Arrive at Port Moresby in time for an expedition team briefing in the evening to meet the team and to ensure everyone is prepared. At this brief the detailed information for the following day will be provided as will the health and safety guidelines for trekking. Gear checks will be done to ensure you have enough of the right, but not too much, gear.

Note: Your international flight costs are not included within the trek package cost. We can assist you with your flight arrangements upon request.

After a breakfast we will leave the Hotel for an earlyish start and possibly a long wait at the charter company. Here all equipment and supplies will be sorted and weighed for the charter – including all passengers. The team may be divided in two for two separate flights of about 40 minutes to our first destination – the village of Dorobisoro. You will be introduced to your personal carrier who will carry your gear (except your day pack). We will most likely be welcomed and spend a short while enjoying the local hospitality, inspecting the medical outpost, and maybe an early lunch before heading out on the Ghost Mountain Trail along the Mimai River. This is a beautiful walk mostly beside the river, across the base of a waterfall and crossing the river on a log bridge as we make our way through three small villages (Abavana1, Abavana2 and Mimai) to the village of Laronu. This is a three to five hour walk. We may have a traditional welcome at Laronu and settle into our accommodation (guest house or tent) – depending on what is available. Dinner here will be a combination of local food and supplies brought in via our charter. In the evening there will be a detailed briefing for the following day and time will be spent organising carriers and loads for the following day’s walk. The sound of running water in the Mimai River will be the background for sleep.

Preparations will commence pre dawn for our carriers and guides and for us. After breakfast and a lot of organising and farewell we will start the climb from the edge of Laronu village up to the lookout overlooking and about 450 metres (1500 ft) higher than the village. It is a steep climb beside gardens and through jungle before coming out on a grassland knoll. This puts us at the start of the ridge that climbs all the way to the top of Mt Obree (Ghost Mountain) at 3080 metres (10,200ft). The path we will take is a section of the Ghost Mountain Trail.
From there we continue in the footsteps of the 126th Infantry Regiment (Red Arrows) and where the attempted resupply by air was made. The resupply, being packages dropped straight out of C47’s was not very successful, with most packages landing in the surrounding jungle, or being destroyed on impact with the ground. We will walk through gardens where Oidobe (a small village) was in 1942. The walk is still upwards but pleasant and becomes a little cooler as we reach our camp for the night – Camp Arakarea at about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft). We should arrive here mid to late afternoon. Tents will be the accommodation for the night with a covered area for our “kitchen” and eating/gathering area. The weather on the mountain can be quite variable so wet misty or even rainy weather is quite possible. The night will be cool. This is not far from the habitat of the famous PNG Singing Dog – so listen out in the evening for their unique howl (and through the next day we will keep our eye out for scats to add to the research). A recap of the day and a briefing for the following day’s early start will wrap things up. Don’t be surprised if the carriers keep their fires going throughout the night and stay up recounting stories (ask them about camping on Mount Obree….).

We will depart after breakfast at first light, deviating now from the Ghost Mountain Trail up towards Mt Obree (“Ghost Mountain”) then deviating again on to a specially cut track to our destination of the Flying Dutchman camp, or “Camp Hula Hula” – on the edge of the alpine grassland area to the north of the crash site. The walk is over quite rough terrain, and obstacles of fallen trees, high altitude bamboo vines, wet soggy ground/creeks all under a fairly thick jungle canopy. Some sections are quite steep. The further we climb the cooler it gets – if you stop walking for too long. The camp is at about 2,700 metres (9,000 ft). Similar camping arrangements to the previous night. Beanies, gloves and down jackets will not go astray tonight! At this altitude we are in a “Moss Forrest” with quite different and gnarly vegetation with plenty of epiphytes – all still towering above our heads.

Wake at first light and have a warming breakfast before setting off to the Flying Dutchman nestled on the side of Mt Obree. Hear the full story of the crash, the survivor’s journey and the tragedy. Hear of the search attempts in 1942, 1944, 1961, 1986, 2020 and 2024. We will spend some time here and pay reverence to those who passed away at this site and also those lost in trying to trek out for help. Weather and time permitting, those who wish may be able to summit Mt Obree (subject to fitness and weather conditions). Back at camp you can hear in more detail about what the veterans said of this mountain and the march and what they faced in the battle at Buna and Sanananda. Listen at night for the PNG Singing Dog – thought to be extinct in this area until very recently. Learn about the locals plans for these lands and their subsistence hunting.

After breakfast we head down the mountain to Camp Arakarea. You may find going down the rough tracks even more difficult than coming up. The carriers will assist where necessary, and it is important not to rush in order to avoid injury. Tonight will be our last night camped in the jungle, and a good opportunity to talk and contribute ideas to future expeditions. The Kundu drums may be beating tonight.

For those interested in climbing an extra 300 metres in elevation and an extra 2 - 3 hours of trekking, there is the option of returning via Ghost Mountain summit.

More downhill today all the way to Laronu at around 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level. We should get in by midday if we make an early start – plenty of time to get washed up and maybe dry out and ready for the final day on Ghost Mountain Trail. There will be plenty of opportunity to cool off in the Mimai river that runs through the middle of the village. Celebrations in the village that night are a possibility and we will be enjoying local food. Bring your best singing voice.

An early start to beat the heat of the day and a 3 to 4 hour walk back to Dorobisoro to wait the arrival of our charter back to Port Moresby. Take more time to talk to the local people and see what their health and education needs are in this area. Don’t be surprised if we have an extra passenger or two – getting people out for medical assistance. Learn of the project underway through PNG Tribal to help these communities with health and education.

After our last group Breakfast, we say goodbye to our fellow travelers and make our way to Jacksons International Airport for our onward journey.