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National Canoe and Kundu Festival

Dates: November
Request for dates and current pricing

PROPOSED ITINERARY
National Canoe & Kundu Festival

DAY 1		Manila-POM	PX393		07:30
		POM-GUR	PX154	15:25	16:25

On arrival in Port Moresby you will be met by our representative and taken on a half day site seeing tour around Port Moresby before departing for Alotau at 3:25pm

PORT MORESBY HALF DAY CITY TOUR

Visit: Bomona War Cemetery, Parliament House, Botanical Gardens, Museum, Artifact shopping.

We will drive for 20 minutes out to the Bomona War Cemetery where you will be able to pay homage to the 3375 soldiers that are buried there. Bomona War Cemetery is the largest WW11 cemetery in the South Pacific. 

From the Bomona War Cemetery our guests will be taken on a site seeing tour of Port Moresby. We will visit the Botanical Gardens, Museum if open, Parliament House and they will have the opportunity to some artifact shopping.

Guests will then be taken to the Royal Papua Yacht Club for lunch.

PLEASE BRING

1. Sunhat
2. Sunscreen
3. Insect Repellent
4. Sturdy comfortable walking shoes

DAY 2

Festival

After breakfast this morning you will then be transferred to the first day of the National Canoe & Kundu Festival.
VIP tickets have been purchased for our guests.

The Canoe Festival is the largest and most significant event on Milne Bay’s cultural calendar, drawing participants from through out the province and abroad. Milne Bay is a Maritime Province with over 600 islands and canoes are an integral part of the culture and existence of Milne Bay people. There are approximately five different types of canoes, these include the smaller sailing canoes with outriggers and sails, Long War canoes bearing elaborately decorated prows that seat up to 50 men, canoes used purposely for trading and travel over long distances such as during the great Kula Trading voyages. Others were used for daily activities such as fishing.

Participants prepare month’s in advance often undergoing sacred rituals in isolation. Participants come from remote Island communities -as far as Misima, Trobriand and D’Entrecasteaux group of Islands including the mainland areas within the main bay such as Maiwara and Waga Waga. Often the participants face rough seas and weather conditions just to reach the Festival site. This can take several days for those living on the islands. Paddlers travel with their canoes loaded with garden food, pigs and cultural dance groups for the feasting exchange ceremony during the festival.

The Canoe also draws participants from other parts of the country and abroad. In the past The long Gogodala River Canoes from Western Province have taken part in addition to international participation from a Hawaiian outrigger team. Cultural groups from other parts of the country are also featured. The Festival site is in the main town area next to the market and along the foreshore. Numerous stalls are featured selling local arts & crafts, food and a range of different items 

DAY 3

Festival

Day 4

Aloutau - POM

PX959

16:45

17:45

After the festival this afternoon guests will be transported to the airport for their transfer to Port Moresby where they will overnight.

DAY 5

POM-Tufi

CG374

06:00

07:00

TUFI EXPERIENCE

Please note that if guests would like a full village “Sing Sing” this can be arranged on request.
Your Tufi representative will coordinate your Port Moresby to Tufi transfer. You will be flown to Tufi which is a magnificent flight over the Owen Stanley ranges to the Oro Province coastline which is a 50 minute flight from Port Moresby.  Upon arrival at Tufi you will be transferred to the resort where you will be debriefed on the history of Tufi and given time to relax, view the sunset and prepare for dinner.  After dinner local village ladies will show you many types of tapa cloth which is famous in Oro Province.

DAY 6

TUFI NATURE AND CULTURAL DAYS

Today begins a relaxing day on the ocean after your arrival at the resort and transfer by the Tufi Management Team.  You will be taken to Cyclone Reef, a Five Star Dive Site 15 kilometers south east of Tufi which is also excellent for snorkeling.   Depart Resort at 10am and spend the next 30 minutes cruising out past the colorful reefs of the Solomon Sea. On the way keep a lookout for dolphins, giant manta rays, turtles and schools of pelagic fish. You will start to see a small dot on the horizon starting to appear, this is our destination. Cyclone reef has a very small coral cay island that is surrounded by a pristine atoll. We tie up to our permanent mooring, (so as not to damage the reef) and you are then briefed by our local expert on the best parts of the reef to go snorkeling. You will then have a guided tour of this magnificent reef experiencing hundreds of different species of colorful fish, beautiful corals, crystal clear water and fantastic drop offs

The visibility is unbelievable and upon entering the water it gives you a surreal experience, this is one of the world’s top reefs to snorkel on and observe the vast variety of sea life that Tufi has to offer. Beyond this reef you can encounter some fantastic game fishing grounds that will give you some action packed fishing experiences so the choice is yours.  This is a unique day that not many people are fortunate enough to experience.  All snorkeling gear and fishing gear is included in tariff.

DAY 7		TUFI – POM	CG374	16:40	17:40
		POM-MANILLA	PX010	18:45	21:45

INCLUSIONS:

• Airport transfers
• Show transfers
• 3 days VIP show tickets
• 3 night’s accommodation Napatana Lodge, Alotau. (all meals)
• 1 nights accommodation Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby (all meals)
• 2 nights Tufi Resort, transfers from airstrip at Tufi, accommodation, meals, cultural tours.
• Port Moresby City Tour. Pick up and drop off, bottled water and fresh fruit, Lunch at Royal Papua Yacht Club, Site entry fees, experienced guide

EXCLUSIONS:

LAND COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
International flights, domestic airfares, visa fees and services of a personal nature. Beverages, laundry charges, phone and fax bills

Please book domestic airfares with international airfares. Refer to itinerary for airfare details.