Arrive in the port town of Ambon, the gateway to the Moluccas. Meet at the airport and be transferred to the harbor where the Ombak Putih is waiting at anchor. Once settled into your cabin, the cruise director briefs you about the trip. Ready to start your adventure, weigh anchor and stop for a refreshing swim along the way. Later, enjoy dining alfresco on the main deck while getting to know the other passengers and crew and watching the sun set on the first day at sea.

Spend the morning on the island of Manipa, said to have magical powers because the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the Japanese never set foot on it despite occupying the surrounding islands. Explore its simple but bright with tropical blooms village, while the surrounding gardens, groves and forests yield produce such as cashew nuts and the sago palm. Visit a distillery for the locality’s famous ‘kayu putih’ oil – a universal panacea that no Indonesian household is without, for all the aches and pains, colds and stomach upsets that afflict you. It is distilled from vats full of the crushed leaves of melaleuca trees.

Today anchor in front of Boano Island, which is famous for its towering cliffs, karst formations, and white-sand beaches. Use the tenders to explore this beautiful coastline. During lunch move to a nearby string of uninhabited islands for some spectacular snorkeling.

Seram (formerly Ceram) is a remote place of hilly jungle rarely visited by outsiders, yet your vessel allows you access to this most fascinating and mysterious island. Your destination is the village of Sawai, an oasis in itself, but also a perfect land base to make the most of Seram’s stunning northern coast and Manusela National Park. Spend two days trekking, exploring, and bird-watching in the area before you continue on course for the famous Raja Ampat Archipelago.

Today find yourselves anchored in Tomolol Bay on Misool Island. A swim through Tomolol’s mysterious dome-topped cave is undoubtedly one of Raja Ampat’s most memorable activities. After an early breakfast, the tenders take you into the heart of the bay to see this partially submerged cave where it is possible to swim, snorkel, or simply float while gazing up at the cavernous grotto adorned with astonishing stalactites. The more adventurous can swim or paddle through the dark waters to the other mouth of the cave. After returning to the ship, use your tenders to explore more of this impressive maze of karst islands, both above and below the surface, complete with mysterious skull cairns in sea-cave cemeteries, and prehistoric ‘petroglyph’ cave paintings, estimated to be anything from 3,000 to 5,000 years old and depicting various human figures and huge human palms, fish, flowers and plants, tools and vessels.

This morning wake up to see the sun rise over the picturesque chain of islands that makes up the Misool archipelago. The topography is typical of ‘karst dissolution,’ featuring a great number of tiny islets whose bases have been eroded over time by the relentless motion of the tides. Spend the day maximizing everything that this fascinating area has to offer by marveling at both the marine wonderland under the water and the magnificent landscape above the surface. Test out your paddling skills in the sea kayaks, watch for birds perched on the rocks, or just sit back and take in the glorious scenery.

The jungle-clad island of Batanta offers you a chance to stretch our legs on a trek into the island’s interior. Anchor at the foot of Arefi Village, nestled on the north coast of the island, where you can find local guides to escort you through the mangrove waters to the start point of your hike. A short walk along the riverbed brings you to the first of two jungle waterfalls complete with a refreshing pool for cooling off. The fit and adventurous may choose to continue the uphill climb along the rocks to where a second, larger cascade awaits. After leaving the wilderness behind, find a nearby spot to swim and snorkel.

Today rise at 4:30am, off Sawinggarai village. The dinghy carries you across to the village in the dark and a local guide takes you on a 20-minute-walk into the forest on a pre-dawn quest to spot the remarkable red bird of paradise. Hope that the efforts of your early start pay off, enabling you to catch a rare and privileged sight of the bird’s elaborate courtship dance as the day breaks over the forest canopy. Back in the village there is time to meet with the community and perhaps visit the school. Be back on the boat by mid-morning and if time permits, travel over to Pef Island to snorkel and motor around the convoluted coast, while learning the myth about the prehistoric hand print still visible high on a limestone cliff. In the afternoon head east and snorkel on the reefs of Mioskon Island before having a farewell dinner with the captain and crew.

In the morning, find yourselves at anchor in the harbor of Sorong. After a final, hearty breakfast, say goodbye to the Ombak Putih and its crew. Your tender takes you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.