Most people who visit Kokoda in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea do so to make the 8-10 day walk on the Kokoda Trek. This trek is the site of severe battles during World War II between the Australians and the Japanese with local Papua New Guineans often acting as “carriers” ferrying supplies for the troops. However, a visit to this area can have additional rewards by staying in local villages.
Kokoda Homestay helps arrange your stay and trekking between a series of small villages in the area. You will be immersed immediately into the daily life of local villagers. Meals are prepared by hand, mostly from ingredients grown in the area, you will stay in thatched roof guest houses, interact with the villagers and be guided as you walk between each of the villages.
You will bathe in clear streams – warmer in the valley and much colder in the mountains. Drinking water comes directly from the creeks in the mountains.
Life is certainly not easy here, the area gets a lot of rain, medical supplies are far and few between, the main transportation between the villages is on foot as in the mountains there are only trails and no roads. The location of Kokoda itself is beautiful, it is in a valley surrounded by tall mountains.
For more information and to arrange a homestay, visit: www.kokodahomestay.com
Uh-oh – “Life is certainly not easy here, the area gets a lot of rain, medical supplies are far and few between, the main transportation between the villages is on foot as in the mountains there are only trails and no roads.”
I’m afraid those days for a trip to Papua New Guinea are behind us – and because of it – we’ll be missing a beautiful valley. Good article, Dave.
M and G
Kyoto, Japan