Our Guides
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The Guides from the Kokoda Track are the back bone of our operations in Papua New Guinea. They are the soul, the heart and the body of what we are doing there. Trekkers come for the Australian History and go home feeling attached to the people that live along the Track and the Guides that helped them achieve a personal goal.
Wherever possible we employ guides from all along the Track. We deal directly with the Koiari land owners and we are thus committed to employing the youth from villages deep along the Track. This places income back into the villages and keeps the youth away from Port Moresby. These guides have intimate knowledge of the environment and are a great information resource. Guides who prove themselves are chosen for training as trek helpers, medics, cooks and guides, thus giving them an avenue to improve the quality of their life. You can employ a Personal Guide who will carry your backpack for you and look after you along the Track. You will need to provide the backpack for the guide (which can be hired from No Roads). The personal guide fee includes their wage, food and flight to and from Kokoda. This is a very good option for people who wish to enjoy themselves that little bit more or who might otherwise be unable to complete the trek due to physical limitations. |
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Lead Guides
The guide team is led by a Lead Guide who typically heads up the expedition and walks at the front of the trekkers. He will ensure that the expedition follows the correct path and does not progress too fast or slowly. No trekker can walk ahead of this guide.
The lead guide will prepare the track for the oncoming group, removing any obstacles and cutting footsteps in slippery or difficult passages. In addition, the local guide will task the lead guide to assist with some management duties for larger guide teams.
The lead guide will prepare the track for the oncoming group, removing any obstacles and cutting footsteps in slippery or difficult passages. In addition, the local guide will task the lead guide to assist with some management duties for larger guide teams.
Kokoda Masterchefs
In each expedition one of our guides is trained to be the head cook. He is experienced at cooking our meals and upholds strict hygiene standards amongst his helpers whilst preparing and cooking our food in the jungle kitchen. Our head cooks are very creative and have introduced a number of surprise treats for our trekkers to enjoy. You will be amazed at what can be prepared in a campfire kitchen!
Guide Team Medics
Let us introduce you to our local medics that are on each of our Australian Led Kokoda tours and they use their first aid knowledge to look after any medical concerns for their fellow guides while they are trekking. They work closely with the Australian Guide and are constantly learning from them. We thank them for being such an important part of the No Roads family.
Campsite Manager
A new Guide role called a "Campsite Manager" has been introduced for 2019.. The Campsite Manager will now carry our tents (with an assistant if needed for bigger groups) and essentially establish our camp each afternoon, putting up tents, checking and cleaning the toilet(s), preparing fire wood & the kitchen fire, checking drinking water and shower, putting up clothes lines etc... This role will improve the experience for all trekkers with their tent and campsite ready for them when they arrive.
The Expedition Team
The expedition team has a structure. Whilst the trekkers, personal guides, general guides and the Australian Guide may shuffle around within the expedition team, the Lead Guide will ALWAYS be the first person and the Local Guide will ALWAYS be the last. This ensures we have local experts at each end of the expedition team and we know that no one is in front of our Lead Guide and we have not left anyone behind our Local Guide as the sweeper.
Lead Guide
(at the front) |
Trekkers, Personal Guides and General Guides
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Australian Guide
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Local Guide
(sweeper) |
Our 2020 PNG Guide Team
The Guide Team is made up of both general guides and personal guides. The personal guides are hired by trekkers to carry their personal backpack for the duration of the trek. They often keep close to the trekker who hired them to assist during the day whilst walking as they take a professional pride in ensuring that 'their' trekker completes the trek comfortably and safely, they are guided along the track.
The general guides carry all the expedition equipment, food and other items whilst also helping the remaining trekkers with difficult terrain if they are close by. The general guides make and break camp, cook our food and a special guide called a campsite manager organises the camp sites. They are our best friends!
The general guides carry all the expedition equipment, food and other items whilst also helping the remaining trekkers with difficult terrain if they are close by. The general guides make and break camp, cook our food and a special guide called a campsite manager organises the camp sites. They are our best friends!
2020 PNG Guide Team - No Roads Expeditions
PNG Guide Teams from Previous Years
No Roads Expeditions is very proud of our PNG Guide team, a wonderful group of men who embody the traditions of their relatives, many whom were the famous Kokoda "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angles". Do you recognise any of the following PNG Guides from your expedition? Note: before 2019 we called our Guides the industry used name Porters.
