{"id":1310397,"date":"2026-10-23T00:01:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T00:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1310397"},"modified":"2026-10-23T09:38:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T09:38:01","slug":"papua-new-guinea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/oceania\/papua-new-guinea\/","title":{"rendered":"Papua New Guinea"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302041,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-country","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"Papua New Guinea country guide","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"Papua New Guinea Travel Guide","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"Over 800 languages, the Kokoda Track, and highland festivals where hundreds of clans gather in full dress. The hardest country in this guide to travel, and the most extraordinary.","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"1310498","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"medium","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"Pick a place | #cities\r\nWhat it costs | #money","hw_hub_country_stats":"K150 | A guesthouse room, from\r\n800+ | Languages\r\n96km | The Kokoda Track\r\nAug | Goroka Show month","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"Difficult, expensive, and unlike anywhere","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"Papua New Guinea has more languages than any other country on earth (over 800) across a landscape of highlands, rainforest, rivers and islands that kept communities separate for millennia. It is the least-travelled country in this guide and the one that asks most of a visitor.\r\n\r\nIt is not a place to improvise. Most travel here happens through organised trips, lodges that arrange transfers, or dive operators, because domestic infrastructure is limited, internal flights are expensive and often the only option, and there are real security considerations in the main cities.\r\n\r\nWhat draws people: the highland sing-sings, particularly the Goroka Show in September, where clans gather in feathers and paint; the Kokoda Track, 96km over the Owen Stanley Range with a heavy Second World War history; and world-class diving off Kimbe Bay, Milne Bay and Tufi.\r\n\r\nTwo to three weeks, planned in advance.","hw_hub_country_facts":"Languages | Tok Pisin, English and Hiri Motu official, plus 800+ indigenous languages\r\nCurrency | Papua New Guinean kina (PGK)\r\nEmergency | 112, though response is limited outside cities\r\nTap water | Not drinkable. Bottled or treated\r\nWantok | Kinship obligation shapes social and economic life here\r\nMalaria | Widespread. Prophylaxis and repellent are essential\r\nHow long to stay | Two to three weeks, planned in advance\r\nBest months | May to October, the dry season","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"Where to go","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"Internal flights link the regions because roads rarely do. Plan around Air Niugini schedules.","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"1","hw_hub_country_cities":"Port Moresby | The capital and main international gateway, with the national museum and nature park. |  | 1310499 |  | ","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"What kind of trip is this?","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"PNG is a trekking, diving and cultural festival trip, and almost all of it is organised in advance.","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"Adventure | green | backpack | The Kokoda Track and highland trekking. | Walk Kokoda over eight to ten days; Trek in the highlands; Surf the north coast in season | Kokoda Track; Owen Stanley Range; Sepik | Kokoda Track; Goroka | adventure\nCulture | purple | culture | Sing-sings where hundreds of clans gather. | The Goroka Show in September; Mount Hagen Show in August; Sepik spirit houses | Goroka; Mount Hagen; Sepik villages | Goroka; Mount Hagen | culture\nBeach | sunset | sunglasses | Diving rather than lying down. | Dive Kimbe Bay; Milne Bay muck diving; Tufi fjords | Kimbe Bay; Milne Bay; Tufi | Kimbe Bay | beach\nFood | sunset | local-markets | Root crops, mumu earth ovens and very good coffee. | A mumu feast cooked in the ground; Highland coffee at source; Market produce in Goroka | Goroka market; Mount Hagen; Port Moresby | Goroka; Port Moresby | food\nCity break | blue | city | Port Moresby is a base rather than a destination. | The National Museum; Port Moresby Nature Park; Coastal views at Ela Beach | Port Moresby; Goroka | Port Moresby | city-break\nBudget | teal | coin | Expensive, and organised trips dominate. | Guesthouses over hotels; Share transport and guides; Travel in the dry season | Goroka; Port Moresby | Port Moresby; Goroka | budget-travel","hw_hub_country_do_title":"Things to do in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_do_body":"The highland shows are the reason many people come. The Goroka Show in September and the Mount Hagen Show in August bring together dozens or hundreds of clan groups in full dress (feathers, paint, shells and drums) and they are cultural gatherings rather than performances staged for visitors, though visitors are welcomed and ticketed.\r\n\r\nThe Kokoda Track runs 96km over the Owen Stanley Range and takes eight to ten days, following the Second World War campaign route. It must be walked with a licensed tour operator and porters, it is genuinely hard, and it costs K8,000 to K15,000 all in.\r\n\r\nDiving is the other draw. Kimbe Bay on New Britain has extraordinary coral diversity in a small area, Milne Bay is known for muck diving, and Tufi has fjord-like rias with reefs at their mouths.\r\n\r\nThe Sepik River, reached by air and then boat, has carving traditions and haus tambaran spirit houses that are unlike anything else in the Pacific.","hw_hub_country_do_points":"Goroka Show | September. Dozens of clan groups in full dress\r\nKokoda Track | 96km, eight to ten days, licensed operators only. K8,000\u201315,000\r\nKimbe Bay | Exceptional coral diversity, with dedicated dive lodges\r\nSepik River | Carving traditions and spirit houses, reached by air then boat","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_country_do_more":"All things to do in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_food_title":"Eating in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_food_body":"The staples are sweet potato, taro, sago, banana and greens, with pork for occasions. A mumu (food cooked in an earth oven with hot stones) is the feast format and the centre of any celebration.\r\n\r\nHighland markets in Goroka and Mount Hagen are full of produce and are among the best places to spend a morning in the country.\r\n\r\nPNG coffee is the country's best-known export and is grown in the highlands around Goroka and Mount Hagen, much of it smallholder-grown and genuinely excellent at source.\r\n\r\nRestaurant food is largely limited to Port Moresby, hotels and lodges, where a meal is K40 to K100. Outside those, you eat what your guesthouse or lodge cooks. Betel nut (buai) is chewed widely and stains everything red.","hw_hub_country_food_points":"Mumu | Earth oven cooking with hot stones. The feast format\r\nHighland markets | Goroka and Mount Hagen. Worth a morning\r\nPNG coffee | Smallholder-grown in the highlands, and excellent at source\r\nLodges cook | Outside Port Moresby, you eat where you sleep","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_country_food_more":"All food guides for Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"Going out in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"There is very little in the way of nightlife accessible to visitors, and going out at night in Port Moresby is not advisable: hotel bars and restaurants, reached by arranged transport, are where evenings happen.\r\n\r\nSP Lager is the national beer, at K10 to K20.\r\n\r\nOutside the cities, evenings are at your lodge or guesthouse. At the highland shows, the evenings around the festival are social and lively, and that is when a lot of the real cultural exchange happens.\r\n\r\nBetel nut chewing is the ubiquitous social habit rather than drinking, and in some provinces alcohol restrictions apply.","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"Port Moresby | Hotel bars and restaurants, with arranged transport. Not street nightlife\r\nSP Lager | The national beer, K10\u201320\r\nLodges | Where evenings happen outside the cities\r\nBetel nut | The ubiquitous social habit here","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"Getting around Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"Flying is how the country works. Air Niugini and PNG Air link the main centres, and there is often no road alternative: Port Moresby has no road connection to the highlands at all. Fares are high by regional standards, K400 to K1,200 a leg, and schedules change.\r\n\r\nThe Highlands Highway connects Lae with Goroka, Mount Hagen and beyond, and PMV buses run it, though travel by road in some areas carries security considerations and most visitors use arranged transport or fly.\r\n\r\nIn Port Moresby, use hotel transfers or arranged cars rather than walking or hailing transport.\r\n\r\nFor the Sepik, dive destinations and remote lodges, transfers are arranged by the operator as part of the booking: that is how travel is structured here.","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"Fly | Port Moresby has no road link to the highlands. K400\u20131,200 a leg\r\nArranged transport | The norm in Port Moresby and for most transfers\r\nHighlands Highway | Links Lae, Goroka and Mount Hagen. Check advice before road travel\r\nOperators handle logistics | Lodges and dive resorts arrange transfers as part of booking","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"All transport guides for Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_money_title":"What Papua New Guinea costs","hw_hub_country_money_body":"PNG is expensive relative to what you get, mostly because internal flights and organised logistics dominate the budget rather than beds and food.\r\n\r\nGuesthouses start around K150 to K350, and lodges are considerably more. Meals in hotels are K40 to K100, market food far less.\r\n\r\nThe big items: internal flights at K400 to K1,200 a leg, the Kokoda Track at K8,000 to K15,000 all in, dive packages at K600 to K1,500 a day at resorts, and show tickets and transfers during festival season.\r\n\r\nA day, excluding flights and activities, comes to K250 to K500. Cash is important outside Port Moresby, ATMs are limited to main towns, and card acceptance is patchy.","hw_hub_country_money_points":"Guesthouse | From K150\u2013350\r\nInternal flights | K400\u20131,200 a leg, and usually unavoidable\r\nKokoda Track | K8,000\u201315,000 all in with a licensed operator\r\nCash | ATMs are limited to main towns. Card acceptance is patchy","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_country_money_more":"All budget guides for Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"Staying safe in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"This section should be read before planning anything, because PNG requires more caution than anywhere else in this guide.\r\n\r\nGovernment travel advice from the UK, Australia, the US and others warns about high levels of violent crime, particularly in Port Moresby, Lae and parts of the highlands, including carjacking and armed robbery. Advice for some provinces is more restrictive again, and it changes. Check your own government's current position before booking and follow it.\r\n\r\nIn practice this shapes how people travel: arranged transport rather than walking or public transport in cities, accommodation with security, movement during daylight, and lodges or operators handling logistics. Travellers who do this generally have trouble-free trips.\r\n\r\nHealth is the other consideration. Malaria is widespread and prophylaxis is essential, medical facilities are very limited, and serious cases are evacuated to Australia: insurance covering that is not optional.\r\n\r\nTribal disputes can flare locally and close roads. Ask your operator, not the internet, about current conditions in a specific area.","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"Read government advice first | Violent crime warnings apply to Port Moresby, Lae and some provinces\r\nArranged transport | Standard practice. Do not walk in cities or use public transport\r\nMalaria | Widespread. Prophylaxis and repellent are essential\r\nEvacuation insurance | Essential. Serious cases go to Australia","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"All safety guides for Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"Entry and documents","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Port Moresby for 60 days, and an e-visa system also operates. Requirements change, so check the official PNG immigration position for your passport before booking.\r\n\r\nPassports need six months' validity.\r\n\r\nYellow fever certification is required if arriving from an affected country. Proof of onward travel and accommodation is commonly requested.\r\n\r\nThe Kokoda Track requires a trek permit, which licensed operators arrange as part of your booking: independent walking is not permitted.","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"Visa on arrival | 60 days for many nationalities, plus an e-visa system\r\nRules change | Check the official PNG immigration position before booking\r\nPassport validity | Six months\r\nKokoda permit | Arranged by licensed operators. Independent walking is not permitted","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"travel-tips","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"All travel tips for Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_season_title":"When to go","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"May to October is the dry season and the time to travel, and it happens to include the major highland shows in August and September.","hw_hub_country_season_note":"Average highs for Port Moresby, which is drier than most of the country. The highlands are much cooler, often 20\u00b0C by day and cold at night, and the Kokoda Track is walked in the dry season for good reason.","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"January | 31 | 2 | Wet season. Roads difficult and diving visibility poorer\r\nFebruary | 31 | 2 | Peak wet in much of the country\r\nMarch | 31 | 2 | Still wet, easing towards the end\r\nApril | 31 | 3 | Transitional. Conditions improving\r\nMay | 30 | 4 | Dry season begins. Good trekking conditions\r\nJune | 29 | 5 | Excellent. Dry and clear\r\nJuly | 28 | 5 | Peak season. Best trekking and diving\r\nAugust | 28 | 5 | Mount Hagen Show. Superb conditions\r\nSeptember | 29 | 5 | Goroka Show, the biggest of the year\r\nOctober | 30 | 4 | Still dry. Very good\r\nNovember | 31 | 3 | Wet season returning\r\nDecember | 31 | 2 | Wet. Trekking becomes hard going","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"What your trip will cost","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"Pick how you travel and how long for. Per night, for one person, in kina.","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"Internal flights at K400\u20131,200 a leg, the Kokoda Track at K8,000\u201315,000 and dive packages at K600\u20131,500 a day sit outside these figures.","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 150 | 60 | 80 | 40\r\nMiddle of the road | 350 | 150 | 200 | 150\r\nComfortable | 700 | 280 | 350 | 350","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"K","hw_hub_country_events_title":"What is on while you are there","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"The highland shows in August and September are what most cultural trips are built around.","hw_hub_country_events_source":"api","hw_hub_country_events_country":"papua-new-guinea","hw_hub_country_events_count":"8","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"All events in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/oceania\/papua-new-guinea\/","hw_hub_country_events":"Goroka Show | September | Goroka | The largest sing-sing in the country, with dozens of clan groups in full dress. Book accommodation months ahead. |  | \nMount Hagen Cultural Show | August | Mount Hagen | The other major highland gathering, similar in scale and spectacle. |  | \nKokoda trekking season | April to November | Owen Stanley Range | When the track is walked, with Anzac Day in April a significant date on it. |  | \nHiri Moale Festival | September | Port Moresby | Marking the traditional Hiri trading voyages, with canoe races and dance. |  | \nNational Mask Festival | July | Kokopo, East New Britain | Mask traditions from across the country, including fire dancing. |  | \nDry season | May to October | Nationwide | Best trekking, diving visibility and road conditions. |  | ","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"Where to stay in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"What is bookable here, live from Hostelworld. Guesthouses and lodges are the norm, and most rural stays are arranged directly or through operators.","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Papua New Guinea","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/oceania\/papua-new-guinea\/","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"country","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"164","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"PGK","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_team_title":"","hw_hub_country_team_intro":"","hw_hub_country_team":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"Papua New Guinea travel questions","hw_hub_country_faq_note":"The ones we get asked most.","hw_hub_country_faqs":"Is Papua New Guinea safe to visit? | It needs more caution than anywhere else in this guide. Government advice from the UK, Australia and the US warns about violent crime, particularly in Port Moresby, Lae and parts of the highlands, and restricts some provinces. Check your own government's current position. Travellers who use arranged transport, stay in secure accommodation, move in daylight and let operators handle logistics generally have trouble-free trips.\r\nWhat is a sing-sing? | A gathering where clan groups perform in full traditional dress: feathers, paint, shells and drums. The Goroka Show in September and Mount Hagen Show in August are the largest, and they are genuine cultural gatherings rather than shows staged for tourists.\r\nCan I walk the Kokoda Track independently? | No. It must be walked with a licensed tour operator who arranges permits and porters. It runs 96km over the Owen Stanley Range, takes eight to ten days, is genuinely hard, and costs K8,000 to K15,000 all in.\r\nHow do you get around? | By plane, mostly. Port Moresby has no road connection to the highlands at all, and internal flights run K400 to K1,200 a leg. In cities, arranged transport rather than walking or public transport is standard practice.\r\nIs PNG expensive? | Yes, mostly because of flights and organised logistics rather than beds and food. Guesthouses from K150 to K350 and a day around K250 to K500, before internal flights, treks and dive packages.\r\nWhen should I go? | May to October, the dry season, which conveniently includes the Mount Hagen Show in August and the Goroka Show in September. Accommodation around the shows books out months ahead.\r\nWhat about health? | Malaria is widespread and prophylaxis is essential, medical facilities are very limited, and serious cases are evacuated to Australia. Insurance covering evacuation is not optional here.","hw_hub_country_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_country_cta_body":"Compare places to stay across Papua New Guinea: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_country_cta_buttons":"Find hostels in Papua New Guinea | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/oceania\/papua-new-guinea\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_country_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_country_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. 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