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Papua New Guinea

Travel Portrait Masterclass

13-24 August 2024

CHF 7,495

€ 7,890    S$11,500

All-inclusive except international flights

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12 DAYS

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4-6 PEOPLE

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4/3* HOTELS
GUESTHOUSES

Papua New Guinea. The last frontier. The edge of the world. A place that time forgot. The ultimate tribal experience.

Are you ready for the trip of your lifetime?

We will step back in time and get face-to-face with a dizzying variety of authentic, raw tribal cultures.

From painted faces & bodies to wigs, masks and feathers, Papua will bring to life your wildest exotic images, and easily exceed them.

This is the most spectacular of my photo trips. A pinnacle of travel portrait photography. It simply doesn't get any better than that.

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Level of Difficulty

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This is an adventure trip. Visiting remote tribal cultures in their natural environment comes at a price of basic accommodation - but that is where you get the most eye-opening experiences and lasting memories. We will stay in a mix of good hotels where available, and basic local guesthouses.

 

You need to be prepared for:

  • A total of 8 hours in a canoe in Sepik (2-3h at a time)

  • Basic accommodation in Sepik (hole-in-floor toilets, scoop showers)

  • 5 domestic flights in 2 weeks

Locations

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Tari

Hidden deep in Papua's highlands, this is home to Huli tribe, famous for their elaborate face paintings and wigs. In Huli tradition, women do all the work, so that men can concentrate on their appearance - which they do with a great gusto. Especially during tribal wars - when you can see warriors in full colourful attire having a snack on the roadside before joining the fight. 

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Mount Hagen Festival

Once a year, the highland town of Mount Hagen hosts a 2-day festival, which brings together over 50 tribal groups - with dazzling variety of stunning dresses, face paintings and masks - to perform their tribal dances. A hair-raising, other-worldly experience and an ultimate photographers paradise. With VIP tickets, we will be free to move among the dancing groups, as close as we want.

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Sepik River

The Sepik River, winding its way through the lush landscapes of Papua New Guinea, is home to a remarkable cultural and linguistic diversity - with over 300 languages spoken, impressive spirit houses (Haus Tambaran) and unique traditions like crocodile worshipping and skin-cutting initiation of young men. This canoe trip will give an insight into diverse local rituals and traditions.

Itinerary

Tue 13 Aug
Arrival in Port Moresby (5am)
Rest day after travel (Gateway Hotel @ airport)


Wed 14 Aug - Tari
Flight Port Moresby - Tari  8:40-10:15
Huli tribesmen face painting

Thu 15 Aug - Tari
Widows village
Fortunetellers

Huli wigmen spitting water

Fri 16 Aug
Flight Tari - Mt. Hagen 9:20-10:45

Sat 17 Aug - Mount Hagen
Mount Hagen Festival

Sun 18 Aug - Mount Hagen
Mount Hagen Festival
Flight
Mount Hagen - Port Moresby 17:00-18:00

Mon 19 Aug
Flight Port Moresby - Wewak 15:05-16:25
Overnight in Wewak hotel


Tue 20 Aug - Sepik River
Drive to Pagwi on Sepik river & transfer to canoe
Overnight in Kamindimbit village guesthouse


Wed 21 Aug - Sepik River
Dance & Haus Tambaran in Kaminimbit
Crocodile men

Overnight in Kamindimbit village guesthouse

Thu 22 Aug - Sepik River
Garamut dance at Kanganamun
Haus Tambaran in Kanganamun and Palimbei 
Return to Wewak


Fri 23 Aug - Sepik River
Flight Wewak - Port Moresby 14:10-15:30

Sat 24 Aug
Departure to Singapore (14:50)

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Photographic Coaching

This travel portrait masterclass includes full-time coaching by Pawel Lipski:

  • Application of my 3-step system for travel portraits

  • How to approach strangers & how to take candid portraits without getting noticed

  • Creative techniques & tips for travel portraits in Oman

  • Camera settings for travel portraits

  • Location-specific briefings & assignments

  • On-location coaching & support while shooting

  • Daily reviews of best photos

  • Written feedback on your 15 best shots after the trip

Included:

  • Full-time travel portrait coaching

  • Accommodation in 4/3-star hotels where available, and guesthouses in remote areas

  • All meals (with beverages)

  • All 5 domestic flights

  • Private car / boat transportation

  • Airport transfers

  • Performance fees

  • Entrance fees

  • Security where needed

  • Tips for guides & people we photograph

Not Included:

  • International flight into Port Moresby

  • Visa

  • Travel insurance

  • Personal expenses (e.g. room service, porters, laundry)

Price

PAYMENT
20% (CHF 1,400) refundable deposit to reserve your place
Balance by 15 March

DISCOUNTS
CHF 700 (10%) Early Bird discount until 30 June
CHF 700 (10%) for returning trip customers

SUPPLEMENTS
Single room occupancy: CHF 850

Based on twin room sharing

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
15 March

CHF 6,995

Important To Know

  • Information pack including a packing list and clothing recommendations will be sent 5 months before the trip

  • Malaria prophylactic is strongly recommended

  • Online eVisa (processing time up to 3 weeks, cost $50). However, visa on arrival is likely to be restored by the time of the trip.

Covid Restrictions

All Covid travel restrictions are lifted.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors can enter the country. Covid testing is not required.​

Equipment

You need a good camera with a telephoto lens up to at least 200mm (full frame) - plus a wider lens when we can get up close to our subjects.

Personally, I will bring 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8.

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Recommended Flights

Currently there are only 4 options to fly into Papua:

Air Niugini from Singapore (€ 800)
Air Niugini from Manila (€ 400)
Air Niugini from Hong Kong (€ 800) - ex Mondays
Air Niugini or Qantas from Brisbane/Sydney (€ 400+)

Cancellations

If YOU cancel participation:

 

  • 100% refund if canceled by 15 March

  • 50% refund if canceled by 15 May

  • 0% refund if canceled after 15 May

If the TRIP is cancelled:

 

  • If the trip is cancelled due to Covid surge or other force majeure, it will be postponed to the next year OR full refund will be given minus costs I have already paid that cannot be recovered.

 

  • If the trip is cancelled due to insufficient number of participants or any other reason than force majeure, full refund will be given.

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