Staying alone with a tribe in PNG- feasibility and costs

Hi there..
I'm a male 33, planning to travel for 3.5 weeks in PNG in august.. I have two questions:

1) I've searched this forum and saw some mixed information about staying solo with a tribe.
Do you think it is possible to stay with tribe for couple of days by myself? without a guide that is. Do you have any recommendation about this kind of tribe or area (in sepik river/mt hagen/other areas) ? specification is needed if possible. I mean is it possible to reach there by my self to a village (going with someone in his boat for example in the sepik river). How? I don't want a guide as it is expensive for me but mostly since i want to have an "adventure" and experience it as authentic as possible. However, I do realize that perhaps it is not possible, and in that case maybe i will cancel this trip unfortunately..

2) I'm worried about the costs of this trip. I have travelled a lot in the past but from what I saw I am not sure how feasible it is to travel in PNG on a tight budget. Can someone tell me how much, more or less will it cost me if I go on a tight budget for 3.5 weeks in PNG? I understood that the cheapest (and for me much more fun) is to stay with a tribe/s in a village right? Also if I am in a town than to sleep in churches right? with families (is it possible?)? going with PMV when possible.. Any other suggestions? Once again ,I have no problems in mking a "hard" trip if need, but i want to be sure that it is possible. any specification, about the costs and etc will be really really good.

Thank u
Ohad

travelling in png needs research and preparation - do this and you can have a great trip - read reports here and on tripadvisor gong back several years - buy and read the lonely planet guide (book or an online version)

png is not a budget destination compared to SE asia - everything is very expensive

when you say sleep in churches i think you mean the guesthouses run by religious missions like the catholics or lutherans

As a point of reference, one year ago I paid around 120 kinas for staying in a church's guesthouse (basic room) and 50 kinas for staying in a hut of a tribe. Of course the tribe/church could ask for more/less but just so you have an idea about the costs.

Overall you should budget as if you were backpacking through western europe, plus any domestic flights with 100-150 USD one-way. For example visiting Sepik you will need a flight to Wewak or similar (and back).

You may not need a guide for the whole time, but it can be advisable to have a local introduce you (maybe pay for one day "guide" to the village). Just turning up in a remote village unexpectedly is not a good idea.

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