Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea - the second largest in the world - and more than 600 offshore islands, including the Bismarck Archipelago (Admiralty Island, Bougainville, New Britain and New Ireland), the D'Entrecasteaux Island group and the three islands of the Louisiade Archipelago. The mainland and the larger islands are mountainous and rugged, divided by large fertile upland valleys. Fast-flowing rivers from the highlands descend to the coastal plains. A line of active volcanoes stretches along the north coast of the mainland and continues on the island of New Britain. To the north and south of this central mountain range on the main island lie vast stretches of mangrove swamps and coastal river deltas. Papua New Guinea is surrounded by coral reefs which are under close watch to preserve them.

The total population of Papua New Guinea is only around 5.5 mill, and out of these only 18% are living in urban centers. The capital and largest city is Port Moresby with a population of 255,000. The city is located on the southeastern coast of the mainland. Port Moresby is served by Jacksons International Airport, the biggest international airport in the country. It has connections to several destinations in Australia as well as to Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and a few other international destinations. There are still no significant cross-country roads from the capital city, and most transportation depends on small aircrafts and the over 400 isolated airports.

There is a developing tourist industry, and adequate and comfortable accommodation is available throughout Papua New Guinea. There are hotels of international standard in Lae, Madang, Port Moresby and most major centers. There are lodges in the Highlands and on the Sepik River, many of which can only be reached by air or river. Generally they consist of bungalows constructed of local materials.

Tourists go to Papua New Guinea for the striking natural beauty, the diversity of cultures as well as the fauna and flora. There are as many different species of mammals as in the much bigger Australia, including three species of kangaroos and wallabies, and there are more species of birds, frogs and butterflies than in the whole of Australia. Two-thirds of the world's species of orchids come from Papua New Guinea. There are plenty of opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and diving off the beaches and coral reefs around the country. Tourists also enjoy game fishing, river or jungle tours and sailing off the beautiful shores.

Visitors from Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and many other countries, all need a visa to enter Papua New Guinea. Furthermore they need a passport valid for at least 12 months after entry and a return ticket. On some occasions visitors are granted visas on arrival, but it is strongly recommended that all visitors obtain visa prior to arrival. Visas can be obtained at the nearest Papua New Guinea Consulate or Embassy.