Why choose 100% Kokoda?
People come to Kokoda for a range of reasons. Some people want a physically challenging walk and they're not too concerned with the military linkage. Some want the same physical challenges but they want to learn a little of the history; whilst others come for the challenges and for a full-blown account of the war. At 100% Kokoda, we know that everyone that comes to Kokoda, comes for the right reason, there is no wrong reason, and no matter why you want to do Kokoda, we know that we can assist you!
At 100% Kokoda, we don't read to you from books, and we don't have "speaker notes" we know the information. From our own combat experience, we know that we can help you to understand how the soldiers of 1942 felt based off how we felt in similar situations, that's the difference with 100% Kokoda, you get to see Kokoda through the eyes of the soldiers, our eyes.
For those that want a little more of the history, we make sure that we take you to the side at the completion of a brief and we talk to you about it for a long as you like. This way, those people that want to hear less about the war, they don't feel that we forced them to sit through conversations that they didn't want to be a part of. We have found that this model works well for us, and we know that we can have many people who have come to Kokoda for various reasons, all in the same group, and all having their "information thirst" quenched.
Our treks have been designed with military precision, by people that have prepared soldiers for combat. Take comfort knowing that you will be met by our team at the airport in Port Moresby, transported to your secure hotel where your room is waiting for you. You don't need to worry about meals, transport, permits, plane tickets or who will help you walk the trail, we have done all of this for you! Because to us at 100% Kokoda, we treat it like you're on holiday, and we take pride in that we are your holiday facilitator.
Having combat experienced guides, we know that our team reacts well in time critical, pressure situations. Every one of our guides is versed in remote first aid and able to react with the expedience that you want in the event that there is an accident. We carry satellite phones and have a 24/7 emergency link to both our office in Australia, and to your personal travel insurer. This ensures that if required, we can evacuate you quickly and with little fuss. We have rehearsed this process from the middle of Kokoda back to Cairns. This gives you the comfort that if something were to happen, we have done this before and have tested how to get you receiving world class treatment, fast.
When some people hear that our guides are soldiers, they think of war movies with people being yelled at, this couldn't be further from the truth. Our treks are fun, light hearted and we foster the individual personalities within the group. Our Guides have been hand selected and all trained personally by our founder Cam James, to ensure that they are the right people for this role. Our Guides love what they do and you will see their passion for PNG, Kokoda, the local indigenous community and soldiering come through in how they talk, act and relate. Our guides have to be relatable and this is why we know that our guides are the best, this is to facilitate the Kokoda Trek that you imagined.
Want to know more? Check out our reviews at the bottom of this page and see what others had to say about trekking Kokoda with 100% and seeing Kokoda through the eyes of the soldiers.
Package costs and inclusions:
Australian Led Treks: $4200 AUD (On Sale for $3900)
Inclusions:
- Two nights accommodation in Port Moresby (one at the commencement and one at the conclusion of your trek) at the Holiday Inn.
- Charter flight between Kokoda and Port Moresby into the original Kokoda airfield.
- All ground transport (collection/ drop off between airport - hotel, transport to the start/ finish of the track).
- All track fees, licensing and on track accommodation costs.
- All meals on the track are included. (B,MT,L,AT,D)
- The use of a company tent, ground and roof sheets.
- Entry to Brigade Hill and Isurava Memorial sites
- You go to all local historical site visits, you don't miss any.
- Bomana War Cemetery and city tours.
- Australian Guide with Army service, to help you understand it all a little more.
- General Porters to carry food and safety equipment.
- Local Chef
- Access to an Automated External Defibrillator for your safety
- 24/7 Communications link to Australia and Emergency Service.
Carrying your own pack or hiring a Personal Porter?
This is a decision that must be yours, and there is no pressure from us either way to hire a porter or not. We at 100% Kokoda believe that you have an image in mind of what this adventure will look like, and this will for some of you will be an image of you carrying your pack; whilst for others, this will be an image that has you hiring a personal porter. No matter what you would like, we are here to accommodate you and facilitate your requests.
Should you want to hire a personal porter, we ensure that you will be matched with somebody that has your best interest at heart; someone that wants to see you succeed and that will go above and beyond to maintain your health and happiness.
You can be assured that our porters are cared for and receive the entire fee that you paid for them, you pay for their wage, a wage to walk home at the completion of your trek, their food, accommodation and for their uniforms. Please note that we do not make money off this service. It's a contract between you and the porter, facilitated by us. That's our guarantee!
One thing that we say to people is that hiring a personal porter is so much more than someone carrying your pack, it's the friendships that are made, meeting their families along your journey, learning about them in addition to the support you will provide to the local people and to their community. Without trekking, the porters have no other source of income, so you are helping a family provide.
Porter Cost: $500
Our 100% Kokoda Team of Guides
Every one of our team of guides is either a current or recently retired member of the Australian Army. What this means to you is that when we talk about the history of the war, we talk about it with experience based on how we felt in situations of combat. Trekking Kokoda with us is never an "Army camp," we have a lot of fun, but where we differ is that we can talk more about the psychological effects of combat. This lets you get a little closer to the history. At 100% Kokoda, not only have we have studied Kokoda and warfare, we have lived it and we want to share our experiences with you.
Our Guides have been members of teams in the following operational theatres:
East Timor
The Solomon Islands
Iraq
Afghanistan
Kuwait
Ukraine
Bougainville
Pakistan
The Founder of 100%
Cam James
The founder of 100% Kokoda, Cam comes with a wealth of experience in wilderness living. Born and raised in the country, Cam spent his childhood playing with his friends in the bush. Having completed an apprenticeship as an Electrician at the completion of his schooling, Cam decided to return to his roots and get back his real passion of being in the bush and enlisted into the Army. Completing his training at the Royal Military College Duntroon, Cam was appointed to the Royal Australian Engineer Corps and facilitated his junior officer development at the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment in Darwin. Having then spent 18 months at The Army Recruit Training Centre in Wagga, Cam trained over 250 men and women to be soldiers within the Army. Cam then moved to a more specialist role working within Special Operations Command as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Manager, specifically as an expert on explosives and working within a Chemical Warfare environment. In 2005, Cam as one of Australia's leading biological warfare experts deployed to mitigate the "white powder" scares that took over Australia, a task that remains one of his most fond, as it saw him protecting fellow Australians.
In 2006, Cam deployed to Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Group, working closely with special operations soldiers to ensure their safety against land mines and Improvised Explosive Devices. Cam was then sent to fill the Officer Commanding Leadership and Military Skills position at the Australian Defence Force Academy where he re-wrote the leadership and military skills package, training over 1500 trainees in preparation for careers as officers within the Defence Force. Cam changed direction and transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and posted to the 7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. During this time he held the roles of Company Second-in-Command, Adjutant (personal assistant to the commander) and Company Commander, where he was responsible for the training, health and wellbeing of over 130 soldiers who were preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Cam later moved to Canberra and worked at Army Headquarters, prior to moving to Brisbane where he became an Operational Planner within the 1st Divisional Headquarters. During this time, Cam deployed to the Netherlands as the lead planner for Operation Hawick, the Australian Government's contribution to the Malaysian Airline MH017 plane crash over the Ukraine. Cam was part of the planning and executing team that saw the collection and repatriation of the bodies and plane wreckage from the crash site.
Cam has since transferred from the Regular Army and is now an active member of Australia's Army Reserve Cam has been working in Papua New Guinea since 2013, facilitating several Army exercises and working on the Kokoda Trail as a guide. In this time he has led more than 600 people across the trail. As a guide on Kokoda, Cam is able to explain in detail the breakdown of the war. With his personal military experience, Cam has the background, the experience and the ability to explain in terms that all will understand. Cam prides himself on pitching this information at the right level for each and every group he leads. For those that want less history, you will not be bored, Cam will keep you entertained. For those that want greater military history, Cam will ensure that you get all the information you desire. Trekking with Cam, the level is always on point.
In addition to his military experience, Cam is a qualified Personal Trainer, specialising in strength and conditioning as well as proprioception (balance and joint stability). He has been a competitive athlete for most of his life, competing at some of the highest levels. In his youth, Cam won three Australian Speed Skating titles, played at the Schoolboy Rugby World Cup, and since his retirement from Rugby has taken up endurance sport. Cam has completed 24 Marathons, 20 Ironman Triathlons (3.8km swim, 180km cycle and a 42km run), and represented Australia at the 2015 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. From this you can take comfort that Cam knows and understands how to train for Kokoda, and has the fitness background to prepare you with confidence. Cam's bush experience, working in dangerous situations and working with people from other cultures should give you great confidence. You can be assured that he will make you feel safe, welcome and a part of the 100% Kokoda family.