Ultimate Birds of Paradise
What you'll see
The journey, one day at a time
Arrive Port Moresby
Arrive in Port Moresby, met and transferred to your accommodation. Port Moresby keeps the logistics working, and Varirata gives a first, accessible bird-of-paradise.
Port Moresby
Bird Varirata's forest edge and connect onward to the regions. Explore the capital and its Nature Park between flights.
To Kiunga
Transfer to Kiunga. River and forest birding for the greater and twelve-wired birds-of-paradise. Arrive at Port Moresby and transfer to Kiunga.
Kiunga
Search the lowland forest for the king bird-of-paradise and bowerbirds. Boat the Fly River tributaries into pristine rainforest. Kiunga's birds-of-paradise are among the most coveted lowland species in all of New Guinea.
Kiunga
Boat the Fly River tributaries into pristine rainforest. Dawn leks and a full day of lowland forest specialities.
To Tabubil
Transfer to Tabubil. Bird the foothill forest for the flame bowerbird and Carola's parotia. Arrive at Port Moresby and transfer to Tabubil.
Tabubil
Work the Ok Tedi roads for forest birds across elevations. A full day of foothill specialities between the showers. Tabubil's mid-elevation forests fill the gap between lowland Kiunga and the high valleys, adding species found at neither.
Tabubil
A full day of foothill specialities between the showers.
To Tari Valley
Transfer to Tari Valley. Bird the cloud forest for King of Saxony and blue birds-of-paradise. Arrive at Port Moresby and transfer to Tari Valley.
Tari Valley
Visit a Huli wigmen village, then the highland display trees. Work the high forest for astrapias and parotias. Nowhere fuses extraordinary culture and extraordinary birds like the Tari Valley.
Tari Valley
Work the high forest for astrapias and parotias. Dawn at the BoP display trees and a full highland birding day.
To Ambua Valley
Transfer to Ambua Valley. Bird the high mossy forest for sicklebills and astrapias. Arrive at Port Moresby and transfer to Ambua Valley.
Ambua Valley
Work the Tari Gap for superb bird-of-paradise and montane species. Cloud-forest trails and waterfalls at altitude. Ambua's altitude adds the upper-montane birds-of-paradise and the most beautiful forest setting in PNG.
Departure
A final morning in Ambua Valley — a last outing or a slow start as time allows — before the transfer onward and the journey home.
The season changes what you see.
Peak season
Drier season — best for the Varirata birding and travel.
Good season
A transit hub usable in any season.
Hand-picked camps & lodges
Ambua Lodge
The iconic highland lodge on the Tari Gap — round-house chalets in cloud forest, serving both the Tari and Ambua birding.
Airways Hotel
Port Moresby's best hotel, a secure and polished base by the airport for arrivals and Varirata trips.
Hilton Port Moresby
A modern international hotel in the capital, comfortable for the transit nights.
Kiunga Nature Lodge
A simple birders' lodge at Kiunga, the base for the Fly River birds-of-paradise.
The Stanley Hotel
A well-run city hotel with good facilities, a practical Moresby base.
Cloudlands Hotel
A basic hotel at Tabubil, the base for the wet foothill forest birding.
Make it yours.
Add nights, swap a park, extend to the coast — this route is a starting point, not a fixed menu. Tell us how you travel and we'll route the rest.