Spice Islands to the Whale Sharks

On your first day, tour leaders collect you from your hotel after breakfast and transport you directly to the boat anchored in Ambon Harbour. Once you are settled on board and the captain receives clearance from the harbour master, the ship raises anchor and begins the journey south, crossing the open sea toward the Banda Archipelago.

During days 2 through 4, the ship anchors in the Banda Islands, historically significant as the original source of nutmeg and mace. On the main island of Banda Neira, you walk through the colonial streets to visit notable residences, a museum, forts, churches, and the local waterfront market. Across the harbor, you observe the jungle-clad volcanic cone of Gunung Api. You also visit the small island of Run, known for its historical role in the 1667 Treaty of Breda. Throughout your stay, you snorkel on nearby coral reefs to observe local marine life, with the opportunity to spot the jewel-like Mandarin Fish at dusk.

You will wake up off the coast of Ceram, and go ashore to walk through some inland lakes, as well as some trekking, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up-paddle boarding and beach activities. You will do some dinghy exploration through karsts around Bair Island, snorkel, spend time on the beach with the SUPs and kayaks. Back to the boat, depart to a small chain of islands for an afternoon of snorkeling and water activities. This is a great location for a beach BBQ, so if the weather is right, it’s party time.

Here you have a chance to explore this very remote island chains of Kei and Aru, located in the easternmost corner of Maluku just off the southwest coast of Papua. You can visit a beautiful white sand beach and a large sea cave which you can swim inside. Later we can visit Masbait Hill, this hill marks the highest point in Kei Kecil. It is known for its rotating statue of Christ, which many Catholics visit for pilgrimage. The Aru islands are rich in Papuan fauna, which includes tree kangaroos, palm cockatoos and four species of birds of paradise. Marine life is also very rich, and Aru's capital Dobo, situated on the small island of Wamar, has long been a busy regional trading center for pearls, sea cucumbers, and the like.

You wake up off the coast of Papua to a most serene and primal scene of a jungle waterfall where a roaring river surrounded by virgin rainforest pours into the sea. 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 collect baitfish and keep them in nets attached to specially built platforms, also known as ‘bagans’. It is these and their fish that attract whale sharks. You will head out in the tenders to see if the sharks are around, and if you are lucky, you will spend a couple of hours in the water with these magnificent creatures. You will explore the bays and limestone outcrops by tender, kayak, and paddle board as well as swim and snorkel from the beautiful white-sand beaches.

Cruise through the undisturbed coves, caves, and lagoons before heading north through the Namatote Passage, where there is an impressive collection of ancient cave paintings high up on the cliffs. Take a short walk into the forest to see a most spectacular jungle waterfall surrounded by virgin rainforest and take a dip in its cool refreshing waters. Enjoy more snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and paddling as you relax amidst the beauty of the surrounding jungle covered islands. You will spend your final evening on the ship resting at anchor and enjoying a farewell dinner with the captain and crew.

On your last day, the ship anchors in the harbor of Kaimana, and after an early breakfast, tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.