Papua New Guinea was populated by the immigrants from the Asian continent over 50,000 years ago. Today, Papua New Guinea is a region virtually unknown to European tourists. It has wild and unexplored lands; it is a country of harsh and unique nature. The country concentrates such a variety of living creatures and natural systems that it can be compared, perhaps, with Eurasia. Rainforest areas are replaced by the cold mountains, centuries-old swamps lie close to ancient coral reefs, and limestone cliffs are covered with green grass plains. Plus, there are hundreds of unique tribes and nations with their traditions and amazing history, thousands of species of exotic plants and dozens of species of unique animals, ranging from tiny tree kangaroos and birds of paradise, and ending with huge butterflies. This diversity long remained completely untouched by man. Today, it attracts thousands of researchers, anthropologists, and travelers.

The capital of Papua New Guinea and the main gateway to the country is Port Moresby, located on a peninsula in an excellent natural harbor. The town itself is relatively small. Port Moresby is a mixture of old buildings of the colonial period, modern offices and ramshackle houses. The city was badly damaged during World War II, so here are just a few attractions. In the northern part of the town, there are most government buildings. Here is the Parliament building in the picturesque style, combining modern architecture with traditional motifs of the people of the island, a large sports complex built for the South Pacific Games held in Port Moresby in 1991, the National Museum with a vast collection of exhibits in ethnography, history and culture. The symbol of the city is the restored village complex Hanuabada.

The historic city center is called Town. It offers a wonderful view over the city. Along the northern coast, there stretches Town Port, the south coast is known for Ela Beach Park, and the buildings in the heart of the old quarters have survived since the end of the 19th century. The area is also associated with modern office buildings and expensive hotels, as well as the largest trading center of the capital, which includes many restaurants, bars, banks and department stores.

To the north-east of Port Moresby, one can see spectacular waterfalls and Varirata National Park, the first reserve of the country. Occupying an area of about 1,000 hectares, the park originally was a hunting ground with almost all species of flora and fauna, including birds of paradise, wallabies and deer. The Brown River is a nice place for swimming, rafting, and picnics. If you are interested in one of those activities, place a request to one of tour operators in Papua New Guinea to get a free quote.

Southern Highlands is one of the few places on the planet, where the traditional way of life is manifested in almost all spheres. The ancient ceremonial rituals are present everywhere, men and women still wear traditional dress, and the huts are still built from stones and twigs of shrubs. Fresh mountain air is ideal for numerous excursions, and under a canopy of dense tropical forests one feels awesome due to the noise of numerous birds, pristine rivers and waterfalls.

Beautiful lake Qutub is the second largest lake in Papua New Guinea and one of the most unusual reservoirs in the region. It is a haven for almost a hundred species of birds, and its shores abound with reptiles and insects. Hiking tours to the most beautiful places in the vicinity of the lake start here. The valley of Mendi is also widely known for its beautiful landscapes and limestone caves.

The products of local handicrafts can be seen in the Cultural Center of Mount Hagen. It is located in a carefully restored traditional village hut and has a small museum with exhibits of various handicrafts and ethnic items. Here one can buy almost the entire range of handicraft products, with which this region is famous.

With the assistance of these Papua New Guinea travel agents you can organize a nice and memorable tour in the country.

Dani Tribe in Baliem Valley, Papua New Guinea