Indonesia's Irian Jaya province shares New Guinea with Papua New Guinea, which occupies the island's eastern part. Irian Jaya is one of the world's last remaining wilderness areas and includes some of the most rugged terrain on the planet, ranging from mangrove swamps to snowcapped mountains. Irian Jaya offers spectacular jungle scenery, beautiful glaciers and fantastic trekking possibilities. Numerous animals live in the province and the jungles provide a refuge for the abundant bird life. The people who live in Irian Jaya are known as Papuans. They are culturally and ethnically related to their Papua New Guinean neighbors and the Melanesians of the South Pacific.

Some of the most interesting places on Irian Jaya include the Baliem Valley, where one can experience the inhabitants' unique culture and which boasts excellent trekking possibilities, Sentani, where boat trips on Sentani Lake are available and Kota Biak, which is known for its good dive sites.

Irian Jaya is a huge land mass. There are few roads and most towns are only accessible by slow and irregular boats. If you have limited time, the best option is to get around by plane, but that will cut deep into your budget. Guerillas fighting for an independent Papua have made several regions unsafe for travelers for decades. For travel into many areas, special permits have to be obtained from local police stations.

Accommodation is limited in Irian Jaya. In most of the smaller towns you won't find any accommodation at all.