Papua New Guinea is a land of extraordinary cultural diversity and pristine natural beauty in the Pacific. From the vibrant traditions of over 800 indigenous cultures to world-class diving sites and the legendary Kokoda Track, PNG offers adventurers an unparalleled experience in one of the world's last frontiers.
Papua New Guinea has a high crime rate, particularly in Port Moresby and Lae, where robbery, carjacking, and violent crime targeting foreigners occur regularly. Travel is possible and rewarding but requires strict security protocols: always use pre-arranged hotel transport, never walk outside compounds after dark, and travel with reputable licensed operators for all remote area visits.
Current safety advisory
High
Exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea. Reconsider your need to travel to Port Moresby, Lae, and Mount Hagen at night. Do not travel independently to the Highlands Highway or remote areas without certified local guide and operator support.
Last updated: 2025-06
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Level 3 - Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and civil unrest. Violent crime, including sexual assault, carjacking, home invasion, and robbery, is common throughout PNG.
Exercise a High Degree of Caution
Exercise a high degree of caution. Serious crime affecting foreigners is common in Port Moresby and other urban areas. Petty crime is widespread.
High Risk
High risk of crime in urban areas. Street crime, robberies, and carjackings occur regularly. Road travel at night outside major towns is strongly discouraged.
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Avoid walking alone, especially after dark
Use only registered taxis and avoid PMVs (public motor vehicles)
Stay in secure accommodations with good security measures
Avoid the Highlands region except Mt. Hagen and Goroka
Keep valuables secured and maintain low profile
Register with your embassy upon arrival
Avoid Bougainville Panguna Mine area
Travel with reputable tour operators for remote areas
Carry a certified copy of your passport and keep the original in your hotel safe; police checkpoints are common and ID is required
Consult a travel health clinic before visiting: malaria prophylaxis, hepatitis A/B vaccines, and typhoid vaccination are strongly recommended for PNG
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Airport Taxi Overcharging
Unlicensed drivers outside Jacksons Airport approach arrivals offering taxis at inflated rates and sometimes with accomplices. Official rates from airport to city are $15-25 but unlicensed drivers may demand $80-100.
How to avoid: Always pre-arrange transport through your hotel before arrival. Do not accept offers from drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall.
Raskol Gang Targeted Robbery
Organised criminal gangs (raskolim or raskols) specifically target tourists in Port Moresby who are walking or in vehicles stuck in traffic, particularly near markets and along main roads.
How to avoid: Never walk independently in Port Moresby. Always travel by pre-arranged hotel transport with windows up and doors locked. Avoid displaying cameras, phones, or valuables in vehicles.
False Guide Offers
Individuals near tourist sites and markets offer guiding services, then either overcharge, redirect to shops paying commission, or in some cases set up robberies by associates.
How to avoid: Use only guides arranged through your hotel or certified tour operators. Do not engage with people who approach you offering unsolicited guide services.
Craft and Currency Inflated Pricing
Some vendors at tourist markets significantly inflate prices for foreign visitors, particularly for bilum bags and carvings that locals pay a fraction of the quoted price.
How to avoid: Research typical local prices before market visits. Negotiate respectfully but do not feel pressured. Prices in hotel gift shops are generally fair if higher.
Landowner Fee Demands
In some remote areas, individuals claiming to be landowners demand unexpected fees to access beaches, diving spots, or cultural sites not covered in your tour package.
How to avoid: Use certified operators who have pre-established relationships with communities. All fees should be agreed and paid in advance as part of your tour booking.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- Required: Yellow fever (if arriving from infected area). Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies (for remote areas), Routine vaccines (MMR, Polio, Tetanus). Malaria prophylaxis ESSENTIAL for most areas.
- Water
- NOT SAFE to drink. Drink only bottled or boiled water. Avoid ice in drinks. Use bottled water for brushing teeth. Water purification tablets recommended for remote areas.
- Food
- Stick to hotel restaurants and established venues for food safety. At markets, only eat freshly cooked hot food and intact fruit you can peel yourself. Never eat raw salads or cold foods from street vendors. Hepatitis A vaccination is strongly recommended.
- Facilities
- Port Moresby General Hospital is the best medical facility in PNG but standards are significantly below Western levels. For serious medical emergencies, medical evacuation to Australia (Brisbane or Cairns) is standard practice. Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is absolutely essential.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Solo travel is possible in PNG but requires strict security discipline and advance planning. Stay exclusively at hotels with strong security protocols (Airways, Hilton, The Stanley), use only hotel-arranged transport, and never walk alone outside secured areas. Connect with expat communities at hotel bars (Duffy Cafe Bar, Airways Hotel Wingz) for local advice. Solo travel to remote areas always requires licensed operators and guides - never travel alone to Sepik, Highlands, or remote islands.
Female travellers
Female travellers face heightened risks in PNG including harassment and assault. Travel with a trusted companion where possible, dress conservatively at all times outside resort environments, avoid isolated situations, and never walk alone after dark anywhere in the country. Harassment is common at markets and on public transport. Use hotel-arranged transport exclusively. Female travellers who have visited PNG safely consistently credit thorough pre-planning, reliable operators, and staying within hotel security infrastructure.
Families
Family travel is possible with thorough preparation and younger children particularly need consideration. Recommended for children aged 10+ due to safety requirements, limited pediatric healthcare, and demanding conditions. Stick to Port Moresby and Madang as family bases. Loloata Island Resort and Madang Resort Hotel are the most family-appropriate properties. Malaria prophylaxis for all family members must be arranged with a travel health specialist before departure. Bring full first aid kit, all medications, and familiar snacks as Western brands are limited.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Same-sex relationships are criminalised in Papua New Guinea under Section 210 of the Criminal Code with penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment. Public displays of affection between same-sex couples should be avoided entirely. While enforcement against tourists is not the norm, the legal situation and conservative social attitudes require considerable discretion. The expat community is generally more accepting but social norms in local communities are very conservative. LGBTQ+ travellers should research current conditions and exercise complete discretion throughout their visit.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 000
- Medical
- 111
- Embassy
- Australian High Commission Port Moresby: +675 325 9333. US Embassy Port Moresby: +675 321 1455. UK High Commission: +675 325 1677.
- Tourist Police
- Port Moresby Tourist Safety Unit: +675 325 3600 (contact through your hotel for current numbers)