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5th October 2023 to 2nd December 2023

Papua’s Whale Sharks And Birds Of Paradise (Sorong-Kaimana)

From £5830 per person

Deposit 25%. Balance due 12 weeks before departure
Sail from Maumere to Komodo exploring the remote Ring Of Fire: East Of Flores
Clear
Pay a 25% deposit per item
Suited to
Families, Couples, Groups, Perfect for Solo Travelers
Difficulty
Open to novice sailors
Nights onboard
9
Vessel type
Traditional Indonesian Pinisi made from Ironwood
Vessel length
44 to 50 foot.
Skipper
Yes
Berth Style
Single + double cabins, max 10.
Insurance Required
Yes

Sail from Sorong to Kaimana and discover Papua’s whale sharks and birds of paradise.

9 Nights: Various Dates Available

From $7,100 /£5,830 per person*

*Trips are priced in the operator's local currency. The amount you pay in sterling will change with currency fluctuations.

D A Y 1

You will be met at the airport or your hotel and taken directly to the boat. Once settled into your cabin, you weigh anchor and head out on your adventure.

You have lunch as you are under way and stop for your first snorkel and swim amongst the coral gardens in the afternoon.

After sunset drinks you sit down together for dinner and then meet the crew. It’s an early start the next day, so an early night is recommended.

D A Y 2

Before dawn, you are ferried to a local village, where local guides will take us on a trek through the jungle in the hope of finding the beautiful Wilson’s Bird of Paradise performing its mating dance ritual upon the forest floor. On your way back to the boat you be accompanied by the sounds of the jungle coming to life and you be sure to spot a number of bird species along the way.

After a well-earned late breakfast, you spend the remainder of the day enjoying snorkelling, swimming and exploring the reefs and islands of the local area by kayak and paddle board.

D A Y 3

Today is your second and final early morning wake-up as you head off to see the Red Bird of Paradise, this time high in the canopy of the rainforest. Extremely extroverted show-offs, these birds dance and squawk their way around the trees trying to impress the female of the species, making for an incredible show.

After returning to the ship and breakfast it will be time for some snorkelling on some of Raja Ampat’s most spectacular reefs in the Dampier Strait. If the tides are in your favour you might get to see some of the area’s larger species of marine life, which are attracted by the currents in these nutrient-rich waters.

End the day at a local inhabited island, where the village kids will show us around their beautiful village and then perform some local folk dances for us.

You weigh anchor before dinner, enjoying sunset cocktails on the back deck as you cruise south.

D A Y 4

Today, wake up in southern Raja Ampat at the island of Misool, a picturesque archipelago of forest-covered limestone islets just teeming with coral reefs that have adventures aplenty on offer.

You swim through a massive and ancient sea cave, adorned with giant stalagmites and stalactites. you then journey to a small, secret lake inhabited by thousands of stingless jellyfish, where you snorkel among them.

After lunch, explore the area by ship’s tenders, going in and out of the many bays and inlets looking for birds, and also stopping to see some prehistoric cave paintings said to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.

D A Y 5

Today you have a relaxing day of snorkelling on the reefs, exploring the inlets and local areas by paddle board and kayak, or swimming and sunbathing from the white sand beaches of this beautiful piece of paradise.

After a full day of fun and relaxation, you head east for your overnight cruise to your next destination.

D A Y 6

Wake up off a small group of picture-perfect islands, where you spend the morning exploring the beaches and crystal clear waters and vibrant reefs with your snorkels.

You then cruise in the direction of the mainland of Papua, where you visit a local village and meet the residents, who will welcome us into their village, sharing with us their way of life which consists of fishing and growing nutmeg.

Back on the boat you continue southeast overnight, enjoying dinner and sunset drinks along the way.

D A Y 7

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.

Here you swim and play in the waterfall and the sea as you take in this most tranquil tropical scenery. You also have the chance to snorkel through the corals on a nearby reef.

Later in the day, continue your journey east, stopping off late afternoon for another swim and snorkel on your way to see the whale sharks of Triton Bay.

D A Y 8

Triton Bay is a place of unsurpassed natural splendour, 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.

Head out in the tenders to see if the sharks are around, and if you are lucky, you spend a couple of hours in the water with these magnificent creatures.

After lunch, explore the bays and limestone outcrops by tender, kayak, and paddle board as well as swim and snorkel from the beautiful white-sand beaches.

This evening, have a beach BBQ with the crew, with singing and dancing late into the night.

D A Y 9

Spend the morning cruising 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.

The afternoon will be filled with more snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and paddling as you relax amidst the beauty of the surrounding jungle-covered islands.

You spend your final evening on the ship resting at anchor and enjoying a farewell dinner with your captain and crew.

D A Y 1 0

In the morning, you find yourselves at anchor in the harbour of Kaimana, and after an early breakfast, your tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.

  • Professional cruise directors
  • Outdoor sleeping facilities
  • Complimentary snorkelling equipment and two sea canoes (add SUP)
  • Free tea, soft drinks, juices, coffee and mineral water
  • Excellent food and snacks (vegetarian and special menus on request)
  • Television, DVD and music centre in the lounge
  • Dining in the spacious air-conditioned lounge
  • Teak wooden furniture in the lounge, cabins and on the deck
  • Spacious sun and semi-covered decks
  • Mooring fees
  • Visits to restaurants, museums, galleries etc during the trip
  • A fine selection of wines, beer and spirits for sale
  • Travel to and from the vessel (including internal/domestic airfares)
  • Open to beginner sailors.
  • Open to families.
  • Open to solo travellers.

Domine Eduard Osok Airport Sorong (SOQ)

Utarom Airport - Kaimana

D A Y 1

You will be met at the airport or your hotel and taken directly to the boat. Once settled into your cabin, you weigh anchor and head out on your adventure.

You have lunch as you are under way and stop for your first snorkel and swim amongst the coral gardens in the afternoon.

After sunset drinks you sit down together for dinner and then meet the crew. It’s an early start the next day, so an early night is recommended.

D A Y 2

Before dawn, you are ferried to a local village, where local guides will take us on a trek through the jungle in the hope of finding the beautiful Wilson’s Bird of Paradise performing its mating dance ritual upon the forest floor. On your way back to the boat you be accompanied by the sounds of the jungle coming to life and you be sure to spot a number of bird species along the way.

After a well-earned late breakfast, you spend the remainder of the day enjoying snorkelling, swimming and exploring the reefs and islands of the local area by kayak and paddle board.

D A Y 3

Today is your second and final early morning wake-up as you head off to see the Red Bird of Paradise, this time high in the canopy of the rainforest. Extremely extroverted show-offs, these birds dance and squawk their way around the trees trying to impress the female of the species, making for an incredible show.

After returning to the ship and breakfast it will be time for some snorkelling on some of Raja Ampat’s most spectacular reefs in the Dampier Strait. If the tides are in your favour you might get to see some of the area’s larger species of marine life, which are attracted by the currents in these nutrient-rich waters.

End the day at a local inhabited island, where the village kids will show us around their beautiful village and then perform some local folk dances for us.

You weigh anchor before dinner, enjoying sunset cocktails on the back deck as you cruise south.

D A Y 4

Today, wake up in southern Raja Ampat at the island of Misool, a picturesque archipelago of forest-covered limestone islets just teeming with coral reefs that have adventures aplenty on offer.

You swim through a massive and ancient sea cave, adorned with giant stalagmites and stalactites. you then journey to a small, secret lake inhabited by thousands of stingless jellyfish, where you snorkel among them.

After lunch, explore the area by ship’s tenders, going in and out of the many bays and inlets looking for birds, and also stopping to see some prehistoric cave paintings said to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.

D A Y 5

Today you have a relaxing day of snorkelling on the reefs, exploring the inlets and local areas by paddle board and kayak, or swimming and sunbathing from the white sand beaches of this beautiful piece of paradise.

After a full day of fun and relaxation, you head east for your overnight cruise to your next destination.

D A Y 6

Wake up off a small group of picture-perfect islands, where you spend the morning exploring the beaches and crystal clear waters and vibrant reefs with your snorkels.

You then cruise in the direction of the mainland of Papua, where you visit a local village and meet the residents, who will welcome us into their village, sharing with us their way of life which consists of fishing and growing nutmeg.

Back on the boat you continue southeast overnight, enjoying dinner and sunset drinks along the way.

D A Y 7

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.

Here you swim and play in the waterfall and the sea as you take in this most tranquil tropical scenery. You also have the chance to snorkel through the corals on a nearby reef.

Later in the day, continue your journey east, stopping off late afternoon for another swim and snorkel on your way to see the whale sharks of Triton Bay.

D A Y 8

Triton Bay is a place of unsurpassed natural splendour, 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.

Head out in the tenders to see if the sharks are around, and if you are lucky, you spend a couple of hours in the water with these magnificent creatures.

After lunch, explore the bays and limestone outcrops by tender, kayak, and paddle board as well as swim and snorkel from the beautiful white-sand beaches.

This evening, have a beach BBQ with the crew, with singing and dancing late into the night.

D A Y 9

Spend the morning cruising 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.

The afternoon will be filled with more snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and paddling as you relax amidst the beauty of the surrounding jungle-covered islands.

You spend your final evening on the ship resting at anchor and enjoying a farewell dinner with your captain and crew.

D A Y 1 0

In the morning, you find yourselves at anchor in the harbour of Kaimana, and after an early breakfast, your tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.

The temperature in this sailing area varies little (27° to 33° Celsius year-round) with mostly blue skies and light winds. We suggest you bring the following:

Light cotton/linen clothes, including a pair of long trousers for visits to the villages

Water shoes (boots or plastic shoes)

Hiking shoes

Camera

A plastic / waterproof bag for your camera when disembarking

High-protection suntan lotion

A hat

Insect repellent

Dive/snorkelling equipment if you have your own (there is plenty on board)

A sweater for cool evenings