Puncak Jaya, the most exotic 7 Summit!
Highlights
- One of the most isolated regions on earth
- Ratio 1 high mountain guide for 1 participant
- Access to base camp by trekking in the jungle
- H24 personalized weather forecast services and medical hotline
- Preparation course, live coverage of the expedition
- Guaranteed departure from the first participant
- Preparation course included in the price
- One of the 7 Summits
Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid is a mysterious and little visited objective, flanked by glaciers, large limestone escarpment that rises from the tropical forest. We start one of the most exotic high altitude climbs in the world, in Papua Indonesia, at 4884 meters. The highest summit in Oceania, Carstensz Pyramid is the furthest from Europe of the Seven Summits. This expedition allows you to reconcile the adventure and a high mountain expedition. We climb the mountain from the north side, during a long day, from the base to the top and back. Our guides install fixed ropes at the most difficult sections to allow faster access to the summit ridge and a quick descent afterwards.
Overview
Carstensz Pyramid or Puncak Jaya is located in the heart of the Jayawijaya mountain range in the Indonesian territory of Irian Jaya, now called West Papua.
This range of limestone mountains extends across the equatorial island of New Guinea, from Indonesian Papua in the west to Papua New Guinea in the east.
With its 4884 meters, it is the highest peak in Australasia and one of the most distant of the Seven Summits. The mountain was first climbed in the 1960s by an expedition led by Heinrich Harrer, famous for conquering the north face of the Eiger, with the New Zealand author and mountaineer Philip Temple.
The best time for climbing is from September to mid-November.
Our advanced training courses in the high mountains as part of our Adventure School can be a serious asset, both to gain confidence and to gain autonomy. A preparation course is planned around Chamonix in the months that will precede our expedition, date to be specified with the group.
Itinerary
Days 1 to 3: Flights to Timika (via Bali), Indonesian Papua
Day 1
Our expedition group land in Timika via Bali, a small but important city for the country’s economy. It is the supply point of the Grasberg mine, which provides employment for a large part of the population.
Day 4: Timika – Sugapa (2250 m)– Suanggama (2020 m)
Day 4
We fly over the Papuan rainforest, seemingly impenetrable, which allows us to inspect it from above and admire its immensity – we will explore it on foot soon enough! As soon as we land on the bumpy runway, we are sure to be greeted by many curious spectators. We continue as soon as possible, in the back seat of a motorcycle. The end of our adventure is our camp in Suanggama.
Day 5: Suanggama (2020 m) – Dibasiga (2360 m)
Day 5
From Suanggama, the last village, we descend to the river. Following the course of the river more or less, we sometimes find ourselves high above it, sometimes very close to it. We pass a house (Salt Factory) on the way to a small bridge, from which we continue for 2 hours to our camp in the heart of the jungle. The chances of rain are very high. After all, we are deep in the rainforest. Hence the importance of good preparation and planning in Suanggama.
Day 6: Dibasiga (2360 m) – Estasiga (3200 m)
Day 6
This will be the most tiring day of our entire trek! Our trail continues through the rainforest, sometimes over the big roots, sometimes under them, around a mud pool and then straight through the next one - a real jungle! After Dibasiga, our path rises steeply at first, then rises and falls, and becomes steep again. Although the Estasiga camp may seem close at hand, unfortunately it is not! We climb through the rainforest for another 2-3 hours. At 3200 meters, just before our camp, the rainforest suddenly ends. A large clearing follows, where we set up camp.
Day 7: Estasiga (3200 m) – Ebai (3590 m)
Day 7
The first hour of our trek takes us through clear, open forest to the next plateau and finally to the ridge, which separates the first valley from "our" valley, where part of our route takes us. Following the ridge for two to three hours, we reach our penultimate camp after a short descent.
Day 8: Ebai (3590 m) – Naisidome (3830 m)
Day 8
We descend into the beautiful valley. Reaching the riverbank, we cross the river on a natural stone bridge. At the top of the next ridge, we join the other route option (via Illaga). We wade through swamps and soon reach the last camp before the base camp.
Day 9: Nasidome (3830 m) – Camp de base (4260 m)
Day 9
The most difficult part of this section is the pass, the New-Zealand Pass (we could use the plural here, as it is in fact several passes in a row). There is a 50-meter-long climbing passage that can be quite difficult in wet weather. Once we have mastered it, we descend to base camp at the foot of the Carstensz Pyramid.
Day 10: Ascent of Carstensz Pyramid (4884 m) – Camp de base (4260 m)
Day 10
Early in the morning, after an overnight breakfast, we set off to climb the Carstensz pyramid. The climbing route has been fitted with fixed ropes from the bottom to the top, so all you have to do is attach the ascender handle to the rope, and push to go up a notch. We cross the cable bridge (formerly a zip-line). We reach the top and enjoy the view, take a photo and then head back down to base camp.
Days 11 to 14: Back to Sugapas (2250 m)
Day 11
We start our return trek on the same route as the outward journey. Knowing it already, we are quicker and gain a day.
Day 15: Back to Timika
Day 15
Today we fly via Timika. We are driven to our hotel, where we can relax and toast our difficult but wonderful journey.
Days 16 & 17: Contingency days
Day 16 to 17
Contingency days for bad weather, flight delays, etc.
Day 18: Return flight to Europe
Day 18
Day 19: Arrival in Europe
Day 19
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
YOUR PRIVATE GUIDE
As the key to your success on all our expeditions, we always have a ratio of one guide per participant. He accompanies you on the trek and during the summit push. He or she has a thorough knowledge of the Pyramid. We select him for you. They are generally English-speaking.
A summit bonus is provided for your mountain guide, to be paid in cash on site after the ascent. This bonus is due from the moment you leave base camp for the summit during your summit push attempt.
EXPEDITION LEADER
The expedition leader plays an important role in implementing the strategy required for success: acclimatizing each participant, studying weather reports to decide on the optimum time to launch the summit push.
The expedition leader represents Expeditions Unlimited to the group, our partners and local authorities. Based at base camp, he can accompany you to the summit. He takes the necessary decisions that may be required. His authority is decisive and inescapable. You must respect his decisions, as well as those taken collectively.
From one to five participants, you have a local English-speaking expedition leader who has coordinated numerous expeditions to Carstensz Pyramid. This can be shared with other expeditions.
From six participants upwards, you have an experienced French expedition leader dedicated exclusively to your expedition.
LOCAL TEAM
A base camp manager and a kitchen team will be present at base camp.
And throughout the program, we will be relying on other local skills as required. Finally, we will have access to experienced weather forecast services and a high-altitude doctor from Ifremmont (see above).
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Technical difficulty
Mountaineering level: F like... Easy (Facile in French!)
In this program, the use of mountaineering equipment (crampons, harness, ice ax, ropes, etc.) is necessary but the route covered does not involve any technical difficulty. It is therefore aimed at beginners or even participants who have never practiced. Clearly, a little prior experience in the activity can be interesting, knowing how to equip yourself, knowing how to tie a few essential knots. The mountaineering courses at our Adventure School from three days are for you. And this technical rating applies of course to normal weather conditions: the difficulty can increase in the event of bad weather conditions, fresh snow on rocks, insufficient or lack of quality of the ice, etc. Likewise, the situation changes radically, for the same technical level, with the altitude, the weight of the bag, the lack of equipment on the route, the fatigue associated with the approach if it is long, the environment if particularly hostile, etc.
Meeting point
We arrive in Bali and are met at the airport by our local teams.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Accommodations
TIMIKA AND TREKKING
In a single room in a 3/4* local standard hotel in Timika.
During the trek, we stay either in individual tents or in huts with shared dormitories.
BASE CAMP
At base camp, we stay in individual tents.
Meals
In Bali and Timika, meals are not included, leaving you free to roam and stop wherever you like. During the expedition, meals are prepared by the local team using local products up to the base camp.
Transfers / Transport
Transfers to and from the airport, and to and from the expedition starting point, are provided by 4/4 vehicle or minibus.
Group size
The group is composed of 1 to 10 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
All logistical equipment is provided, including tents or hammocks, and cooking equipment when necessary. Your guide will also have a satellite phone, but this may not always work well in the forest.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we commit ourselves not to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 5,72 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €172 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Expedition leader
We rely on the most experienced high altitude expedition leaders. They are part of our close community and co-opt each other. They know each other well and respect each other.
For this expedition, the expedition leader has not yet been formally appointed, but should be shortly.
In addition to their exceptional expeditions experience, our expedition leaders have the know-how to optimize the expedition's chances of success, both in terms of group management and in terms of the pace at which the group builds up its strength and progresses in altitude, key elements in this type of expedition.
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
No date works for me!
I initiate a new datePrice includes
- 3/4-star (***) hotel accommodation in Timika with breakfast, single room, for two nights
- Airport/Timka hotel transfers
- Domestic return flights Timika / Sugapa for participants
- Full-board accommodation in a tent during the Suanggama / base camp / Suanggama trek
- Carrying of personal belongings during the Suanggama / base camp / Suanggama trek
- Equipment required for life at base camp: fully-equipped kitchen tent, mess tent for meals, tables and chairs, toilet tent, shower tent
- Cook and helpers at base camp
- At base camp, one tent per person with mattress.
- At base camp, kitchen tent and mess tent for participants and local team
- Experienced French mountain guide from 6 participants
- Local mountain guide experienced in managing local teams
- 1 local altitude guide for every 2 participants
- Collective equipment required for ascent (fixed ropes, mooring devices)
- Equipment allowance, fees, tent and food for cook and helpers
- 1 satellite phone at base camp (for rescue purposes only)
- Solar panels at base camp to charge small electronic equipment (such as cell phones and cameras). Not sufficient to charge computers
- Taxes and permits for climbing, rope fixing fee and all government environmental taxes and garbage deposit
- Personalized weather forecast services
- Medical follow-up by Ifremmont during the expedition (see above)
- Preparation courses (practical, medical)
- Live expedition coverage for your community (supply of InReach beacon and subscriptions, LivExplorer service configuration)
Price does not include
- International flights
- Consular fees (visa)
- Any customs taxes upon arrival in Papua
- Import taxes, if any, for satellite phones, professional communications equipment and commercial film shooting
- Any additional hotel nights in Timika (over 2 nights)
- Any helicopter transfers
- Meals in Timika other than breakfasts
- Expenses related to the early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program
- Expenses related to a shift in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation and meals, additional airfares)
- US$200 summit bonus for your altitude guide, to be paid on site after the ascent (whether the summit is reached or not)
- Tips for the local team, 300 US$/participant
- Any personal communications by satellite phone (to be paid locally).
- Personal equipment, including individual high-altitude gear
- Rental of personal high-altitude equipment, subject to availability
- Drinks and personal expenses (sightseeing, cabs, souvenirs, dry-cleaning, etc.)
- Travel and expedition insurance (assistance, evacuation and repatriation)
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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