Bougainville & Siwai Cultural Show
Bougainville & Siwai Cultural Show
8 Days Starting in Arawa, Papua New Guinea and ending in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Visiting: Buka, Arawa, Bougainville, Buin, Port Moresby
Tour operator:
Tour code:
13619
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
- Visit the decommissioned Panguna Mine
- Witness men wearing traditional Upei Headdresses
- Enjoy a traditional Bamboo Band performance
- Experience the Siwai Cultural Show which takes place every two years
- Hike to Yamamoto's place wreck
- Snorkel in pristine beaches
- Discover WWII relics
Culture is the main catalyst for unity amongst Bougainvilleans, as the autonomous region strives to be the newest country on the planet. Our South Bougainville - Siwai Cultural Show tour showcases that this is truly a land where history can not only be told, but can also be seen and touched.
From the scenes of turbulent WWII, to more modern-day history with the recent civil war surrounding the Panguna Mine, to the fight for independence to the rebirth and acknowledgement of their rich culture. Throw in a pinch of raw adventure and South Bougainville has it all. Witness experiences that few will see in their life. Play in the playground that was the location for so many clashes between the Japanese and the Allies in WWII. Think tanks, crumbled bunkers, artillery and shipwrecks. Home to pristine beaches, traditional headdresses and sing-sings, isolated micronations and a cultural show born out of cultural pride. This back-to-basics festival is a rare privilege for cultural purists. Forget the grandeur and opulence of the highland cultural shows, step back in time to a more humble, truly local cultural show. Bougainville has not always been the easiest place to access making it perfect for those seeking bragging rights of visiting a place your friends haven't - let alone going to a cultural show that has never, until now, seen foreigners!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Buka – South Bougainville
Location: Buka
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Passage Travellers Inn or similar
Welcome to South Bougainville! Upon arrival in Buka, you will be met and transferred by banana boat to Buka Island Town and your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure to explore Buka.
Your hotel is within walking distance to the local markets.
Meals
None
Accommodation
Passage Travellers Inn or similar
Services
Airport Transfer
Day 2 – Snorkelling And Island Exploration
Location: Buka
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Passage Travellers Inn or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you will head down to the port and head out on a private boat for the day. The boat is basic – just like the boats the locals use to zip around the harbour and the islands, but it will take you to some of the most pristine and untouched islands not far from the mainland. Be sure to bring your snorkel (no rental options in Buka), as you spend the day exploring the spectacular underwater marine life, WWII wrecks or simply relaxing and strolling or lazing on the untouched islands. Lunch today will be a barbeque lunch on stunning White Island.
Meals
Breakfast, BBQ lunch on White Island
Accommodation
Passage Travellers Inn or similar
Services
English-speaking guide
Private boat transfer
Day 3 – Buka To Arawa – Upei Tribe
Location: Arawa
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Gold Dust Inn or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Local Village
This morning you are in for an adventure as you head off-road and into the mountains, taking a packed lunch with you. You will bump your way along to reach a local village where you will witness the men wearing traditional Upei Headdresses—a domed shaped hat worn by young men at their initiation and marriage ceremonies, unique to this area, so much so, that this tall hat features on the provincial flag! You will gain an insight into village life here, where it seems time has forgotten those who live here. Life is basic but happy, with hunter-gatherer practices still the main way of obtaining food for the locals. Witness a traditional sing-sing or cultural performance.
Arawa Exploration
Continue towards Arawa. Lunch will be in a local restaurant. Arawa town was once a thriving hub thanks to the positive economic impact of the Panguna Mine. Once the mine shut down, so did the town, with many buildings being burned during the civil war and businesses ceasing to trade due to the lack of people now coming to this town. Fringed by a beautiful beach, spend your afternoon exploring WWII shipwrecks by boat.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch in a local restaurant
Accommodation
Gold Dust Inn or similar
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Travel time and distance
Buka to Arawa – 181km, 3 hrs 17min (excluding stops)
Day 4 – Drive By Panguna Mine – Siwai
Location: Bougainville
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Panakei Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Panguna Mine and South Bougainville History
This morning, set off with your driver and guide and travel deep into the province towards the decommissioned Panguna Mine. Taking in the natural beauty that surrounds it, you start to learn the background of its tumultuous history and the story of South Bougainville. The Panguna Mine was the world’s biggest copper and gold mine when it was operational and still contains an estimated 5.3 million tons of copper and 19.3 million ounces of gold, which would make the reserves worth about $60 billion at today’s prices. The mine has sat at the centre of the decade-long civil war between rebels in Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, due to rising community anger at the environmental damage and the inequitable division of the mine’s profits. The locals forced the mine to close, blowing up Panguna’s power lines and sabotaging operations. The civil war claimed the lives of about 20,000 people and amplified calls for Bougainvillean independence, which held a referendum in 2019, with an overwhelming 98% of the population calling for independence from Papua New Guinea.
Arrive Panakei Lodge
Continue to your accommodation at Panakei Lodge, which sits next to the showground of the Siwai Cultural Show. You will notice that the small village of Siwai is abuzz after day one of the cultural show. We attend on day two as the majority of day one involves official opening speeches, which take up most of the day, with only a small allotted time for the sing-sing. Day two is all about the performances! Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening to the sounds of a traditional bamboo band.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Panakei Lodge or similar
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Travel time and distances
Arawa to Panguna Mine – 30km, 35 min
Panguna Mine to Panakei Lodge – 65km, 1 hr 30 min
Day 5 – Siwai Cultural Show
Location: Bougainville
Accommodation: Homestay
Accommodation Name: Panakei Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is an exciting day! Set off to experience the Siwai Cultural Show. The Siwai Cultural Show began in 2021 as an initiative of the Siwai people. It is a celebration of the unique cultural, historical, and natural wonders of the Siwai District. It began as a post-crisis relief to help people break through the calamity of the pandemic, and as Bougainville emerges from civil war, this show is an indicator of such change, with people uniting as they display their culture and tradition. As this autonomous region pushes for independence and learns to stand on its own, the focus on culture is recognised as one of the most important assets in the country. Embrace the colours, the singing, and the dancing—the swishing of grass skirts, the power of local patriotism. Such a young cultural show has so much energy and passion fueling it. The privilege of being one of the first travellers to ever witness such a spectacle will not go unnoticed. The chanting of voices and the stomping and thumping of bare feet on the dirt will hypnotise.
Embrace the rich culture and traditions on display. Chat with the locals from various tribes about their practices, beliefs, and mythology. Each tribe has a different story. The atmosphere and the energy of the locals swaying and thumping to the local beat will intoxicate you.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Panakei Lodge or similar
Services
English-speaking guide
Day 6 – Yamamoto’S Plane Wreck & Wwii Relics
Location: Buin
Accommodation: Homestay
Accommodation Name: Panakei Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Historical Hike and Beach Visit
An early start this morning to beat the heat as you venture down another historical path. Drive to the fringe of the jungle before continuing on foot approximately 4km (approximately 1.5 hours) to reach the World War II crash site of a military plane carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who masterminded the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour. Yamamoto’s plane was gunned down by Allied forces in 1943, sending the Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’ crashing down into the thick jungle, after American codebreakers found out he was planning to visit troops stationed off Bougainville. Yamamoto is the most exalted hero in the Imperial Japanese Navy’s history. He has been untainted by Japan’s defeat, and he’s been untainted by any hint of war crimes. He is still seen as a hero today in Japan.
The hike, whilst flat, offers little shade and can at times be a heavy bog with the odd river crossing on foot.
Buin Town and Kangu Beach
Following your hike, transfer to Buin town for lunch. After lunch, this afternoon, you will pass a Japanese bunker from WWII, as well as some of the relics left behind. Visit Kangu Beach, where you will have an impressive view looking out towards the Solomon Islands. If time permits, spend the afternoon at the local beach. Go for a wander along the beach which is dotted with Japanese bunkers submerged in the rising sands and simply soak in the serenity. The local village kids are quite curious and may come to frolic in the water with you.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Panakei Lodge or similar
Services
English-speaking guide
Day 7 – Drive To Buka
Location: Buka
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Passage Travellers Inn or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey to Buka
Departing from the lush inland region of Siwai, today, you will navigate winding roads that meander through verdant forests and picturesque villages as you head back to Buka. Pass bustling marketplaces and roadside stalls, where locals sell an array of fresh produce, handicrafts, and traditional artefacts. These vibrant stops offer glimpses into everyday life in rural Bougainville.
As the road nears Buka Town, the landscape transforms once again, with the rugged coastline coming into view. Sparkling waters of the Buka Passage, dotted with fishing boats and traditional canoes bob in front of you.
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Passage Travellers Inn or similar
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Travel time and distances
Panakei Lodge to Buka – 250km, 5 hrs (excluding stops, road conditions may impact the time of travel)
Day 8 – Fly Buka To Port Moresby
Location: Port Moresby
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning following breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight back to Port Moresby (flight not included).
Meals
Breakfast
Services
Private airport transfer
What's Included
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Return airport transfers
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7 nights accommodation
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Private transportation
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Services of an English-speaking local guide
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Crooked Compass Escort
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Meals as per the itinerary
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Entrance fees and permits
What's Not Included
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International and domestic flights
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Visas
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Items of a personal nature
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Tipping
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Travel Insurance
Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour includes private transportation with English-speaking guides and local boat transfers for island exploration.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
You will stay at Passage Travellers Inn, Panakei Lodge, Gold Dust Inn, and Destiny Guesthouse, which offer a mix of local charm and modern amenities.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Meals are provided as per the itinerary, including breakfasts, some lunches, and dinners.
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What cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes witnessing men wearing traditional Upei Headdresses, enjoying a traditional Bamboo Band performance, and experiencing the Siwai Cultural Show.
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Will there be opportunities for snorkeling during the tour?
Yes, there will be opportunities to snorkel in pristine beaches, particularly during the island exploration on Day 2.
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What historical sites will be visited during the tour?
The tour includes visits to the decommissioned Panguna Mine, Yamamoto’s plane wreck, and WWII relics such as Japanese bunkers.
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Is there a guide provided during the tour?
Yes, an English-speaking local guide will be available throughout the tour.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes. Focusing on providing authentic experiences where ever you are in the world, Crooked Compass has access to a vast array of accommodation styles. From boutique properties in larger cities to local guest houses and home stays within small villages. Crooked Compass ensures that local authenticity flows through your accommodation throughout your tour without compromising standard.
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What sort of transportation is used for your tours?
Transportation utilised on a Crooked Compass escorted small group tour is a combination of a private air conditioned vehicle and local transport where appropriate. This may include a local bus ride, use of the cities metro system, a domestic flight to another city or overnight train ride.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Crooked Compass strives to be a leader in sustainable tourism. Crooked Compass is firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel. Our comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Practices policy summarises our commitments and actions. Although the very basis of our ground operations lends itself to the ethos of sustainable tourism, this policy re-iterates our commitment to: Use locally owned hotels Use locally owned ground agents Use local guides and drivers Promote community tourism projects from homestays to craft shops Support charities that work within the destinations that we travel to Carbon offset our travels
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Who runs your tours and are they experts in their fields?
Crooked Compass works with the worlds best operators who are specialists in their country, region and cities providing you with in depth local knowledge. We use local guides who live and breathe the areas they work in, making sure you experience their region, their way. We believe it is far better to have a local guide who knows a lot about a little than a text book trained Western tour guide who knows a little about a lot. Using local guides also ensures that money stays within local communities and supports the regions we visit.
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What can I expect from a Crooked Compass tour that I wouldn't get from travelling with an alternative company?
Crooked Compass provides a sensory way to understand the world – we help you live like a local, eat like a local, do what the locals do and seek the faces behind the places whilst discovering untouched lands and natural beauty. Crooked Compass tours delve deep into the heart and soul of a destination ensuring you get out of your journey all you intended and much, much more. Our intriguing itineraries have been created by travellers for travellers. Steering travellers to follow a different path, Crooked Compass’ itineraries allow you to experience the world’s most fascinating destinations in ways you never dreamed possible. It brings to life those ‘bucket list’ experiences you have yearned to do and separates the travellers from the tourists. Crooked Compass tours are culturally rich, reward travellers with unexpected encounters and uncommon rendezvous, creating truly unique, authentic travel experiences.
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Who do your tours cater for?
Crooked Compass escorted small group tours cater for those who are well travelled seeking the what’s next and what’s new. Our travellers are curious minded soft adventurers who want to uncover something more than the mainstream tourist trail. Crooked Compass tours draw travellers with an interest in sustainable tourism and conservation for the areas they visit. A Crooked Compass traveller is someone who is seeking something fresh and unique, who has a yearning for authenticity and discovery, with an appreciation for cultures, tradition and the natural world. We call them Cultural Purists.
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I am concerned about my impact on travelling through untouched regions. Can I offset?
Yes. All travellers on Crooked Compass tours have the option to offset their part of their tour’s carbon footprint by donating $4AUD (tax-deductible) at time of booking. 100% of these funds are donated to Greenfleet, an environmental non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting our climate by restoring our forests. By partnering with Greenfleet, we are confident that our carbon offset program provides genuine and lasting environmental benefits. Your offset donation funds plant trees and restore permanent native forests in Australia and New Zealand. As they grow, these forests provide many community and environmental benefits by absorbing carbon emissions, protecting our unique biodiversity, restoring habitat for native wildlife, preventing soil salinity and erosion, improving water quality and much more. If you’d like to find out more and offset the rest of your carbon emissions, visit www.greenfleet.org.au
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Tuesday - Tuesday
Aug 12, 2025 - Aug 19, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Crooked Compass requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of crooked compass charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.