Full Kokoda Track Historical Trek

Embark on a challenging journey as you trek the full Kokoda Track, uncovering its historical WWII significance & rewarding landscapes.

Our 9-day trek along the entirety of the Kokoda Track is designed to provide guests with an opportunity to experience and learn about the historical significance of the land while also gaining the personal satisfaction of completing this challenging trail. Our goal is for all trekkers to safely complete their trek, and have some fun while doing so!

This trek is longer and more strenuous than our shorter sister trip. If you prefer a slightly less strenuous trek with much more cultural interaction, stories, and demonstrations, check out our related trip.

• Enjoy a scenic flight over the brilliant green canopy to the start of the trek
• Relish the personal & shared thrill of conquering this difficult 60-mile trek
• Delve into global history by retracing the steps of American, Japanese, & Australian soldiers
• Soak in breath-taking sceneries as you traverse steep ascents, ridges, mountains, & creeks
• Uncover the local culture & traditions of the villages that we visit and stay in
• Immerse yourself in Kokoda Track life by staying overnight in village huts & savoring local cuisine
• Connect with your porter who will ensure your safety along the trail
• Marvel at indigenous flora and fauna, including stunning Birds of Paradise & magnificent butterflies
• Make a positive impact on the people & communities along the Kokoda Track

About the Kokoda Track:

The trail runs through dense jungle and rugged terrain, spanning approximately 60 miles (96 km) across the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. In 1942, this vital supply route was the site of battles between the Japanese and Australian forces. Australian forces protecting the trail, with the help of local Papua New Guineans, essentially staved off threats towards Australia. This challenging trek today uniquely draws history buffs and walking enthusiasts who appreciate knowing, on a deeper level, the culture and stories of the land they are walking on.

As leaders of this Kokoda Track tour, we consider ourselves first and foremost a community-focused organization. Our mission is threefold:

1. To provide trekkers with a challenging, life-changing experience on the Kokoda Track, while offering them an opportunity to hear the voice and stories of the local people, as told by the people of the Kokoda Track.

2. Take hikers beyond the trail, by offering opportunities to hear the voices and stories of the local people, as told by the people of the Kokoda Track. Trekkers will see firsthand what life is like in our villages.

3. Break the cycle of poverty that has existed here for decades by providing a more equitable employment experience for our porters and guides. We believe that providing more personal, immersive time in our home provides a truly unique experience that is also more sustainable.

As the only indigenous company offering Kokoda Track tours, our close relationships with the local people living near the trail have been built over many years of guiding trekkers to these communities. Our authentic connections are also what enable us to provide a special, non-cookie-cutter experience for all our guests.

Papua New Guinea is a tropical rainforest with warm, and sometimes very rainy, weather conditions and two distinct seasons: wet and dry. Rain patterns along the Kokoda Track significantly influence the tourism seasons. We are very flexible with start dates so please contact us if you are interested in a particular month as some tend to be busier than others.

• June to August: The dry season offers stable and rain-free conditions, attracting the majority of hikers and tourists. July and August in particular are the busiest times to be on the trail. The temperatures are pleasantly warm, ranging from 59°F to 82°F (15°C to 28°C), and evenings are cooler yet mild, as temperatures drop at higher altitudes. It's an excellent time for trekking as conditions are relatively predictable.
• April to May & September to Mid-October: These transition months are considered the off-season, though the trail is still viable. The track will be less crowded with other trekkers. You may encounter occasional rain showers and increased humidity, so be prepared for insect activity.

The best time to go depends on what you are looking for and your comfort level regarding the weather and sharing the trail.

Our organization was built on the premise that keeping as much of the tourism dollar in Papua New Guinea and in particular, on the Kokoda Track, would offer the best way for the communities along the track to finally benefit from tourism. We believe that supporting our porters and guides by providing a more equitable employment experience offers the best way for economic growth to occur on the Kokoda Track. More money put directly into our guides and porters means they are better able to take care of their families and educate their children.

We prioritize collaboration with local enterprises at every opportunity. Our website developer operates from Papua New Guinea, our banking services are local, and our coffee production, from growth to processing and packaging, is a national initiative. Our selection of accommodations is also deeply rooted in the local community, with a focus on local employees and a commitment to sourcing locally produced food whenever feasible.

While we are aware that Papa New Guinea requires a flight, and usually a long one, to arrive in our country, our tours and treks are, for the most part, all human-powered. One quick 15-minute flight from Port Moresby to the beginning of the track starts both our treks. After that point, all travel is by foot and there is very little access to electricity until we arrive back at the hotel at the end of the trek.

By focusing on breaking the cycle of poverty that has existed on the track for decades while at the same time, keeping our culture and traditions strong and ensuring they are passed down to the next generation, we provide the local people, our people, a realistic way to move forward and bring growth and hope to the next generation of the Kokoda Track.

Environmental Initiatives

Our trek, with the exception of the first and last day and one short flight to Efogi Village, is all foot-powered. This is the ultimate low-carbon impact activity that not only leaves very little in the way of carbon footprints but also provides an up-close look at the vegetation and plant life that grows along the track. Sustainable local food sources grow in community gardens and our guests are provided with many opportunities to taste some of the local cuisine. Our wildlife, specifically our birds, are also on display high amongst the treetops and we take special care to maintain an appropriate distance from all wildlife.

Sociocultural Initiatives
We are committed to providing our guests with an experience that is not only challenging but also culturally immersive. We ensure that there is plenty of one-on-one time for our guests and their porters to learn about each other and their respective cultures as well as experience life along the track the way it is for those who call it home.

Our guests sleep in village huts without the usual amenities that higher-income countries come to expect (like electricity and indoor/attached plumbing). Local food, local stories (told by the people who have lived them), and direct connection to the local people are a few of the jewels to be experienced along the track. The opportunity to unplug and be absolutely present in your own life is not always available, but it is here on the Kokoda Track.

Economic Initiatives

One of the pillars on which we are built is equitable employment for our guides and porters. We believe that the best way to chip away at the cycle of poverty is to educate the next generation. Paying our employees a fair wage and providing employment benefits that much of the world takes for granted, provide a means for them to take better care of their families and educate their children, both girls and boys. Eliminating the middleman in this tourism tier, allows us to better compensate our guides and porters as more of the tour dollars paid by our guests go to them (usually by way of bank accounts which we help open for them with the support and assistance of our local bank).

We are also working with local coffee farmers in the Kokoda region and our own branded coffee with net proceeds going to our Foundation. These dollars assist with scholarships for the children along the Kokoda Track for their post-Grade-8 education which is only available in the cities. This, together with the better compensation we provide, opens the door to a better-educated next generation which benefits the people and communities along the Kokoda Track as well as Papua New Guinea.

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.

The safety of everyone on our trips is our number one priority and this includes our trekkers, guides, and porters. We travel with a fully equipped medical kit on every trek and we also have an arrangement with a local helicopter company that is fully prepared to assist in the unlikely necessity of an evacuation. We are trained and certified in First Aid and always travel with a satellite telephone and two-way radio in case of emergency.

Our fully trained guides and porters have a minimum of a decade of training. We have seen all types of injuries during our many years on the track and have experienced breaks, strains, and sprains and are experienced and trained in emergency evacuation from our villages. This being said, we do require medical insurance for each guest including evacuation insurance. We also recommend consulting with your physician to determine if you require any particular vaccinations for traveling to this part of the world. We do specifically recommend malaria tablets for everyone planning a trip to Papua New Guinea but again, please consult with your physician prior to traveling.