The Sepik River and its Art

The Sepik, one of the great rivers of the world, winds for over a thousand kilometres through the remote lowlands of northern Papua New Guinea, sustaining one of the most fascinating riverine cultures on earth. The villages strung along its muddy, meandering waters are renowned for their extraordinary art and spiritual life, above all the haus tambaran, or spirit houses, soaring gabled structures that are the ceremonial heart of village life, and the masterful, intricate wood carvings of masks, figures and canoes. Ancient rituals, including scarification initiations, still endure along its banks.

What to look for

• The spirit houses - the soaring gabled haus tambaran.
• The wood carvings - the masterful masks, figures and canoes.
• The river villages - the stilt communities along the water.
• The living rituals - the initiations and ceremonies.

When to go

May to October, the drier season, for the most manageable river travel, though the Sepik is hot, humid and remote year-round; river levels and access vary with the season. Travel is by boat and small aircraft, almost always as part of an organised expedition with local guides through the region.

Good to know

The Sepik is deeply remote and undeveloped, reached only by flight and river boat, with very basic village accommodation and real logistical challenges, so it is a genuine expedition suited to adventurous, culturally curious travellers, usually on organised trips. Visits should be respectful of living traditions and sacred sites. For those who make the journey, though, the Sepik's spirit houses, art and enduring culture are among the most extraordinary in the world.

Nearby

The coastal town of Wewak and the northern lowlands are the gateways.