Sepik River
The longest river in Papua New Guinea, winding through wetlands and rainforest. Villages along its banks are known for tall spirit houses, wood carving and masks, reached by motorised canoe.
Sepik River
Villages along this great river keep strong traditions of crocodile culture, spirit houses and wood carving.
Attractive locations
Angoram
A river town on the Sepik, often the starting point for canoe journeys upstream to remote villages. Nearby communities are known for their carvings and ceremonies.
Ambunti
A small town on the upper Sepik, used as a base for trips to villages known for carved art and masks, and by birdwatchers exploring the wetlands.
Wewak
A coastal town and common starting point for trips inland to the Sepik. It has markets, beaches and sites from the Second World War.
Chambri Lakes
Shallow lakes south of the Sepik River, home to the Chambri people. Visitors travel by canoe to the lakeside villages to meet residents and learn about local culture.
Airports
Wewak International Airport WWK
It is about 76 km in a straight line from Sepik River.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Papua New Guinea page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.2 °C186 mm
- Feb27.0 °C163 mm
- Mar27.0 °C214 mm
- Apr27.1 °C209 mm
- May27.1 °C211 mm
- Jun26.9 °C175 mm
- Jul26.6 °C142 mm
- Aug26.7 °C131 mm
- Sep26.9 °C158 mm
- Oct27.2 °C150 mm
- Nov27.3 °C185 mm
- Dec27.4 °C176 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Oct. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, May.
Costs
Prices here are about 58% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Emergency numbers differ by city - ask your hotel or operator for the local police and ambulance numbers on arrival.
local government
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
Helps with: Papua New Guinea's national tourism body. Its contact page lists a phone, email and office address for tourist information.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Papua New Guinea or planning a trip there.
Phone: +675 325 0318
Email: [email protected]
Address: 6th Floor, Kwalimu Haus, Somare Circuit, Waigani
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Papua New Guinea
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Papua New Guinea it works on complex emergencies, providing humanitarian relief and building government capacity.
Who qualifies: Migrants and people affected by emergencies. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +675 321 3655
Email: [email protected]
Address: Level 3, Cuthbertson House, Granville, PO Box 1876, Port Moresby, NCD
local government
Police emergency number 112
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112
local government
Ambulance emergency number 111
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 111
local government
Fire emergency number 110
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 110