Papua's Whale Sharks and Birds of Paradise

Your flight arrives in the West Papuan port town of Kaimana. From the airport be transferred to the harbor where the Katharina Ship is waiting at anchor. Once you have 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 head towards Namatote Passage, stopping for a refreshing swim along the way before watching the sun set on your first day at sea.

Today cruise through the Namatote Passage. Namatote’s cliffs are well known as a gallery of prehistoric art, boasting an impressive collection of cave paintings, glyphs, and pictorial signs left by ancient nomads high upon the rock walls. Then explore the undisturbed coves, caves, and lagoons of Triton Bay. Anchor for the night.

Triton Bay is a place of unsurpassed natural splendor, where time and tides have sliced the limestone landscape into tall cliffs and numerous islands separated by lagoons and narrow channels. It is also home to fishermen who keep masses of baitfish in nets that attract a migratory group of whale sharks, which you may have the chance to swim and snorkel with. Also spend your time swimming from secluded beaches, snorkeling the vibrant turquoise waters, and kayaking amongst the rocky outcrops. Enjoy watching the birdlife from the comfort of tenders as you explore this extraordinary maze of karst islands, before visiting the village of Lobo, which is a friendly place at the foot of a 1000-meter-high cliff.

Today round Cape Papisol to the Karawawi region, and stop to refresh yourself before journeying on to the beautiful Kitikiti waterfall. Here, in the wilderness, a roaring river cascades down the jungle-clad mountains and crashes into the sea below. Swim under the waterfall and explore the extraordinary reefs nearby before continuing northwest along the coastline of West Papua.

Today visit the village of Sipitnanam, where you can meet the residents, who spend their days fishing the nearby waters and tending their nutmeg plantations. From there, make your way to the Pisang Islands. These tiny gems isolated in the vast waters of the Ceram Sea offer a chance to relax and enjoy the sparkling white-sand beaches, clear waters, and vibrant reefs.

This morning wake 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. After a full day of island hopping, the Katharina Ship spends a quiet night at anchor.

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. After a full day, the Katharina Ship begins her overnight journey north.

This morning presents an exciting opportunity for keen birdwatchers. While it is still dark, the tenders ferry those of you who are feeling fit and adventurous to the village of Sapokren, where a local guide takes you on a challenging trek into the forest in the hope of seeing the Wilson’s bird of paradise. The male is red and black with a yellow mantle on his neck, light green mouth, rich blue feet and two violet tail feathers. The featherless crown is turquoise, ornamented with double black crosses. If you are lucky, you may be able to observe the male dancing from a distance of just five meters. Before the dance, he clears the ground from any leaves or other obstacles that may disrupt his performance. On your way back to the boat, accompanied by the sounds of the jungle coming to life, be sure to spot a number of bird species along the way. Spend the remainder of the day resting from the morning’s activities and enjoying the waters and reefs of Raja Ampat.

Today follow in the footsteps of the ‘father of biogeography,’ Alfred Russel Wallace, by rising early and walking into the forest on a pre-dawn quest to spot the remarkable red bird of paradise, one of the species that Wallace was most anxious to collect. With a little luck and the help of knowledgeable guides, you might catch sight of this rare bird’s elaborate courtship display as dawn breaks over the forest canopy. After returning to the ship, turn your attention from the sky to the sea as the Katharina Ship makes her way through the Dampier strait, home of some of Raja Ampat’s premier reefs. If the currents are in favor, you might see some of the area’s larger specimens of marine life, which are attracted to the strait’s nutrient-rich waters. End the 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.

In the morning, find yourselves at anchor in the harbor of Sorong. After a final, hearty breakfast, say goodbye to Katharina Ship and her crew. The tenders take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.