South Pacific Voyage
Komodo, Papua & Great Barrier Reef
Abercrombie & Kent Luxury Expedition Cruise
Discover the tribal traditions, natural wonders and exotic, paradisiacal shores of Indonesia, Papua and Australia. Exploring with A&K’s remarkable Expedition Team, enjoy nature walks, local village visits, Zodiac excursions, and opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive. Experience stunning Komodo National Park and its rare dragon; West Papua’s brilliant marine ecosystems, the storied spice islands of Maluku and Banda; and astonishing Great Barrier Reef.
Highlights
- Cruise for 14 nights from Indonesia to Papua and Australia on luxury, all-balcony ‘Le Laperouse,’ with a capacity limited to just 148 guests
- Enjoy two days of exploration in Bali before your cruise, complete with a stay at luxury Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
- Explore in the company of A&K’s renowned Expedition Team, enjoying an all-encompassing enrichment program and lecture series
- Spend two days in UNESCO-designated Komodo National Park, where you may choose to kayak, swim and search for the island’s most famed resident, the Komodo Dragon
- Discover some of the world’s rarest and most remarkable beaches and marine ecosystems, including West Papua’s Triton Bay and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, with opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive
- Visit with remarkable indigenous peoples on culture-rich islands, meeting with the Takpala in their village on Alor Island and experiencing an Asmat war canoe greeting in Papua
- Soak in two days on the postcard-worthy Spice Islands, enjoying a far-flung, truly exotic paradise of white-sand beaches, brilliant coral reefs, and eclectic, storied history
Pricing
Luxury expedition small-ship cruise starting at $19,995* USD per person, based on double occupancy
17 Days – Bali to Cairns
Included with this luxury expedition cruise
- An Exclusively Chartered, All-Inclusive Voyage Led by A&K’s Expedition Team
- Pre-Cruise Stay at Stylish, Ideally Located Hotels and A&K-Led Excursions
- Airport Meet and Greet and Transfers
- Private Balcony with Every Onboard Accommodation and Butler Service with Every Suite
- Maximum Personnel-to-Guest Ratio of 1 to 1.3
- Culinary Program Featuring French-Inspired Cuisine, Including House Drinks, Afternoon Tea and Pastries
- 24-Hour Room Service and Breakfast in Bed
- Zodiac Excursions Led by Expert Naturalist Driver-Guides
- Traveller’s Valet® Laundry Service
- All Gratuities, Port Charges and Taxes
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on Board and in Hotels
- Onboard Service from an English-Speaking Staff, Including an Accredited Physician
- 24/7 A&K On-Call Support
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Bali
Meals
Dinner
Description
Arrive in Bali, where you are met and transferred to your beachfront hotel. Tonight, join fellow guests and A&K’s Expedition Team for a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay (2 nights)
Day 2
Bali
Breakfast, Lunch
Bali’s rich culture, spiritual influence and vibrant geology plays out across the “Island of the Gods.” Enjoy your choice of excursion, with options that include a full day exploring Bali’s central highlands, an area famous for its stunning lakes and hills. Visit the Royal Temple of Mengwi, reach Mount Batukaru and trek through the picture-perfect Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. Alternately, enjoy an insightful day through other natural and cultural highlights, such as Lake Batur and Kehen Temple, or drive to Bukit Peninsula to experience some of Bali’s idyllic beaches, and visit Uluwatu Temple. Each experience includes a lunch of delightful Balinese specialties. Return to your luxury resort and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 3
Bali – Denpasar – Board ‘Le Laperouse’
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast time at leisure, depart your hotel for an immersive afternoon tour of lively Denpasar. Visit Jagatnatha Temple, which is dedicated to the supreme Hindu god Sanghyang Widi Wasa and features a seven-tiered padmasana (lotus) throne. Shop the Pasar Kreneng Market with its tukang sun (women carrying baskets on their heads) and see the unique Balinese architecture of Jero Kuta Palace. Later, board your luxury expedition cruiser, which you enjoy for the next 14 nights.
Accommodation: Onboard ‘Le Laperouse’ (14 nights)
Days 4 – 5
Komodo National Park
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
UNESCO-designated Komodo National Park is one of the world’s greatest natural treasures, not just for its protected Komodo dragons, but also for its striking coastal terrain and spectacular marine ecosystem. Spend the next two days exploring the park and getting to know its rare and fierce Komodo dragons. Believed to be an ancestor of a prehistoric lizard, the carnivorous giant monitor lizard has thrived here for millions of years, can reach up to 11 feet in length and is surprisingly agile. Pink sands, hills and deep valleys — the park’s dramatic landscape formed by ancient volcanic activity sets the stage for truly wondrous marine discoveries and some of the world’s best dive sites. Conditions permitting, partake in water activities that include kayaking and swimming as well as snorkeling and scuba diving. The next day, choose from three included excursions, opting for a kayak paddle and beach landing or a Zodiac tour with your A&K naturalist, each with additional opportunities for swimming. You may also choose a guided trek in the park to spot Komodo dragons in action.
Day 6
Alor Island
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Alor archipelago is stunning with its white-sand beaches and clear bays, and today you explore its namesake island. Largely uninhabited, this “Island of a Thousand Mokos” (ancient kettledrums) boasts many splendors, including the unique culture of its highland people and a world-class underwater paradise. Choose a visit with the indigenous Takpala in their traditional village, followed by time in Kalabahi to explore a local museum and the town market. Alternatively, and conditions permitting, don your scuba gear for a remarkable diving adventure in the Alor archipelago, known for its pristine waters and variety of brilliant sea creatures.
Day 7
At Sea
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Recharge from the last four days of adventure with a relaxing day aboard your luxury expedition ship. Sample the variety of onboard programming, and enjoy ample opportunities for lectures and informal conversation with the members of your Expedition Team.
Days 8 – 9
Maluku Islands
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The legendary and rarely visited Spice Islands boast coral reefs, lush jungles and volcanic peaks. Enjoy two days of exploration and begin in Maluku’s Banda archipelago, once the only source of nutmeg and mace, and a fabled prize of colonial powers. Conditions permitting, choose to kayak the harbor or snorkel amid a reef covered entirely in live coral. You may also opt to explore Banda on a walking tour with a local guide, discovering the eclectic architecture, charming culture and history of what is arguably the most fascinating of all the Spice Islands. The next day, indulge in the beauty of the postcard-perfect tropical paradise of the Kei Islands with a leisurely day at one of its endless white-sand beaches, and, conditions permitting, opportunities to swim and snorkel in its rich waters.
Day 10
West Papua
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
West Papua is known for its natural scenery and dive sites, and Triton Bay is the star of the show. Among three regions considered to be the epicenter of the Coral Triangle, Triton Bay is home to more fish and coral species than anywhere else on the planet — among them pygmy sea horses, marlin, sweetlips and soft corals. Conditions permitting, you may snorkel and dive. Look forward to an equally impressive Zodiac excursion in its magnificent rainforest-capped Karst formations.
Day 11
At Sea
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
On this day spent at sea, balance your time between engaging with new friends and lectures given by your Expedition Team.
Day 12
Papua
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Agats, the capital of Papua’s Asmat Region, long fabled as the ancient realm of cannibals, headhunters and Asmat warriors. Dubbed the “Land of a Thousand Cultures,” the region harbors some 44 tribes completely isolated from the modern world and more than 700 languages. Opt to experience a traditional war canoe greeting and make time to browse artisan crafts of the Asmat people, or choose a guided walking tour of Agats.
Days 13 – 14
At Sea
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Unwind and enjoy a day at sea, perhaps with time at the pool or spa or on your private deck. If time allows after clearing customs, arrive where Captain Hook did on a Thursday in 1770: Thursday Island, the smallest of the Torres Strait Islands on Australia’s most northerly frontier. A once-thriving pearl-diving industry has since disappeared, but Thursday Island remains intimately tied to and shaped by rich Asian cultures, traditions and cuisine.
Day 15
At Sea
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Soak in your experience with unhurried time at sea, sharing in conversations with your Expedition Team and favorite moments at dinner with friends.
Day 16
Lizard Island – Great Barrier Reef
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The northernmost resort island on the Great Barrier Reef, rugged Lizard Island is a national park dominated by mountainous terrain, glistening beaches and dazzling reefs for snorkeling and diving. The island is sacred to the Dingaal people, who hold hunting ceremonies here. Choose to relax on a secluded beach and swim the Blue Lagoon or join a guided nature walk, where you may spy prolific birdlife and the goanna lizard for which the island is named. Alternatively, and conditions permitting, snorkel and scuba dive amid the staggering diversity of Australia’s incomparable, UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef.
Day 17
Cairns
Breakfast
Bid farewell to your crew, Expedition Team and fellow guests before disembarking in Cairns, gateway to Queensland. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on your post-tour extension.
*Hotel rooms are subject to availability and are confirmed by the supplier at time of booking; they may be replaced by other hotel rooms of similar category at the sole discretion of the supplier.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “South Pacific Voyage” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
Let us work with you to tailor a journey based on your travel style and interests. We can use the existing itinerary above as a foundation, or build one from scratch to create your ideal vacation. Connect with us to start the conversation.
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.