Komodo Dragon | Fiona Wardle
Komodo Dragon  | Fiona Wardle
Wayag Islands, Raja Ampat  | Issac Wilson
Traditional culture Lake Sentani, Papua New Guinea  | Fiona wardle
Birds of Paradise, Raja Amput  | D Brown
Misool, Raja Ampat  | Aaron Russ
Snorkelling with Whale Sharks  | Fiona Wardle
White Anemone  | Courtney Rayes
New

Indonesian Explorer

Visit Komodo Island and cruise through Raja Ampat

18 Days from

$14375 USD

Trip Code: IND
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Superior Triple
$14765 USD
Superior Deck 4
$16395 USD
Superior Deck 5
$17495 USD
Main Deck Single
$19890 USD
Superior Single
$21435 USD
Worsley Suite
$22735 USD
Heritage Suite
$26500 USD
Kayaking option
$1215 USD

Duration

  • 18 Days

Activities

  • 16 days expedition cruising

Accommodation

  • 1 night hotel
  • 16 nights aboard Heritage Adventurer

Meals

  • 17 Dinners
  • 15 Lunches
  • 17 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

1 / 10

Discovery and Cruising

Trip highlights

  • See the Komodo Dragon, on Komodo Island
  • Visit Pink Beach, Komodo Island
  • Discover the beauty of the Raja Ampat archipelago
  • Snorkel in the “underwater nirvana” of Wakitoba
  • Wonder at the flora and fauna and spectacular endemic birdlife
  • Cruise the idyllic islands and explore isolated villages

Overview

Cruise through Indonesia's remote and little known tropical islands enroute to Papua New Guinea. Swim with the Whale Sharks in Triton Bay, visit Komodo National Park, home to the famed Komodo Dragon, discover Jacques Cousteau's "underwater nirvana" Wakatobi National Park and explore the turquoise waters and rainbow corals of Raja Ampat as we traverse powdery white sand beaches and untamed jungles. For botanists, birders, photographers and nature lovers alike, this expedition offers numerous opportunities to spot once-in-a-lifetime species and experience rare wildlife encounters on remote and unknown islands. Sublime wildlife, incredible underwater encounters, exceptional birding and thrilling cultural exchanges await as we make our way to Port Moresby.

Itinerary

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For centuries Bali has captivated the imagination of artists, writers, and travellers with its landscapes of emerald terraced rice fields back-dropped by the sacred volcano of Mount Agung. Make your way to the hotel where our group will spend the first night of the expedition. This evening meet your fellow voyagers and expedition guides over dinner at the hotel.

Meals: D

Enjoy breakfast followed by time to explore the cultural and historical delights of Bali’s capital. This afternoon transfer to Heritage Adventurer where your Captain and Expedition Team will welcome you aboard as we set sail for Sumbawa Island.

Meals: B,D

East of its more famous sibling Lombok, mountainous Sumbawa Island blends laid back island life with spectacular volcanic ridges, terraced rice fields, tangled jungles and beautiful sandy beaches replete with stunning coral reefs and remote bays awaiting exploration. Historically divided between east (Bimanese speakers) and west (Sumbawanese speakers) this isolated island that time almost forgot juxtaposes luxurious mansions alongside old wooden huts, remote wilderness and traditional Adat law and lore. Today we will experience a number of time-honoured traditions and cultural encounters including meeting the creators of the famed intricate hand-woven ikat fabric and observing ancient tribal rites for a truly authentic immersion in the local culture.

Meals: B,L,D

A sanctuary for the giant monitor lizard, the Komodo Dragon, walk along a forested pathway to a viewing area for a closer look at these prehistoric reptiles which can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds. The surrounding forest is home to Timor Deer, the favourite prey of the dragons, as well as elegant Yellow-crested Cockatoos. Enjoy snorkelling off splendid Pink Beach, a world-class experience often described as “swimming in an aquarium”.

Meals: B,L,D

Famously described by legendary underwater explorer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau as an “underwater nirvana”, Wakatobi is a cetacean highway and home to breathtaking coral walls. Today’s snorkel excursions reveal an incredible array of marine reef inhabitants; underwater photographers will appreciate a bizarre macro world among corals as shallow as 20 feet. Highlights include colourful Frogfish, octopus, Marbled Snake Eels, Cockatoo Waspfish, Flying Gurnards, multitudes of crab species and dazzling anemones.

Meals: B,L,D

Fascinating and seldom visited, Buru Island is located at the boundary between the biogeographic zones of Australia and Asia. A high proportion of the species of birds and mammals that occur here are found nowhere else with 10 endemic bird species and 4 endemic mammals as well as a number of near-endemic species. This morning we will explore these remote shores together with our expert naturalists and guides. Enjoy opportunities to explore the forests in search of wildlife and many of the endemic species and enjoy the hospitality of local communities during village visits.

Meals: B,L,D

Lapped by stunning turquoise waters, Raja Ampat’s collection of 1,500 tiny, jungle-cloaked islands are among Indonesia’s most beautiful. We plan to spend 2 days exploring the bounty of rainbow corals, shoals of multi-coloured fish, intriguing ocean-carved limestone formations and jungles of this tropical paradise of forgotten islands. Believed to contain the most biodiverse marine habitat on the planet, the waters surrounding Raja Ampat are home to 600 species of hard coral and 1,200 types of reef fish and make for exceptional snorkelling and Zodiac cruising. On land, spotting the brilliant Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise and Red Bird-of-paradise will be high on our agenda here, with early morning visits planned ensuring the very best opportunity for all to see these remarkable birds in their natural habitat and, hopefully, witness their rarely-seen mating dance around their ‘lekking’ trees. Other activities could include beachcombing, visiting villages and engaging in cultural exchanges with locals and forest walks.

Meals: B,L,D

Part of the Sultanate of Tidore during the spice trade wars, Misool Island is the second largest island in the aquatic wonderland that is Raja Ampat (aka Four Kings Islands, named after its four main islands) and our introduction to this stunning marine environment. Rich in heritage, it was colonised by the Dutch, however still maintains its cultural essence and traditional ways of life with indigenous constructions, folk dance and respect for nature prevailing. On land, discover caves hidden among verdant forests featuring rock art dating back more than 5,000 years, while under its protected waters Dugong, Bumphead Parrotfish, Clownfish, Manta Rays, Ghost Pipefish, Harlequin Shrimp, Pygmy Seahorse and more can be found among spectacular coral gardens and sea-cave cemeteries. Over the course of the day we aim to explore the labyrinth of caves and passages, and hike up to the viewing platforms to enjoy the spectacular vistas and heartshaped lagoon of Karawapop.

Meals: B,L,D

Today we have a full day of exploration planned at the seldom visited Bomberai Peninsula, which is also often referred to as the Bird’s Beak Peninsula for its location to the south of Bird’s Head Peninsula. A lush tropical forest blankets the hills which rise to the remote Kumafa Mountains. The turquoise waters sculpting the karst limestone coast are renowned for the abundance and diversity of tropical fish species. Join your expedition team ashore discovering the unique plants and wildlife of the region before snorkelling among enormous colourful soft corals and a thousands strong cast from Finding Nemo attracted by the rich food source delivered via underwater channels and currents.

Meals: B,L,D

Enjoy the unforgettable experience of swimming with the iconic Whale Sharks of Triton Bay. One of the best places in the world to snorkel with these gentle giants, we aim to visit the local fishermen’s Bagans (handmade floating platforms) where these mega-fish (known to grow more than 12-metres in length), hopeful of catching some of the smaller fish escaping fishermen’s nets, are known to congregate. This afternoon Heritage Adventurer drops anchor off Aiduma Island, one of the most remote islands in Indonesia and world-renowned underwater wonderland and dive site. Discover dazzling soft coral forests teeming colorful reef fish including dinner plate-sized Blue-ring and Six-bar Angelfish, and impressive red and white striped Lionfish, among others, on a snorkelling highight.

Meals: B,L,D

This morning we embark on an exploration of the seldom visited Etna Bay. Indenting the coastline of the Kaimana Regency and described by those who have visited as a “tropical fiord beneath mountains that rise abruptly from the sea”, an authentic expedition adventure awaits. Local mythology claims that Indonesia’s legendary Garuda bird and national emblem lives in these mountains. Join your expedition team as we explore this unknown terrain together.

Meals: B,L,D

Ten thousand square miles of mangrove forest, bamboo, and sago palms have long sheltered the Asmat region from outsiders. At high tide our ship enters the shallow channel of the Flamingo River to anchor near the village of Agats, the regional capital of the Asmat. A remote riverine world is revealed as Zodiacs carry you along narrow waterways lined with the entwined branches of thick mangrove forests, home to Torresian Imperial Pigeons, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, and bright red lorikeets. As you make your way upstream, villagers – whooping and chanting in elaborate warrior gear and war paint – paddle vigorously toward you in intricately carved canoes to escort you ashore where an enthusiastic welcome awaits. A walk along elevated wooden boardwalks leads to a cathedral with superb carvings, and museum with displays of ancestor poles, drums, body masks, shields, daggers, and skulls; a reminder that cannibalism and head-hunting was practiced by the ancestors of some villagers. Asmat woodcarvings are known for their powerful lines and coarse, expressive motifs, and are widely considered by collectors and scholars to be among the world’s finest carvings and can be purchased directly from the village artisans.

Meals: B,L,D

Relax on board after our adventures, join a lecture, update your photos/journal or watch the world go by from the Bridge with the Captain, in the Observation Lounge or from the poolside. Day 16 will see us farewelling Indonesia as we make our way to Papua New Guinea, while on Day 17 we will be navigating the maze of reefs and islands of the Torres Strait which links the Coral and Arafura Seas with the Gulf of Carpentaria with prime spots being the Observation Deck, Lounge and the Bridge,

Meals: B,L,D

Arrive in Port Moresby, bustling gateway and capital of Papua New Guinea where village and urban life exist side-by-side. After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the National Museum and Arts Center, exhibiting one of the finest collections of primitive art in the world and lunch before boarding your flight to Cairns, OR continue the adventure with us on the Secrets of Melanesia. Note: During our voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. This tour offers a variety of activities and excursions. Your personal interests will determine which of these you wish to join. Please note that some activities and excursions will run at similar times, and it will not be possible to participate in both. Accordingly, refunds for excursions and missed landings are not available. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

View dates to Book

What’s included?

Included

  • 1 night hotel in Denpasar, Bali including breakfast
  • All meals onboard the ship
  • Comfortable cabin accommodation on the voyage
  • All shore excursions as outlined in itinerary
  • Services of specialist expedition leaders and staff
  • All activities while on cruise including lectures, slide and film shows, snorkeling equipment
  • Medical services (there is a resident medical officer and infirmary on board)
  • Arrival transfer to ship
  • Departure transfer to the airport or hotel
  • Mandatory Landing Fees
  • Flight from Port Moresby to Cairns on day 18 in economy class

Not included

  • International flights
  • Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
  • Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc
  • Tips
  • Airport and departure taxes
  • Visa
  • Travel Insurance

Responsible travel

Extra trip info

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