Paradise Passage: From the Philippines to Raja Ampat

Arrive at the airport and head to your hotel. Relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

*Specific hotel and location to be announced"

Arrive in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and take in its busy streets, diverse neighborhoods, and strong food and arts scene. Visit highlights such as Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, the city’s museums, and the Chinese Cemetery. Walk through Intramuros, the historic Spanish walled district, and explore its streets when time permits. Sample Filipino dishes featuring bold sweet, sour, and savory flavors before continuing to your ship. Check in, settle into your cabin or stateroom, and explore the onboard facilities.

Marinduque, a peaceful island in the heart of the Philippines, is known for rolling hills, pristine beaches, and vibrant traditions. Small fishing villages welcome visitors and preserve time-honored crafts and festivals, including the famous Moriones Festival. Surrounding waters host rich coral reefs and diverse marine life, ideal for snorkeling and diving. Inland, verdant forests and hidden waterfalls offer quiet exploration, blending natural beauty and cultural heritage in a serene island escape.

Tucked away in Western Leyte, the Cuatro Islas are a serene tropical escape, offering a distinct charm on each of the four islands. Apid, the most populated, offers a cultural touch with its fishing community and traditional mat weaving. Digyo is the smallest, known for its stunning sandbars and quiet beauty. Mahaba features a long beach, marine sanctuary, and sea turtles, while Himokilan enchants with a curving sandbar and a hidden tidal pool.

After crossing the Bohol Sea, you arrive at tiny Balicasag Island, about six kilometers southwest of Panglao. The sea drops away into deep submarine cliffs. Soft and hard corals surround the reef, with multicolored shoals moving through the water. Afterward, head to Tagbilaran, a gateway to Bohol’s jungly interior. Tarsiers live here, nocturnal primates less than 16 cm tall with disproportionately large eyes. These adorable animals can be seen at the conservation center and sanctuary. Bohol is also famous for the Chocolate Hills, a striking quirk of geology.

Casulian Island (or Corregidor Island) lies off Siargao's southern coast. Rolling palm-covered hills lead to a summit with sweeping Pacific Ocean views. Pristine white-sand beaches and secluded turquoise coves ring the shoreline, while vibrant coral reefs thrive in the surrounding waters. Visitors flock here to hike the scenic hilltop trails and snorkel among the colorful marine life, making it one of Siargao's most sought-after destinations.

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to the library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of the on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from the onboard professional photographers.

The bustling port city of Sorong in West Papua is known as the gateway to the crystalline waters of Raja Ampat, the world's most biodiverse marine habitat, home to over 1,500 species of fish and 75 percent of the world's known coral species. In town, the Buddhist pagoda of Sapta Ratna stands tall on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. Local fishing boats come in with their catch at the bustling Pasar Jembutan Puri fish market.

Kabui Bay is one of Raja Ampat’s most scenic areas, shaped by a narrow waterway between the limestone islands of Gam and Waigeo known as The Passage. Cruise this natural corridor via Zodiac, following in the footsteps of naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who traveled this route in 1860 and described its scenery as one of the most picturesque in the region. The mix of calm water, dramatic rock formations, and abundant marine life makes this area outstanding for snorkeling. Nearby, well-known dive sites such as Mioskon, Mayhem, and The Passage offer opportunities for those who want to explore deeper.

Pulau Penemu is one of Raja Ampat’s most striking landscapes, with towering limestone pinnacles rising straight from the water. Piaynemo peak is the signature viewpoint here. A short hike takes you up to the top for wide views over lagoons and limestone islets. Just offshore, the Piaynemo Geosite is also one of the area’s best known snorkeling and diving zones, with dense coral diversity in the surrounding reefs and abundant fish life. Two dives are scheduled today, Melissa’s Garden, a coral rich plateau with three pinnacles and frequent macro life, and Batu Rufas, a drift along an island wall with swim throughs, fusilier schools, and regular turtle and shark sightings.

The Fam Islands form a small cluster of islets in the Raja Ampat Geopark, with Pulau Pam as the inhabited center. Three villages sit near hidden lakes, one where crocodiles are known to live. The local community produces high quality virgin coconut oil, supporting both livelihoods and cultural traditions. Fascinating and seldom visited, this stop allows time to explore a cultural village, experience the warm hospitality of local communities, and see daily island life up close. Fam’s reefs are among the most pristine in the region, with rich coral gardens and marine life that can include reef sharks, ribbon eels, turtles, schooling fusiliers, and manta cleaning stations.

Later, you head to Pulau Kri, one of Raja Ampat’s most important hubs of marine biodiversity. At Cape Kri, known for exceptionally high fish diversity, snorkel with the guidance of the expedition team. In these waters, you may encounter manta rays, sea turtles, mollusks, reef fish, and brilliant corals in every direction.

Pulau Mansuar is a long, narrow island crowned by a high limestone ridge and blanketed in dense tropical jungle. The surrounding reefs link Mansuar to neighboring Kri, and several small villages line the northern coast. In traditional palm-leaf-roof homes, just over a hundred residents live a measured, sea-and-forest rhythm of daily life. A walk across the island can take you to the salt lake Telaga Yenauiyau, a perfect place to enjoy a fresh coconut and listen to the jungle. Keep an eye out for the impressive coconut crab among the palms, and snorkelers will love the underwater world, where hundreds of colorful fish swirl above the corals. Those who wish can also go diving at Yenbuda Jetty.

One of the most remote islands in Raja Ampat, Pulau Misool captivates with its untouched nature. White-sand beaches, emerald hills, and labyrinths of karst limestone cliffs create truly cinematic scenery. The island is surrounded by some of the richest coral reefs on the planet and lies within the protected Misool Marine Reserve, celebrated for extraordinary biodiversity.

One of the region’s great natural treasures is the Yap Islands lagoon, hidden among towering karst formations. With turquoise water and a soft sandy bottom, it is an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling. You can also swim in Lake Lenmakana among rare freshwater jellyfish that have no stinging tentacles, and explore reefs and limestone shorelines where manta rays, reef sharks, vivid mollusks, shrimp, and a wide variety of tropical fish are often seen. 

Nearby lies Balbulol Lagoon, home to the famous heart-shaped “Love Lake,” a hidden gem set among the dramatic karst formations of Misool. The surrounding landscape is defined by towering limestone spires rising directly from the turquoise sea, creating a maze of narrow passages and peaceful, sheltered coves.

Arrive in Sorong in the early morning for disembarkation, with the reefs and islands of Raja Ampat still fresh in mind. Take a last look at the water and the jungle edged coastline as you step ashore, then continue onward with the sense of having reached one of the most biodiverse corners of the planet.