Mount Hagen Cultural Show
4 Days Starting and ending in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea
Visiting: Mount Hagen
Tour operator:
Tour code:
642
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Art, Cultural, Festival & Special Events, Foodie and Wine Tours, History
Activities:
Tour Overview
- Try ‘mumu’, a local dish cooked in a stone oven
- Witness tribes preparing their body decorations, colourful traditional costumes and vibrant face painting
- Experience the impressive Mount Hagen Cultural Show
- Walk amongst the dancers and mingle with the tribes
Perhaps the most famous cultural show in Papua New Guinea amongst locals, the Mount Hagen Show brings together sing-sing groups from all over the country in an amazing conglomeration of colour, beauty and culture.
The Mount Hagen Cultural Show was first staged in 1964 by many different tribes from the Western Highlands Province. The show was for the purpose of sharing cultural experiences with each other, calming the ever present tribal animosities by bringing all tribes together in one cultural event to expose the positive side of life and to celebrate the diversity of cultures amongst the natives. Join Crooked Compass in witnessing this festival for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as the tribes dance, sing and perform wearing some of the world’s most fascinating tribal ware.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 - Port Moresby To Mount Hagen
Location: Mount Hagen
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Welcome to Papua New Guinea! Upon arrival at Mount Hagen airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for lunch and time to freshen up.
(Tok Pisin: Maun Hagen) is the third largest city in Papua New Guinea, with a population of 46,250. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of 1,677 m. The city is named after the old, eroded volcano Mount Hagen, located about 24 kilometres to the northwest. Traditional culture and beliefs remain strong in Mount Hagen and its surroundings. The Mount Hagen show was first staged in 1961, before PNG’s Independence, as an event to unify warring tribes; but since then, the show has become more of an attraction for those seeking to witness the fabulous sight of thousands of painted warriors dancing and singing to the beat of Kundu drums.
Today you will join some more travellers who are doing our extended Mt Hagen and West New Britain for sightseeing around Mt Hagen.
Mt Hagen City and Plantation Visit
Enjoy a city tour around Mount Hagen this afternoon, with a stop at the tea and coffee plantations that this region is renowned for before checking in to your hotel. Enjoy exploring the city and feel the buzz in the air as locals prepare for the biggest event of the year.
Paikona Village
Time permitting you will drive to Paikona Village where you can enjoy learning about village life, the people of the Central Highlands region, the famous face painting done by Mount Hagen women, and try ‘mumu’, a local dish cooked in a stone oven.
Continue on foot to a nearby village to witness the WAIPA dance, a dance performed by young males and females who are courting.
Meals
Breakfast, in-flight snack/brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar
Services
Airport transfers
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Mt Hagen City Tour, Plantation Visit, Paikona Village
Day 2 - Mount Hagen Festival
Location: Mount Hagen
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy an early breakfast before meeting your guide in the hotel lobby (time to be confirmed)
Sing-Sing Groups
Enjoy an early breakfast this morning before you depart to visit the Sing-Sing groups (tribal gathering groups) from different provinces outside the arena. Witness how their body decorations, colourful traditional costumes and vibrant face painting are done. Your guide will offer explanations outlining the various types of costumes and their significance in the differing cultures of these tribespeople.
Mount Hagen Festival
Follow the tribes into the showgrounds where you will witness hundreds of warriors, all dressed in their very finest traditional regalia, dancing and chanting – each group has their own cultural style and language with the intention of outclassing all the other groups. You will then have the truly unforgettable opportunity to walk amongst the dancers, even shake their hands and meet them, before enjoying a picnic lunch at the showground. Later in the afternoon, you will return to the hotel.
Later in the afternoon, you will return to the hotel.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Sing-Sing Tribal Gathering, Mt Hagen Festival
Day 3 - Mount Hagen Festival
Location: Mount Hagen
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Full Day at the Mount Hagen Festival
Following breakfast, transfer to the showground to enjoy another full day at the Mount Hagen Festival. Immerse yourself in the upwards of 100 tribes peacefully sharing their cultural traditions through costume, dancing and music. Disguised in anthropomorphic body paint, clad in elaborate headdresses, jewellery made of shells and boars’ tusks and skirts made from leaves and fur, the groups perform their primal dances; the tribe that garners the most applause and the biggest reaction from the crowd wins.
Enjoy lunch at the showgrounds again today and return to your hotel later in the afternoon. Dinner this evening is in your hotel.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Jiwaka Mission Resort or similar
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Mt Hagen Festival
Day 4 - Departure
Location: Mount Hagen
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, farewell to the rest of your group and make your way to Mount Hagen Airport for your onward journey.
Meals
Breakfast
Services
Airport Transfers
What's Included
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Meet and greet service on arrival at Port Moresby and Mount Hagen
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3 nights accommodation
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Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
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English-speaking local guide
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All activities as per itinerary
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Private transportation
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Entrance fees, sightseeing and permits
What's Not Included
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International & Domestic flights
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Drinks unless otherwise mentioned
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Visas
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Travel Insurance
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Tips
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Inoculations
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Items of a personal nature
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Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of cultural experiences can I expect during the Mount Hagen Cultural Show tour?
During the Mount Hagen Cultural Show tour, you can expect to witness tribes preparing their body decorations, colorful traditional costumes, and vibrant face painting. You will have the opportunity to walk amongst the dancers, mingle with the tribes, and learn about the cultural significance of the Sing-Sing groups. Additionally, you will experience the impressive Mount Hagen Festival, where you can see hundreds of warriors in traditional regalia performing dances and chants.
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What is the significance of the Mount Hagen Festival?
The Mount Hagen Festival is a significant cultural event that brings together over 100 tribes to peacefully share their cultural traditions through costume, dancing, and music. It was first staged in 1961 as an event to unify warring tribes and has since become a major attraction for those seeking to witness the vibrant cultural expressions of Papua New Guinea's tribes.
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Will I have the chance to interact with the local tribes during the tour?
Yes, you will have the chance to interact with the local tribes during the tour. You can walk amongst the dancers, shake hands, and meet them during the Mount Hagen Festival. Additionally, you will visit Paikona Village, where you can learn about village life and the famous face painting done by Mount Hagen women.
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What kind of meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes meals as mentioned in the itinerary, which typically consist of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will also have the opportunity to try 'mumu,' a local dish cooked in a stone oven, during your visit to Paikona Village.
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
Accommodation is provided at the Jiwaka Mission Resort or a similar establishment, offering comfortable accommodations for three nights during your cultural exploration of Mount Hagen.
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Is transportation included in the tour package?
Yes, private transportation is included throughout the tour, including airport transfers and sightseeing excursions. An English-speaking local guide will accompany you during 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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Friday - Monday
Aug 15, 2025 - Aug 18, 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.