Australian-based budget airline Virgin Blue is exploding its flight coverage and has just announced a deal that's going to see low cost carriers flying into relatively untapped market Papua New Guinea.

In a slightly confusing collaboration with Pacific Blue and Airlines PNG, Virgin Blue is offering four return flights a week between Brisbane and Port Moresby, starting from November. They're starting out with sale fares of A$249 ($200) and the regular budget price will stay under A$300 (one-way).

That's cheap enough to see a lot more tourist interest in Papua New Guinea, we reckon. Bring on Elvis and the giant rats: We're off to PNG.

Related Stories:
· Virgin Blue Joins Forces With Airlines PNG [Peanuts]
· Virgin Blue Flies into Virgin West Oz Territory [Jaunted]
· Papua New Guinea Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: kabl1992]]]> amandak 2008-09-11T09:30:26-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/27/85645/644

Sometimes our world seems so small, and yet sometimes we can be amazed by new discoveries of animals or even people that we never knew existed. That's what's been making Papua New Guinea an increasingly popular tourist destination of late, along with the fact that those New Guineans are so relaxed.

The most recent news out of PNG is the discovery of a giant rat. Now, we don't really like rats at the best of times, and a rat that's five times larger than the normal variety sounded kind of scary. But actually this picture makes the Mallomys giant rat seem kinda cute.

A recent Conservation International expedition actually discovered a second species of mammal as well, a kind of pygmy possum never before seen. Nice to know there are still some places in the world without cell phone reception and fast food franchises, although you never know if a Kentucky Fried Rat chain will be next on the scene.

Related Stories:
· Giant Rat Found in "Lost Worlds" [BBC]
· Pop Into PNG: They're Relaxed! [Jaunted]

[Photo: BBC]]]> amandak 2007-12-27T09:50:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/19/62921/612
This year luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent introduced a new flavor of trip to its group of travel "series." The "Explorer Series" promises "real, rugged exploration" in "remote" destinations, for the "truly adventurous." A&K will book you into luxury where it lives, but with the Explorer Series, they'll also be ready to stuff you into a yurt if that's what's available. Though we are tour skeptics ourselves, we did love that 50 Tours of a Lifetime feature in National Geographic Traveler.

We are also gonna go ahead and tentatively endorse A&K's Papua New Guinea tour, which is one of the last Explorer packages listed on their website for 2007. That's one trip we'd rather take escorted. PNG is not a place where you want to risk getting sliced up, period. Here's a run-down of how they're packaging it:

Ancient Cultures of Papua New Guinea: Sixteen days through Madang, Mt. Hagen and, um, Port Moresby. Emphasis on culture and nature walks. You will "learn about the diversity of the country and its people through theboundless assortment of tribal art, ritual masks, and statues." You will take a charter flight over glorious, rugged landscapes. You will be in a group of "10-16," which means "16, but 10 sounds better." You will also get to veg out here--add one to the beach lust file. Prices start at a cool $7,990, not including airfare.

[Photo: Eric Lafforgue]

Related Stories:
· Ancient Cultures of Papua New Guinea [A&K]
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