Papua New Guinea on a Budget?

PNG has been a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. Its remoteness, cultural and biological diversity, and the fact that there are still places there so inaccessible that few, if any people, have explored them…I have to see this place!

Has anybody been to PNG who can share some tips on how to see it without destroying the budget? I know it won’t be cheap, but are there any ways to reduce cost?

And heck, if anyone has any PNG stories I’d love to hear them!

See the PNG link in my signo line for tips on budget travel there.

For travel stories, browse through older posts on this branch - there are a fair few PNG trip reports.

Hey,

I just returned from a 2 week trip to PNG on a 'budget'. You cant really travel PNG on a budget the same way you can, in for say, South East Asia.

Even the cheapest guesthouses in the towns and cities are $35 AUD minimum, usually more like $35-50. There are no other viable options either, e.g. you cant camp or anything. Homestays are an option in the villages but still, its not cheap. Many locals in PNG are of the opinion that all white people have loads of money, they main tourism market is high paying eco-tourists which is probably why!

For many villages homestays there is no set price, but once you arrive and realise just how poor they are, you end up parting with more money that you would for a guesthouse!

Having said that you can save money by staying in cheap guesthouses (like the Lutheran and CWA guesthouses -), find places that have a kitchen so you can cook for yourself), and getting around in PMV's (local minivan transport) You can also get by quite cheaply eating fresh fruit and vegetables and two minute noodles.

Having said all this, PNG is worth the money, so it would be better to save for a bit longer, abandon your ideas about 'budget' travel and just go for it

Read my trip report or contact me via PM if you have any more questions

Thanks for the replies! I found both helpful.

MissKiri - Thanks for taking the time to write your response. PNG won't be budget by any means, but that won't stop me - just have to work a little more ;)

It is true, PNG is difficult to do on a budget. The misconception is that it is a poor place, but in reality the currency is strong and even in pretty rural places the locals earn a decent living - it is simply expensive(well compared to other developing nations).

I posted something earlier about the Black Cat Track. If trekking interests you, then you can trek PNG and stick to a budget. If your flying into Port Moresby, you can trek the Bulldog track to Wau, then from Wau trek the Black Cat to Salamaua. A guide should cost 50 kina a day, accomodation in guesthouses at villages around 20 kina a day, a porter(should you require one, but thats cheating isnt it XD) would be around 25 kina a day. You would need kit for camping out in the jungle(basha, hammock etc) and insurance to cover heli extraction should you need it. It might take you 20 days or so, but you would see more of png than you would do if you trekked the kokoda and the chances are you wouldnt see a single western face anywhere on the route and it would be on a budget.
I have some contact details for guides if your interested.

Thanks a lot Gavin! Trekking is pretty much my main reason for going to PNG, or any location for that matter. I read your post on the Black Cat, sounds fun! How is the bulldog trail? And I am interested in those contacts as well.