Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea feels like one of the last truly untamed places to visit, a rugged tangle of highland valleys, dense rainforest, and coral reefs barely touched by mass tourism. Hundreds of distinct cultures still thrive here, most vividly on display at highland singsing festivals where dancers wear elaborate feather and shell headdresses passed down for generations. Divers come for some of the richest reef life on the planet, while trekkers tackle the historic Kokoda Track through steep jungle terrain. It rewards travelers seeking raw adventure over comfort.

Why go thereIndigenous cultures Diving & snorkelling Festivals & events Wildlife Nature & landscapes Mountain hiking Adventure sports Volcanoes Islands Surf Beaches Culture & heritage

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Mumu

Pork, sweet potato and greens cooked with hot stones in a pit, unwrapped for a feast.

Saksak

Sago starch cooked with banana and coconut cream into a glutinous pudding.

Kaukau

Sweet potato, the highland staple, roasted in ashes and eaten at every meal.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Mumu

Pork, sweet potato and greens cooked with hot stones in a pit, unwrapped for a feast.

Saksak

Sago starch cooked with banana and coconut cream into a glutinous pudding.

Kaukau

Sweet potato, the highland staple, roasted in ashes and eaten at every meal.

Aigir

Fish, tapioca and greens cooked in coconut cream in a leaf-lined pit.

Dia

Taro or banana cooked in coconut cream until it thickens, from New Ireland.

Sago pancake

Sago flour griddled dry into flat cakes, the staple of the Sepik lowlands.

Pitpit

Wild cane shoots roasted in their leaves, eaten like asparagus.

Kumu

Any leafy green cooked in coconut milk, the accompaniment to starch.

Coconut crab

Roasted on the coals in island provinces, a feast food.

Buai

Betel nut with mustard stick and lime, chewed constantly and staining the pavement red.

Kulau

Green drinking coconut opened with a bush knife at the market.

PNG coffee

Highland arabica grown by smallholders above fifteen hundred metres.

Practical info

Drives on the left

Entry & health

Set your passport

papuanewguinea.travel zippcall.com en.wikipedia.org

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Hotels and restaurants do not add service charges to your bill and it is not common to tip waiters, though tipping is always your choice — a small amount for exceptional service at upscale hotels/restaurants is appreciated but never expected.

Always ask before taking photos of people, villages, sacred sites or traditional buildings, as photography can be viewed as intrusive by locals.
Dress modestly in most parts of the country, as conservative clothing is a sign of respect.
Avoid pointing with your finger and keep criticism indirect and private, as direct confrontation is generally avoided.
Respect land and clan customs — traditions and cultural protocols vary widely between villages and provinces, so don't wander uninvited onto village or clan land.
Bargaining is common at craft markets but prices are fixed and haggling is not customary in shops, hotels or restaurants.
In business settings use formal titles/surnames and handshakes, and expect meetings to open with informal conversation before the agenda.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Papua New Guinea — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA