Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse places on Earth, with over 800 languages among roughly ten million people. Trek the wartime Kokoda Track, cruise the Sepik River past carved spirit houses, dive Kimbe Bay's reefs and time a trip for the Highland shows, when clans gather in feathers and paint. Independent travel is genuinely challenging, so most visitors go with a guide.
Overview
Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of New Guinea plus some 600 islands, and its terrain — knife-edge ranges, swamp, rainforest and reef — kept its peoples apart long enough to produce astonishing cultural variety. The main regions are the cool Highlands around Mount Hagen and Goroka; the Sepik River basin in the north, famed for carving; the islands of New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville; and the southern coast around Port Moresby, start of the Kokoda Track. No road links Port Moresby with Lae or the Highlands, so trips are planned around domestic flights, with most visitors focusing on one or two regions.
This is one of the world's most expensive places to travel: flights, hotels and guides add up quickly, and simple village guesthouses are the main budget option. Schedules slip, flights change and plans need slack. The rewards are huge — dawn mist over Highland valleys, singsings with hundreds of performers, birds of paradise, Second World War relics and reefs with almost nobody on them. It suits experienced, patient travellers, divers, trekkers and history-minded visitors retracing Kokoda. Many are struck by the warmth of village hospitality and by how strongly clan, land and custom still shape daily life.
Map of Papua New Guinea
Top 5 highlights
- 1Adventure
Kokoda Track
The 96-kilometre trail over the Owen Stanley Range follows the 1942 campaign between Australian and Japanese forces. Most trekkers take eight to ten days with a licensed operator and local porters, usually between April and November.
- 2Culture
Sepik River
PNG's great river winds past villages renowned for carving, crocodile-scarification initiations and soaring haus tambaran spirit houses. Travel by motorised canoe from Ambunti or Pagwi, sleeping in simple village guesthouses along the way.
- 3Wildlife
Kimbe Bay
Off West New Britain, this bay's reefs, seamounts and walls hold some of the richest coral diversity on Earth, with dolphins, turtles and passing whales. Walindi Plantation Resort is the long-established dive base.
- 4History
Rabaul
Partly buried by ash in 1994, Rabaul sits on a flooded caldera ringed by volcanoes, including the still-steaming Tavurvur. Explore Japanese wartime tunnels and Admiral Yamamoto's bunker, then bathe in the hot springs at the volcano's foot.
- 5Nature
Tufi
On Cape Nelson in Oro Province, steep rainforest-clad inlets known locally as fjords open onto coral reefs and Second World War wrecks. Stay at the dive resort or in village guesthouses and explore by outrigger canoe.
Biggest cities
Port Moresby
The capital is mainly a gateway, but the National Museum and Art Gallery, Parliament House's spirit-house façade and Bomana War Cemetery merit a guided half-day.
Lae
PNG's industrial port and second city sits at the start of the Highlands Highway; most visitors pass through, though the botanic gardens and Lae War Cemetery are worth a stop.
Mount Hagen
The Western Highlands' main town is a market and transport hub, worth timing for August's Mount Hagen Show and a base for highland walks and coffee country.
PNG's urban figures are rough: Port Moresby's is the 2024 census count for the National Capital District, while Lae and Mount Hagen rely on older census-based estimates, and sources disagree on which town ranks third.
When to go to Papua New Guinea
Best time: Jun–Sep.
Average climate in Port Moresby
Festivals & events
- JulNational Mask Festival
Kokopo in East New Britain hosts mask dancers from across the islands each July, including Baining fire dancers leaping through flames at night.
- AugMount Hagen Show
Western Highlands clans parade in elaborate bilas — plumes, paint and shell ornaments — at this August cultural show, one of the country's oldest and largest.
- SepGoroka Show
Held in Goroka around Independence Day (16 September), it gathers dozens of singsing groups in feathers, shells and body paint, including the famous Asaro mudmen.
How much does Papua New Guinea cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Mumu
The Highland feast: pork, chicken, sweet potato, greens and banana wrapped in leaves and slow-cooked in an earth oven over hot stones, usually for celebrations.
Sago
Starch from the sago palm, staple of the Sepik and lowland swamps, eaten as chewy pancakes, jelly-like porridge or baked with coconut.
Kaukau
Sweet potato, the Highlands staple, roasted in the embers of a fire, boiled in coconut milk or cooked in the mumu alongside pork.
Getting around
Air Niugini and PNG Air link Port Moresby with Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Wewak, Hoskins and Tokua (for Rabaul); fares are high and schedules change at short notice. The Highlands Highway runs from Lae to Mount Hagen, but visitors usually travel with arranged drivers rather than PMVs, the public minibuses and trucks. Motorised canoes and small boats serve the Sepik and coastal villages.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- I240V — bring a UK-to-I adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +675
- Time zones
- UTC+10, UTC+11 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the left
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary and can create awkward expectations; agreed payments for guides and porters, plus a small thank-you at the end, are the norm.
- Etiquette
- Almost all land is under customary ownership, so ask before swimming, fishing or walking across it and expect small custom fees. Dress modestly — women should cover their thighs — and always ask before photographing people.
- Main airports
- Jacksons International Airport (POM), Port Moresby
Visas & entry for Papua New Guinea
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must have a visa to visit Papua New Guinea. Visas can be obtained in advance online or at a Papua New Guinea (PNG) Embassy or High Commission. Tourist/visitor visas can also be obtained on arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- DengueHepatitis BJapanese encephalitisMeaslesPolioBat LyssavirusTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from (or transit through) a country with yellow fever risk — not if you fly direct from the UK.
- Malaria
- High risk of malaria
- There is a high risk of malaria in Papua New Guinea below 1,800m: atovoquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Papua New Guinea
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Boxing Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Fri 26 Feb 2027 | Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare Remembrance Day |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Sun 28 Mar 2027 | Easter Sunday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Thu 17 Jun 2027 | King's Birthday |
| Fri 23 Jul 2027 | Papua New Guinea Remembrance Day |
| Thu 26 Aug 2027 | National Repentance Day |
| Thu 16 Sep 2027 | Independence Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Tok Pisin
| English | Tok Pisin | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Gude | goo-DAY |
| Thank you | Tenkyu | TENK-yoo |
| Please | Plis | pleez |
| Excuse me | Skius | skyooz |
| How much is this? | Hamas long dispela? | HAH-mus long dis-PEH-lah |
Know before you go
- Check the FCDO travel advice before booking, arrange airport pick-ups and local guides in advance, and follow your hosts' advice on where to go after dark.
- Domestic flights are often delayed, rescheduled or cancelled, so leave buffer days before international connections, and check baggage weight limits on small aircraft.
- Carry plenty of small kina notes: ATMs are scarce outside main towns, cards are rarely accepted in villages, and custom fees for access or photography are paid in cash.
Papua New Guinea travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Papua New Guinea?
The best time to visit Papua New Guinea is generally Jun–Sep. Peak months are June, July, August and September. Average highs in Port Moresby range from 30°C to 33°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Papua New Guinea cost per day?
Roughly £80 a day on a tight budget, £190 mid-range and £400+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinean kina (PGK).
What plug type does Papua New Guinea use?
Type I sockets at 240V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Papua New Guinea?
Traffic drives on the left in Papua New Guinea — the same as in the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Papua New Guinea?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Papua New Guinea?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must have a visa to visit Papua New Guinea. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Papua New Guinea before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/papua-new-guinea/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Papua New Guinea?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Dengue, Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, Measles, Polio and Bat Lyssavirus sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
