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Hi all…
Our group are at the stage where we are wanting to book for ANZAC 2009… but are starting to feel a little overwhelmed with all the options, etc…
Firstly…. which way is the best way? Start Kokoda? or end Kokoda?
Secondly…. companies / guides… some sites recommend australian guides …. does anyone have a comment about this?
In relation to price… all the companies – once you add in all the bits and pieces – eg. fares, trip, porters, etc.. seem to work out about the same – so it wont be based on price that our decision is made…
I would love to hear what you have to say….
Thanks …..
Hi
Whilst I am have not trekked yet I will be in September Trek 435 all I can say is that I found KTL to be most helpful and thier web site and comments within it would certainly back this up.
I have been in touch with quite a few whilst doing my research some have trekked more than once who on thier first trek did so with another company but on thier second with KTL.
Virtually everyone that I have been in contact with have all said the only way to go was KTL.
I have found that KTL both here in Oz and in PNG whilst a litle slow at times when they are busy replying to emails have been most helpful.
I also found that I actually saved in some cases quite a bit by using KTL.
I have done a awful lot of research prior to making any bookings.
Leave it with you.
BrianG'day
I have only walked the track once(so Far)
and flew to Kokoda and walked back to
ower's Corner. Every body tells me it is
very tough either way you go.As for trekking companies i believe it
is probably a bit more expensive if
you have an Australian Guide. Worth
checking outcheerS
mikmacIf you are wanting to go the way the diggers did, then you would start at Owers and trek to Kokoda. KTL are a good trekking company, but it really is personal choice. I went with Nugini Holidays, and personally wouldn't recommend them, although they did do all the accomodation bookings for us. The plus with KTL is obviously the web site, it would be good for your family to visually see where you are and how you are going, there is no communication once you get on the track. I trekked with a Kinsfolk group last August, is was a big group made up of three different treks.I have since put KTL's name forward to the organisers for the trek in 2010. As for Australian guides, as opposed to native ones, i think it would be good to do your first trek with an australian guide,only that our natives ones didn't point out any of the interesting things on the track, there is so many places where little things happened,like the place 12 natives were mass murdered by the japs and buried in a mass grave, where the original Deniki village was and the ridge 10 minutes out of isurava monument on the way to Kokoda where the 39th pushed the japs back over a ridge. i found out all this because the headman of Isuarva Village walked back to Kokoda with us, but it's these little things that an Australian Guide would think to point out. i say this though without having done the track with other trekking companies, they of course may point these thing out.
Hi AreWeThereYet, have noticed this thread and thought I would respond to you and other comments made re KTL. Since the day we first operated I have been trying my best to get our boys to learn anything and everything there is to know about the history of the track. Its been a big ask as most of these guides have not even finished primary school much less high school and reading a book, what did you say? And where do they purchase books? I had one young upcoming guide who is reading anything he can get his hands on, honest enough to tell me he stole the only book he got to read from a library as he could not buy one anywhere. Whilst this might shock the average Australian, to him it was the only way he could shine above the rest.
And shine he has. Last year we had a top CEO of a large family company walk with us. Whilst on the track I did a search on his name as I was shocked reading some of the messages posted by family back home. One google search showed us who this guy was and I thought what an honour he chose KTL to walk with when he could have paid any fee charged by any other company. But walk with us he did, and on his return this well renowned public speaker could not even make a speech to thank our guide and porters due to being overcome with emotion. Why, coz this young man who stole the only book he gained the knowledge from, showed his group everything. At one point he was talking about this guys uncle and how they got lost and broke away from their group and so on. Yes, this young man went to the top of the class in one trek and stood out from the rest. He is now on the trek with Soc Kienzle and intently listening to every word out of Soc's mouth. If not for that book he would still be just another porter walking with us as its the guides who we have distributed books to. The only way this flower bloomed was to read and study one book.
When it comes to an expert guide even the expatriate Australian led treks will have a PNG guide and an assistant which allows them (I am assuming) to get on with the task of stating the history. However, this comes at a price as aussie led treks are at least a $1000.00 per person extra and some are three times as much. Basically you walk on the same ground, stay in the same villages, camp in the same areas and so on. The only difference is that the aussie led trek is supposed to have someone standing there all along the way telling you what happened during WWII.
What they do not tell you is that some treks head out with over 50 + trekkers in any one group. How one person or even two can spread themselves around that many people spread out sometimes for several km's and talk to them all is beyond recognition. Even in a group of 20, faster trekkers move ahead of the slower ones.
With KTL we give everyone a book written by Bill James and ask that they read it prior to their trek. We ask that they read in advance at the campsite about the area and ask their porters and guides to point out items of interest the night before. The next day the PNG local staff will point out anything of interest. We say at KTL that our boys can join in a conversation, its just hard for some of them to start it. Hence a little prompting goes a long way.
When it comes to creek crossings or anything to do with your trek, I firmly believe our boys are the best. Having grown up along river banks, they are experts when it comes to crossings; how to survive in the bush; great hunters and so on. Yes, what I have to still keep pushing is to get more of them to read and study so they can become all rounders. We already have a few but I am working on getting heaps of them with knowledge so they can localise Australian led treks as proud PNG citizens.
On another angle, I have worked for the majority of my life in an office environment the last of which was with Deloitte here in PNG and Ernst & Young for 9 + years of my life where I was reporting not only to the Managing Partner; various Partners and Managers in PNG but also responsible for month end reporting on a timely basis to Deloitte in Sydney. The last thing I would want on my 'holiday' away from the office is to be bossed around or to be told when to drink like I was back in pre-school! With our treks believe me, you are not on a boot camp. One trek came back in last week and mentioned some expat bloke at Brigade Hill going on and on….they commented that they thanked their lucky stars that they had not picked to walk with the company that hired him as they said on day 1 they would have felt like hitting him over the head with a cricket bat. Our KTL boys will not lecture you, they will love you and will show you the absolute best time of your life! So read up, ask them to show you things along the way and you will not be disappointed.
Sorry about the long message but its easier to explain in depth than a few short words. At KTL our boys and Management care about you our trekkers and we will do anything in our power to have you enjoy your trek with us; keep you as safe as we can and like today will get you air lifted off the track should something go wrong as quickly as possible. We have one guy in his seventies who can't go any further than Myola Junction 1900. He is presently being picked up by chopper as I type this message. Our boys have been with him all night; have made several sat phone calls and at 5am this morning phoned me to give me an update. He is ok, just cannot eat and is feeling weak. From experience a drip or two in his arm will have him in top shape again in no time. Another phone call just now – he is in the chopper and heading towards Port Moresby.
Where is Soc his trek leader, miles away in Efogi overnighting with other trekkers in their group as he has confidence in me and our staff that we will get him off the track. The guy making the phone calls is another upcoming historical guide in a trek of ours one day behind Soc's group. When he caught up with the sick guy in Soc's group he told our guide to move off and he would take over the role of getting him out. This allowed Soc's guide to play catch up and he moved off to Efogi to overnight with his original group. This too is what its all about, teamwork. Our boys work well together and with on average 4 treks on the go every week of the year, they pull together and help each other wherever they can. This group will now move off as planned at 7am this morning heading to Efogi.
No doubt Soc's trek in Efogi will have heard the chopper pass overhead and will know their fellow trekker has been picked up and is in safe hands back here in Port Moresby. I also spoke to Soc last night and assured him the chopper could not get in yesterday due to weather conditions but would be airborne at 6:15am today. Like clockwork this has happened so we can all now relax and get on with the day.
Hi…. Thankyou all for your responses. I am so very impressed with this website and the comments I have received to my queries over the last month or so that I am eager to get my goup organised and the booking process underway.
Cheers – Anne
Hi
I imagine with my enjoyment of researching things that I am really interested added to the fact that I am at an age where I will possibly only be lucky enough to have one go at it couple this to the fact that we are on a full age pension with very limited funds I beleive that I have done far more research on the Kokoda Trek than most would.
I have either met and spoken too, received emails from, looked at DVDs, looked at several websites, sought advice from Ex Trekkers and read a few books. I have also been fortunate to meet Gail when down on the Gold Coast as well as Wallace the guide I suspect Gail was refering to in her recent post. When Wallace was down here with Gail staying with Nathan her son I spent the day with Wallace walking Mt Warning he impressed me so much that I have requested that he guide trek 435.
Almost to a man/woman even though some had previously walked with another operator all recommended KTL as the only way to go. After doing my home work I also beleive KTL in some cases by far are the most ecconomical of all the operators and where else do you get very happy ukulele playing and singing porters, welcome sing sings at Kokoda and such a great web site and forum where you are reading this post from right now.
Yes there are some delays in receiving replies to emails but to put more staff on to hasten replies will only lead to more expense which will be passed on to us with higher fees. I guess we all just have to be patient and wait a little longer for the reply that always turns up.
From my research I personally feel KTL is the only way to go.
BrianHi, I was reluctant to respond to this due to the original date of the initial query, but I will join with 'Cool Sam', some 5 or so months later and highly recommend KTL as the friendliest, most professional and probably the most cost effective group to experience what could be a life changing experience for anyone who wishes to make this famous pilgrimage, an important part of both Australian and Papuan history.
A couple of reasons why I believe this are:
1. I attempted on a numbers of occasions to contact another Kokoda trekking company without any success, despite many attempts. Gail responded overnight and welcomed me immediately.
2. During our trek, I knew there was another group on the Track at the same time and both groups were to arrive at Isurava at the same time and for the same reason – ANZAC Day and the other group was, as Gail has mentioned, very large and tried to dominate everything that occurred, and because of the numbers, it seemed that there wasn't time for individuals to experience the occasion. Our two groups of 5 & 8 respectively, with our Guides and Porters were able to enjoy, not only the day but the whole experience, including a similar and wonderful service on Brigade Hill, where we were privileged to meet a Papuan and an Australian Kokoda Track veterans on that special day. This was probably the highlight of the whole Trek for me.
Obviously your choice of which company is a personal one for you, but get to know Gail, Russell and their Guides and Porters through this wonderful web-site and you will enjoy the experience with KTL.
Best regards
Warren (Waza – Trek 83)Hi there,
I completed the trek in July this year with KTL and found them to be wonderful, the company along the way when times got a little tough was inspiring. The Uke'ule and singing from the boys certainly lifts spirits in time of need.
I was fortunate to make it through to the end with little damage to the body, however a woman within my group became ill the first night with a virus.
KTL were amazing in the attempts to Vac her out, the group leader had to back track up to the highest point we had passed to use the sat phone to alert Gail. He then ran back to the village to retrieve this poor girl and take her back up the mountain to where the chopper was.
It was a very emotional time for us to leave her, awaiting her flight home, as she said goodbye to her fellow trekkers and her husband who continued on with the trek.
As we were walking down to last village before hitting Kokoda we were all surprised (not to mention her husband who was completely floored) to see her standing by a creek barely recovered from her illness. Kokoda Trekking flew her back into Kokoda so she could walk the final leg with us into Kokoda as a full group and spend the night.
I have since heard from this couragous lady and she has said that two more Police Officers from her precinct had attempted the trail only to have one hurt his knee and the other falling ill the first day. Because they went through a different company they found themselves having to walk back to Owers or Kokoda which ever way they were walking and wait for a ride to return home.
This is a small example of the great lengths that Gail and KTL trekking will go to ensure all ends well and why my preference will always be KTL. I hope this helps with some of you decision making. Go with KTL do your research as Gail has mentioned ask the boys questions and I can vouch that it will be a memory you will hold dear forever
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