Reliable Tour Companies in Sepik region, and Payment

Does anyone have current info regarding PNG Value Tours, Trans Niugini Tours (PNGtours.com) or Albert Lumut (guide/organizer) for the Sepik River area? Reliable? Good value?

Also, I'm concerned about paying in full before ever even arriving in country; is this the only way business is conducted there? Any suggestions for ensuring the guide shows up?

hi! I've booked with Johannes Teven in Aug 2018. everything super smooth, even though he passed us to his 'cousin' Nelson (Johannes had another group staying for longer so he went with them) who was absolutely lovely.
He requested payment in advance but I wasn't able to make the transfer so he accepted to pay when I reach Wewak. He collected the money the day before the departure and we didn't have any issues with more money being requested on the way. They do need the money in advance because they are buying supplies. I would go again with Jonhannes or Nelson without any doubts.
Good luck!

search for reviews - they are mixed for all three but this is not unusual - these small domestic companies come and go and a guide who is honest and organised one year the next year for some reason isnt - this is how things are in PNG

you have to be organised and prepared and flexible

do not pay everything upfront unless it is a proper travel agent based outside PNG and you re paying with a credit card and they are a member of a recognised professional organisation - if things go worng you at least have some come back

you will need to pay some kind of deposit (by western union usually) to cover some of their costs and to ensure you dont just not turn up - especially around festival time when the good guides and comapnies are fully booked - pay most of the balance when you meet up in wewak and make sure you save some part of it as final payment - any decent honest guide or company should accept payment like this - before handing over any money each time confirm exactly what is and isnt included - the major expenses are travel to/from the river from wewak, the canoe and crew and fuel, and any sing-sing or similar in villages

have a great trip

prices for trips on the river vary wildly depending on what exactly is on offer

at the high end you will get a modern truck with good wheels and suspension and a/c, a large canoe and fast motor with chairs to sit on, plenty of fuel, at the accommodation proper clean sheets and good mosqito nets all set up for you, hot clean water to wash in (rain water), a generator for light and charging, decent food well prepared including local fish and vegetables with clean cooking equipment, a guide assistant to carry bags, a guide who is knowledgeable of the river, nature, village life and cultures

at the low end you get a beat up mini-bus with bust suspension, a small canoe with small motor and no chairs, insufficent fuel so you have to buy more, dirty sheets and broken nets which you have to set up in the dark, dirty cold water to wash in (river water!), no generator, no food except what you brought which you then have to share as no one else has any food (or so they claim), carry own bags, no real guiding

a well respected guide will introduce you around in the village and bring the chiefs and other people to see you - they will tell stories and recount myths and. perhaps sing - a bad guide will not do this

a high end comapny or guide will have some backup if something goes wrong (weather, canoe problems etc) - at the low end you are on your own somewhat

providing the high end service on the river is difficult, time consuming and expensive - hence the very differnt prices bewteen the trips - sadly sometimes you pay for the high end but get the low end service

@majordom
Isn't Trans Niugini Tours a more established, upmarket, therefore presumably more reliable tour operator, at least by PNG standards?

yes the OP has put forwrd three very different tour organisers - albert a one man band local guide (who sometimes works for the bigger companies) - PNG value tours a small local tour operator and trans niugini a large operator - they have their own lodges, planes and boats and charge high prices - which many people are happy to pay for what they offer which is unique but they still sometmes have problems living up to the standards they promise and some of the reviews reflect dissappointment between the price paid and the service actually offerred

i havent used any of these operators so have no particular view

Thank you. How do I contact Johannes or his company?

Thanks also, Majordom. I found a number of disappointing evaluations for PNG Value Tours (previously PNG Budget; both part of Blue Latitude group) since posting initially, so I think I'll rule them out. Albert quoted lower prices, naturally, than Trans Niugini, and does not claim to be luxury, as TN does. Any first-hand experience with either Albert Lumut or TN? Or any other input about Johannes, as recommended by Piacantstaystill (love that name!)?

johannes teven is well reccommended by many here and on tripadvisor - i have met him several times on the river and his groups always seem happy

He's usually quite responsive considering the remoteness, but don't be alarmed if you don't get a reply for 2 days. Enjoy your trip!

Will email you a reliable tour operator

Thank you, Chris, looking forward to receiving it. This will also explain your experience in country?

Still looking forward to your tour operator recommendation...

Thank you, Chris, looking forward to receiving it. This will also explain your experience in country?