Papua New Guinea Visa RequirementsFor United Kingdom passport holders

Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of New Guinea island plus numerous smaller islands. It is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth, with over 850 distinct languages spoken (more than any other country), thousands of tribal groups maintaining traditional cultures (including some of the world's last traditional cultures), and extraordinary biological diversity including over 700 bird species (many endemic, including 38 species of bird-of-paradise). PNG was a British and Australian territory before independence in 1975, maintaining Commonwealth membership and close ties with the UK and Australia. For British visitors, PNG is a challenging but extraordinary destination: the tribal culture of the Highlands, the extraordinary diving of Kimbe Bay and Milne Bay, and the historical WWII sites are world-class.

No direct UK-PNG flights exist. Connect to Port Moresby (POM) via Sydney or Brisbane (Air Niugini or Qantas, Australia is the main hub for PNG), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), or Manila (Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific). Air Niugini is PNG's national carrier with flights to Australia, Philippines, and some Pacific islands. From Port Moresby, domestic flights connect to Lae, Mt Hagen, Madang, and other PNG destinations. Total journey from London to Port Moresby is approximately 24-28 hours.

Papua New Guinea uses the Papua New Guinean kina (PGK). PNG is expensive for a developing country due to logistics costs: budget $150-300 USD per day for mid-range travel including accommodation, domestic flights, and organized activities. Organized dive liveaboards and cultural tours are the most reliable way to experience PNG and range from $200-500+ per day all-inclusive. Port Moresby is considered a high-risk city for personal safety; use official taxis and hotel transportation at all times in the city.

Sepik River: one of the world's great river expeditions, 1,126 km through remote jungle, with traditional Haus Tambaran (spirit houses) decorated with extraordinary Sepik art. The Highlands: the annual Goroka Show (September, one of the world's great tribal festivals with hundreds of clans in traditional paint and feather decorations) and Mount Wilhelm (PNG's highest peak, 4,509m). Kimbe Bay (West New Britain): world-class coral diving with extraordinary marine biodiversity (unspoiled reefs and WWII wrecks). Tufi: dramatic fjords (the only fjords in the tropics) and world-class wall diving. Milne Bay: extraordinary diving on WWII shipwrecks. Bird-of-paradise watching: hire local guides at Varirata National Park near Port Moresby for early morning sightings.