Costs for 7days in Goroka & Mt. Wilhelm

Hello, I have been to PNG by myself for a week in May2012 to climb Mt.Wilhelm. Before traveling, what I wanted to know most was how much Kina I would need for my stay. So, I think it’s good that I share the information on costs with people who plan to travel there.

Total Kina I spent for a week was approx.1100K (including visa, food, accommodation, Mt Wilhelm trek, souvenirs, PMV fare, but not including flights).

The details are as follows:

The Lutheran Guest House, Goroka (110K pppn incl. breakfast):
Within an easy walk from Goroka airport. I stayed in the very clean two-bed room with a hot shower, and a flash toilet. I was there for two nights and interestingly, majority of the guests there were from PNG. Telephone number changed to: +67 5532 1171(1124 for Fax). No dinner provided on Sun. Dinner 25K. Laundry service 8K for a load (No tumble dryer available). Coffee/tea 0.80K/cup.

PMV ride from Goroka to Kundiawa (15K/one way)
There was no additional charge for my luggage. There was a thief in the PMV.

PMV ride from Kundiawa to Kegesugl (25K/one way)
This very sceneric ride took 3.5Hrs. There was no additional charge for my luggage.

East Kegesugl Guest House, Kegesugl (60Kpppn without meals)
I stayed there the day before and after the trek. Hot shower and electricity were available in the limited hours only, so it’s good idea to bring a head lamp. If you want to have meals, then you buy rice etc. at the local shops and Josephine will cook for you for an additional 10K/dinner using some veggies from her garden. I was also asked to provide them cooking oils, matches, salt for cooking and refreshments such as coffee/sugar. Contact: Arnold Umba 72810831

Mt.Wilhelm trek guide fee (180K for 3D2N)
It includes one guide and one porter, but not foods. They were arranged at the East Kegesugl Guest House. The guide cooked a simple meal in evenings. You also need to pay 10K for an entrance fee which is paid to the ranger.

A-frame hut (70K pppn)
I stayed this mountain hut at 3500M in altitude for two nights to acclimatize. There were mattresses and pillows, but no blanket. You need to bring a winter sleeping bag. There was a kitchen equipped with a gas cooking stove, cutlery, dishware, and cooking utensils.

Foods and groceries (Goroka):
Take away food (Lamb stew with rice, tasted horrible!) 8.0K
A can of cola 3.0K
Nescafe portion (for 4 servings) 1K
Soap 1K/bar
Toilet roll 1K/roll

Others:
Digicel SIM card 20K (incl.2.5K credit worth 2-3mins talk)
Visa on arrival 100K in cash (They did not accept USD)

Traveling advice:

1) Big notes like 100K or 50K were not practical to carry especially in villages. People don’t normally have changes. You should ask for smaller notes like 5K-20K when exchanging money on your arrival.

2) When getting PMV from Kundiawa to Kegesugl, the bus crew initially tried to overcharge me with double the normal price. My advice is that you do not ask the bus crews what the fare is. Ask the guest house or other passengers in advance and quietly pay the amount you already know is right. My trekking guide told me that PMV fare is fixed by the government,so people pays the same amount for the same route.

3) Be careful with thieves -there was one in the PMV from Gorkoka to Kundiawa. The guy was very friendly and helpful initially, and pretended that he was helping me with exchanging a big note (100K) at the nearby shop. I was on my own and at that time had to watch my luggage, so stupidly let him go. He walked away with the money.

4) If you would like to get a trekking guide without prior arrangement, I don’t recommend picking one up on the street. It’s better asking at the guesthouse you stay or follows other travellors recommendations. I met the tourist who was in a big trouble in the mountain with his dodgy guide. The guide made the tourist buy lots food for their trek including 4kg rice (for two persons for1N2D!!) but turned out that all the food mysteriously disappeared by the time they started the climb and the tourist had a hard time without food.

Hope it helps. Any questions regarding with the trip to Mt.Wilhelm are welcome!
Mena

Edited by: mineminezou