Discover the Sepik River

The elaborately carved and painted ceremonial houses serve as the spiritual center of the village communities and traditionally may only be entered by initiated men, while their ornate gable facades rank among the most impressive structures in Melanesia.

Traditional dugout canoes glide silently over the sluggish, brown river past water plants and villages, while saltwater crocodiles can occasionally be spotted along the banks, playing a central spiritual role in the folklore of Sepik culture.

The villages along the Sepik are considered the center of Papua New Guinea's most significant woodcarving art, with elaborate masks, ancestor figures and shields that traditionally carry spiritual meaning and are still crafted today using time-honored techniques.

Along the meandering river, numerous village communities still live largely according to traditional customs in houses built on stilts, making a boat journey on the Sepik one of the most authentic cultural experiences in Oceania.

The nearest airport, Wewak, is served several times a week from Port Moresby, from where river lodges organize transfers by boat or small plane to the villages along the Sepik.

The elaborately carved and painted ceremonial houses serve as the spiritual center of the village communities and traditionally may only be entered by initiated men, while their ornate gable facades rank among the most impressive structures in Melanesia.

Traditional dugout canoes glide silently over the sluggish, brown river past water plants and villages, while saltwater crocodiles can occasionally be spotted along the banks, playing a central spiritual role in the folklore of Sepik culture.

The villages along the Sepik are considered the center of Papua New Guinea's most significant woodcarving art, with elaborate masks, ancestor figures and shields that traditionally carry spiritual meaning and are still crafted today using time-honored techniques.