Bougainville & Siwai Cultural Show

Welcome to South Bougainville! Upon arrival in Buka, you will be met and transferred by banana boat to Buka Island Town and your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure to explore Buka.Your hotel is within walking distance to the local markets. MealsNoneAccommodationPassage Travellers Inn or similarServicesAirport TransferBanana Boat transfer

Today you will head down to the port and head out on a private boat for the day. The boat is basic – just like the boats the locals use to zip around the harbour and the islands, but it will take you to some of the most pristine and untouched islands not far from the mainland. Be sure to bring your snorkel (no rental options in Buka), as you spend the day exploring the spectacular underwater marine life, WWII wrecks or simply relaxing and strolling or lazing on the untouched islands. Lunch today will be a barbeque lunch on stunning White Island. MealsBreakfast, BBQ lunch on White IslandAccommodationPassage Travellers Inn or similarServicesPrivate vehicle with English-speaking guidePrivate boat transfer

Local VillageThis morning you are in for an adventure as you head off-road and into the mountains, taking a packed lunch with you. You will bump your way along to reach a local village where you will witness the men wearing traditional Upei Headdresses—a domed shaped hat worn by young men at their initiation and marriage ceremonies, unique to this area, so much so, that this tall hat features on the provincial flag! You will gain an insight into village life here, where it seems time has forgotten those who live here. Life is basic but happy, with hunter-gatherer practices still the main way of obtaining food for the locals. Witness a traditional sing-sing or cultural performance.Arawa ExplorationContinue towards Arawa. Lunch will be in a local restaurant. Arawa town was once a thriving hub thanks to the positive economic impact of the Panguna Mine. Once the mine shut down, so did the town, with many buildings being burned during the civil war and businesses ceasing to trade due to the lack of people now coming to this town. Fringed by a beautiful beach, spend your afternoon exploring WWII shipwrecks by boat. MealsBreakfast, Lunch in a local restaurantAccommodationGold Dust Inn or similarServicesPrivate vehicle with English-speaking guideLocal villageArawa ExplorationTravel time and distanceBuka to Arawa – 181km, 3 hrs 17min (excluding stops)

Panguna Mine VisitThis morning, set off with your driver and guide and travel deep into the province towards the decommissioned Panguna Mine. Taking in the natural beauty that surrounds it, you start to learn the background of its tumultuous history and the story of South Bougainville. The Panguna Mine was the world’s biggest copper and gold mine when it was operational and still contains an estimated 5.3 million tons of copper and 19.3 million ounces of gold, which would make the reserves worth about $60 billion at today’s prices. The mine has sat at the centre of the decade-long civil war between rebels in Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, due to rising community anger at the environmental damage and the inequitable division of the mine’s profits. The locals forced the mine to close, blowing up Panguna’s power lines and sabotaging operations. The civil war claimed the lives of about 20,000 people and amplified calls for Bougainvillean independence, which held a referendum in 2019, with an overwhelming 98% of the population calling for independence from Papua New Guinea.Continue to your accommodation at Panakei Lodge, which sits next to the showground of the Siwai Cultural Show. You will notice that the small village of Siwai is abuzz after day one of the cultural show. We attend on day two as the majority of day one involves official opening speeches, which take up most of the day, with only a small allotted time for the sing-sing. Day two is all about the performances! Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening to the sounds of a traditional bamboo band. MealsBreakfast, DinnerAccommodationPanakei Lodge or similarServicesPrivate vehicle with English-speaking guidePanguna Mine VisitTravel time and distancesArawa to Panguna Mine – 30km, 35 minPanguna Mine to Panakei Lodge – 65km, 1 hr 30 min

Siwai Cultural ShowToday is an exciting day! Set off to experience the Siwai Cultural Show. The Siwai Cultural Show began in 2021 as an initiative of the Siwai people. It is a celebration of the unique cultural, historical, and natural wonders of the Siwai District. It began as a post-crisis relief to help people break through the calamity of the pandemic, and as Bougainville emerges from civil war, this show is an indicator of such change, with people uniting as they display their culture and tradition. As this autonomous region pushes for independence and learns to stand on its own, the focus on culture is recognised as one of the most important assets in the country. Embrace the colours, the singing, and the dancing—the swishing of grass skirts, the power of local patriotism. Such a young cultural show has so much energy and passion fueling it. The privilege of being one of the first travellers to ever witness such a spectacle will not go unnoticed. The chanting of voices and the stomping and thumping of bare feet on the dirt will hypnotise.Embrace the rich culture and traditions on display. Chat with the locals from various tribes about their practices, beliefs, and mythology. Each tribe has a different story. The atmosphere and the energy of the locals swaying and thumping to the local beat will intoxicate you. MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and DinnerAccommodationPanakei Lodge or similarServicesPrivate vehicle with English-speaking guideSiwai Cultural Show

Hike to Yamamoto’s Plane Wreck (World War II Crash Site)An early start this morning to beat the heat as you venture down another historical path. Drive to the fringe of the jungle before continuing on foot approximately 4km (approximately 1.5 hours) to reach the World War II crash site of a military plane carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who masterminded the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour. Yamamoto’s plane was gunned down by Allied forces in 1943, sending the Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’ crashing down into the thick jungle, after American codebreakers found out he was planning to visit troops stationed off Bougainville.Yamamoto is the most exalted hero in the Imperial Japanese Navy’s history. He has been untainted by Japan’s defeat, and he’s been untainted by any hint of war crimes. He is still seen as a hero today in Japan.The hike, whilst flat, offers little shade and can at times be a heavy bog with the odd river crossing on foot.WWII Relics and Kangu BeachFollowing your hike, transfer to Buin town for lunch. After lunch, this afternoon, you will pass a Japanese bunker from WWII, as well as some of the relics left behind. Visit Kangu Beach, where you will have an impressive view looking out towards the Solomon Islands. If time permits, spend the afternoon at the local beach. Go for a wander along the beach which is dotted with Japanese bunkers submerged in the rising sands and simply soak in the serenity. The local village kids are quite curious and may come to frolic in the water with you. MealsBreakfast, Lunch, and DinnerAccommodationPanakei Lodge or similarServicesPrivate vehicle with English-speaking guideHike to Yamamoto’s Plane Wreck (World War II Crash Site)WWII Relics and Kangu Beach

Departing from the lush inland region of Siwai, today, you will navigate winding roads that meander through verdant forests and picturesque villages as you head back to Buka. Pass bustling marketplaces and roadside stalls, where locals sell an array of fresh produce, handicrafts, and traditional artefacts. These vibrant stops offer glimpses into everyday life in rural Bougainville.As the road nears Buka Town, the landscape transforms once again, with the rugged coastline coming into view. Sparkling waters of the Buka Passage, dotted with fishing boats and traditional canoes bob in front of you. MealsBreakfastAccommodationPassage Travellers Inn or similarServicesPrivate vehicle with English-speaking guideTravel time and distancesPanakei Lodge to Buka – 250km, 5 hrs (excluding stops, road conditions may impact the time of travel)

This morning following breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight back to Port Moresby (flight not included). MealsBreakfastServicesPrivate airport transfer