Trek from Wamena to the Baliem Valley in 5-6 days

Hi there! Discussions are rare and not recent, so I’m giving this a little bump—hope some folks are still around! ;-) I’d love to head to Wamena and trek south through the Valley over 5-6 days on foot. From what I’ve seen, finding your way isn’t exactly straightforward, and it seems best to hire a guide. I’ve never done that before because the encounters just aren’t the same...

Has anyone here explored the area? Is it feasible to trek down along the Baliem River, from Sogokmo to Kulise, then to Wamerek, cross over, and head back up along the river?

I’ve heard you should bring supplies to offer your hosts, which I’m happy to do!

What do you all think? The carefree spirit of my 20s is long gone, but I’d love to find it again, even just for a little while. ;-)

Thanks so much in advance for any tips or advice! Juliette

Hello,

I went to the Baliem Valley in September 2022. I didn’t run into any other tourists, and I found a guide on the spot to hike and stay in villages around Wamena. Navigation is pretty straightforward if you stick close to the river, but it gets seriously tricky if you head into the mountains and side valleys. One of the perks of having a guide is that they also act as a translator for lodging, meals, and chatting in the villages.

I’ve got quite a bit of info and photos in my travel journal about Papua (Wamena, Nabire, Jayapura, Sorong) and the incredible Raja Ampat archipelago here: https://forumvoyage.forumactif.com/t1778-carnet-de-voyage-papouasie-et-raja-ampat-sept-oct-2022 I can answer questions in detail in the comments on my journal.

Happy planning!