They call it the land of a thousand cultures and that’s exactly what you’ll find when visiting New Guinea.  Comprising the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua on the western side of the island, and Papua New Guinea on the eastern side, New Guinea is the most linguistically diverse region in the world with 839 different dialects spoken! 

This is an anthropologists dream with many variations of the culture alive and thriving.  Small, primitive villages with thatched-roofed huts and traditional canoes can be visited, however you will need permission to do so as most land is owned by a community or village. Villagers will welcome you with dances and ceremony and their elaborate bilas (traditional costumes) are impressive. It is important however to remember to respect their customs and not wander off on your own – always have a guide with you.

Villagers rely on subsistence farming, fishing, hunting or gardening. Typically women are responsible for daily household and village work and men take care of hunting, trade and warfare.

Interestingly, the use of sea shells as a form of currency was abolished as recently as 1933, but it is not uncommon for dowry payments to be made in the form of gold-edged clam shells, food, pigs or other goods.

When visiting New Guinea, it is important to know the local customs and to have a guide who can assist with observing these – which is why cruising is a great option for this destination. As well as easily accessing several islands in a small time frame, cruise lines such as Ponant have local visiting permits as well as onboard experts who can enlighten you on the history and culture so you really do get the most out of your visit.

If this part of the world is of interest to you, Ultimate Cruising currently have a fantastic cruise with Ponant departing in October 2024 from Darwin.  You’ll cruise up to New Guinea with multiple stops in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea before returning to Cairns.  The 16 day cruise is fully inclusive of all meals, the open bar, shore excursions with an expert expedition team and luxury accommodations.  The cruise price starts at $18,200pp (Deck 3 twin share), but for an extra $299pp, we’ll include your economy class airfares to Darwin and return from Cairns, 1 night accommodation and luxury car transfers from your home to airport.  This is an exclusive Ultimate Cruising offer.  See more information about the full itinerary and inclusions here.