Your flight arrives in the West Papuan port town of Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. From the airport be transferred to the harbor where the Ombak Putih is waiting at anchor. Once settled into your cabin, your cruise director familiarizes you with the vessel’s facilities and safety procedures. Ready to start your adventure, weigh anchor, leave the harbor behind, and enter the marine protected area of Raja Ampat, home to unique birdlife and the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world. Cruise towards the island of Waigeo, stopping for a refreshing swim along the way before watching the sun set on your first day at sea.

After waking up, before sunrise, set off on pre-dawn quest to spot the remarkable red bird of paradise, one of the species that Alfred Russel Wallace was most anxious to collect. Whether you spot the birds or not, for sure experience a wonderful trek. Later visit Yenbeser village where Wallace spent some months and (if the tides are right) see a faithful replica of Wallace’s small hut. End your day by mooring off Pulau Arborek in front Arborek Village. Here, you can easily circumnavigate the tiny island by foot and gain a sense of the Asai culture, which is still kept alive by the villagers living in this isolated place. Arborek is also home to a local manta conservation project where volunteers happily show you around and explain their efforts and program in more detail.

Another full day of adventure awaits you along the convoluted western coast of Waigeo. Begin the morning by exploring Wofoh, three island gems linked together by stretches of pristine coral reef. Snorkel the reef, use the tenders or kayaks to navigate the islands, or simply relax on the beach. In the afternoon move northwards to Aljui Bay, home to the Cendanda Pearl Farm, one of the larger producers of high quality seawater pearls in the region. Pearling is an important industry throughout Indonesia and a number of farms can be seen in the waters of Raja Ampat, where the farmers may grant you permission to visit their facilities and receive an explanation of the pearling processes that you have seen during your voyage. In the evening make your way across the Equator to the northern hemisphere on your journey to the islands of Wayag.

Wake up within the natural splendor of Raja Ampat’s Wayag Islands. The beauty of these picturesque karst spires is perhaps only equaled by the brilliant colors and vibrancy of the reefs and the marine life that flourishes below. Nature has carved these islands into a series of coves and lagoons, narrow channels and inlets, caves, jagged rocks and shaded, sandy beaches. For those who dare, there are some spectacular but nearly vertical climbs that are rewarded with magnificent panoramas. Alternatively you can swim, snorkel, kayak, and paddle board.

Today you awake to enjoy another day relaxing in the Wayag Islands. These are Raja Ampat’s best, and the crew aims to make the most of this unique region, navigating the maze of mushroom-shaped islands, and stopping for swimming and snorkeling. Later, set your compasses in the direction of Penemu.

In the morning, the Ombak Putih moors in front of the island of Penemu. The heart of this island is home to the scenic wonder known as ‘Hidden Bay,’ and you can take a short hike to the top of Penemu Hill to be awestruck by one of Raja Ampat’s most spellbinding views. The rest of the day is spend exploring, kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling in the surrounding areas. In the early evening set course for Kofiau.

Way off the beaten track, on the western fringes of Raja Ampat, Kofiau is definitely the least visited major island in the region. It has been ignored for so long that several new species of birds have been discovered on the island just in the last decade or so. Take a closer look at the blue water mangrove channels and maybe go on a short hike through gardens and forest to visit the inland lake opposite Deer Village. Further west of Kofiau, and even more obscure, the numerous small Boo islands are only seasonally inhabited by fishermen from both Kofiau and Maluku. Typically surrounded by white sand beaches, these islands are the blueprint for paradise. When you go ashore, it is in the knowledge that it’s quite possible you could be the only foreign visitors to have set foot here in more than a year.

Your destination today is the Doworas, a group of islands on the eastern side of the south entrance of the Patientie Strait. Here, stop at Doworalamo Island for a few hours of swimming, snorkeling, and beach-combing. You can also visit a village of the famous sea gypsies, known here as Bajao Laut or Orang Sama. Until recently sea gypsies spent their lives entirely on their traditional sailboats. Now the modern world has pushed them ashore, where their homes are always built on stilts over coral reefs or the tidal margins of remote islands such as this one. Later, cruise towards Bacan.

Wake today and find yourselves back in the southern hemisphere, off Bacan Island, and venture ashore to explore the coastal area and adjacent forest edge. This is the island on which Wallace discovered the golden birdwing butterfly and the eponymous Wallace’s giant mason bee or ‘chalicodoma pluto.’ Nevertheless, there are always plenty of interesting plants and animals to discover including endemic species of parrots, cockatoos, lorikeets, and perhaps even the elusive cuscus or a rare black macaque. These macaques are the only monkeys in Maluku; they were introduced here from North Sulawesi. If time allows cruise to Payahe Bay and make a short trek towards a lovely waterfall.

Wake at sunrise to views of picture-postcard variety. The three sharp volcanic cones of Ternate, Tidore, and Makian lined up in a row makes for an unforgettable image. Makian Island is dominated by the volcanic Mount Kiebesi (1357 meters). In 1988, a series of eruptions nearly split the island into two, and forced the temporary evacuation of the entire population, which was then about 15,000 people. Makian has palm fringed white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Find a good place to snorkel along the way, and visit some natural hot springs.

Today visit the island of Tidore, another perfect volcanic cone rising from the tropical seas. Over breakfast, cruising around the northeast coast of Tidore, have a magnificent view of the extinct Kiematabu volcano that dominates the island. Its slopes feature plantations of graceful clove trees, once found only upon this and a few adjacent islands, and so valuable in world trade that European nations fought for centuries to monopolize them. When you reach the old town of Soa Siu, local vehicles bring you high up the slope of the volcano to visit the age-old plantations. Here, visit the palace of the Sultan of Tidore, near a Spanish fort and a seashore monument, which marks the 1521 visit of Magellan’s battered fleet on the first circumnavigation of the world. Spend the afternoon snorkeling and exploring the vicinity around one of the adjacent islands, and in the evening have your farewell dinner with your captain and the crew.

After an early breakfast explore the city of Ternate, a vital spice-trading outlet, which has retained its commercial and political importance as the administrative center and main trading hub of the North Maluku province. Of the four historically powerful spice sultanates, Ternate is the only one where the institution of the sultanate has survived uninterrupted. Visit Fort Toluko built by the Portuguese, Fort Oranje built by the VOC (Dutch East India Company), and the ‘Kedaton,’ the palace of the Sultan of Ternate, with its rich collection of heirlooms. In the late morning return to the boat, say goodbye to your captain and crew and transfer to the airport for your onward travel.