When looking into doing the Kokoda Track one of the factors in your decision making involves the cost of the trek. How much should it cost to complete the Kokoda Track? This is a valid question and deserves some research before signing up with a company to take you on this once in a lifetime experience! I am not a big fan of hidden costs when it comes to my purchases, and especially when I am on a holiday! I do not want to be left with a negative experience because I was unaware of the actual cost of my travel! Therefore, from the outset I want to know how much the experience will cost in total, so I can budget for that amount.

Why do prices vary so much?

The price from company to company will vary depending on what they are including in their trek price. Some will include only the basic costs, with extras like museum and battle site entry fees to be paid by individual trekkers once on the track. Some companies include all meals, while others will require you to bring your own lunch. So, the inclusions will have a direct affect on the ‘trek price’, so generally the cheaper the trek price the more basic the inclusions (so expect to fork out along the way), and the more expensive trek will be all inclusive with all the major expenses, besides souvenirs being taken care of.

So, when you are doing your research make sure you get a list of inclusions and exclusions of the trek price. And remember to factor in your international flight cost, if you must make your own way to PNG. Once you add international flights to the quoted trek price it then gives you a more accurate overall figure of what your adventure will cost. Some companies, like ours, include international flights in the overall cost of the trek so it is all included and taken care of with no hidden costs.

Happy researching…. and remember to compare inclusions, but also compare the intangible value that individual trek guides can add to your whole experience!

This is the first big question you need to answer after deciding to trek the Kokoda Track. There are a number of issues you need to consider when choosing a company to take you on this life-changing journey in order to get the most out of your experience, for example;

• Size of the trek group – will the company make my trek personal and meaningful or will I just be another number in their large group? If the group sizes are too large the trekkers can be too spread out over a section of the track and you will either be waiting for the rest of the group or feeling like you are dragging the chain! The ideal group size would be around 12 per trek.
• Military Knowledge – because there are an increasing amount of companies taking people over the Kokoda Track, you need to ensure your Trek Guide is able to communicate the contexts of the military history in a relevant way. The ideal situation would be to go with a trek guide who has had experience in the Defence Force so you can experience the track from a soldier’s point of view.
• Local/Cultural Interaction – It’s important you choose a company that involves local guides and porters from the villages’ along the Kokoda Track. Look for a company that is affiliated with a local guide from a village along the track, as this ensures money is going directly back into the communities along the Track. It will also provide you with local contacts in the villages along the way which will give you a more personal cultural experience.
• Safety – It’s important that the company you trek Kokoda with has completed risk assessments and has in place measures to reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. Look for experienced Australian Guides with the knowledge and expertise to assist you over the rugged terrain of the Kokoda Track.
• Price/Inclusions– Make sure the Kokoda trekking company you choose outlines all the inclusions of the quoted price. The last thing you want are lots of hidden costs later on or during your trek that you did not account for. A good trekking company will not ask for any further money once trekking.

When deciding whether to complete the challenging and memorable journey along the Kokoda Track one of the questions that may arise is whether the Kokoda Trail is safe. This is a reasonable concern as the Kokoda Track is in an isolated rugged area of Papua New Guinea.

The Track itself winds along mountain ridges and river crossings passing through villages along the way. The village people welcome trekkers and are very accommodating. The villages of the Kokoda Track benefit directly from the tourism that the historic Kokoda Trail brings. They are also immensely proud of their forefathers, The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, and the vital role they had in assisting the allied troops along the Track during World War II.

To ensure safety throughout your trek it is important that you choose a trekking company that has developed risk assessments and have contingencies in place for all situations. Make sure the company has safety equipment such as a satellite phone and GPS tracking in case an evacuation is required. You should also cover yourself by purchasing travel insurance that includes evacuation costs. It’s important you choose a company with an Australian guide who works in conjunction with a local guide from a village along the Track.

Lastly look at the experience of your trek leader and their team. In an emergency situation would your Australian guide be equipped with the knowledge and experience to manage the situation? For example, Olly, from Adventure Bound Tours has 15 years’ experience in the army, 7 of which were in the SAS; he has spent time as a Police Officer, and a number of years as a fire fighter specialising in technical rescue which includes swift water rescue. Olly is the type of guide you would feel completely safe leading you over the rugged terrain of the Kokoda Track!