Situated in the highland heart of Papua New Guinea, amidst an undulating patchwork of coffee fields and verdant forest land, Mount Hagen was the bastion of traditional life till very recently, where its people were famed for their casual donning of tribal dress. Tines have changed, though the city still plays host to the largest sing-sing celebration in the country held in August every year.
While Mount Hagen is clearly not exactly the safest place to be, travellers can plan day trips to the tribal villages around nearby Lake Kutubu or simply exploring the town’s local crafts market. For outdoorsy types, those interested in seeing dramatic vistas in of central PNG should plan the trails around Mt Wilhelm (the country’s highest point) to the east with their Mount Hagen tour guide. There is also the Naiyer River Wildlife sanctuary nearby, home to more than a hundred species of birds.