[{"title":"Day 1 - Arrival Milne Bay","name":"Alotau","description":"<p>Welcome to Papua New Guinea. Upon arrival in Gurney, Milne Bay, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.</p><br/><p><strong>Alotau Highlights Tour</strong></p><br/><p>Enjoy lunch before setting off this afternoon to enjoy an Alotau Highlights tour. Take in and understand the beauty, history and culture of this lively town. Visit Top Town Lookout for panoramic views over the bay. Continuing on, experience some cultural demonstrations as well as a variety of arts and crafts demonstrations. Drive to the centre of town where you will then spend time exploring the local produce markets. Stroll around the colourful stalls and marvel at the bananas, taro and sweet potatoes, staples of the Melanesian diet, as well as watermelon, peanuts, cucumbers and mangoes. Return to your hotel.</p><br/><p><strong>Meals</strong></p><br/><p>Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation </strong></p><br/><p>Asurina Lodge or Alotau Waterfront Lodge (or similar)</p><br/><p><strong>Services</strong></p><br/><p>Private airport transfer</p><br/><p>Private vehicle and English-speaking guide</p><br/><p>Alotau Highlights Tour</p><br/>","lat":"-10.315703","lng":"150.45878"},{"title":"Day 2 & 3 - Kenu & Kundu Festival","name":"Alotau","description":"<p><strong>Kenu & Kundu Festival</strong></p><br/><p>After an early breakfast, by 8.00am you will be transported into the local village by traditional canoes for the Kenu and Kundu Festival in beautiful Alotau, Milne Bay Province.</p><br/><p>Over the next two days at the festival arena, you will be surrounded by the sights and sounds of this extraordinary celebration. The festival is a small and welcoming cultural celebration, offering you the chance to connect with the local community and engage directly with performers from across the province’s more than 600 islands, some who travel over 500km to join the event.</p><br/><p>The exhilarating opening ceremony sees the arrival of the convoy of canoes (kenu) arriving around the headland to the beat of their drums (kendu), having assembled at Wawgawaga village the previous day. The canoes are each intricately carved and painted to reflect the identity and stories of the communities they represent, and meticulously crafted using traditional methods passed down through generations by the ancestors of the Milne Bay people. These canoes aren’t just vessels—they’re symbols of cultural pride and historical significance. A highlight of the festival is the thrilling canoe race, where traditional war canoes compete in a fierce and exhilarating spectacle.</p><br/><p>Beyond the races, you’ll experience vibrant traditional sing-sings, where tribes from across the province showcase their unique dances and songs, adorned in elaborate costumes featuring feather headdresses and accessories, shell jewellery, and face paint. Each performance is a living expression of centuries-old traditions, brought to life with a modern twist.</p><br/><p>The food exchanges, particularly the famous Yam exchange, are another fascinating aspect of the festival. This practice, rooted in ancient trading customs, highlights the importance of yams as a symbol of wealth and prosperity in the local culture. The food exchange plays a vital role, not only providing food for performers and visiting tourists but also reinforcing economic ties between the islands. Goods such as piles of yams, fruits, vegetables, and woven items are bartered and traded, circulating in all directions.</p><br/><p><strong>Meals</strong></p><br/><p>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation </strong></p><br/><p>Asurina Lodge or Alotau Waterfront Lodge (or similar)</p><br/><p><strong>Services</strong></p><br/><p>Private vehicle and English-speaking guide</p><br/><p>Kenu & Kundu Festival</p><br/>","lat":"-10.315703","lng":"150.45878"},{"title":"Day 4 - Keleton Island","name":"Alotau","description":"<p><strong>Keleton Island Retreat Visit</strong></p><br/><p>Set off this morning from Alotau to Keleton Island Retreat where you will spend the morning relaxing on the stunning beach and swimming in the pristine waters.</p><br/><p><strong>Closing Ceremony – Kenu & Kundu Festival</strong></p><br/><p>Enjoy lunch on the island before returning to the mainland for the closing ceremony of the festival.</p><br/><p><strong>Meals</strong></p><br/><p>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</p><br/><p><strong>Accommodation</strong></p><br/><p>Asurina Lodge or Alotau Waterfront Lodge or similar</p><br/><p><strong>Services</strong></p><br/><p>Keleton Island Retreat Visit</p><br/><p>Kenu & Kundu Festival</p><br/>","lat":"-10.315703","lng":"150.45878"},{"title":"Day 5 - Departure","name":"Alotau","description":"<p><strong>Day 5 – Departure</strong></p><br/><p>Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and time at leisure until you are transferred to the airport to meet your onward flight.</p><br/><p><strong>Meals</strong></p><br/><p>Breakfast</p><br/><p><strong>Services</strong></p><br/><p>Private Airport Transfer</p><br/>","lat":"-10.315703","lng":"150.45878"}]
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