Baliem Valley

Baliem Valley has been the most visited part of the island, especialy in recent years. Baliem valley is inhabited by the Dani tribesmen which are one among many peoples who speak related Papuan, or non-Austronesia language and live in the high central ranges of Irian Jaya. Until the few decades the Dani were some of the most isolated populations by swamps and mountains. They grew root crops, raised pigs, and used polished stone axes and adzes. they did not make pottery, but otherwise their technology was very much like that of the Neolithic of the Old and New Worlds.

There may be 250.000 Dani living in the central mountains. Like the western Dani of the Konda or the Yali of the east, many live scattered among the steep mountains slopes the Baliem Valley has one of the highest densities of population in Irian Jaya. The Dani tribes built their huts in a compound nicely express both environmental adoption and Dani Character. The men's and women's huts have thick thatched roofs which keep out rain, yet retain the heat from the hearth, along with just enough smoke to discourage the mosquitoes. The temperatures of the highland are ranged from 26°C at the day time to 12°C at night. It is even cooler at the southern region, Habbema lake and higher elevation which reaches down to 7°C at the night. 

The high light sightseeing's Dani market in Wauma and Sinatma hanging which can be reached on foot or by Wamena. Out are with its 250 - year old mummy, Suroba, Jiwika and Neighboring villages. With two - hour climbing, you can see the salt spring where the Dani women have been making salt in primitive fashion for centuries. Outer adventures are southward to Kurima area, where the Dani and Yali ways of life mixed into a unique combination.

To get to the Baliem Valley is not as to reach other parts in Irian Jaya. there are daily Merpati flights from Jayapura to Wamena, the district capital of the valley. Incase of the flights is fully booked, there are options by flying with Airfast, a cargo plane that sometimes takes passengers. For a short visit around Wamena, there are some fair hotel accommodations while in the villages tourist may stay at Dani huts. Villages near the town is no longer interesting as recently there are less Dani men wearing koteka. More beautiful scenery with primitive villagers are southern out to Kurima region. The village of Kurima has no difference, but when you explore up to Baliem George and the villages of Wamena, Tangma and Ibroma you will discover perfect combination of Dani compound inhabited by primitive tribesmen with adorable scenery.       

5 DAYS / 4 NITES BALIEM VALLEY TREKKING

BALIEM:   001

Day 01: JAYAPURA – ARRIVAL    (D)

Arrive at Sentani airport of Jayapura, meet by guide and transfer to sentani indah hotel or similar for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 02: JAYAPURA – WAMENA – JIWIKA (BLD)

Breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport for you fly to wamena by trigan air service regular flight. Upon arrival at wamena airport, drive 20 minutes to Aikima villages, and then take a walk Through the Dani gardens to Suroba village. Here we may join with local tribe and learn their live and culture. Lunch will serve at village. After lunch, proceed 3 or 4 hours walk to jiwika village through Dogum village, and Other Dani villages. Dinner and overnight at lauk inn (simple accommodation). Evening we may join with local people at jiwika. 

Day 03: Jiwika (pig f east & dance) – Wamena  (BLD)

After breakfast, then climb up to the salt pool to the see how the Dani women prepare salt in their traditional way. Then 50 minutes walk down to Sumpaima village to see the old mummy. After lunch at lauk inn, then walk 15 minutes to the village of Anemoigi where we can view the Dani mock battle and pig feast. We will see how the Dani make fire traditionally, kill a pig with bow and arrow and cook tem into the hot – burned stone with vegetables and sweet potatoes. Before return to Wamena we drive 15 minutes further to the north to see the waga- waga village and kontilola cave. Late afternoon we drive 40 minutes back to Wamena, dinner at restaurant local in town, accommodation at Baliem pilamo hotel.  

Day 04: WAMENA – JAYAPURA   (BLD)

Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to wamena airport for a flight departure to Jayapura by trigana air service. Upon arrival at sentani airport of Jayapura, transfer to sentani indah hotel then touring in the area. You will view some of the WW II memorial sites, e.g.: Mc Arthur monument at Ifar gunung, and one hour boat excursion in the lake of sentani to see the local tribe live in the village. Lunch at Yougwa restaurant in the side of the lake, afternoon continue touring and visit the museum Abepura and Hamadi market. Dinner and accommodation at sentani indah hotel or similar.   

Day 05: DEPARTURE  (B)

Breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport for flight to your next destination.  

5 DAYS / 4 NITES BALIEM VALLEY EXCLUSIVE

BALIEM 002.

DAY 01: JAYAPURA – ARRIVAL (D)

Arrive at Sentani airport meeting service then transfer by car in 5 minutes to Sentani Indah Hotel for overnight stay. Dinner at hotel restaurant.

DAY 02: JAYAPURA – WAMENA (B L D)

Early breakfast at hotel, transfer by car to the airport for departure by Trigana air service in 45 minutes to Wamena .Up on arrival at Wamena, by car to Baliem Pilamo hotel for check in and then proceed by car in 10 minutes to Wesaput village to see the traditional hanging bridge and Dani museum. Lunch will serve at local restaurant. After lunch continue to visit Dani village at Napua and surrounding, afternoon drive back to Wamena and may stop at local market of Wamena to see how the local tribe selling their product. Dinner and overnight stay at Baliem Pilamo Hotel.

DAY 03:WAMENA - JIWIKA (PIG FEAST & DANCE) –WAMENA (B L D)

After breakfast drive 40 to Jiwika in the north of Baliem valley, then climb –up to the salt mine to see the Dani people make salt by soak the banana stalks into the brine’s pool .dry and carry them home. From the salt pool, walk down to Sumpaima village to see the Mummy of 250 years old. Lunch at Lauk inn restaurant (simple restaurant). The whole afternoon is spending   in the village of Anemoigi, where we can view the Dani Mock battle and pig feast. We could see how the Dani make the traditionally, kill a pig with bow and arrow and cook them into the hot burned stones with vegetables and sweet potatoes. Before return to Wamena we drive in 40 minutes further to the north to see the Waga-waga village and Kontilola cave. Late afternoon we drive 40 minutes back to Wamena, dinner at local restaurant in town accommodation at Baliem Pilamo hotel.

DAY 04: WAMENA – JAYAPURA  (BLD)

Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to Wamena airport for a flight departure to Jayapura by trigana air service. Upon arrival at Sentani airport of Jayapura, transfer to Sentani indah hotel then touring the area. You will view some of the WW II memorial sites, e.g.: Mc Arthur Monument at ifar gunung, and one hour boat excursion in the lake of sentani to see the local tribe live in the village. Lunch at yougwa restaurant in the side of the lake, afternoon continue touring and visit the museum Abepura and Hamadi market. Dinner and accommodation at sentani indah hotel or similar.

DAY 05: DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at hotel, Transfer to the airport for flight to your next destination

7 DAYS / 6 NITES SOUTHERN OF BALIEM VALLEY

BALIEM M 003

DAY   01:  JAYAPURA  - ARRIVAL  (D)

Arrive at Sentani airport, meet by our guide and transfer to Sentani Indah hotel or similar for dinner overnight.

DAY 02: JAYAPURA – WAMENA  - SYOKOSIMO – HITUGI (BLD)

Breakfast at hotel then transfer 5 minutes to Sentani airport   for your departure to Wamena by Trigana air service (09.15 – 10.00). Upon arrival at Wamena airport, transfer to Baliem Pilamo hotel for a short briefing by guide about the tour and trekking. From hotel you will drive 45 minutes to Sogokmo where the trekking begins with, cook and porters. Walk and crossing the metal suspension bridge on Baliem River near Sogokmo then hike 5 hours through the beautiful countryside and Dani villages to Hitugi. You will encounter and greeted by the Dani people, who work in their steep sweet potato garden. Arrive in hitugi in the afternoon, accommodation at the heat of the village house. Lunch and dinner will provide by our cook.

DAY 03: HITUGI – SYKOSIMO (BLD)

From hitugi village, we hike 1,5 hours down to Mugi river and cross the small traditional rope bridge near small waterfall. From the waterfall we still hike 30 minutes and will arrive in the village of Sykosimo, accommodation at the teacher’s house. After lunch in the village, we hike the two Dani compounds lie on the top of the hill explore and experience the Dani daily life and culture. Late afternoon we return back to our accommodation in the village, for dinner and overnight.

DAY 04: SYKOSIMO – USEREM – IBIROMA (BLD)

Today we hike up and down, the trail and steep and could be very slippery if it is rains. The first 2 hours hike to the village of Userem is through the steep sweet potato garden near the Baliem River, but the scenery is spectacular. In Userem village we cross another metal suspension bridge on the Murgi River we will encounter and crossing another longer (40mm) width traditional suspension on Baliem River. From the Baliem river the trail is going up and takes 2,5 hours to arrive in the village of Ibiroma. Our accommodation is at a local traditional guesthouse.

DAY 05: IBIROMA – KURIMA – JIWIKA – WAMENA (BLD)

From Ibiroma village in the southern of Baliem gorge, we hike 2,5 hours to Kurima. The still traditional Dani village is very close and can be briefly explore during the hike to Kurima. The local people life and traditional remain unchanged here, and the agriculture system has bean practiced along time ago. Arrive in Kurima by noon, we driver 1,5 hours to Jiwika in the north of the valley via the town of wamena. Lunch at a local restaurant in the town, afternoon we may walk and visit the Dani villages near Jiwika, including the 250 years old mummy at Sumpaima village and view the Dani pig feast and dance in the village Anemoigi. Late afternoon drive back to wamena for dinner and overnight at Bilamo pilamo hotel.

DAY 06: WAMENA – JAYAPURA (BLD)

Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to Wamena airport for a flight Departure to Jayapura by Trigana air service. Upon arrival at Sentani airport of Jayapura, transfer to Sentani Indah hotel then touring in the area. You will view some of the WW II memorial sites, e.g.: Mc Arthur monument at Ifar gunung, and one hour boat excursion in the lake, afternoon continue touring and visit the museum Abepura and Hamadi market. Dinner and accommodation at Sentani Indah hotel or similar. 

DAY 07: JAYAPURA – DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at hotel, and then transfer to Sentani airport for your flight departure to the next destination.