Papua New Guinea or PNG for short is a large country in Pacific. The country forms the independent eastern part of the huge island of New Guinea just north of Australia. Here you are greeted by smiles and warm welcome greetings from people. They can often appear shy and suspiciously grim at first. But they love it when you come and talk to them. This is a country with a million different journeys. The country has a fantastic culture and with over 800 different languages where Pijin English is unifying. The most common way to travel in the country is locally by car and between the different parts by plane. Here there are almost no roads that connect this mountainous country and in each valley there is its own village with its own culture and often with its own language.
If you're lucky, you'll come here when there are so-called sing-sings. There are often annual festivals where members from each tribe come to exchange experiences and show off. Previously, goods were exchanged. food and even daughters with each other. Nowadays it is instead an increasingly tourist-oriented element in PNG, but the experience is fantastic and to the highest degree alive and authentic. With all the traditional costumes and dances, it is very spectacular to experience. There are a couple of really big festivals that are very popular and the accommodation is usually fully booked long before.
Diving
PNG also offers fantastic diving with a huge diversity of species and the diving is varied. Partly depending on what time of year you come and partly to which part of the country you want to go. Sharks and large fish are common and in many places fantastic reefs teeming with marine life. Mass tourism has not reached here yet and only about 120.000 tourists a year come here yet, but it is known that tourism is important and especially diving tourism. Everything is slowly opening up, but otherwise it is a country where time sometimes feels like it has stood still.
Flights here to Port Moresby, the capital, are few and the number of dive centers are scattered and very very limited in number. In return, the experience is all the greater. There are also a few liveaboard which is perhaps the optimal way to experience Papua New Guinea. For those of you who have the time and opportunity, this is an absolutely incredible destination, but don't miss taking a few days on land and see something other than the diving as a complement to a fantastic trip. It is also possible to fly from PNG to Solomon Islands and the countries are strongly connected and resemble each other.
Water: Avoid drinking tap water and ice made from tap water. Drink bottled water instead
Visa: Required for travelers from EU countries, this can be arranged on arrival or via E-visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after returning home
Health: Contact your local vaccination clinic for advice.
Pressure Chamber: There is a pressure chamber located at the hospital in Port Moresby. Treatment in chambers is an expensive story so make sure you have insurance that covers this.
Clothing recommendations: So-called casual clothing is accepted on the boat and resort. Women should wear a slightly longer skirt or shorts when visiting the local villages.
Airport tax: PGK 30 (approx. USD 9) for international flights (subject to change without notice), does not apply to transit.
