Key topics: Who are Personal Porters? | Why Hire a Personal Porter? | Testimonials | Cost | How to Book a Personal Porter?
Why Hire a Personal Porter?
All trekkers will be supported by a porter team that will carry all our combined expedition equipment such as tents, cooking equipment and supplies for our meals. These general porters will also assist you if they are nearby and help you over log bridges, up hills and over rocks.
If you have additional items (heavy camera equipment, etc.) that you do not wish to carry or you wish to only carry a small day pack we can arrange a 'personal porter'. A personal porter cannot be shared between two people and is hired in addition to the general porter team.
The personal porter duties are focused around the portage of your gear. Your pack will be carried each day by your personal porter who will pick it up from your tent in the morning and drop it off in the evening. During the day your personal porter will typically walk near you to offer assistance over rocks, logs or tricky sections of the Track just like the general porters. Most people become good friends with their personal porter.
Hiring a personal porter should not been seen as a weakness or any less of an achievement. People hire personal porters for a variety of reasons, including supporting the local economy. If you are not an experienced trekker you would be well advised to consider engaging the services of a personal porter.
Testimonials
These are just some of the statements made by trekkers who hired a personal porter:
Cost and Booking your Personal Porter
The services of a personal porter will require advance notice of at least one week as it takes time to get the porter organised. Personal porter fees are AUD $720 (2012). Contact our office to arrange the personal porter.
Personal Porter and your Backpack
You will need to supply the porter with your own backpack (or hire one from No Roads) and the pack should be a bushwalking type, not a soft youth hostel traveller type and include a purpose built waterproof pack cover. Please keep in mind that a small space approximately the size of a loaf of bread needs to be kept free in your bag for the porters personal effects. Please do not pack your bag to full capacity.
A personal porter is only allowed to carry a maximum weight of 25kg (an internationally recognised weight limit). Please keep in mind the excess luggage charge from Port Moresby to Kokoda kicks in after 12kg. We must emphasise that the weight of your large pack, whether carried by you or a personal porter should not exceed 12kg fully loaded. If it weighs more then you are probably carrying too much. Remember that you do not have to carry a tent, food or cooking equipment!
If you have additional items (heavy camera equipment, etc.) that you do not wish to carry or you wish to only carry a small day pack we can arrange a 'personal porter'. A personal porter cannot be shared between two people and is hired in addition to the general porter team.
The personal porter duties are focused around the portage of your gear. Your pack will be carried each day by your personal porter who will pick it up from your tent in the morning and drop it off in the evening. During the day your personal porter will typically walk near you to offer assistance over rocks, logs or tricky sections of the Track just like the general porters. Most people become good friends with their personal porter.
Hiring a personal porter should not been seen as a weakness or any less of an achievement. People hire personal porters for a variety of reasons, including supporting the local economy. If you are not an experienced trekker you would be well advised to consider engaging the services of a personal porter.
Testimonials
These are just some of the statements made by trekkers who hired a personal porter:
- My personal porter was just amazing, always there when I needed help and such a lovely person.
- I couldn't have done the trek without my personal porter. No matter where I was he just appeared and was ready to help when needed.
- I am glad I didn't have to carry that pack, it was hard enough walking the track let alone carry a heavy backpack!
- My porter Dixon gave exceptional service. Nothing was too much trouble for him.
- I developed a close bond with my personal porter. I learn't a lot about his family, his culture and told him about mine.
- Every morning I would wake up and David would be ready to take my pack and when I came into camp at night my pack was sitting outside my tent waiting for me. David was just awesome and made my trek that much more enjoyable.
- The care and attention shown by my personal porter, Walter, contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the trek.
Cost and Booking your Personal Porter
The services of a personal porter will require advance notice of at least one week as it takes time to get the porter organised. Personal porter fees are AUD $720 (2012). Contact our office to arrange the personal porter.
Personal Porter and your Backpack
You will need to supply the porter with your own backpack (or hire one from No Roads) and the pack should be a bushwalking type, not a soft youth hostel traveller type and include a purpose built waterproof pack cover. Please keep in mind that a small space approximately the size of a loaf of bread needs to be kept free in your bag for the porters personal effects. Please do not pack your bag to full capacity.
A personal porter is only allowed to carry a maximum weight of 25kg (an internationally recognised weight limit). Please keep in mind the excess luggage charge from Port Moresby to Kokoda kicks in after 12kg. We must emphasise that the weight of your large pack, whether carried by you or a personal porter should not exceed 12kg fully loaded. If it weighs more then you are probably carrying too much. Remember that you do not have to carry a tent, food or cooking equipment!
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