West Papua New Guinea tourism has developed significantly since the popularity of Raja Ampat. Indeed, Raja Ampat is not the only tourism destination you can explore while visiting West Papua New Guinea. Check the list of the popular destinations in West Papua you should explore.
Raja Ampat
Travelers love to explore Raja Ampat due to its wonderful view and nature. Imagine that you are exploring islands with lush green foliage, white sand beaches, azure seas, and gorgeous lagoons. This island is also the number one worldwide for marine biodiversity.
That’s why you can see a variety of beautiful corals in this area. Raja Ampat can be the richest coral reef ecosystem in the world. It is one of the best places for people who love snorkeling, diving, or swimming.
The water is so clear, so you can see the underwater view. Visiting Raja Ampat is not only about snorkeling, diving, or kayaking. Travelers can also enjoy the islands through trekking. This area offers the 4 most popular trekking routes or known as the Four Kings, which are Waigeo, Misool, Salawati, and Batanta.
You are about to spend about 2 to 3 hours, climbing the top of the islands, and camping. During the trekking, you are about to pass through waterfalls, rivers, caves, rock arts, burial grounds, and many more.
Lorentz National Park
Lorentz National Park is another great West Papua New Guinea tourism you should try. This national park is located in the south-central region of West Papua province. The borderlines are from the southern slopes of Mandala Mountain to the Arafura Sea.
Imagine that you are about to explore a 2.35 million hectares national park. This National Park becomes the largest are in Asia and the only area that still has snow-capped glaciers, and a great tropical marine environment.
You can also see up to 630 species of bird and 123 mammalian species while exploring Lorentz National Park. Travelers also have a chance to meet and learn about the tribes that live in this area, such as the Amungme, West Dani, Dani Baliem Valley, Moni, Asmat, and others. Specific places, such as Lake Habbema and Mount Trikora are also beautiful and offer great spots to capture.
Baliem Valley
It is known as Baliem Valley because the location is close to the Baliem River. It is at the slope of Mount Trikora to the Arafura Sea. Baliem Valley has a fantastic view. Travelers can also learn about one of the most popular tribes known as the Dani tribe.
You can learn how this tribe survives in this valley for many years. Indeed, people can learn the culture of the Dani tribe, including the meals, clothing styles, jobs, and even governmental system. You should go there with the local police.
Nowadays, Baliem Valley is not as scary as you can imagine. This area also has a comfortable place to stay, such as hotels and a well-managed tourism system. Travelers can do several things, including trekking, seeing mummifying, salt spring, and exploring the local markets.
Anggi Lakes
You will see a twin mountain lake when you go to the southern part of the Arfak Mountains in Manokwari. The lakes are Anggi Giji or the Lake of Men and Anggi Gita or the Lake of Women. The attraction in this area is not only the lake but also the wild bird species, such as the Greg-banded Munia, Shovel-Billed Kookaburra, and others.
Prepare your stamina for hiking to the Arfak Mountains. Travelers can stay in this area a bit longer if they want by booking a room at the specific hotel there. It is a great opportunity to try the most popular track from Ransiki on the coast east of the lakes to the Momi River before going back into the hills. It takes about 15 km. You can even continue to walk to Anggi Gita. The total distance is about 33 km that can be finished in 2 to 3 days. It is challenging West Papua New Guinea tourism to try.
