We're planning a trip to PNG for 5 - 10 days next March. I'm interested in a travel agency, but don't want group trips. Any recommendations? Thanks,

I'm not sure where you reside but any travel agency in Australia can get you to PNG.

Tourism is not really big in PNG but that's not to say don't go there. What is the attraction for you? diving? Fishing?

A quick Google search revealed these links however, I am not actually recommending them just finding a starting point.

Please always be very careful whilst in PNG.

http://www.papuanewguinea.travel/wantokspecialists
http://www.pngholidays.com.au/about-us_png-travel.php

If you want to look over some threads/info re PNG -- they are located on the Asia Forum, not Oz/Pacific.

Thanks, I couldn't find PNG and yet I think of it as Australia/Pacific. I've always been interested in cultures of all kinds. We are snorkeling in the Solomon Islands and I'd love to see some of the local villagers. What do you mean "always be very careful"? Is it dangerous? We've visited the Amazonia area of S. America a number of times. I love the plant life, wilderness, undeveloped terrain. We're in the USA.

The Australian Government website Smart Traveller advises for PNG - "Exercise a high degree of caution".
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/

It's not the sort of place Australians normally visit but the few people I know who have been there say it's interesting, a difficult place to get around, also not particularly safe.

Kay

The Solomon Islands are not part of PNG. Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands, is that where you plan to fly into? Safety in The Solomons is better than in PNG. Our government smart traveller website states normal safety precautions for the Solomons.

If you're going for the diving in don't think you'd be disappointed. I am not a diver and have only snorkelled whilst living in Bougainville but I know there's a few wrecks etc off the coast there.

I highly recommend Trans Nuigini Tours: http://www.pngtours.com/

Our first trip inland after a dive trip was with them.

The second trip was with a group arranged by ElderTreks, which is probably not what you want. We are going again either in 2017 or 2018 and, although I'd feel somewhat comfortable arranging things myself, I don't want to spend the amount of time involved, as well as not having the knowledge and ability to solve a problem if it should arise (such as our plane not turning up at an airfield when it should--happened on our first trip). With cell phones everywhere, now, it wouldn't be as much of a problem as it was 15-20 years ago, but I still would rather have the knowledge and clout of Trans Nuigini behind us. We'll be having them put together our next trip, and will have one of their people come along with us.

BTW, you'll love diving around the Solomons--my most favorite place, even more than around PNG.

I don't know why Fodors has PNG under Asia (I suppose for the Indonesian side of New Guinea) and not also, or instead of, under Australia and The Pacific. After all, even the western half is still in the Pacific!

If you want to look at my trip report for the ElderTreks trip, here is the link: https://sites.google.com/site/evecolorado/Home The links to more pictures at the bottom of the report no long work and "one of these days" I'll have to get around to doing something about that!

Try Madang Resort. they are agents for most good travel in PNG and the islands.

Ask to speak to Alex or one of his staff.

Sorry for the confusion and appreciate all your responses. We are traveling to the Solomon's for a live aboard snorkeling trip, but I've always wanted to visit PNG too. So in addition to snorkeling in the Solomon's we are planning to visit PNG since they are in the general neighborhood. The US state department often cautions travelers to just about every country. I wasn't sure if there are particular concerns for travelers to PNG or just the usual. I'll check on Australia's cautions too.

evecolorado: I love your pictures. That's exactly why I want to visit! Thank you for sharing.

Klandres, PNG is problematic.Moresby and Lae are violent, stay awAy except for airports. Alotau is the place to go for Milne Bay and Solomons. Madang and Jais Abenaki are nice on the north coast.

Jais Aben Sorry for autospell