Discover the Secrets of Melanesia: Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu

Arrive in Cairns, a vibrant tropical city and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, the starting point for the expedition. Transfer to the designated hotel for the first night. In the evening, meet fellow travelers and expedition guides for a welcome dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, fly to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. In the afternoon, board Heritage Adventurer, where the captain and expedition team welcome you and guide you to your cabin. Settle in and explore the ship. A briefing introduces the expedition team and outlines the voyage plans.

Lapped by the tropical waters of Milne Bay off the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea, Doini Island is a little-known island paradise awaiting discovery. Ringed by white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and a lush rainforest interior, there is much to explore and experience. With a population estimated at less than 1,000 people and little development, Doini’s untouched beauty is evident both above and below the water. Explore the rainforest with its WWII history and the traditional burial site known as Skull Cave, housing around 100 skulls belonging to ancestors who fought fierce battles with neighboring tribes. Put on your mask and snorkel and explore mesmerizing coral reefs and gardens filled with exotic marine life on this beautiful tropical island escape.

Discover the scenic beauty of the rarely visited Tufi Fjords. Featuring 25 individual canyons with sheer basalt cliffs, these are the only fjords in Papua New Guinea. Take in the spectacular views as you cruise close to the towering cliffs before boarding the Zodiacs which take you ashore for a closer look and to meet the locals, where you learn about the traditions of the Tufi people. Due to the protection of the fjords, the coral reefs are very rich in color and variety, and the waters offer remarkable visibility. Find a suitable spot to snorkel amongst the Gobie, Mandarin Fish, Pigmy Seahorses, and sponge and shelf corals. Later you take a walk in the surrounding rainforest to look for the world’s largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing.

Wake this morning in the volcanic island chain of D’Entrecasteaux Islands, where you visit both Dobu and Fergusson Islands. Explore Fergusson Island’s geothermal area with its hot springs, bubbling mud pools, and geysers before local guides share their stories during a village visit. On Dobu Island, a critical link in the Kula Ring, which was famously investigated and described by the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski, options may include a local cultural performance with unique costumes and drumming, local crafts, traditional clay pot cooking methods, and items associated with Kula Ring trading. Those interested in birds can keep an eye out for the White Cockatoo and the Curl-crested Manucode while some of the clearest water of the expedition awaits snorkelers. A steep drop-off provides a vibrant selection of corals and a multitude of fish, including tiny clownfish.

Positioned in the Solomon Sea and historically known as the ‘Islands of Love,’ the Trobriands offer a glimpse of traditional culture largely unspoiled by outside influence. During your visit, enjoy picture postcard white sand beaches, colorful villages, aquamarine water, and enchanting marine life. Meet the Trobriand islanders and experience energetic, time-honored dances that celebrate fishing and the seasonal yam harvest. Learn about the history of the ‘Kula Ring,’ a circular pattern of ceremonial trade relationships that bind the islands of Milne Bay and eastern Papua New Guinea together in a long-established network of friendship. These islanders are also renowned for the exquisite quality of their ebony wood carvings, often decorated with mother-of-pearl shell inlays. You take to the water and snorkel among kaleidoscopic coral reefs populated by parrotfish, neon damsels, and other brilliantly hued species.

Six beautiful cone-shaped volcanoes ring Rabaul’s dramatic, flooded caldera harbor. Visit the bubbling hot springs and take in the magnificent views of the harbor and volcanoes from Observatory Ridge. As you explore the island, see fascinating reminders of the Japanese occupation, take in the site of the enormous volcanic eruption that all but destroyed Rabaul town, the underground bunker that was the hiding place of Pearl Harbor commander Yamamoto, and join the locals shopping at the bustling Kokopo markets.

A tropical atoll adrift in the azure waters of the Buka Channel, Nissan Island is bathed in rich tropical currents that abound in marine life. Seldom have outsiders had the opportunity to discover this world promising abundant marine life and pristine coral reefs. Ashore there are still reminders of the brief but intensive World War II activities during which the islands were recaptured by Kiwi, Australian, and British forces from the Japanese occupiers. During your time ashore, meet with the friendly locals from all three of the island’s Balil Villages and search the dense woods for some of the elusive birds that occur here. Later the snorkelers find plenty to discover in the coral reefs that surround Nissan.

Today, discover the treasures of Bougainville, long isolated and, in a strange way, protected due to the conflict that swirled around its shores. High on many travelers’ wish lists, this autonomous region within Papua New Guinea magnificently marries rugged, jungled terrain with amazing coral reefs offshore and is home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the region, both above and below the water. Comprising two main islands and several outlying islands and atolls, it is both remote and hard to reach but perfect for exploration by expedition ship. The plan is to explore the area around Arawa, including the Panguna Copper & Gold Mine site—the setting for the movie Mr. Pip—with great opportunities to access the island’s interior and its reefs. Spend your last Kina under the thatched roof of the Arawa Markets among the hum and chatter of hundreds of locals.

The volcanic New Georgia Islands are found in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands and are characterized by extensive reefs and lagoons, rugged terrain, and an abundance of rivers. Nature enthusiasts relish landing on Kolombangara Island, where the plan is to visit the Imbu Rano Eco Lodge and Conservation Area, which protects the island's central peak, and search for the rare Roviana Rail along with other endemic bird species. Snorkel the surrounding reefs, home to some of the highest fish counts in the world, and enjoy a Zodiac cruise and village visit. Stock up on the local currency to purchase wood or stone carvings the people of the Western Province are so famous for.

Uninhabited for 150 years, this rugged island cloaked in rainforest and fringed with coral reefs is home to one of the Solomon Islands’ leading community-driven conservation projects, the Tetepare Descendants’ Association. Receiving international recognition for their conservation and archaeological significance, three species of turtle, including the endangered leatherback, nest on its beaches, while other species inhabiting the island and surrounding waters include the dugong, the world’s largest skink, the endemic Tetepare White-eye, and many more. A highlight of your voyage this afternoon is to explore and enjoy a drift snorkel off the fringing reef with its outstanding marine biodiversity.

Today you explore the heart of the Solomon archipelago, the Nggela Islands chain, which comprises 50 jungle-capped islands with powdery white sand beaches and stunning gin-clear waters and is home to exceptional coral gardens, reefs, and marine life. In Roderick Bay on the main island of Nggela Sule, explore the beach and forest, and enjoy the thrill of snorkeling. Experience a traditional welcome from the local warriors on Tulagi Island. Explore this fascinating island, its town center, once the administrative seat of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate until it was destroyed by the Japanese during World War II. During your visit, visit the historic sites of Blue Beach and the Japanese U-caves where soldiers hid during their battle with US forces.

Experience a traditional Solomon Island welcome on arrival at Port Mary on Santa Ana Island. Also known as Owaraha or Owa Raha, this stunning coral island, first sighted by Europeans in 1568, is yours to explore today. Delight in the local hospitality and culture as you peruse local handicrafts, explore the lush forests with the guides, and meet the local children at the village school or bask in tropical waters. Birders are on the lookout for the tiny Sooty Myzomela, Island Imperial Pigeon, Solomons Rufous Fantail, and Chestnut-bellied Monarch, among others.

Nendo is the largest of the Santa Cruz Islands, which lie to the southeast of the Solomon Islands. The Spanish navigator Alvaro de Mendaña de Neira unsuccessfully attempted to establish a colony in 1595. Biologically, these islands share more in common with Vanuatu. It is also the home of the region's famous red feather money known as Tevau, sourced from the Scarlet Honeyeater. Watch the manufacture of red feather money, and join the locals in dances which reverberate through the ages.

Today you explore the archipelago of Vanikoro, with its five islands encapsulated by a dramatic barrier reef offering superb snorkeling. French explorer Jean-Francois de Galaup, comte de La Perouse, famously disappeared here after both his vessels, La Boussole and Astrolabe, struck the reef in 1788. On the shore, you visit a monument to Le Pérouse, erected by fellow explorer Dumont d’Urville in 1827. Join the naturalists on a forest walk in search of the endemic Vanikoro White-eye and Monarch, or marvel at the delicate Vanikoro Orchid. You also have a good chance to see the recently rediscovered Vanikoro Flying Fox, considered extinct until a recent visit by Heritage Expeditions!

Today you explore Vanuatu’s largest island, Santo, the location of James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. Sip champagne on Champagne Beach, indulge in a swim in its crystalline waters, and experience the region’s traditional ‘water music’ as performed by the local villagers. This afternoon, enjoy Zodiac cruises to the iconic blue holes of Santo. For those with an interest in the history of the island, there is a visit to Luganville and Million Dollar Point.

Visit Ambrym, renowned as the island of volcanoes and magic throughout Vanuatu. Head ashore at Ranon on the northern coast, where the traditions of the ancient Rom Dance and custom carving are alive and well. A walk through the forest brings you to the ‘arena’ where masked dancers emerge from the forest. The forests of Ambrym offer excellent walks to search for local birds and plants, accompanied by the naturalists. This afternoon enjoy a final snorkel excursion on Efate, or ‘Sandwich Island,’ as it was once known, a tropical island paradise famed for its hidden natural wonders, beaches, and historic sites.

This morning you arrive in Port Vila with disembarkation after breakfast. A transfer to your central city hotel or the airport concludes your voyage. To allow time for disembarkation procedures, booking flights from Port Vila before midday is not recommended.

 Note: During your voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your expedition leader keeps you fully informed. This tour offers a variety of activities and excursions. Your personal interests determine which of these you wish to join. Please note that some activities and excursions run at similar times, and it is not possible to participate in both. Accordingly, refunds for excursions and missed landings are not available. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.