Excursion Syuru village and agats tour at Agats

Experience the incredible, elaborate and dramatic cultural traditions of the Asmat tribe.

Upon receiving official clearance, arrive at the bay of Agats. As you disembark to a Zodiac, watch for the armada of the Asmat tribe's warrior troops in traditional costume, including body and face paint designed to scare off enemies. Watch (and listen) as these warriors from Syuru village with about 40 war canoes begin to row, a thunderous, heroic and noise. The air is filled with shrieking and shouting of the tribal people expressing their joy for your coming.

Disembark at the Syuru landing site and proceed to an Asmat cultural ceremony, an elaborate display that begins with the women of the village dancing with their traditional music instruments in front of the Men's house. In the ceremony, warriors cut down a carefully selected tree and bring it to the village, getting "attacked" by the women in a mock battle. Witness this extraordinary, chaotic moment that precedes the the ritual of the "mBis poles" ceremony.

The villager's elders taking the tree for ceremony in secrecy, afterwards they will carrying out a completed carved of mBis poles in exchange for the new tree, standing it at a special platform at the Men's house. The daylight atmosphere is be filled with ceremonial rituals emotions, meticulously and chaos expressing their joy.

After the ceremony all guests are invited to visit the "Men's house" to immerse themselves in this community house, where wonderful items of traditional wooden arts and sculpture raging from fine art to mythical beast are on display for sale.

Then explore the enchanting surroudings, walking through the wooden path to discover the interesting insight into the daily tribe's life of the village folk of Syuru. Observe the local tribal costume such as women with heavy face paint and men with nose piercings, before returning back to the zodiac and returning to the ship for lunch.

After lunch disembark by ship Zodiac at Agats ferry port, meet with your local guides and have a pleasant walk in the beautiful Agats township. Here there is the opportunity to see the daily activities of the Asmat tribe, visit a local market, see the museum that filled with woodcarvings, Old Cathedral church, and the Alex gallery.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Syuru village and Asmat tribe cultural presentation.

Note

Please note: Portions of this tour require a significant amount of walking (over 700 meters in Syuru and 2km in Agat), making this tour less suitable for those with limited mobility (staff is on standby for those needing to turn back to the coach early for any portion of the tour). Guests are recommended to wear casual dress, walking shoes, hat and bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, bug spray.