJ, GGSV, QVSE, PZKNC, PJXG, PJXK, PJXL, PJXO, PJXP, PJXR, PJXV, PJXW, PKBB, PKFK, PKOW, PTXC, PZFR, PZKAC, PZKM, PZKQ, PZRY, PZSA, PZSK, PZSR, PZXR, GGBS, GPKB, WMKK.
 
10% off: UBOAC, TKKHC, TKRNC, TTPVC, TVSLC, TVSQ, TVAN, TVFB, TVFK, TVPS, TVSR, TVXB, TVXS, KFSA, KFSAC, KFPUK, SKXI, SKXS, SKXU, GPXOSASO, SIXY, SKTC, SSEP, SSKT, SSKU, SSRG, SSRH, SSSG, SSSGC, SSSOC, SSXL, SSXZ, SSEAC, SSEPC, SSKYC, SSRVC, BMSUC, BWPS, BWSS, YXOG, ERPI, ERSF, ERSI, ERSZC, ERYC, ERYOC, ERYT, TTFA, TMSM, TSSX, TSSY, TSSZC, TTKK, TTZEC, TTYB, TTZBC, YXOP, YGSA, YXOCC, YXOFC, YXOGC, AMSOC, HHFL, ZMKS, ZMPSC, ZMXJ, UWFS, ZMPB, EYKS, WMPB, WMSB, WMSEC, WMSH, ZMPBC, ZMPDC, WMSIC, ZLSI, ZMPP, TOSH, TOSNC, GGSA, GGFB, GGPEC, GGPRC, GGSAC, GGSD, GGSDC, GGSFC, GGSGC, GGSQ, GGSUC, GGSEC, GGTBC, HQSW, ELSO, AMSSC, BMSN, PHPN, PHPS, PHKN, PHKO, PHKR, PHKRC, PHKS, PHKYC, PHKZC, PHPZC, HHPHC, HNPEC, HNXE, UBOBC, UBODC, UBPKC, UXOAC, UXOBC, UXODC, XMPSC, XMPM, XMPHC, XMPE, XMFE, XMXO, XMXOW, CBSF, CBSM, CBSOS, QBKPC, QBPM, QMFA, QVKD, ZLSM, TMSA, TMKB, TMSPC, TMSW, TMSXC, TMXS, YBSCC, BMSE, TLYS, ZMSX, CJYK, CJZK, YXODC, YGSZC, YGKA, YGPK, YGPSC, KFPK, EEYJ, CJFS, CJPH, CJPJ, CJSHC, CJST, CJXH, ZLSW, ZMPAC, ZMPCC, ZMPEC, ZMPI, ZMPLC, ZMPM, ZMRDC, ZMRR, ZMRRC, ZMYR, AMYCC, TIPI, TISE, TISSC, TIST, TTSIC, HHKR, HHPG, HHPS, HHPWC, HHRCC, HHRG, HHRR, HHSC, HHSEC, HHSK, HHSL, HHYJ, HHKZC, HHXL, HPPGC, BIPI, BIPK, BMRI, BIYS, QBSGC, QBYA, ERPIC, ZMYG, ZSRP, ZSRR, ZVPCC, ZVPG, AMRRC, KFSG, KFSGC, BMSR, ZMRE, ZMRFC, ZMRXC, BMXF, QVSBC, EERCC, XEKE, XERA, XEYJC, GGSYC, GGTF, GGSIC, GGSJC, GGTG, GGTWC, AMSD, ZMRGC, QBXC, QBXE, QBXCC, ZMPD, ZMPFC, ZMPXC, ZMXH, QBKR, QCFM, GGYS, CBKS, CBRF, CBSDC, GGPBC, GGPU, SEKW, SESR, SSKK, SSOR, SSYA, TKKCC, , TKXC, TTPEC, TVPHC, WMSI, GGBR, UBOO, UBPB, UWFB, GGBLC, GGYRC, ZMRG, PJXN, PKOB, PKOD, PKODC, PKOP, PKOPC, PKOR, PKRB, PZKR, PZKT, PZKU, PZKVC, PZSB, PZSC, PZSD, PZSG, PZSI, PZSJC, PZSPC, PZST, PZSUC, PZSVC, PZYB, PZYS, PZYSC, GGBDC, GGPA, GGSW, GGYF, AAFP, AAXS, WBSL, LLPZSD.
 
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3. The following exclusions apply:
- Polar trips in Antarctica and the Arctic; 
- Short-Break Adventures (excluding XMHA and TVAN);
- Tailor-Made Experiences;
- Urban Adventures.
 
4. A black-out travel period of 14 December 2025 – 14 January 2026 applies.
 
5. All offers apply to the trip price only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.
 
6. Offer prices have been discounted from the lowest price available for each individual departure online in the 19 days prior to 13 January 2025.
 
7. Credit Holders can use any valid discounts or promotions, except where we are honouring their original price. For more information about how to redeem your credit visit our Credit Redemption page. 
 
8. All offers apply to land element of trip only and cannot be redeemed against flights, additional accommodation, transfers, travel insurance or local payments/kittys. 
 
9. This sale is applicable only in the following currencies: AUD and NZD. All other currencies are not eligible.
 
10. Our trips are subject to availability and confirmation by Intrepid Travel at time of booking. 
 
11. If you wish to cancel and rebook your trip or change dates outside the promotional period, you will be required to pay the full cost towards the new trip.  
 
12. Travel documents & vaccination requirements are the responsibility of the individual traveller.
 
13. Except as set out expressly above, Intrepid Travel’s Booking Conditions apply. 
 
For full terms and conditions, please ask your travel consultant.
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Papua New Guinea Expedition: Firedance Festival
8 nights
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