Orchids of Papua New Guinea
This Orchids in the Wild trip to the highlands of Papua New Guinea starts by everyone meeting in the city of Port Moresby. On the first day, we will tour the city of Port Moresby, including a visit to the Adventure Park (a type of zoo/botanic garden including the National Orchid Collection and several atriums featuring the PNG Birds of Paradise), the iconic Parliament building, and the spectacular PNG National Museum and Art Gallery. The next morning we fly to the highlands (Mt. Hagen) where we will spend the next week. We will stay at the Magic Mountain lodge, a lovely resort nestled at the base of Magic Mountain and Mt. Hagen. The Magic Mountain lodge features individual traditional cabins, delightful gardens, hiking trails to orchids directly from the lodge, and a birding platform where we can watch birds such as Stephanie’s Astrepia while we enjoy our freshly prepared meals. From this base of operations we will make day trips into different parts of the New Guinea Highlands, enjoying the culture, local people, fascinating birds and the amazing orchids of this incredible area. We will be attending the Mt. Hagen Tribal Festival, featuring over 80 PNG tribes dressed in their finest traditional clothing, masks and headdresses. The following week we travel to Betty’s lodge at the base of the highest mountain in New Guinea (Mt. Wilhelm), where we will make several treks into the cloud forest to see more orchids in situ. Betty’s Lodge is renowned for the fresh vegetables and fruit grown in the local garden, as well as for the fresh trout from the expansive trout farm on premises. During our stay at Betty’s Lodge, those interested in summiting can hire a local guide (not included in pricing) and hike to the top of Mt. Wilhelm (14,793 ft). We then overnight in Mt. Hagen before traveling back to Port Moresby and home.
Dates & Prices
Dates: August 7-August 22, 2025
Deposit Due: May 1, 2025
Final Payments Due: June 1, 2025
Price: $5800 Per Person, Double Occupancy. Single Supplement $700
Price Includes: Hotels, meals, transportation in country (including round trip air from Pt. Moresby to Mt. Hagen), guides, entrance to festivals, reserves. Price does not include round trip airfare from home country to Port Moresby, hotel nights pre- and post-tour, alcoholic beverages, tips, souvenirs, items of a personal nature.
Group Size: Minimum of 6 persons, maximum of 10 persons (not including the trip leader).
Conservation donation: A donation based on the profit (~$1000 per person) is included in the price and is donated to The Orchid Conservation Alliance. The Orchid Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization, and for USA residents, the donation may be tax deductible. A formal acknowledgement is sent to each participant at year end.
Physical requirements for the trip: Participants should be healthy and able to walk some distance (up to 3 miles) without difficulty. Treks on the trials surrounding Magic Mountain and Mt. Wilhelm can be quite challenging involving steep slopes, uneven ground, slippery trails, climbing over logs and rocks. Participants can remain on the grounds of the lodge on the days these treks are planned. Other activities including visiting collections, bird observations, cultural events etc. are not as strenuous. However, this is not a tour for those with mobility difficulties. If you have concerns or questions, please contact: mary@orchidconservationalliance.org
Health precautions: Covid 19 vaccines should be up to date and are mandatory for OCA tours. Participants are suggested to contact their health provider for the most up to date recommendations for travel to Papua New Guinea. As we will primarily be in the Highlands, malaria prophylaxis is not required, although participants should take care during our two days in Port Moresby (long pnats, long sleeved clothing, insect repellent). Travel medical insurance is mandatory for each participant, and should include a medical evacuation rider for a minimum of $100,000.
August 7th. Arrive in Port Moresby. Overnight at the Holiday Inn Express. No activities planned for this day (rest and recover). Group welcome dinner at hotel.
August 8th. Tour of Port Moresby. Adventure Park, National Museum, Wariata Park. ON Holiday Inn Express.
August 9th. Transfer to Mt. Hagen, transport to Magic Mountain Nature Lodge. Explore gardens around lodge. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 10th. Adventure in to the forest in search of orchids, plants and nature. Spend ample time in the forest and retire at own timing. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 11th .Kamul birding lodge. Hike through forest, and visit to Max Mal’s orchid collection. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 12th . Visit Mr. Pitt’s orchid farm and surrounding area. Explore orchids in grasslands surrounding Mr. Pitts, also large stand of Nepenthes maxima. Visit Avi-Vincents village for more orchids. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 13. Additional treks in Mt. Hagen/Magic Mountain trails. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 14. Visit Rondon Ridge, Trans Nuigini orchid collection, hike up ridge, more cloud forest orchid species. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 15. Transfer to Paiya village for village show – involving dancers/performers from Enga, Hagen, Chimbu, Goroka, mud man, skeleton man, Morobe, Huli wing man. Many tourists enjoy Paiya show because of its setting in the village and more interacting. After the show locals put on courtship – mock fight, marriage with bride price. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 16. Mt. Hagen show
Early breakfast and transfer to Mt. Hagen show ground for the Mt. Hagen culture festival. This will be a big festival that involves more than 80 ethnic dancing groups from the Highlands and costal – PNG. Transfer early in order to see the preparations to performance. The show goes on for 2 days. Tourists will be allowed to enter the main arena with tourist badges. Enjoy taking photos, mingling with performers and learn about different cultures. ON Magic Mountain Lodge.
August 17. Continue with Mt. Hagen show program in the morning, then transfer to Betty’s Lodge. ON Bettys Lodge
August 18-19. Explore cloud forest around Betty’s Lodge. Those interested in climbing Mt. Wilhelm should plan on a 2-day excursion and spending the night in a hut near the summit. Others, ON Betty’s Lodge
August 20. Transfer to Mt. Hagen. ON at Traveler’s Lodge in Mt. Hagen.
August 21. Return to Port Moresby. ON at Holiday Inn Express. We may have time this day to explore additional sights in Port Moresby (e.g. Fish Market, Nature Park).
August 22. Return home
Mary Gerritsen, Ph.D.
Mary Gerritsen, Ph.D.
Mary is the president of the Orchid Conservation Alliance. This will be her fourth botanic tour to Papua New Guinea. Mary lives in San Mateo, CA.