Jan Carstensz was a Dutch sailor who recorded it specifically while sailing in the southern coast of Papua Island. It became a burlesque when he reported it to the country about his first sight of equatorial glacier in the mountains. However, several hundred years later the evidence of glaciers in fact exposed in two other areas near the equator line, uncovered in Kilimanjaro-Africa and also in Peruvian Andes-South America. Unfortunately, this only three remaining tropical glaciers of the world, these days are beginning to shrink due to global warming, and are expected to disappear in the next few decades.

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The whole week's dramatic journey begins from the amazing Papuan tribal village from the north route, interact with life of indigenous people of Dani and Moni tribes. After that, extra physical abilities to walk about 50 km in the wilderness of tropical jungle, dense moss forest, meadow, rocky terrain towards Lakevalley Basecamp will be an epic story of its own. Climbing Carstensz Pyramid is quite technical, the 600-meter-high bigwall became the last part of this journey, requires basic climbing skills using a fixed rope to reach the highest point before returning to the camp. After it finishes, alternatively you can also order a helicopter to descend, flight directly to Timika from basecamp, shortcut for 4-5 days treking back in the dense forest.

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ITINERARY

 

DAY 1 / ARRIVAL BALI

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Welcome to the famous Bali, the most touristic place part of Indonesia, allocate your time for rest and preparation for trekking. The guide will pick you up at the airport, then drop you off at the hotel to relaxing from jetlag or a bit of sightseeing on the beach.

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DAY 2 / IN BALI

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You have a short time in this beautiful ‘island of gods’, in the capital of Denpasar everything is quite complete. Today briefing will check all of your personal gear, because if there’s a miss, it's easier for you to find it here. Finish as soon as possible all your needs until the afternoon, because our next flight to Timika is scheduled for midnight.

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DAY 3 / IN TIMIKA

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Timika is a city located in the southern coast of Papua Island that's growing due to mining activities.The city is visited by foreign workers abroad, so some necessities can still be obtained even at higher prices. Arriving in Timika early morning, we will go straight to the hotel, not many choice locations for sightseeing or restaurant here.

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DAY 4 / TIMIKA – SUGAPA – SUANGGAMA VILLAGE

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Prepare to wake up and pack your stuff early, because our flight here very dependent on weather, it’s usually scheduled in the morning. Occasionally chartered planes are also delayed or even canceled, some helicopter trips must finally choose an option walking through the forest, another way to get to the Carstensz region. If we lucky enough to fly that day, from the window of a small plane we will be spoiled to views of mountain forested cut by the deep river valley.

Landed on a short runway between the ridges of Sugapa, we head straight for Suanggama Village using a motorbike. Landscape is quite interesting along the village road, some traditional houses are clustered and the plantations area of Moni tribe looks so original. There’s also local tribe still wearing minimalist traditional clothing called Koteka, some others carrying traditional weapons of arrows or another hunting tool. They are quite friendly, although there is a language barrier, but a typical greeting with a double-fingered grip shake hand becomes a trait of intimacy.

Suanggama is home of Dani’s tribe, last village before we get into the forest gate to start treking. Guide will negotiate and choose the porter who will accompany us during this trip, while we live in a simple hut or wander around the village looking at tribal routines. Sometimes that discussion runs complicated because of many porter from other villages want to join us, so it’s needs a while to give perceptivity of them.

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DAY 5/ SUANGGAMA – DIBASIGA

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Journey begins by crossing the rest of traditional settlement and plantation area over the village border. Some gardens are built impressively among steep slopes of deep river valley. Towards Camp 1 in Dibasiga will be about 8.5 km distance across the river, wooden bridges, muddy path, and stepping the slope. We will find a unique object between the valleys, the pool contain of salt water, which is taken by peoples for cooking.

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HARI 6/ DIBASIGA  – ESTASIGA

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Heading for camp 2 trek becomes heavier, walking into the Papua lower-montane forest, along rapid stream of Wabu river. We must be extra careful, several times crossed the small bridge made from trunks that easily swept by river flow, one step mistake can be problem. Other sections are potential rocky landslides, moss forest mix with boughs and roots becoming obstacles, a small meadow until it reaches camp in Estasiga. Today as far as 8 km distance are challenging enough to test our physical endurance.

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DAY 7/ ESTASIGA – EBAI

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Today target as far as 10 km walk in the valley towards river upstream, as the height increases, vegetation will look shorter as we slowly out of the lower-montane forest to the higher-montane forest. We start to encounter of Kemabu plateau grassland for the first time. Approaching the camp 3 Ebai, we will see the wide amazing scenery. Landscape 50,000 hectare area with a background of tectonic mountain-range grows up to 4000s meters above sea level stretching from east to west of the island.

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DAY 8/ EBAI – NASIDOME

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Walking 12 kilometers away to camp 4 the terrain is not as tough as previous days. Flat area overgrown with small trees, palm ferns, a unique ant-plants (Myrmecophyte) and muddy meadow. Crossing the Kemabu River in the middle of plateau, continue walking across a meadow through the hills until we reach Camp Nasidome in the afternoon.

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DAY 9/ NASIDOME – LAKE VALLEY BASECAMP

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We have entered the northern part of Sudirman mountain ranges below the steep gray rock towers. The scenery of Puncak Jaya and Puncak Sumantri covered by snow looks so massive in front of the camp. Our journey will back through a part of pretty heavy route, steep walking in the sharp rocks, scrambling with hands in a slope. However, we will be entertained by atmosphere of some misty lakes. Lake Discovery and Lake Larson with an altitude about 4000 meters are enjoyble place to take a rest. We need extra attention when crossing the Newzealand pass, almost no vegetation left we just stepping on hard and slippery rocks until it reached Lembah Danau-danau Basecamp.

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DAY 10/ REST DAY AND ACCLIMATIZATION IN BASECAMP

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We are already in the centre of Middle Mountain, the lakeside basecamp surrounded by mountain walls, one step ahead to the highest point of Oceania. Rest and acclimatization are good choices for climbing preparations at midnight.

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DAY 11/ SUMMIT DAY TO CARSTENSZ PYRAMID

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After midnight we have to get up, take a breakfast, and prepare the equipment because we had to start moving up before dawn. Once ready, walk about 2 hours to the foot of Carstensz wall in Yellow Valley, then begin to ascend using a fixed rope. Have a good grip ascending technique with the Jumar is necessary during this section up to the summit ridge.

 

Continue climbing the thin ridge until it reaches Tyrollean traverse, the big crack in the width of approximately 30 meters. Nowadays, is installed Burma bridge that trigger your adrenaline. After that, there are still some other sections of crack that need to extra attention when crossing. Continue rest of the ridge until it reaches the end of this long stepping above the cloud, standing on the highest peak of Indonesia, Carstensz Pyramid. For a moment taking documentation, we have to come back before noon because weather will changes, the cloud begins to rise as it descends to Basecamp.

 

DAY 12/ SPAREDAY

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Spareday for contingency

 

DAY 13/ LAKEVALEY BASECAMP – NASIDOME

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Trekking back to Sugapa, or alternatively you can also order a helicopter to descend, flight directly to Timika from basecamp shortcut for 4-5 days trekking back in the dense forest. We can arrange that option according to your request.

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DAY 14/ NASIDOME – ENDASUGAPA

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Trekking back to Sugapa

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DAY 15/ ENDASUGAPA – DIBASIGA

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Trekking back to Sugapa

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DAY 16/ DIBASIGA – SUANGGAMA VILLAGE – SUGAPA

 

Trekking back to Sugapa

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DAY 17/ SUGAPA – TIMIKA

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Flight back from Sugapa to Timika

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DAY 18/ TIMIKA – BALI

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Morning flight from Timika to Bali. Enjoy your rest day on the exotic island of Bali, traditional culture mixed with modern life. Relax by the beach, farewell dinner or a little partying at the nightclub.

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DAY 19/ BALI – AIRPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE OR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM

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To Bali International Airport for departure, or additional days for another exciting tour program.

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INCLUDED

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• Domestic flight (as mentioned in the program )

• Chartered flight to Sugapa (return)

• Guide, Assistant (English Speaking) & Driver

• Accomodation (twin sharing room)

• Private car and other transportation during (charter)

• Travel permit and Entrance fee

• Breakfast (B) in Hotel, Meals on the mountain (B,L,D) and mineral water

• Group equipment

• 16 kg total weight allowed for personal equipment

• Pre-departure travel consultation

 

NOT INCLUDED

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• International flight (round trip)

• Indonesian Visa

• Meals - Lunch (L) and Dinner (D) (other than mentioned)

• Insurance

• Documentation (by request)

• Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, snack and beverages etc)

• Personal clothing and equipment

• Medical expenses and evacuation cost

• Excess baggage charge

• Ticket cancelation, reschedule, etc

• Tips for Guide, Assistant or Driver

• Additional day, program and tour

• Climbing training program before departure

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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The unpredictable situation in Papua due to minimalty of access and transportation, lack of facilities and social conditions of locals who aren't yet mindful of tourism should be understood by guests. For example, if we are unluckily blocked by a group of villagers who ask for money. Many things are sometimes difficult to predict here, but we have experience and always try our best to anticipate and solve this problem. Provide guests with excellent service and solutions for a team in order to successfully complete the journey safely and comfortably. You should also prepare flexible time and flight schedule for contingency.