Pearl Expeditions to launch new service
New Expedition Company Brings Intimate Access to Papua New Guinea
A new Australian expedition company is set to offer an alternative approach to exploring Papua New Guinea, with plans to launch five expeditions across three distinct routes beginning in late 2025. Pearl Expeditions operates the boutique motor yacht Paspaley Pearl, which carries just 30 guests—a scale that enables access to destinations larger vessels cannot reach.
For former PNG residents, the company’s approach may offer a fresh perspective on familiar territory. Rather than conventional shore excursions, their expeditions focus on participation in local customs—from traditional sago production in Tufi’s fjords to authentic Kula exchange ceremonies in the Trobriand Islands – accessed via Zodiac expedition vessels. The small group size appears designed to facilitate genuine cultural exchanges rather than staged performances.
The company’s three routes showcase PNG’s geographical and cultural diversity. Their Cairns to Madang expedition explores the cultural heartlands, taking in historic Samarai Island, the Trobriand “Islands of Love,” and Tufi’s dramatic volcanic fjords. A New Britain circumnavigation combines WWII history with living traditions, visiting sites from Rabaul’s volcanic landscape to Kimbe Bay’s renowned marine biodiversity within the Coral Triangle. The North Coast expedition traces a path from the mighty Sepik River mouth to remote islands where traditional practices continue largely unchanged.
Pearl Expeditions offers stylishly elegant expedition travel, emphasising environmental mindfulness and authentic cultural encounters. Their expedition team works directly with local communities to arrange village visits and traditional ceremonies, aiming to create meaningful connections that respect PNG’s cultural heritage.
The company’s founder brings decades of expedition experience to Papua New Guinea’s waters, building on established relationships with coastal communities. For those who lived in PNG during earlier decades, these expeditions may provide an opportunity to reconnect with the country through a more intimate and respectful approach than traditional tourism typically allows.
Further information available by email to concierge@pearlexpeditions.com
Phone: 2 7235 9999
Website: https://pearlexpeditions.com/
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