We added PNG to our travel itinerary on a whim. After meeting two charming ladies in Fiji, and reading the few scraps of travel info on the country, we had to see it for ourselves.

PNG is known for its incredible diving, surfing, and tribal diversity. But that’s not what attracted us.

1. There’s almost no tourism

You never hear of people backpacking through PNG. There’s hardly any travel literature about it online. Most people don’t even know where it is. When it comes to leaving the beaten path, Papua New Guinea is unbeatable.

2. There are no McDonald’s

Goodbye homogenized urban landscapes.

3. Legendary hospitality

Because there is so little tourism, PNGers are delighted to see foreigners in their country. And in the Melanesian culture, having guests is considered an honour.

Case in point: when we made a Couchsurfing request to stay at a local’s home in Port Moresby, we were accepted right away (a rarity), and our host, a total stranger, even offered to pick us up from the airport.

4. Constellation of cultures

PNG boasts more than 750 unique tribes, each with their own language. For a country so small, this has to be interesting to see.

5. They speak (some) English

Because it’s so exotic, being able to communicate eases the culture shock a bit. It will also provide a softer transition as we continue on to Asia.

6. It’s a gateway to Indonesia

PNG shares an island with Indonesia, its closest neighbour. The country was in our original itinerary, so PNG is a convenient detour.

7. We knew nothing about it

There’s so little information about PNG online that it’s still a big mystery to us. We have no idea what to expect. Our only plan is to get there and collect plenty of local tips.

And it will be a privilege to contribute our learnings to the world.

8. It’s expensive

Why is this a plus? Because it’s a lovely challenge. Countries with a long-established backpacking trail are easy to do. Cheap hostels are a snap to find. Information is plentiful.

PNG has no budget travel infrastructure. Most lodgings are hotels for business or government travellers. The best way to move around is by flying.

It will be fun to find ways to save money in this environment.