Revisit some of the most fascinating sites and possibly experience the enchantment of witnessing the bird of paradise in its natural habitat. If you're lucky, you could get to snorkel alongside whale sharks in Triton Bay, but there are no guarantees because these wild animals are not on a leash. Wallace's observations of the distinct zoological variations across a tiny strait in the archipelago inspired him to propose the faunal boundary line, now known as the Wallace Line, that divides the Asia and Australia ecozones. Organisms related to Asiatic species are found west of the line, whilst species of Asian and Australian origin are found east of the line. Join in exploring this fascinating region aboard the Katharina.
Highlights
Explore the undisturbed coves, caves, and lagoons of Triton Bay.
Snorkel through vibrant turquoise waters & kayak amongst rocky outcrops.
Swim under the Kitikiti waterfall & discover the extraordinary reefs nearby.
Paddle through the dark waters of Tomolol’s mysterious dome-topped cave.
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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.
Day 9: Pulau Arborek
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.
Day 10: Sorong | Disembark
1 Breakfast
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.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$7,9002-3 travelers
Cabin Deck
Cabin Deck. Spacious, air-conditioned twin-share cabins with twin bunks or double beds. Private bathroom with toilet, washbasin, and hot shower.
Notes
- All rates are quoted in USD and represent cost per person, based on double occupancy.
- Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.75 times the published rate.
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Our agent Jessica was very helpful with the whole process and always responded in a timely way to all of our questions.
K Van
2 days ago
Chern was very patient snd helpful.
CaBaba
3 days ago
Cruse ship was great. Fantastic food and service. Cruise itinary got changed so not what we expected, but not an major issue. Japan portion was great. Drivers/guides arranged by 80 Days were great. Hotels were mostly ok. Did not know that most hotels outside of major cities do not allow shoes to be worn in the hotel. again a minor inconvenience. Overall a great trip. Adventure Life communications were timely and much appreciated as far as changes/requests.
Peter Goff
4 days ago
We were a group of three that initiated our research by independently searching for the best agency to help us in the somewhat complex experience of traveling to the Galapagos. We chose adventure life because they were the most responsive in the website provided the most comprehensive overview of the trip. Their reviews were also very good.
Adventure, life splits up its booking process in two parts. First Jeff, the booking agent helped us decide which experience best suited are interests. We chose a small 14 to 16 group sized yacht. Once the booking was made with Jeff, we were handed off to Coleene, who oversaw the complex process of assembling all of the necessary documents and making sure we had everything we needed to make the trip go smoothly. The adventure, life website, then becomes your personal place of reference for all things related to your trip from door to door. It’s a lot of information to assemble, especially for three travelers, but the website makes it easy and Colleen‘s gentle reminders kept us on track. In all, from the beginning, we had four months from the time we started our research till the time we departed. We felt that was, a good amount of preparation time and don’t think it would be wise to do it in less than four months. Mostly because I think you have more options with that amount of time. There were others on our trip that took six months and more from the time they started planning.
The trip itself was outstanding. We ended up on an excellent yacht (Galapagos Angel II) with a great group of guests that we were able to connect with and put together a really nice google photos album to share.
Jed
1 week ago
Mary was very helpful. Quick to reply with helpful information and closure on arrangements.
