Perhaps no region in Papua New Guinea is as beautiful and fascinating as the Sepik. The river itself — 1,126 kilometres of oily brown water meandering through dense lowland rainforest — is one of the great waterways of the Pacific, and the communities along its banks produce some of the most extraordinary art in the world. The spirit houses (haus tambaran) of the Middle Sepik villages are stunning, decorated with carved figures, painted masks, and intricate wood panels that hold deep spiritual significance.
Travel here is by dugout canoe or motorised longboat, moving between riverside villages where life has changed remarkably little. The surrounding region offers open coastline, islands, and rugged mountain ranges. Cape Moem has good diving, the Maprik area is known for Abelam yam culture, Vanimo has white sandy beaches, and the Chambri Lakes are a world of their own — floating villages on a vast inland lake. This is not easy travel, but it rewards those willing to make the effort.