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When traveling in Papua New Guinea, where you stay is often just part of a 'survival strategy'. But if you're in the Highlands city of Goroka and you're still thinking that, you're missing out on a truly unique and unrepeatable cultural immersion experience - Asaro Mudmen Tribal Eco Lodge, a hand-crafted eco-lodge created by the Asaro tribe, is so much more than just a place to sleep - it's a living interlude into the life of a tribe, a place to “live”. It is more like a living episode of tribal life, allowing you to understand the soul of a people in a “living” way. There are no air-conditioned beds or aromatherapy spas, but there are mud masks, jungle fires, indigenous dances and stories - the true hospitality of the land.
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The story of Asaro Mudmen is itself the soul of the lodge. Legend has it that Asaro warriors who fled into the mountains after losing a war, in order to frighten off their enemies, slowly emerged from the mountains wearing mud masks and covered in ash, only to have their enemies mistake them for ghosts and retreat. This “tactical camouflage” has since become a unique cultural symbol of the Asaro tribe and one of Goroka's most iconic folklore images.
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Nestled on the edge of the pristine Asaro village, the Asaro Mudmen Tribal Eco Lodge was built and is run by local tribesmen. The lodging experience is highly integrated with the cultural experience, as guests not only participate in traditional mudmen make-up ceremonies, watch exclusive tribal dance performances, but also listen to tribal elders recounting historical stories passed down from their ancestors. This is not a “staged” cultural exhibition, but life itself.
The lodge offers several simple but cozy room types, all of which are local kunai huts built with environmentally friendly materials, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, near the mountains and water, with insects chirping and birds chirping in the daytime, and bonfires burning at night:
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Standard Hut
- 1 double bed or 2 single beds with mosquito net.
- Shared bathroom, cold shower
- Price: approx. USD 65-75/night
Family Hut
- 2 double beds, can accommodate 3-4 people.
- Separate washroom area
- Price: about USD 90-110/night
Panorama Hut
- Facing the valley, with small balcony and hammock.
- More privacy for couples or photographers
- Price: approx. USD 120/night
No power outlets in the room, but you can charge your electronic devices in the communal lounge area.Wi-Fi signal is weak, so consider this a digital detox trip.
The price of the stay includes three meals and activities. The lodge is cooked by a rotating cast of tribal women, using local ingredients freshly prepared daily, and specialty meals include:
Chicken stew with cassava and yam
Roasted pig in a “mumu” oven (reservations required, good for sharing)
Stewed fish with wild taro leaves and coconut milk
Local coffee + smoked banana breakfast
All meals are served family style around a table, and residents often dine with the hosts in a relaxed atmosphere of deep conversation. The food is rustic, with the aroma of earth and firewood, an original flavor that is hard to replicate in modern restaurants.
Each guest automatically receives a “Cultural Package” experience, which includes:
Mud man make-up experience (you can try on a mud mask and apply ash yourself)
Tribal welcome dance performance (performed by Asaro youth)
Evening fire storytelling session (tribal elders recounting the legends of the mud people, with translation)
Craft learning workshop (teaching you to make mini clay masks or traditional musical instruments)
Additional options are also available at an additional cost:
Half day jungle trek + botanical talk $15
Asaro river rafting experience $20
Goroka Township Market + J.K. McCarthy Museum one day chartered bus tour $45/person (from 2 persons)
Asaro Mudmen Tribal Eco Lodge is located about 12km from Goroka town center, 20-30 minutes drive on good roads. The lodge provides transfer service for a fee:
One way airport transfer: around $10-15
Full day chartered car with interpreter and guide: approx $60-70 per car (4 seater).
It is recommended that you contact the hostel via their website or WhatsApp to confirm your transfer in advance of your arrival in Goroka. Highland transportation is not very easy to call an instant car, so it is better to arrange in advance.
Remember to bring cash: most of the lodges and nearby vendors do not accept credit cards, so it is recommended to have enough PGK or USD cash (which can be exchanged in Goroka).
Respect the culture: Mud masks should not be touched or imitated, and please respect the rhythm of the host during the program.
Anti-mosquito and anti-moisture: although the huts are well ventilated, it is advisable to bring mosquito repellent spray and quick-drying clothes.
Wear slippers or sandals: easy to get in and out of the hut, and to adapt to the gravel and mud environment.
If five-star hotels give you standardized comfort, Asaro Mudmen Tribal Eco Lodge gives you a rare sense of storytelling. You may be awakened at night by the sound of distant drums, discover surprising expressions of emotion behind mud masks, and hear how a tribe dances away the memories of war around a campfire. This is not for the “luxury” traveler, but for those who really want to know Papua New Guinea, who are willing to put their feet up and step into the story - it's priceless.