Guidelines For Trekking The Kokoda Track (trail)

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The Kokoda Track Authority and Landowners of the Kokoda Track welcome you to the experience ahead of you.

• Ensure you have your Trek Permit obtained from Kokoda Track Authority or through your Travel Agent or Tour Operator. (if walking with a trekking company such as ourselves, this is taken care of as part of your trek costs).
• Trek Permits are to be carried by Trekking Company Guides and stamped by Village Recorders if desired as a memento of your trek. There is no fee charged for stamping of these Permits. Trekkers without the Kokoda Track Authority permits will be required to return to Kokoda Track Authority office at Sogeri or to the Kokoda branch office, located adjacent to Kokoda Post Office to obtain their permits upon paying the Permit Fee. (if walking with ourselves, a group trek permit is organised on behalf of whichever trek you are listed under)
• Individual Trekkers or Groups should be accompanied by a recognized Guide from the Kokoda Track area, and if required, porters from the Kokoda Track villages. Such is a safety measure to protect people from becoming lost and assisting in case of injury, ill health and advising on war history, eco-tourism interests and general information. (yes, I had a group turn up at my door asking questions but planning on not hiring anyone…just walking themselves. Besides your safety you have to remember you are walking in their backyard. They will respect you more if you have a PNG citizen walking with you).
• Please follow the recognized Kokoda Track. Do not detour off the Track, your guide knows the way.
• Overnight in village guesthouses is welcome. Ensure Guest House fees are paid in cash and obtain a receipt. Up to K20.00 per night is the recommended fee for trekkers and sometimes K5.00 for guides and porters. No credit facilities are available. Meals are a separate cost. (If trekking with a recognised trekking company, these costs will be met by your trekking company as part of your trek costs).
• Bush campsites are available in numerous locations but trekkers may be requested to pay the landowners an overnight fee up to a maximum of K20.00 per trekker. Guest house, bush campsite accommodation and food for meals are normally paid by the Tour Group Leader or Guide.
• Please pay villagers for any fresh vegetables and fruits they are happy to supply. Other food items are limited. (the going rate this year was K10 per plate)
• Please respect the culture and religion of the communities. Seventh Day Adventist is the predominant religion and people observe prayer daily between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm, and their Sabbath from 5.00 pm Friday to 6.00 pm Saturday. Do not put requests to the communities at these times. You are welcome to join their church services. (Editors Note: we ask all our trekkers to respect this. Unfortunately one group this year seemed to do otherwise. You have to remember you are a guest in their village so we strongly request you adhere to their wishes)
• Trekkers commencing and completing their trek should visit the Kokoda Track Authority office or representatives at Riverside Store Sogeri, and Branch at the Kokoda Post Office to have their journey recorded. Your trek can be monitored by radio transceivers located in each village along the Track. Some Guides may carry a handheld radio for additional communication with their base in Port Moresby or Kokoda, other villages and Kokoda Track Authority. (Editors Note: No need if trekking with trekking companies as when we purchase trek fee permits they are made aware of our trek heading out on a particular date).
• Trekkers should be medically fit and have medical insurance coverage and also carry basic first aid supplies. Your Guide should have a First Aid Kit for medication of the group of trekkers and porters if required.
• Do not litter the Track, village, guesthouse or campsite areas. Please burn waste and bury or carry non-combustable waste to trek end.
• Do not deface or damage memorials, trees or buildings. Do not collect or remove from PNG any war relics without PNG Government approval.
• The Trek Permit Fee paid by all trekkers is for funding community infrastructure projects and their maintenance, together with the maintenance and upgrading of the Track facilities such as walking track and creek/river crossings, radio communication, signage, memorials, airstrips, etc. It is not for paying Trekkers? personal expenses of guesthouse, campsite, food, cultural performances, village museums or scenic attractions.
• The Kokoda Track Authority accepts no liability for any injury or loss sustained by trekkers and their guides and porters on the Kokoda Track.

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