PNG Guided Treks

Days
8
From
$3,395
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

Our PNG guided treks are led by our team of locally trained PNG trek leaders and designed for groups who want to experience the physical challenge of the Kokoda Trail across the original wartime route.  

While our PNG trek leaders are masters of their environment and will get you safely across the trail they only have a superficial understanding of the Kokoda campaign strategy and battlefield tactics. 

They have been leading treks across the trail for more than 20 years and are well respected by the Koiari and Orokaiva clan leaders across the trail.

Each of our PNG Guided Treks has a local medic trained in First Aid - they also carry two VHF radios and a SatPhone - and have 24/7 back up from our Adventure Kokoda HQ office in Port Moresby.

These treks are best suited for those on a budget who want to experience the physical challenge of the Kokoda Trail the culture of the Koiari and Orokaiva people across it, and a feel for the sacrifice of our diggers who conquered it.

We require a minimum of eight (8) trekkers for these groups.

What's included

  • Meals
  • All transportation
  • All accommodation
  • All trek fees
  • Mosquito-proof tents

Dates & Availability for PNG Guided Treks

Date
Status Price  
1 Jun - 10 Jun 2024
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Joe Ewua Taking Bookings $4,595 $4,195 $4,295 $3,395
16 Aug - 25 Aug 2024
Kokoda to Owers Corner
Joe Ewua Taking Bookings $4,595 $4,195 $4,295 $3,395
14 Sep - 23 Sep 2024
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Joe Ewua Taking Bookings $4,595 $4,195 $4,295 $3,395
7 May - 16 May 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Joe Ewua Taking Bookings $4,595 $5,595 $5,695 $3,395
7 Jun - 16 Jun 2025
Kokoda to Owers Corner
Joe Ewua Taking Bookings $4,595 $4,195 $4,295 $3,395

Photos from the PNG Guided Treks

FAQs about this trek

Adventure Kokoda has a strict policy of carrying our rubbish off the track.  All rubbish is collected by our PNG guides and carriers from our campsites and carried off the track for disposal. 

NO! PNG trek guides are masters of their environment however their knowledge of the Kokoda campaign and their presentation skills do not rate at this stage of their development.

Adventure Kokoda organises PNG led Kokoda treks for groups who are looking for a physical challenge in preference to learning about the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign.

Whilst our PNG leaders have been well trained in expedition leadership and are the best in the business they do not have the knowledge of the military history of the Kokoda campaign or the presentation skills to conduct battlesite briefings. 

Trekkers meeting PNG support crew on arrival at Kokoda airfield

According to reports we receive we are the only operator to provide real fresh meals along the trail.

We have obviously trained our PNG guides to prepare, cook and serve meals and this has proved to be a most attractive option to trekkers.  Life is too short for ration packs!

Our menu includes breakfast cereals, tropical fruits, biscuits, jam-vegemite-nutella-peanut butter-cheese, pasta, noodles, rice, meat and vegetables with potato, tea/coffee/hot chocolate etc as standard fare.

We are able to provide for special diets as required.

 

 

 

Most of the emergency evacuations from the Kokoda Trail are caused by gastro problems which cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea leading to dehydration - the most likely source of this condition is contaminated food cooked and served by villagers.  This is why we carry ALL of our food with our trek groups.

The distance across the Kokoda Trail between Owers Corner and Kokoda as the crow flies is 96 km. However if you were to strap a Garmin 64st GPS to the leg of the crow and get him to trek it via the wartime trail the actual distance is 143.7 km - you would also climb a total of 6748 metres.

 

Tripadvisor is the only independent and reliable forum for trekkers to post their comments in regard to their trek.  You should therefore be wary of companies who don't rate much of a mention because trekkers obviously did not rate their experience with them.

The following post illustrates the difficulties you could face if you do not conduct proper research on the company you choose:

'I do not recommend booking Kokoda with INTREPID

'Trek is an amazing experience but not with Intrepid. I was doing it in July. 
Organization of the trip was terrible but price really high (2600 -2800 pounds).

'Our guide .....oh it was impossible to understand him. First I thought - it's because of my English ( it's not my first language ) but soon I realized - nobody can't understand him. So from my point of you - the historical part didn't exist! I am not Australian i just had a tiny knowledge about the battle. Hoped I will learn more during the trip - unfortunately...nothing! Need to read about it at home.

'Another thing: it's a challenging trek. You ( or maybe just me) expect that at the end of the day person who look after the group will ask: are you ok? how are you feeling/doing?

'Nothing.Two guys were ill during the trip. The only thing they did - stopped trek when they were throwing out. People from the group cared after each other - sharing first kit, happy to help each other

'Food - disaster. For breakfast salty crackers with jam of honey, corn flakes with powder milk.....every day. Never ate it). Dinner and lunch - boiled pasta/ noodles/ spaghetti plus breakfast set. 18 meals - PASTA. Sorry...twice we had rice. No fruits - if you want to, need to get for yourself. Didn't expect amazing meals, understand that you can't get products on the way....but other groups had really great food - so if you want to, you can organise it much better than ours.
My porter was really bad too. Here I need to admit that I was unlucky because it was just few like him! He rarely was behind me - didn't have any help/security. When he was on his place .... I don't know who saved more other bottom. He landed on my back quite few times! 

'Also when he finally arrived on place where we were staying ( people from the group were enjoying water, I was waiting for my porter) , very often was leaving my backpack somewhere....I had to find it. 

'Finally .... I had a feeling that they just going with us, we weren't a group 9 I mean a crew and people from the group). The didn't stay with us after walking, didn't' talk to us etc. 

'Anyway: I think that the trek is great and Kokoda can be an amazing experience.....but think twice before you'll book it with Intrepid.

Ask annapietrasz about Kokoda Track

www.tripadvisor.com.au

 

 

Meet the Trek Leaders

Major Charlie Lynn OAM OL - Director, Adventure Kokoda

In 2015 Charlie was inducted as an Officer of the Logohu by the Government of Papua New Guinea in their New Years Honours and Awards list 'for service to the bilateral relations between Papua New Guinea and Australia and especially in the development of the Kokoda Trail and its honoured place in the history of both nations' over the past 25 years.'   More..

Tracie Watson - General Manager

Tracie is the General Manager and engine room of Adventure Kokoda - she is on-call 24/7 and will look after your every need and concern from the moment you book your trek until you arrive back in Australia.  More..

Tau Maguli - Quartermaster

Tau Maguli is our PNG Quartermaster with an enormous task, he coordinates the allocation of 350 of our PNG guides and porters to ensure each trek has an equal number from each village across the Trail and each one gets at least six (6) treks a year.  More..

Peter Morrison

Peter Morrison is an unassuming young Australian.  He first trekked with Adventure Kokoda almost a decade ago and developed a strong desire to learn more about the campaign and the people he met along the trail.  Peter is a professional boxer and former NSW Welterweight  Champion.  More..

 

Captain Reg Yates

Over the past 34 years Captain Reg Yates has explored most of the WW11 battlesites in PNG. He is fluent in Tok Pisin and is well respected by village elders along the Kokoda Trail.  More..

 

Major Scott Babington

Scott joined the Australian Army as a 16 year old apprentice in 1985.  He was promoted through the ranks and has spent over 34 years serving in the Australian Regular Army.  

Scott has worked with the United Nations in Sudan as a Military Observer and as an Adviser in Afghanistan with the US 82nd Airborne and the 3rd Infantry Divisions.  More..

 

Dave Sherry

Dave began exploring Australia as soon as he was old enough to escape Sydney.  He was born in the city but his heart was in the bush and he now lives on a farm just outside the western country town of Horsham.  There are few places in Australia that Dave hasn’t trekked on foot or explored in off-road vehicles.  He even took to the sea as a crew member on the Tall Ship HMAS Bounty during the Bicentenary in 1988.  

Dave first trekked Kokoda in 2006 and began leading expeditions across the trail in 2011.  He has now led more than 35 groups across the trail.  More..

 

Major Craig Moffat OAM

Craig joined the Australian Army in 1979 and was posted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps where he has served for 40 years with over 20 years serving in Special Operations Command as a Commando.  

Craig has seen regimental service as a soldier and officer rising through the ranks within The Royal Australian Regiment and Special Operations Command, his career culminated as soldier with two Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) appointments prior to commissioning to officer in 2005.  More..

Peter Davis

Peter served in the Army Reserve for 7 years and has two grandfathers who served in both World Wars - one being a highly decorated soldier.  Peter recently graduated with a MPhil in Military History with the Australian Defence Force Academy and is now studying for his PhD.  More..

Jake Leske

Australia’s Honey Bee.  Former Navy sailor, Jake Leske, is more than an outstanding Kokoda trek leader, he is Australia’s original ‘Honey Bee’ and a remarkable endurance athlete.  Jake first trekked with Adventure Kokoda to learn more about the Kokoda campaign.  He returned as a volunteer 2IC and later led his first trek.  More..

Warrant Officer James 'Max' Walker

James ‘Max’ Walker (first trek with Adventure Kokoda Aug 2018 – 2IC Apr 2024).  

Max Walker is a former career soldier who first joined the Australian Regular Army as a young apprentice.

During his service, Max was posted to the United Nations in Cambodia and deployed to the Republic of Narau prior to the establishment of the Australian offshore immigration detention facility.  More..

Leigh Campbell

Leigh travelled and lived in other countries from a young age, beginning in Hong Kong at the age of 3 and subsequently moving to England.  He returned to Australia when he was 15 years old.  In 1979, at the age of 18, he joined the 2/4 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, in Townsville.   

Leigh was accepted into the Special Forces area assigned to water operations as a diver and patrol medic shortly after concluding his first posting at the Malaysian air base Butterworth.  He was extensively involved in the establishment of the 3RAR's parachute capability during the latter part of his military career as a parachute stick commander, reconnaissance patrol commander, and sniper.  More..

 

Fiona Foster

Fiona has a strong passion for Kokoda, PNG and its people which was sparked as a young girl knowing her grandfather fought on Kokoda.

As a school teacher Fiona has extensive experience in developing leadership in young Australians and has been involved in the development of a leadership program within the school environment.  This saw her bring two passions together; teaching our future generations and Kokoda, whilst getting them outside of their comfort zones, and allowing them to learn about themselves.  More..

Carla Valmorbida

Carla brings great organisational skills, energy and humour to her role.  She is passionate about the Kokoda campaign and thrives on seeing how transformative and life-changing this experience can be for trekkers.

Carla was initially inspired to trek Kokoda to honour her Grandfathers service with the AIF in Buna and has now successfully participated in a number of Adventure Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge treks as a Trek Guide.  More..

Bernie Rowell

Bernie is a Kokoda tragic.  He first trekked with Kokoda to honour his father who served in New Guinea during the war.  He has since trekked it 55 times.  Bernie has transposed his success in business to his passion for leading treks across the Kokoda Trail.  More..

Major Chad Sherrin MM

Chad is a decorated Vietnam veteran - he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in action.  Chad first joined the 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8 RAR) as a tracking dog handler.  He was promoted through the ranks to Sergeant while serving with 8 RAR and served with the Battalion in Malaysia and South Vietnam.  More..

Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tracey LLB BA

Rowan is a pioneer of the Kokoda Trail.  He first trekked it 30 years ago when he served with the PNG Defence Force.  He is fluent in the local language 'Tok Pisin'.  Rowan is a military historian and is acknowledged as the most eminent authority on the strategy and tactics of the Kokoda campaign.  More..

Commodore Simon Hart CSC MSc MA

Simon joined the Australian Navy a Cadet Midshipmen in 1973 and carved out an outstanding career spanning 33 years.  He specialised in maritime surface ship operations and spent the majority of his career at sea.  More..

Why Trek with Adventure Kokoda

Our primary goal is to lead you safely across the Kokoda Trail and ensure you have an unforgettable wartime historical and cultural experience.

Charlie has led 101 expeditions across the Kokoda Trail over the past 32 years.

He previously served in the Australian Army for 21 years. During this time he saw active service in Vietnam; was assigned to the joint Australian, New Zealand and British (ANZUK) Force in Singapore/ Malaysia from 1970-72, and as an exchange instructor in Airborne Logistics with the United States Army from 1977-78. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College.

Why choose Adventure Kokoda?

Why is Kokoda so important?Dive into the History