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Triton Bay

Darwin to Cairns - Door to Door

Example 19 Day Cruise aboard Silver Explorer
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Join this 19-day expedition cruise from Darwin to Cairns aboard Silver Explorer to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations. Leaving Darwin, sail via sea for nine days of Indonesian adventure. Explore the flora, fauna, culture, and history of these islands with expert guides. Next stop is Papua New Guinea, a unique country that has remained virtually untouched by tourism. Disembark at Cairns. 
Triton Bay
Highlights
  • Explore Pulau Nai's sun, coconut palms and white sands in the Moluccas archipelago
  • Discover the marine diversity of Triton Bay
  • Immerse yourself in Ferguson Island and visit Deidei Village and natural hot springs that erupt periodically
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Darwin, Australia | Embarkation

Australia's capital of the north is a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country. Reaching up towards the equator, a full 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne, the city was named in honour of Charles Darwin by the British settlers who established a frontier outpost here. With a unique history, beautiful islands nearby, and a palette of sizzling Pacific flavours, colourful Darwin is an enchanting and exotic Australian destination. 

Cruise starts 17:00

Day 2: Days at Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Day 3: Tual, Indonesia | Pulau Nai

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Pulau Nai or Nai Island belongs to the Moluccas archipelago, the so-called “Spice Islands”. It is a mere dot in the eastern limits of the Banda Sea, yet brimming with the key elements of paradise: sun, coconut palms and white sands.

Birders will enjoy listening for and spotting some of the local birdlife like the Kancilan Pulau (Island Whistler) and the Kehicap Kai (White-tailed Monarch). Maybe they will even confirm the presence of the Papuan Pitta, attired imperial-like with splendid blues and reds.

The waters around Pulau Nai also offer their own idyllic experience. Snorkelling will allow you to cross the divide into the world of tropical coral ecosystems. Look for the different coral formations like brain, staghorn, fire and plate corals, as well as a range of fish that associate with these surreal coral gardens. If you cannot tell the difference between a wrasse and a damselfish, or a parrotfish and a surgeonfish, then rest assured your Expedition staff will be there to help you, allowing you to just enjoy the magical experience as you float along almost effortlessly.

Day 4: Aiduma Island | Triton Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
n the southern coast of West Papua, Indonesia lies the small Aiduma Island, an oceanic paradise and a destination for divers and snorklers. The coast off of Aiduma Island is home to diverse and lovely soft coral forest. Below the surface of Aiduma’s aquamarine waters live technicolor coral reefs that are home to a beautiful array of reef fish, including schools of large blue-ring angelfish, clownfish, striped angelfish and lionfish. Above the surface, lucky visitors may see dolphins leaping as they travel the crystal seas, while birds overhead or roost in the trees.

In 2008, the Kaimana Regency declared a 6000 square kilometer (over 2,300 square mile) Marine Protected Area around the waters of Triton Bay. Conservation International maintains an office in Kaimana and a field station out in Triton Bay where visiting scientists can do their work studying the staggering marine biodiversity of the reserve. It is truly second to none, and the area offers everything from the tiniest pygmy seahorses, to large and graceful whale sharks. Triton Bay is known for its beautiful soft coral gardens as well as nesting green turtles, and a population of coastal Bryde’s whales.
 

Day 5: Den Weg Islands (Teluk Berau)

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Den Weg Islands are known for their ancient rock art, drawn on canyons, which are visible only by boat. The drawings were made using naturally red materials, resembling human blood. The locals call them ‘blood paintings’, and consider the very sacred. Some of the paintings depict human skeletons, which reference the ancient custom of placing the bodies of their ancestors in the rock cliffs and caves.

Day 6: Day at Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Day 7: Pulau Miossu

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Almost totally covered in coconut palm trees, Pulau Miossu is the western and smaller of the two Su Islands. Located at the eastern entrance of the Dampier Strait and within sight of West Papua’s north coast, the Su Islands were used for a short time by Allied Forces at the end of WW II to have P-38 fighter planes stationed there. Today, little remains from those days and even the former airfield is covered by vegetation. Pulau Miossu has just a few houses and is occasionally visited to harvest coconut and to enjoy the white sandy beaches and the rich underwater world.

Day 8: Auri Islands (Cenderawasih Bay)

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Auri Islands lie within the Cenderawasih Bay (Indonesian for Bird of Paradise Bay), is a large bay on the northern coast of West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia. When this area was part of the Dutch East Indies the bay was called Geelvink Bay, after a Dutch ship. Cenderawasih Bay is dotted with hundreds of small islands and atoll’s that are home to some of the most pristine hard coral reefs in Indonesia with one of the highest concentrations of endemic fishes in the Pacific Ocean. The western part of the bay was declared a marine national park in 2002. It encompasses 30 square miles, making it the largest in Southeast Asia. There are many different styles of reefs found here, including fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, patch reefs, and shallow water reef mounds. The fringing reefs are the most abundant and are the last of the few remaining pristine reefs in the world. Extensive surveys documented 995 species of fish and over 500 types of coral, about 10 times greater than in the entire Caribbean. The bay is also well known for aggregations of the world’s largest fish – the whale shark. 

Day 9: Kwatisore, Cenderawasih Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Kwatisore Bay is a 2 km wide bay located west of Kwatisore Peninsula at the southwestern end of the wide Cenderawasih (bird of paradise) Bay. An area of 1,453,500 hectares, a great part of the bay, has been declared a national park. Within the national park is Indonesia’s largest marine national park. Some dive companies claim that Cenderawasih Bay is the whale shark capital of the world, and the area near Kwatisore Bay is one of the few places in the world where encounters can almost be guaranteed. The whale sharks seem to be permanent residents of the protected marine park and as the locals believe whale sharks are under the protection of spirits and will bring good luck, not only has fishing them been traditionally prohibited, the fishermen actively encourage their presence by feeding them small amounts of their catch. Therefor the best places and time to look for the whale sharks –and to swim or dive with them- are the local fishing pontoons during the early morning hours.

Day 10: Pulau Biak

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
To say that Pulau Biak was unspoiled would be an understatement. Located in the Cendrawasih Bay of Papua (Irian Jaja), west of Papua New Guinea, Biak Island itself is the biggest island in the Biak-Numfor archipelago. The archipelago proper is made up of 67 islands, each more stunning than the last. One of PNG’s biggest offshore islands, people here are relaxed and friendly and open to the many opportunities that foreign visitors can offer. Those wishing for full immersion should try anything cooked by Barapen (warm rocks). Delicious! Unsurprisingly for a remote island in the Bismark Sea, waters here are a diver’s paradise. 

Day 11: Vanimo

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Indonesian border, Vanimo is the capital of the Sandaun (or Sundown) Province. It is one of only two towns in this remote region of Papua New Guinea. Although the Sepik River originates in the province, it bypasses Vanimo far to the south. The Sandaun Province is relatively undeveloped, but Vanimo has lovely beaches and some picturesque villages in the vicinity. The interior is covered in rainforest and logging is an important activity putting to use Vanimo’s port and protected bay.

Day 12: Ali Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Ali Island is one of the four islands located close to Aitape, off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The eastern shore of Ali Island has a beautiful white sandy beach and offers swimming and snorkeling. The five villages on the island connect via well-maintained trails that lead to the school and Catholic church closer to the northern end of the island. The indigenous populations of this island are welcoming to guests and yet maintain their unique way of living and dressing, with colorful ceremonial headdresses, arm bands and grass skirts. A village walk will take visitors past the clean local homes and gardens, to the Catholic church with its interesting paintings of the via crucis. Chat with the islanders or relax on the beach.

Day 13: Kopar Village, Sepik River

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Kopar is a small village of no more than 200 inhabitants at the mouth of the Sepik River. The inhabitants make a living through subsistence hunting and gathering and go out in traditional canoes to look for suitable sago palms to produce their staple food. Since the Sepik meanders through swampy areas, the locals have cut narrow channels through the swamps to be able to connect more easily with their neighbours. The area surrounding Kopar will offer sights of flood plain birds, parrots and the odd kite, a large bird of prey.

Day 14: Tuam Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Banana-shaped Tuam is an uplifted coral atoll covered in palm trees. The only village is located on the lower eastern side of the island. Highly exposed to the trade winds, the islanders have set up protective walls made out of palm-branches giving the village the look of a fortified castle from a distance. A trail marked by white sand leads from the landing site to the settlement area of neatly organized wooden huts and houses with pandanus-thatched roofs. The forest reveals different gardens set up in the higher regions of the island. The island also has a spectacular reef and snorkelling next to the drop-off can reveal many colorful reef fish.

Day 15: Wagifa Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A traditional village experience awaits travellers to Wagifa Island. Few overseas visitors reach this island so the excitement of locals in their canoes and on shore is infectious. Wagifa is a small island tucked close to the larger Goodenough Island and is part of the D'Entrecasteaux Group. This island group is volcanic in origin with eroded peaks, especially on larger land masses. The people of the village live a mainly traditional lifestyle, obtaining food locally. Many traditions are maintained including music, dance and singing. 

Day 16: Dei Dei Hot Springs, Fergusson Island | Dobu Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Fergusson is one of the three biggest and mountainous islands in the Milne Bay Province, and part of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands. On Fergusson’s south side are the famous Dei Dei geysers — natural hot springs that periodically erupt with vapour steam next to mud pools and a warm stream. The hot springs are still used by locals to cook food in palm frond and pandanus leaf baskets placed into the boiling hot water. Birds in the area include Eclectus Parrots, Yellow-bellied Sunbirds and the endemic Curl-crested Manucode – a bird-of-paradise.

Dobu is a small island in the D’Entrecasteaux Group next to Fergusson Island and Normanby Island. The island was formerly feared because of black magic and the local “witch” doctors cursing the healthy or treating the sick. An anthropological study was done by Reo Fortune in the 1930s which resulted in the book “The Island of Sorcerers”. 

Day 17: Samarai

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Samarai is a tiny island south of Papua New Guinea’s southeastern peninsula dwarfed by neighbouring islands. Once a famous trading port and the second-largest settlement in the Territory of Papua (the Australian-administered southern part of what today is Papua New Guinea), Samarai used to be Milne Bay Province’s capital until 1968 when administrators were moved to mainland and the town of Alotau. The relocation was necessary as the 29-hectare (72-acre) island was simply overcrowded. With only about 450 residents remaining today, it still is one of the most densely settled islands in Papua New Guinea.

Day 18: Day at Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Day 19: Cairns | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Warmly welcoming you to the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a treasure trove of rich tropical beauty and incredible sea life. Swathes of rainforest spread out to the north, where you can soar over the canopy in a cable car, before looking down over narrow channels of water plummeting down gorges and crocodile-filled waterways. The diverse lands of the Atherton Tableland lie to the west, but it's the crystal-clear waters - and life-filled reefs - of Cairns' remarkable underwater world that draws universal adulation. 

 

Ship/Hotel

Silver Explorer

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$13,900
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
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Adventurer Class
6 cabins on Deck 3, 180 sq. feet, Twin or Queen beds, 2 portholes.
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Explorer Class
4 cabins on Deck 4, Twin or Queen beds, 180 sq. feet with view window.
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View Suite
12 suites on Deck 3, 230 sq. feet with view window, Twin or Queen beds.
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Vista Suite
16 suites on Deck 4, 194 - 230 sq. feet with large window, Twin or Queen beds.
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Veranda Suite
8 suites on Deck 5, 215 sq. feet with French balcony, Twin or Queen beds.
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Medallion Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 358 sq. feet with private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
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Silver Suite
6 suites on Deck 5, 430 sq. feet with 2 French balconies, Twin or Queen beds.
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Grand Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 650 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
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Owner
2 suites on Deck 7, 540 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.

Notes

Please note: Fares are capacity controlled, and subject to change at any time without notice. All prices are in US dollars, cruise-only per person based on double occupancy.

- The supplement for single occupancy in a Vista, Veranda or Midship Veranda Suite ranges from 25% – 100% above the double occupancy fare, depending upon the sailing and suite selected. Single supplement for a Silver or Medallion Suite (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper), Owner’s, Grand or Royal Suites are 100% above of the double occupancy fare. Suites for single and third guests are capacity controlled.
Included
  • 18 Breakfasts, 17 Lunches, 18 Dinners
  • 18 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Personalized Service with a Butler for all Suites
  • One hour free WIFI per day for all guests. Unlimited free WIFI for guests sailing on select suite categories.
  • In-suite dining and room service
  • Guided Zodiac, land and sea tours, and shoreside activities led by the Expeditions Team
  • Onboard gratuities
  • Beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and spirits
  • Complimentary transportation into town in most ports
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Some champagne, premium wine and spirit selections, caviar, cigarettes and cigars are not included in your fare.
  • Meals ashore
  • Laundry or Valet services
  • Casino gaming

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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