ITINERARY
DAY 01: JAYAPURA -WAMENA - DEKAI (B,D)
By flight to Dekai, a small size town to the west of Wamena. It takes us about 30 minutes flight. Dekai is anew developed village to a small size town, after the recent self autonomy policy in Papua. Roads, government offices, etc are started to built. Arrival in Dekai, then check in to the small hotel in Dekai. This small town lies on the lower altitude than Wamena. Dekai is the home of the Manimo tribe, a tribe which is quite modern now.
DAY 02: DEKAI - LOPON - BRAZA RIVER - MUARA SIRETZ (B,L,D)
Transfer by motorcycle to the small traditional harbor on Lopon village, about 1 hour of rough ride along the unpaved road. From Lopon, we will sail down to the south to Braza river, one of the largest river flowing to the south joining other river to Asmat area. All the way you will see the dense forest, peaceful surrounding, sometimes encounter the other passing by boats. On the way we may stop at the small villages which are belong to Citak Mitak tribe. This tribe built their houses on the riverside make of wood shape, with grass roof. In the past 1980's the tribe were still naked, however, the opening of the access to their village has changed their way of clothing. Now they wear short pants, but mostly wearing no shirt. There are 2 or 3 small villages. Most of them still work as food gather, such as fishing and hunting animals. We will be arriving at Muara Siretz in about 7 hours sail downriver.
DAY 03: MUARA SIRETZ - MABU (B,L,D)
Muara Siretz is the largest village of Citak Mitak tribe. There are about 150 houses on stilts here, approximately 400 peoples living in here. A little different from the locals at the small village we visit on the way, the have a little more modern clothing. There are also small church and
school here, so some kids already go to school. After breakfast at the local house, we sail to Mabu village, a village belong to Koroway peoples. We need about 4,5 hrs of sail today. It is our 1st encounter with the Koroway peoples. We stay at the local house here, while our guide arrange the local porter with the local chief, you may explore the small village feely. The locals here work as hunter and farmer.
DAY 04 : MABU - STONE KOROWAY (B,L,D)
Together with the porters, we walk to stone Koroway domain. The stone Korowai is much closed to the public compare to the outer Koroway. Different from the outer Koroway, they live far in the jungle, living nomadic, still wearing leaves to cover their penis (male) and grass or tree bark for the female. We have a very flexible day to day length of walk in their domain.Once we reach their village, it does not mean that we are allowed to enter, gifts have to be provided for the chief. If they take our gift, it means that we can enter. Once we get in there, you will be back to centuries of years ago. No modern equipment, no electricity, no fabric clothes, etc.
DAY 05 - 10: IN THE STONE KOROWAY (B,L,D)
We spend couple of days in their home. Observe their daily life, if they allow, join them at work for hunting, or sago harvesting. Almost the same as the outer Koroway, the land of the Stone Korowai lies on the low land with muddy terrain, swamp, virgin forest, small rivers, sago forest. Sago is their main food staple, but they also do fishing on the river, or animal such as cuscus or birds, or wild boar, snake, frog, etc as the supplement. Beside those, they also take other forest product such as fruit and sprout. We may have a chance to stay on their tee house.
DAY 11: BACK TO MABU (B,L,D)
Today, together with our porter team, we return back to Mabu, back to the modern village. Stay one night here before back to Dekai.
DAY 12: MABU - MUARA SIRETZ (B,L,D)
We meet the boat again, then sail up river to Muara Siretz. We spend longer time than we sail down, approximately 6 hours on the boat. We will stop on the nice riverbank for lunch. Arrival at Muara Siretz in the afternoon, stay at the local house. We may have the time to see the locals back home after full day fishing or hunting.
DAY 13: MUARA SIRETZ - BRAZA RIVER - LOPON - DEKAI (B,L,D)
We spend full day sail upriver to Lopon harbor. Then from Lopon, we ride by motorcycle back to Dekai. Arrival in Dekai late in the evening, back to the modern word. You will have better rest than the previous days in the forest.
DAY 14: DEKAI - WAMENA (B)
By the pioneer flight, fly back to Wamena. The pioneer flight has no fix schedule, from or back to Dekai, however, we have to be at the airport in the morning. 30 minutes flight will bring back us to the real civilization. Check in to hotel in Wamena. Rest time.
