Embark Silver Discoverer and depart on your exciting 14-day expedition – “Pearls of the Pacific.” This afternoon, after settling in and before setting sail, participate in a mandatory safety drill. Familiarise yourself with your new home away from home and meet some of your fellow travellers at the Sail Away Cocktail. Watch for dolphins often seen at the exit of Papeete’s harbour.

Your Expedition Leader introduce you to important members of the crew and the Expedition Team, before the Restaurant Manager and Executive Chef invite you to enjoy the first of many memorable meals in The Restaurant.

No superlatives can adequately describe the spectacular beauty of Bora Bora’s emerald-green hills and tranquil sapphire-blue lagoons. Enter the narrow channel into the lagoon at dawn. Be out on deck to watch the sun rise behind Mount Pahia and Otemanu and look for dolphins playing at the entrance to the lagoon.

Select from a variety of excursions and activities today. Enjoy a leisurely, open-air ‘le truck’ tour of Bora Bora’s highlights: ancient marae stone temples, the Faanui Protestant Church, scenic lookout points with spectacular vistas of the lagoon and distant islands, old WWII remnants and popular Matira Beach. Sample local fruits and watch a pareo (sarong) demonstration before returning to the ship.

Alternatively, climb into a specially designed, open-air, off-road vehicle, to circle the island and visit some of its most dramatic sites that are only accessible by four-wheel drive. Veer inland following a trail that leads up the mountain to an amazing 360-degree panorama. From this height, you can view Bora Bora’s breathtaking multi-coloured lagoon. See canons remaining from the American’s presence during WWII. If you would like to see Bora Bora’s underwater world, a snorkel safari permits you to swim with rays and with reef sharks.

Optional flight excursion:
Perhaps the most spectacular way to see Bora Bora is from the air on a helicopter flyover. This optional flight aboard a 5-seat “Squirrel” helicopter circles the island for spectacular views of the lagoon fringed with white sandy beaches and a network of smaller islets.

Leaving French Polynesia behind, sail west towards the Cook Islands and Aitutaki. Let your lecturers entertain you with talks about Polynesia’s natural history and human settlement or take the time at sea to indulge in a Spa treatment. The Connoisseur’s Corner and Panorama Lounge with coffee, tea, cocktails, fine spirits and cigars offer shelter from the sun –while your Executive Chef and his team tempt you with South Pacific delicacies.  

Aitutaki is rightly known as one of the most spectacular destinations in the Cook Islands. Its reef completely encompasses a large turquoise lagoon. Board the Zodiacs and enter a narrow channel leading to the island’s main village -but before coming ashore a local warrior appears and challenge all visitors. Local tradition requires stepping across a special stone, and then visitors are free to do as they please on the island. 

Your excursion continues aboard local boats, crossing the spectacular lagoon to the small islet of Tapuaetai for a delicious barbecue luncheon in a lush South Pacific setting. Look for red-tailed tropicbirds or take your snorkelling gear to see the underwater world. You can also stroll along the beach out onto a sand cay.

During the late morning, approach the low-lying atoll of Palmerston and Home Islet where three families, all descendants of William Marsters (1831-1899) live a simple life. Several of the men come out to guide your Zodiacs into the lagoon. Once ashore, the whole community is there to greet you. This is followed by a presentation of speeches, prayers and church songs. Afterwards tour the island in small groups to see its highlights: the church, the oldest house, the cemetery, the school, the underground gardens and “Duke’s Pool” where you are invited to swim and snorkel.

Attend lectures or seminars during the morning. At lunchtime approach Beveridge Reef and look for a protected area to offer swimming and snorkelling at this eastern outpost of Niue. Only small portions of the reef are above sea level at high tide so you can use your Zodiacs as snorkelling platforms from where to explore this rarely visited part of the Pacific.

Today Silver Explorer drifts in front of “the Rock” -as Niue is locally known. The island is one of the largest raised coral atolls in the Pacific. As such it has no lagoon and the coastline shows steep cliffs. 

Once ashore, take locals busses to see some of the scenic and historical highlights of the island. The coast features various caves that can be visited and there are two areas where snorkelling can be done. Not only are Niue’s waters crystal clear, the island is also known as a hotspot for black-banded sea kraits –you should be able to see them at the landing sites or while snorkelling.

In the afternoon, head for Tonga and become a time traveller! Crossing the dateline in a westerly direction (but actually not yet leaving the western hemisphere) you can lose a day. Your lecturers use this time to prepare you for Tonga.

The Vava’u Archipelago is quite famous for its raised islands and has one of the most picturesque harbours. Be either alongside in Neiafu or anchor close to elegant yachts in the bay, and once ashore, begin your visit with an excursion to the Botanical Garden. A knowledgeable local guide describes the heritage of the island’s plant life and specifically point out species that have medicinal properties. Enjoy traditional entertainment and a chance to shop for arts and handicrafts before returning the ship. For guests wanting a more leisurely morning, a walking tour of Neiafu might be of interest.

In the afternoon relocate to Nuku Island via the Ava Pulepule Kai Channel. You can spend the afternoon ashore and relax on the beach or swim and snorkel. You might also take to the Zodiacs to explore some of the islands. Various types of seabirds nest or roost here, and you may even see flying foxes hanging in the trees and swiftlets that nest in caves.

Your final stop in Tonga is in the rarely visited Ha’apai Group, south of Neiafu. Silver Explorer anchors in front of Uoleva, an island of palm forests, endless beaches, and clear blue water. Today is a day to unwind, to swim and snorkel, and to feel the true South Pacific.

Depending on permits and conditions, your Hotel Department arrange for a beach barbecue and beach bar –so that you can make the most of your day ashore.

Today scan the seas for seabirds as you head for Fiji, travelling on a course that was taken almost exactly 230 years ago by Lt. William Bligh and his loyal crew members after the mutiny on the Bounty near Uoleva. 

Your lecturers talk you about Fiji’s natural history and topics relevant to the area Silver Explorer is travelling through. You can also make use of the Spa and Gym, or relax on the Sun Deck.

Vanua Balavu, the third largest of the Lau Islands, is protected by a reef area that promises excellent snorkelling: snorkelling from the beach, snorkelling from an anchored Zodiac or perhaps even drift snorkelling –depending on conditions. 

Hope to visit one of the villages, where a yaqona (kava) ceremony is held to welcome you. A hike from one village to the next or up into the higher areas of Vanua Balavu appeal to those wanting to stretch their legs. As the Lau Group was once under Tongan rule, look forward to a folkloric presentation in which Fijian and Tongan music and dance have formed a special union. If conditions permit take your Zodiacs to explore the bay and the many photogenic little islands.

Cobia Island is part of the Ringgold Isles, a small group of islands to the northeast of Taveuni. Cobia is the lush remnant of a former volcano with two small white sand beaches. The crater’s rim has disappeared on the northeastern side and has permitted seawater to come in, forming a beautiful blue lagoon. One of the main attractions on the island would be a hike to the summit of the crater. To do so land on the south side of the island for those that want to climb the crater’s rim for a spectacular view of the interior of the crater. After the hike you can relax on the beach or go snorkelling in the clear waters; visibility is said to exceed 120 feet. Conditions and permits pending, you might also explore the lagoon inside the crater by Zodiac.

The seven Ringgold Islands are considered rat-free after and hold internationally important numbers of nesting seabirds. Bridled terns have been observed on two of the islands. Lesser frigatebird, black noddy and brown booby are said to represent over 1% of the global number for each species, thereby qualifying the island group as an Important Bird Area. Other birds include red-footed boobies, brown noddies, common white terns, and bristle-thighed curlews. Three of the islands have significant numbers of turtle nests and the sea surrounding the Ringgold Islands is the main foraging area for hawksbill and green turtles. The Pacific black skink, listed under Fiji’s Endangered and Protected Species Act, has also increased in numbers.

Explore some of the islands with your Zodiacs and depending on conditions might go ashore, look for the birds and might also look for underwater creatures while snorkelling.

Today anchor in Buasali Bay, right off the village of Nabukeru and next to one of the Yasawa Islands most famous islands: Sawa-i-Lau. Go ashore to visit the village and its school, which is shared with the neighbouring village of Tamusua. Village visits are normally accompanied by a kava ceremony in which the guests (in this case you) bring a gift of yaqona (kava roots) and then drink the ground up roots mixed with water.
 
Apart from the village and school visit, a climb to the hilltop behind the two villages for spectacular panoramic views of the northern Yasawas is offered. If you do not want to partake in the strenuous hike, relax on one of the beaches, go swimming and snorkelling in the bay, or venture into the island of Sawa-i-Lau. This limestone island has caves in which one can swim.

Enjoy sundowners on deck as Silver Explorer leaves Buasali Bay for your final destination, Lautoka.

Arrive in port in the morning. Following breakfast, disembark Silver Explorer.