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North of the New Guinea mainland, this island chain, known locally as the province of Manus, has many large and beautiful atolls. Manusians are relatively well-educated compared with many of their New Guinea counterparts, and some can understand Engl...
Categories: Admiralty Islands
Ali Island is located northeast of Aitape Town, and the island is easily reached by a 30-40 minute boat ride. The island is known for its peaceful atmosphere and the hospitality provided by the islanders. Locals are always interested in meeting...
Categories: Ali Island
An outpost along the Karawari River, Amboin is near the Karawari Lodge, a rustic retreat on a hill overlooking the river. The lodge offers riverboat excursions and tribal dances (it's an alternative to Sepik River cruising). Plan to stay two full day...
Categories: Amboin
Categories: Ampincha
Categories: April River
Usually seen on a day trip from Goroka, Asaro is well-known for the eerie mud masks of the local tribe. Be forewarned that the tribal ceremony performed for tourists is...well, touristy, and typically lasts no more than 10 minutes. Mud masks made by ...
Categories: Asaro
Categories: Bakawari Island
Bata is a port city in Equatorial Guinea. Bata includes some of the country's best hotels and beaches. The dominant language here is Spanish, as proof by the Spanish colonial buildings dotting the landscape.
Categories: Bata
Bijagos Archipelago's stream of 88 islands rest off the West-African Coast, with the majority of these tropical lands uninhabited. Home to a diverse myriad of wildlife, including saltwater hippos, five of the world’s eight species of tortoi...
Categories: Bijagos Archipelago
Categories: Binte
This volcanic island still maintains a somewhat colonial atmosphere. Because of its rugged topography, lush tropical scenery and attractive principal city, plan to spend more time there than in the undeveloped mainland portion of the country. (In add...
Categories: Bioko
The country's capital, Bissau (pop. 125,000), retains a strong Portuguese feel and a pleasantly laid-back attitude. There are relatively few cars in the city, but you're better off seeing things on foot anyway: Most of the action is on or near Avenid...
Categories: Bissau
Boffa, a quiet town at the mouth of the Pongo River, is best known as the site of the first Catholic mission in Guinea. Its pretty red-brick church is well worth a visit, especially for Sunday mass. Rent a pirogue (dugout canoe) and paddle around t...
Categories: Boffa
Categories: Bolama
Bougainville may be familiar to World War II veterans as the place where Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor and Midway) was shot down while on an inspection tour in 1943. Today, it's a troubled island in northern Solomon...
Categories: Bougainville
Categories: Carache
Categories: Caravela
Spreading along a narrow peninsula, Guinea's capital city is noisy, chaotic and polluted—a dramatic contrast from the country's peaceful, picturesque interior, where most visitors choose to spend their time. Among the downtown sights are the Palais d...
Categories: Conakry
Categories: Conflict Group Louisiada Islands
This newly created wildlife preserve holds lush rain forest filled with large caves, waterfalls and birds of paradise. Twenty clans donated the 1,000 sq mi/2,600 sq km of land for the park, which is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The o...
Categories: Crater Mountain
Crown island, off the southwestern Bismarck Sea, is a circular island and the remnant of an extinct volcano. The interior is made of a series of valley's and ridges, while the low-lying coastal areas are where fringing reefs can be found.
Categories: Crown Island
At Dabola, the mountains of the Fouta Djallon give way to the lowlands. This colonial town surrounded by hills is split not only geographically but also culturally—half of its inhabitants are Malinke and the other half Fulani. Try to go there on Tues...
Categories: Dabola
Dalaba is a peaceful town set amid the scenic Fouta Djallon mountains. The government villas (designed to resemble the traditional huts of the native Fulani population) offer spectacular views. French colonists called the town Little Switzerland beca...
Categories: Dalaba
This village, off the main road through the Fouta Djallon, is perched over what could be described as the Grand Canyon of Guinea. Hasan Bah, a trilingual villager, has built simple huts for tourists, and he offers treks throughout this spectacular re...
Categories: Doucki
Categories: Dregerhafen
Garove Island is the largest of the Witu (Vitu) Islands, and contains the Garove volcano, which has a three mile caldera that opens to the sea.
Categories: Garove Island (Witu Islands)
At an elevation of 5,000 ft/1,525 m, this town offers relief from the heat and humidity below. Enjoy scenic drives through the cool mountains, then visit the incredible J. K. McCarthy Museum (one of the country's best). There's a nice crafts market n...
Categories: Goroka
Categories: Gulf of Papua
This island group near Conakry includes beautiful Roume (Ile Roume)—rumored to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Roume was once a slave-trade headquarters; later, the British mounted an antislavery campaign against it.O...
Categories: Iles De Los
Categories: Iwa Island
Categories: Joao Vieira and Poilao Marine National Park
Categories: Kafure
In Kainantu, on the Highlands Highway east of Goroka, you'll find the Eastern Highlands Cultural Centre (shopping and demonstrations of handicraft-making). Nearby is Ukarumpa, a fairly large missionary community connected to the Summer Institute of L...
Categories: Kainantu
Categories: Kairiru Island
A remote village only accessible by boat, Kamiali is an important ecological location in Papua New Guinea. Coral reefs full of bright colors and marine life surround this area, and the lush rainforests and lowlands contain an eclectic population of p...
Categories: Kamiali
Categories: Kanganamun
Unless you're on your way to or from Mali, the regional capital of Upper Guinea is far off the beaten track. The nation's second-largest city, Kankan (pop. 310,000) claims a large university population and is the stronghold of political opposition to...
Categories: Kankan
Categories: Kaqi
Categories: Kar
Categories: Karawari
Categories: Kaviong
Categories: Kawana Strait
Categories: Kere
Kindia makes a nice day trip from the capital. Take in the market and visit the Institut Pasteur, located appropriately in nearby Pastoria. The institute prepares vaccines and antitoxin serums, and houses an impressive number of snakes and chimpanzee...
Categories: Kindia
Near Guinea's border with Sierra Leone, Kissidougou has a small museum and a good daily market. The town is named for the Kissi people, who are traditionally rice farmers and animists. There are several nearby refugee camps and a large population of ...
Categories: Kissidougou
The site of World War II battles, the Kokoda Trail is the name given to what was once a long wartime supply line, beginning near Port Moresby, continuing across the Owen Stanley Ridge to Buna on the northern New Guinea coast, and passing several Kaoi...
Categories: Kokoda Trail
Categories: Kopar
A small island off Papua New Guinea. Kuiawa Island is culturally and geographically diverse, with unique flora and fauna. Enjoy the picturesque views, plentiful hiking opportunities, warm people and unique cultural experiences.
Categories: Kuiawa Island
Set in the beautiful and mountainous Highland Chimbu District between Mt. Hagen and Goroka, Kundiawa is usually seen as an overnight stop. We actually enjoy Kundiawa more than Goroka, as it has a less modern feel.An exciting side trip from Kundiawa i...
Categories: Kundiawa
Categories: Kuri
This capital (pop. 273,000) of the Fouta Djallon mountain region was an ancient stronghold of the Fulani. Though Labe (pronounced LAW-bay) itself has little to recommend it, the drive north from Mamouto to Labe is really worth the effort—this is one...
Categories: Labe
Lae, on the Bismarck Sea, is larger and more commercial than the better-known Madang. It merits a one-night stay to see the spectacular botanical gardens—allow several hours to see indigenous Papua New Guinea plants and the adjoining War Memorial Cem...
Categories: Lae
Categories: Laughlan Atoll
Categories: Linga Linga
The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of volcanic islands scattered like turquoise and emeralds across the dark blue waters, and fringed by stunningly beautiful corals. Several of the islands include rain forests and exotic plants and anim...
Categories: Louisiade Archipelago
Madang is a port on the northeastern coast of New Guinea lying on Astrolabe Bay near the mouth of the Gogol River. It is the centre for a large timber industry based on the Gogol forest about 25 miles (40 km) inland. Nearby is an island studded lagoo...
Categories: Madang
Categories: Mamai
Milne Bay is the most isolated island community in Papau New Guinea, and visitors to the bay are generally looking to relax and get away from it all. The bay offers visitors some excellent dive sites with many scattered wrecks left from the war....
Categories: Milne Bay
Categories: Morehead
Categories: Morobe Bay
This provincial center of Western Highlands Province lies at 6,000 ft/1,830 m. It offers an excellent, cool climate—days average 75 F/24 C—and a wild, primitive feeling. Attractions include tribal villages, beautiful mountains, coffee plantations, ju...
Categories: Mt. Hagen
Categories: Murik Lakes
Two volcanoes flanking New Britain's historic town of Rabaul—Vulcan and Tavurvur—erupted simultaneously in late 1994, causing extensive damage to the economic center of the outer islands. Mud flows and blankets of ash left 52,000 villagers homeless. ...
Categories: New Britain
New Ireland, with peaks reaching 4,900 ft/1,500 m, is divine. In the main town, Kavieng, be sure to see the Stone Grain Grinding Wheel (circa 1852) and the Museum of Manggan Carvings (ancient stone tools). Other attractions in the area include the Ut...
Categories: New Ireland
Categories: Ninigo Islands
Categories: Nurutu Island
Nzerekore (pop. 291,000) is the capital of the forested Guinea region near the Nimba mountains where Guinea, Liberia and the Ivory Coast meet. Take a domestic flight there unless you have two days to spend going overland. The city has a surprising nu...
Categories: Nzerekore
Port Moresby, capital city of Papua New Guinea, is located on Paga Point on the south coast of New Guinea island. It is the site of government offices, the territorial museum, an art gallery, the University of Papua New Guinea, and the Institute of N...
Categories: Port Moresby
Categories: Punawan Island
Categories: Ramu River
Rio Muni, the mainland portion of Equatorial Guinea, isn't high on many people's must-see lists, and even if it were, it can be devilishly difficult to reach—you'll likely need lots of time just to make the arrangements. Bata, the main city, offers n...
Categories: Rio Muni
Categories: Salamo
Samarai Island is located in the China Strait located in Milne Bay, the easternmost inlet on the coast of Papua New Guinea, and gives good access to coral reefs and diving. The Bay has plantations on its south and west shores while the north shore is...
Categories: Samarai Island
The Sepik River is located in the beautiful Southeastern Asian island of New Guinea. This river is one of the largest rivers in the island at 1,126 kilometers in length. Along the Sepik River you will find an abundance of wild life and cultural landm...
Categories: Sepik River
Categories: Southern Highlands
Categories: Stockholm PG
Categories: Tabar Islands
Located off of the southeast coast of Papua New Guinea’s Huon Peninsula, the Tami Islands consist of a group of four coral atolls. The indigenous inhabitants of the islands are famous for their bowls, figurines and ceremonial masks...
Categories: Tami Island
The Highlands Highway, which turns to gravel beyond Mt. Hagen, has been extended over a 9,000-ft/2,700-m mountain pass into the Tari Basin. The Tari, home of the Huli tribes (famous for their Wigmen), provides a glimpse of less-Westernized cultures t...
Categories: Tari
The main attraction of this remote highland town is a 15th-century Fulani fortress, now in ruins. The scenic road leading to the town from Pita is ideal for mountain biking. 100 mi/160 km northeast of Conakry.
Categories: Telimele
Categories: Tingwon Island
Categories: Torokina
This largely unexplored tropical reef near the coast of Papua New Guinea boasts a fantastic array of soft corals as well as an extremely diverse fish population. Triton Bay is a favorite of adventurous divers with a love for the exotic.&...
Categories: Triton Bay
Categories: Tsoi Island
Tuam Island is an islet located off the south coast of the larger volcanic Umboi Island in Papua New Guinea.
Categories: Tuam Island
Located on a tropical fjord of Cape Nelson, Papua New Guinea. With around 30 different dive sites, teeming with coral and schools of fish, Tufi is an extremely popular destination for divers and snorkelers alike. Not only will dive...
Categories: Tufi
Categories: Vanimo
Categories: Vitu Island
Categories: Wagifa Island
Categories: Watam
The Wau Ecology Institute is the local headquarters for birders and naturalists, who come to see the rain-forest flora and fauna. An interesting hike up Mt. Kaindi passes through several different types of vegetation. The institute offers hostel-type...
Categories: Wau
In the southwest portion of the country (near the border with Irian Jaya), this distinctive town is close to the Bensbach Wildlife Lodge (the lodge is 62 mi/100 km inland, among swamps and grassland along the Bensbach River). It's best to visit durin...
Categories: Weam
Wewak is the capital town of the East Sepik Province. The Sepik River snakes through vast rain forests and mountains, and along the way you might catch a wave from local fishermen, see wild birds and other rain forest inhabitants. Wewak is known for ...
Categories: Wewak
Categories: Woodlark Island