07 Feb 2024

The Kokoda Track

TESA

Validity: 01 Apr 2023 to 31 Dec 2024

With dense greenery, difficult passes, glistening rivers and incredible views, it is hard to believe that the historic Kokoda Track was the site of one of the bloodiest battles for Australian troops in WWII. Discover the humbling history and remote beauty of the track on this 10-day adventure, with eight days of intense trekking through the Papua New Guinea mountains – a pilgrimage that honours those who fought and lost their lives here in 1942. With the guidance of your personal porter, trekking leader and a hardworking local crew to illuminate the wartime stories of the trail, this trip will see you testing your personal stamina on a journey through tiny villages and thick jungle.

Original

Walking & Trekking

Plane,Private Vehicle

5

Trekking the Kokoda Track is physically demanding and training is essential. Any training programme should consist of aerobic exercise, strength building and hiking up and down hills with a backpack. We recommend that all trekkers over the age of 40 have an exercise stress test prior to commencement of training. Those with risk factors such as obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or strong family history of cardiac disease should consider an exercise stress test even if under the age of 40. Trekkers with known cardiac disease should have a stress echocardiogram or myocardial perfusion study prior to commencement of training. The historical length of the war-time track is 96 km, however today’s track measures roughly 165 km (this includes side trips and detours), which is the distance you will be walking. This equates to around 20 km per day. The track is a narrow, uneven, muddy path with numerous steep inclines and declines. The climate is hot and humid. Click here to view our Kokoda Training Guide: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/sites/intrepid/files/101701_Intrepid_KokodaTrack_Training.pdf

Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby

Islander Drive

Waigani

Port Moresby

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Phone: 675 3032002

The new Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby is next to the Holiday Inn Port Moresby (about 200m walk) in a great central location. Facilities include free wifi in room, colour tv, private facilities, air-con and a restaurant. Check in time from 2pm. Check out time by 11am

Arrival and departure transfers are complimentary if you advise your booking agent of your flight details (or any amendments) at least 2 weeks prior to departure. On arrival to Port Moresby Airport, once you clear customs you will be met by a representative from our local operator, South Sea Horizons. The airport transfer is only valid if you arrive today or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please ensure you provide us with your flight arrival time no later than seven days before your trip commences. If we do not receive this information we will not be able to meet you at the airport. Late night arrival in particular may make it difficult and daunting for you to make your way to the starting point on your own. If you have not provided us with your arrival information, you will need to look for a representative from Holiday Inn out the front of the airport to direct you to the transfer bus.

Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby

Islander Drive

Waigani

Port Moresby

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Phone: 675 3032002

The new Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby is next to the Holiday Inn Port Moresby (about 200m walk) in a great central location. Facilities include free wifi in room, colour tv, private facilities, air-con and a restaurant. Check in time from 2pm. Check out time by 11am

1. This is a very physically & mentally challenging trip. Travellers MUST be in exceptional physical health to undertake this trip. A Passenger Self Assessment form is required when booking this trip. 2. Strict luggage limits apply. Please see Packing for details. 3. Return airport transfers are included, provided you advise your flight details at the time of booking. 4. Special Anzac Day departures operate on 15 April & 24 April. 5. The minimum age for this trip is 18 years old and bookings for minors, even if accompanied by a parent, cannot be accepted. 6. A t-shirt commemorating your Kokoda trek is included in the price of your tour. Please ensure you provide your t-shirt size 8 weeks prior to your tour commencing to ensure we are able to order you the correct fitting shirt. 7. A rucksack (to be carried by your porter), day pack (to be carried by you) are included in your trip cost. 8. A sleeping mat and walking pole are NOT supplied so you will need to bring these with you.

Our Kokoda trips are accompanied by a crew consisting of a tour leader, a lead man, and the porters. We have established a partnership directly with the local landowners to ensure that our clients receive not only the best value for their trip, but also the best cultural interactions possible. In choosing to support this collective of landowners, we have been able to select the best of the Kokoda Track's local guides and porters to work with us. Our guides have been trekking the Kokoda Track for up to 10-15 years and have learnt the skills, knowledge and tricks of the trade from many extremely experienced and long-established Kokoda Track tour operators. The collective was created by local experienced guides from the Kokoda Track, and its members represent a number of villages from Nauro to Eora Creek. The collective was formed with the objective to empower local landowners along the track and to enhance the international profile of local guides, many of whom are the original descendants of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. We are working with the collective to provide ongoing training and development opportunities for local people - we hope that with time, our porters of today will gain the experience to become lead man, and ultimately tour leaders. TOUR LEADER: Each group will be assigned a local tour leader who will be responsible for communication with home base, decision making on the track and liaising between the lead man, porters and trekkers. The tour leader has ultimate responsibility for the group on the Track, and has the authority of us in all instances - including making decisions on whether a trekker can continue if sick or injured. Due to the remote locations being trekked and the limited resources available locally, it is imperative that the seniority of the tour leader is respected and supported by all trekkers. The lead man and porters will not act against the instruction of the tour leader. Any decisions made by the tour leader reflect the needs and safety of the whole group which must be prioritised above the wishes of individual clients. LEAD MAN: The lead man will be at the front end of the group at all times and is responsible for setting the pace for the trekking group. The lead man is the senior assistant to the tour leader and he will be in contact with the tour leader who is positioned at the back end of the group. PORTERS: Included in your tour cost is the assistance of a personal porter to carry your main kit. Please note that there is a weight limit of 10 kilograms for personal belongings carried by the porters as they will also carry your additional food and their own personal belongings.. Any additional items will need to be carried by the trekkers themselves in day-packs - each day you will be asked to carry your own water and one day’s snack pack as well as personal items such as your camera, guidebook etc. We include a 1:1 trekker to porter ratio to promote relationship building between porters and trekkers. Our aim is to provide greater employment opportunities for porters as well as ensuring that all our trekkers complete the trek from start to finish. For some trekkers, part of the challenge is to carry their own pack - we encourage you to take advantage of the porter's presence so that you can focus on enjoying the trek and staying safe and well. By nature, local people are quite shy, so if they offer their hand to assist you and you decline, they will wait for you to ask for help in the future. Their experience and kindness will astound you and we encourage you to use this unique opportunity to get to know them as much as possible. Try to look at your Kokoda Track trek as an exercise in partnership rather than as a challenge for the individual. Our intention is that the relationship between the trekkers and the porters becomes one of the most important experiences of the trip, reflecting the wartime bonds between Australian troops and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines

EVACUATION: The Kokoda Track is isolated and medical, including emergency rescue services are not easily available. We have drawn up a contingency plan for evacuation from along the track in the unlikely event of a serious problem occurring, however even in the case of an emergency, evacuation services may not be accessible up to 48 hours after an incident occurring.

WiFi is available at our hotel in Port Moresby. There are only very limited places along the Kokoda Track where there will be mobile phone reception, so we advise you leave your phone in storage at the hotel with your main luggage.

PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements

Trek the famous Kokoda Track the ethical way. We partner with a local cooperative that ensures local communities benefit directly from your visit.

Hear incredible tales of wartime courage from the local historian in Brigade Hill

Hike up the arid spines of mountains and through valleys of lush rainforest, stopping to cool off in pristine rivers along the way.

Meet the people who live in this region, learn about the local cultures and contribute to these small and remote communities.

Trek every step with a personal porter, trekking leader and crew – all locals – to ensure that you have the best experience possible while supporting employment in the region.

The Kokoda Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres — 60 kilometres in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. On our trip we complete this distance over 8 days. The Track is a narrow, uneven, muddy path with numerous steep inclines and declines. The physical challenges of the Kokoda Track are immense. Expect long, demanding days of hiking through steep, sometimes slippery terrain, often to points of high altitude and under a hot sun. Mornings are early, with the daily trek commencing at sunrise. You will be required to complete a Passenger Self-Assessment form for this trip, available from your booking agent. We also recommend you undertake a training program before you begin. Due to the strenuous nature of the trek, the minimum age for this trip is 18 years old. Bookings for minors, even if accompanied by a parent, cannot be accepted. The accommodation while on trek is basic and multishare, often in communal village huts or tents. Please note that you will be sharing a mixed gender sleeping space unless camping. Tents are provided and carried by your porter. This trip is operated by our trusted partner South Sea Horizons, however you will be travelling on a dedicated Intrepid departure. Intrepid works closely with South Sea Horizons to ensure that all of our customers have a meaningful and safe time on the track.

GENERAL HEALTH All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. For the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, if you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the assessment of our group leader or local representative a traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements in their original packaging as they may not easily be obtained while travelling. If you are carrying medication, ensure you check your government's foreign travel advice for any local restrictions or requirements.  MALARIA & MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES: Please be aware of the high malarial risk in PNG - it has the highest rate of infection in the world. The most effective method of malaria prevention is to avoid mosquito bites. Liberal use of insect repellent and mosquito netting are essential. We strongly recommend you discuss the malaria situation with your doctor and take the precautions recommended. . Dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases also occur, including in Port Moresby. Cases of chikungunya virus have also been reported since 2012. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria where necessary and to take measures to avoid mosquito bites, including using insect repellent at all times, wearing long, loose-fitting, light coloured clothing and using a mosquito net at night. The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis is a risk throughout PNG but the risk to short-term visitors to urban areas is relatively low. A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is registered for use and is currently available in Australia. For further details please consult your travel health doctor. CHAFING & FOOT CARE: Chafing is a potentially serious problem in the moist jungle environment of the Kokoda Track, leading to bleeding, skin infections and extreme discomfort. It can be prevented by the wearing of bike-pants-style elastic undergarments such as Skins. Careful, early attention should be given to any areas that appear to be chafing with liberal use of barrier ointments like Bepanthen. Infected chafing areas may require antibiotic therapy. Foot care is vital on the Kokoda Trail. Worn-in, supportive waterproof boots are a necessity. We recommend inner and outer hiking socks to minimise shearing, with at least a new set every second day. Ensure toenails are trimmed throughout the trek. Where possible, allow your feet to dry (eg. lunchbreaks, during the evening). When crossing creeks without your boots on, be sure to wear reef sandals or Croc-style shoes to avoid cuts and scratches from submerged rocks. Take similar care while bathing in the creeks and streams. Fungal infections can be prevented by the application of antifungal powder or cream in the evenings. Prevention of blisters can be achieved by applying hydrocolloid pad dressings (eg Dr Scholl, Spenco) to pressure areas. These often come off in extreme moisture and require an elastoplast dressing over the top to remain in place. The common pressure areas are the side of the big toe and the ball of the foot, but obviously this varies and individuals should become familiar with their particular pressure areas during training. Treatment of blisters consists of keeping them clean and avoiding further abrasion. Commercial blister pads (Dr Scholl, Spenco, Band-Aid) are useful for this purpose. Antibiotics may be required if the blisters become infected with bacteria.

We provide freshly prepared meals when you are on the trek, as well as some additional snacks for each trekker. Wherever possible our meals are also supplemented using fruit and vegetables from the villages that we pass through. You will be asked to pay for your own hotel meals in Port Moresby. All other meals are included in the cost of the expedition. Local food consists of various combinations of the following: rice, pasta, sweet potato, potato, yams, corn, taro, oranges, mandarins, cabbage, bananas, pineapples, paw paws, sago and coconut. Clients who have special dietary requirements should discuss with us their specific needs well in advance of departure so that we can try to plan food that is suitable for you. Trekkers are advised to carry some money (approximately PGK100-150) in small amounts, as limited additional supplies can be purchased along the track if you wish.

SPENDING MONEY When it comes to spending money on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. Make sure you have read the itinerary and inclusions thoroughly so you know what is included in the trip price and what you may need to pay for while travelling. CONTINGENCY FUNDS We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itineraries including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. Make sure you have access to an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved. The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers, however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs. ACCESSING MONEY: The US dollar and Australian dollar are also major currencies and easily changeable. We advise not trying to exchange funds into Kina outside of PNG as the rates will be very poor. The best advice is to carry AU$ cash. This, along with major foreign currencies, can be changed in banks throughout the country, especially in Port Moresby. There are ATMs and exchange points in Port Moresby, Kokopo and Rabaul. Please note that costs in PNG are surprisingly high as many goods must be imported from Australia. You should budget A$60-$100 per day per person for meals and expenses at our hotels in Port Moresby and East New Britain. Whilst tipping trekking crew is optional, many people are generally happy to give a tip at the end of their Kokoda trek. As a guide, porters are usually tipped around K100.00 per person. Tips are usually collected as a group at the end of the trek and given to the Trek leader, who distributes amongst all members of the trekking crew including guides, cooks and porters.

EQUIPMENT: A rucksack to pack your belongings in (carried by your porter and provided to you on day 1 of the trip), day pack to pack items needed while trekking (to be carried by you) are both included in the cost of your tour. Max weight of your rucksack and day pack combined should not be more than 12kg. We recommend the following items for your trek (non-essential items are marked with an * ). • Sleeping mat - we have simple foam sleeping mats we can provide however they may have been used multiple times prior to your trip. We encourage you to bring your own for comfort. • Trekking poles (we do not supply these) •A light weight sleeping bag that is good to around -2 degrees Celsius. •An inflatable pillow * . •A silk or cotton sleeping sheet *. •A spare bag for leaving your extra clothes in storage in Port Moresby during your trek. •Strong plastic bags or a dry bag to waterproof the contents of your backpack and daypack. •Cutlery set - plate and/or bowl, large cup/mug, knife, fork & spoon. •A multi-purpose pocket knife (do not place in cabin luggage on flights). •Head torch (practical and light, LED versions are efficient). Remember to bring a spare bulb and batteries. •Two one-litre water bottles/bladders that are strong and light. Bear in mind water-purifying tablets take 1 hour to work so you should always have a backup water bottle or 2 water bladders to rotate. • Camera *. A waterproof camera is strongly suggested - alternatively investigate if there is a waterproof casing (designed for watersports) available for your particular model of camera. If you wish to bring a good quality camera that is not waterproof consider a quality dry bag from an outdoors shop to protect it. Take spare batteries and resist the temptation to constantly 'review' digital images as there will be no opportunities for recharging outside Port Moresby. •Sunglasses •Book or cards for down time * •Lightweight, quick dry towel

We like to think our Intrepid travellers are all connected by a love of adventure and passion for seeing the world in a different way. We've laid down a few non-negotiable rules to ensure everyone feels connected, comfortable and safe on our trips. We ask that you respect your fellow travellers, group leader or local representative, and local people and places we visit in all circumstances. We don't tolerate any forms of violence and expect that you follow the local laws, customs and regulations in any destination we travel to. Any behaviour contrary to the above, including any behaviour that prevents our staff from performing their duty of care or continuing the itinerary as planned, may result in travellers being removed from the trip. If you consume alcohol while travelling, we encourage responsible drinking and expect you to abide by local alcohol laws. To ensure the well-being of everyone on the trip, all decisions made by group leaders or local representatives and ground staff are final. Romantic relationships between travellers and group leader or local representative are not permitted while on trip. By travelling with us, you agree to comply with these rules and the laws and customs of all countries visited. If something is concerning you during your travels with us, please speak to your group leader or local representative immediately. Alternatively, contact us on the emergency contact number detailed in your Essential Trip Information’s Problems and Emergency Contact section.

Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travellers like you. Share your experience with us at: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback/

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip. We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager. You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time. For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/ In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below: Intrepid local operator : Available for phone call on +675 73885036; +675 70190972; +675 7100 9934‬

Our Responsible Travel Policy outlines our commitment to preserving the environment, supporting local communities, protecting the vulnerable, and giving back to the places we travel. All our trip group leaders or local representatives, suppliers, and staff are trained on these principles and are core to us delivering sustainable, experience-rich travel. Explore the different parts of our Responsible Travel Policy by visiting: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/responsible-travel

We created our not-for-profit, the Intrepid Foundation because you – our travellers – told us you wanted to make an even greater impact in the communities you visit. The Foundation works by teaming up with partners around the world so that together we can deliver greater positive impact at scale. Partners are identified by our local staff who live and work in our destinations. They harness their powerful community connections to determine the issues that matter most and select local partners who can deliver real solutions. Since 2002, the Intrepid Foundation has raised more than $14million dollars and supported more than 160 communities worldwide. Now, with over 40 partners all over the world, your donations are helping to restore forests in Kenya, empower women in Honduras and promote elephant welfare in Laos, to name just a few. For more information about the Intrepid Foundation, please ask your group leader or local representative or visit our website: http://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/ This trip supports Eden Reforestation Projects, who are tackling climate change by restoring forests across the world; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within communities. Donations support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries, including Kenya and Nepal. Intrepid will double your impact by dollar-matching post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation. To find out more or make a donation, visit: www.theintrepidfoundation.org/t/eden-reforestation-projects

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services

As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. The Intrepid Kokoda Track includes a personal porter for each traveller trekking with us. This service is included in the trip price, and guarantees you have every assistance you need throughout the trek. Included in the trip price is also a food porter at the ratio of one porter to every two Intrepid travellers. By including these services, we ensure we are supporting local employment in Papua New Guinea whilst providing you with the highest level of service throughout your journey.

Hotel (2 nts),Village community hut or camping (8 nts)