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The Baliem Valley is a region in Papua.

[edit] Regions

[edit] Cities

Wamena is the main city in the Baliem Valley of West Papua.

Wamena is the starting point for most tours and treks into the Lani, Dani and Yali tribal lands, and you can actually go to Asmat lands from here too. These tours and treks range from local half-day walks to 30-day expeditions deep into tribal lands.

The city has 10,000 or so inhabitants, consisting of a broad mix of Paupans, Dani, Yali, Lani and other local tribes.

The city has a concrete airstrip capable of serving commuter-size jets and a serviceable airport terminal (although security is marginal at best). The airport is located within the city, so everything is readily accessible.

Electric service is reasonably reliable. The city water supply is too, but the water must be boiled and filtered before drinking.

There are a number of hotels but only the Baliem Resort Hotel has a website and accepts reservations via internet. Hotels range from comfortable, with excellent service and cable TV, to "a place to sleep". Prices seem a bit high for the area, but are actually a bargain for travelers from Europe and American.

Hotels do not offer internet service, but there are several internet cafes in Wamena. Connections come and go, and the speed is typically slow e-mail is fine, but don't expect to upload lots of photos to your travel blog). But, prices are low and there is always plenty of time so.....

[edit] Other destinations

The Baliem Valley and surrounding areas offer a glimpse into what were recently stone-age villages. The mountains to the south provide superb scenery, but are accessbile only by air and/or walking.

Wamena is the starting point for most tours and treks into The Dani and Yali tribal lands, and you can actually go to Asmat lands from here too. These tours and treks range from local half-day walks to 30-day expeditions deep into tribal lands. For example, it is possible to hike nearly 100 km into the heart of Yali tribal country.

Some of the walks up to two days can be done without a guide, but it is highly recommended to employ a guide for anything longer than than that. Trails are marginal in places, there are NO signs, and almost no English is spoken in the villages.

Guided treks range from backpacking with a guide, to backpacking with a guide and a couple of porters, up to a full expedition with guide, cooks and enough porters so you only need to carry your camera.

Backcountry trails range from a road (well, almost a road), to a well-used footpath with some steep places, to game trails, to more or less a route that requires a guide. Landslides that take out section of trails are not unusual, especially during the wet season, so detours and/or bushwacking around the slide can be expected. Trails typically involve a lot of up and down as you cross rivers at the bottom or a valley and later in the day go over a mountain pass into the neighboring valley. Starting altitude (Wamena) is about 5200 ft and many trails go over 10,000 ft passes.

(ADD: high altitude = cold, mud, log-lined trails, tree bridges, and suspension bridges made of wood and vines, backcountry lodging, backcountry re-supply)

City markets

Mummies (Jiwika and Aimika)

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

The only way to get to Wamena is flying from Jaypaura (about a 40 minute flight). That also means that EVERYTHING must be flown in, and local prices generally reflect this.

[edit] Get around

There is a road from Wamena to the south, but be aware that, due to flooding and the lack of bridges, where there are rivers only the roads are not as complete as they appear on the map. Therefore, walking and flying remain the only ways to commute outside of the proximity of Wamena.

Public transporation in Wamena consists of airport taxis, minivan taxi that run set routes, and bicycle rickshaws. Prices are reasonable, even the premium rates charged to tourists.

Private-hire vehicles (with driver) are typically a small SUV or a mid-size 4X4 pickup truck.

Hire cars ?

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Itineraries

[edit][add listing] Do

Trekking along tribal villages

[edit][add listing] Eat

Restaurants vary, with the upper end establishments offering a broad selection of Indonesian, local and, in some cases, international dishes. Local diners and street vendors offer mostly local dishes. Alcohol is NOT available anywhere in the Baliem Valley.

There is an excellent bakery located next door to the main mosque. There is always some irresitable fresh-baked confection available!

[edit][add listing] Drink

Water upstream are cool and appear to be safe to drink.

While this is true for natural springs that dot the countryside, anyone venturing into the backcountry should bring a backpacker's water filter and/or be prepared to boil water.

Wamena city water is NOT safe to drink unless boiled and filtered. Hotels and restaurants typically provide boiled and filtered water, and offer bottled water as a reasonable price. There are a number of local purification facilities that produce bottled water, generally available in 1/2 liter to 20 liter sizes.

Note that alcohol (in any form) is illegal and simply is NOT available in the Baliem Valley.

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out