How to Get to Irian Jaya and When to Go
Who to Contact: The following travel companies that specialize in adventure travel offer expeditions to Irian Jaya at varying levels of difficulty and discomfort. The land-only prices start at about $1,500 per person.
Ecosummer Expeditions, 1516 Duranleau St., Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6H 3S4; telephone (604) 669-7741.
Mountain Travel, 6420 Fairmont Ave., El Cerrito, Calif. 94530; telephone toll-free (800) 227-2384.
InnerAsia Expeditions, 2627 Lombard St., San Francisco, Calif. 94123; telephone toll-free (800) 777-8183 or, within California, (415) 922-0448.
Sobek Expeditions, P.O. Box 1089, Angels Camp, Calif. 95222; telephone toll-free (800) 777-7939.
How to Get There: Garuda Indonesian Airlines has Sunday, Wednesday and Friday departures from Los Angeles to the island of Biak, where there is a daylong layover before completing the trip to Jayapura, the capital city of Irian Jaya. The all-year round-trip fare is $865. Once in Jayapura it is possible to make arrangements to fly to Wamena aboard Merpati Airlines.
When to Go: June, July and early August are the driest time of year, but climate changes in the interior seem to be more a matter of topography than season.
Heat, bugs, snakes and poisonous plants are much more of a concern in the coastal areas than in the mountains, but don’t forget your malaria medicine.
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