PNG Dec/Jan - share trip?

Hi, I am planning to travel PNG mid December to mid January (roughly). I am entering from Jayapura/Indonesia, thinking about Vanimo > Wewak/Muschu island > Highlands > Rabaul > Bougainville and exiting to Solomon islands. Flexible though. If you are in PNG during the same time I would be happy to meet up and do part of the trip together (PM me).

(I'm late 30s, German, usually travelling budget but willing to pay for shortcuts.)

Markus

sounds like a great trip

it is however a challenging one for entering and leaving PNG - i am sure you have considered this but for the general benefit of anyone contemplating such a trip

the land route from indonesia to vanimo is certainly possible but needs a flexible itinerary as it can take a few days and you must have your visa situation properly researched and sorted - see recent trip reports here and on the tripadvisor forum for both successes and failures

there is no 'official' way to go from bougainville to the solomons - officially it is still a closed border so there are no flights (you have to fly back to POM then to solomons) and no ferrys

it can be done but be aware and make sure you know what you are doing and stay flexible

http://thelostnotes.com/border-crossing-papua-new-guinea-to-solomon-islands/

http://carelesswhistler.com/2014/10/06/from-bougainville-png-to-the-solomon-islands/

and tony wheeeler (of LP fame) who went in the other direction

http://tonywheeler.com.au/the-back-door-to-bougainville/

thanks, always good to read about more experiences

from what I can see getting the PNG visa in Jayapura should be straightforward provided the right Indonesian visa (e.g. 211) and a couple of days time. Recent reports on crossing into the Shortlands in Solomons seem encouraging, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/australasia-pacific-pacific-islands-papua-new-guinea/topics/the-back-door-route-bougainville-to-the-solomon-islands

obviously things can change, in worst case I have to backtrack and fly via Port Moresby

that post is encouraging it sounds a real adventure

be aware that an unlawful exit may compromise a future entry to png

i am a regular visitor to png and cannot mess up my visa status

I am arriving on 15. Jan. at Honiara, Solomon Islands for a 3 months stay. Would be interested to meet you and hear your story after arrival in Honiara.
Have visited Shortlands several times last in 2001 and was in Buka, Bougainville last in 2006. Wanted to cross the border PNG/Solomons over land, so collected some information. But haven't done the crossing yet.
Bin ab 10. Dez. wieder zu Hause am Bodensee, maenlicher Deutscher, Alter 66. Falls interessiert bitte Nachricht, Gruesse, Berhard

Will post a report on the border crossings afterwards here

Happy to meet up with you in the Solomons, I will write you once I get closer

In Ordnung, uebernachte in Honiara immer im SSEC transit, in Stadtmitte auf dem Vavaya Ridge
Gruss, Bernhard

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