There's much more to Kokoda than the Trail.

You don't have to walk the Trail to experience Kokoda's historical, cultural, and natural attractions. Kokoda Homestay offers visitors a unique holiday opportunity to enjoy traditional village life in a safe and beautiful setting. It's also perfect for trekkers needing a rest and time to slow down and enjoy the amazing Kokoda area. You can be as active or lazy as you like—it's your holiday.

You'll stay in a thatched guest house, eat fresh, locally grown foods and enjoy the cool (not cold!), clear mountain streams.

Some visitors will be interested in the unique birds and butterflies in the gardens and surrounding forests, while others will take the opportunity to learn traditional crafts. If you prefer, just lie back, relax and enjoy your vacation.

If you don't feel like walking the entire Kokoda Trail, you can take day walks along short sections of it with local guides who know every part of the forest and its history. Many people prefer to remain in the Kokoda Valley and visit some or all of the six Homestay villages there, where both Orakaiva and Biage cultures are represented.

Your own tour
Because each village offers something different, you choose places to stay that offer what you want. Most villages are only a few kilometres apart so you can easily move between them. Walking is the normal mode of local transport, but porters are always available and, if your prefer, transport can usually be arranged (at additional cost).

What is Homestay? In Kokoda Homestay villages your accommodation will be a traditional guest house. These stand about a metre above the ground to allow air to circulate. They have skilfully thatched roofs that keep you dry and shaded. Guest houses have a wooden floor and most are divided into rooms to provide privacy. Being built in the traditional way means they don't have doors and there's no glass in the windows, so it's a good idea to carry a mosquito net.

In some villages the guest house is a single, large space shared by all the guests. Some visitors prefer the authenticity of this more traditional layout.

One person from the village will sleep next to the door to provide assistance should you need it and ensure only guests enter the building.

Food
Your Homestay includes all meals. The food is simple but highly nutritious. All the villages have extensive gardens that provide fresh, nutritious vegetables and fruit. Meat is used sparingly except for ceremonial occasions, partly due to its limited availability and also due to religious practices in some villages. Simple breads are a popular addition to meals, as are fresh eggs, noodles and spreads.

All villages have excellent, clean water supplies.

Other services
As well as food and a place to sleep, each Kokoda Homestay village provides you with a porter (should you need one) and an English-speaking guide. Your guide will accompany and assist you in every way possible until you are introduced to the next village.
Each village has its favorite, special places and your guide is available to take you to any that you wish to visit. This may involve walks ranging from five minutes to a full day. Birds and butterflies abound in the area and watching them is a popular activity. Villagers are also happy to teach you the basics of their traditional crafts, always a great way to get to know people better.

Who gets the kina*?
Part of the money each village receives from Homestay visitors pays the people who look after you (guides, porters, cooks, gardeners and so on). The rest goes towards improving village facilities and especially their elementary schools, which receive almost no support from the government.

		*A kina is the basic unit of PNG currency.   Current exchange rates are available here.
		What does each village offer?