Trip Overview

Lying like pearls scattered across the equator, the archipelagos of the Philippines and Indonesia's undiscovered islands are the postcard definition of paradise, where impossibly blue waves gently lap white-sand beaches, friendly locals welcome you into their world, primordial jungles and untouched coral reefs abound with astounding wildlife, and myriad adventures await both above and below the water. In addition to being among some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet and home to rare and endangered wildlife, these remote tropical outposts boast incredible history, heritage, and ancient cultures. Set sail where few have gone before and join us on an authentic expedition while cruising the untouched beauty of the Philippines and Indonesia on this unforgettable voyage.

Trip Highlights

• Discover Indonesia's secret paradise of Kei Kecil Island and the postcard perfection of Ngurbloat Beach
• Visit the Tarsier Sanctuary, which protects the world's second smallest primate
• Swim and snorkel in gin-clear turquoise waters, including the opportunity to swim with whale sharks, the largest fish in the world
• See a wealth of endemic flora and fauna at Tangkoko Nature Reserve
• Experience thrilling cultural exchanges at villages where traditional life continues unchanged
• Delve into the fascinating history of the Spice Islands at Banda Neira

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Taipei, Taiwan

Arrive at Taipei, Taiwan's capital, which is surrounded by mountains and proudly presided over by Taipei 101, the 1,600-foot-high skyscraper and former Taipei World Financial Center styled like a bamboo stalk. Transfer to your hotel where the group will spend the first night of the expedition. This evening meet your fellow voyagers and expedition guides over dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Keelung

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we explore this exciting city. Rightly famous for its prevalent street food, be sure to sample its variety of xiaochi (little snacks) while exploring top attractions including the Chinese-influenced Martyrs’ Shrine; Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, commemorating Taiwan’s former president; and the National Palace Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese art. For those looking for a nature fix, head to Yehliu Geopark with its world-famous surreal landscape of honeycomb and mushroom-eroded rock formations and the Japanese-era mining complex turned tourist attraction, Gold Ecological Park, where hillside walkways connect 1930s-era offices, workshops, and dormitories for an insight into early mining history. This afternoon board Heritage Adventurer, moored in Keelung, settle into your accommodation and familiarize yourself with the ship, then join the expedition team in the Bridge, Observation Lounge or on the Observation Deck as the ship sets sail for Hualien.

Day 3: Hualien

Taiwan’s second-largest city Hualien, located on its mountainous east coast, is your gateway to the world-famous 12-mile-long canyon of Taroko National Park and its Marble Gorge. The spectacular marble walls here soar to more than 300 feet and are surrounded by verdant green bamboo forests, promising an unforgettable experience. Comprising some 227,000 acres and varying altitudes, from near sea level at the mouth of the Liwu River to towering more than 12,000 feet high at Mount Nanhu, the park’s dramatic landscape provides a diverse array of vegetation and habitats: a third of Taiwan’s vascular plants, half of its mammal species, the rare Nanhu salamander and more than 140 resident bird species.

Day 4: Calayan Island, Philippines

One of the most remote and hardest-to-reach islands in the Philippines, Calayan Island is a pristine paradise awaiting discovery. Part of Babuyan Islands and nestled between the Batanes province and mainland Luzon, Calayan Island's unrestrained, rugged beauty offers unforgettable adventures both above and below the water, with stunning white-sand beaches, iconic lookouts from Nagudungan and Bangaan Hills, sprawling coral gardens and stunning fish life, majestic waterfalls and plenty of rarely-visited coves and caves, making it an ideal destination for expedition cruising. On land look for the endemic Calayan rail, and at sea, share waters frequented by whales and dolphins.

Day 5: Divilacan Bay

Widely considered among the Philippine’s most beautiful destinations, Divilacan Bay in the province of Isabela (recently dubbed the Queen Province of the North) combines lush forests and incredible snorkeling opportunities with the locally famous heart-shaped Honeymoon Island and conservation initiatives working to save the critically endangered endemic Philippine crocodile. Opportunities here could include exploring forests for wildlife, snorkeling the offshore reefs, and Zodiac cruising mangroves to observe the results of the Mabuwaya Foundation’s crocodile program.

Day 6: Polillo Island

Snorkeling, visiting waterfalls, and observing wildlife are all good options today as you explore the largest of the Polillo Island group's 24 islands and islets. Rebounding following large-scale logging operations, lowland forests are now protected in two reserves, reflecting their importance for some significant wildlife including the Philippine cockatoo and endemic Philippine brown deer, Javan warty pig and large rufous horseshoe bat. The island is also home to the Gray's monitor/ Butaan lizard, a tree-dwelling relative of the Komodo dragon, while dugongs are known to frequent its waters.

Day 7: Caramoan Peninsula National Park

This coveted tropical dream destination, made relatively famous by television's Survivor, Caramoan Peninsula National Park will be one of the highlights of the voyage. With jungle-capped towering limestone karst formations, white-sand beaches, impossibly clear blue waters offering some of the best snorkeling, deep gorges, snaking rivers, forest trails, an islet lake, and underground river all waiting to be explored, you will be spoiled for choice during your time here.

Day 8: Samar Island

Largely unknown and unexplored, there's a good reason why Samar Island Natural Park is considered the ultimate frontier. Combining all the remote paradise trappings of stunning cave formations, powder-fine sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters with the Philippines's largest tract of lowland rainforest and connecting karst formation, the park is home to a staggering 38 species of mammals, 215 bird species including the Philippine eagle, 51 species of reptiles, and more than 1,000 species of plants, of which more than half are endemic. Samar Island promises an extraordinary expedition day.

Day 9: Bohol Island

Bohol Island and its famed Chocolate Hills, often dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” are your destination today. During the dry season the grass covering the more than 1,200 conical karst hills scattered across an area of 19 square miles turns a chocolatey brown, creating an incredible phenomenon best enjoyed from a viewing station some 200 steps up, but absolutely worth the effort. During your time here you may explore the lush countryside. Other highlights include a visit to a Tarsier Sanctuary to see the world’s second smallest primate, the tiny Philippine tarsier. This threatened species is protected in the Philippines, but their numbers are declining due to logging, mining, and the illegal pet trade; the coral stone Baclayon Church and National Cultural Treasure; and sampling The Pastry Capital of Bohol’s world-famous Broa or Lady Fingers. Unwind on the pristine white-sand beaches of Balicasag Island. Ringed by a reef and marine sanctuary, enjoy an incredible underwater experience snorkeling impressive coral gardens and underwater cliffs teeming with colorful marine life including possible sightings of sea turtles.

Days 10-11: Bucas Grande Island / At Sea

Emerging from the shadow of its popular neighboring surfing hot spot, Siargao Island, Bucas Grande Island combines stunning white-sand beaches with waterfalls, emerald-green waters, mangroves, expansive limestone cave systems, ironwood forests, inland lakes, elaborate coral gardens, exotic wildlife, and the rightly famous 37-mile Sohoton Cove and National Park. Look for the rufous hornbill as you explore this pristine tropical island paradise, Zodiac cruising the coastline where quiet coves and beaches await discovery. Highlights here include Tojoman Lagoon/Sohoton Jellyfish Sanctuary where thousands of stingless jellyfish thrive, the iconic Blue Lagoon with its labyrinthine waterways comprised of numerous limestone islets and incredible snorkeling and swimming opportunities. The following day is at sea.

Day 12: Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Indonesia

Arrive into Indonesia and head for the nearby wildlife-filled jungles of Tangkoko Nature Reserve, one of Indonesia’s oldest reserves. Spanning nearly 22,000 acres from beaches to the peak of Tangkoko Mountain, the reserve is a haven for endemic flora and fauna. Exploring the lowland tropical rainforest with local guides, look for the critically endangered crested black macaque, known for their distinctive pink rumps and jet-black mohawks, and the smallest primate in the world, the saucer-eyed tarsier, and Sulawesi bear cuscus. For birders, there are the knobbed hornbills, kingfishers, Sulawesi myna, lorikeets, and Maleo birds. Other birding highlights include the brightly colored forester moth and the Draco flying lizard or Sulawesi lined gliding lizard. This afternoon enjoy a selection of water activities.

Day 13: Gorontalo, Sulawesi

Gorontalo, Sulawesi’s culture capital and a hidden paradise, combines rich history, a mountainous landscape dotted with 500-year-old Portuguese forts, and pristine white-sand beaches, and is a diving hot spot with a reputation for being one of Indonesia’s best places to swim with whale sharks. At Botubarani, a small seaside village, you’ll enjoy the unforgettable experience of swimming and snorkeling with these gentle giants, which are known to grow more than 40 feet in length. Joining local boats and guides, you will venture into Gorontalo Bay where plankton and small fish attract the world’s largest fish

Day 14: Seho & Taliabu Islands

Explore the unspoiled paradise of remote and rarely visited Seho Island, where beautiful sandy beaches and stunning coral reef meet forested, wildlife-filled hills and jungles. Explore the island with options for jungle hikes searching for birds and wildlife, beachcombing and snorkeling among an amazing carpet of multicolored soft corals. This afternoon, visit the township of Bobong on Taliabu Island before making your way to the local markets and spice plantations and experiencing the rich culture of this tropical outpost.

Day 15: Buru Island

Fascinating and seldom visited, Buru Island is located at the boundary between the biogeographic zones of Australia and Asia. A high proportion of the species of birds and mammals here are found nowhere else, with 10 endemic bird species and 4 endemic mammals as well as several near-endemic species. This morning, you will explore these remote shores together with your expert naturalists and guides. Enjoy opportunities to explore the forests in search of wildlife and experience the heartwarming hospitality of local communities during village visits.

Day 16: Banda Neira

Under consideration as a World Heritage Site due to its fascinating history as the center of the Spice Islands trade and incredible biodiversity, Banda Neira is the main island in the archipelago of 10 tiny volcanic Banda Islands. Once the world’s sole source of nutmeg due to the islands’ native Myristica trees, the principal town of Banda Neira offers a glimpse into bygone days with its charming 17th-century European relics including the five-sided Fort Belgica overlooking the harbor. Built in 1611 by the first Governor General of the Dutch East Indies and refurbished in the 90s, it was designed to guard against sea threats and to protect the colonialists from any uprising locals. Across a narrow strait lies the 2,100-foot cone of active volcano Gunung Banda Api, which sits on its own island and is home to a variety of wildlife and bird species. Below the sparkling sapphire water, the island’s location near the center of the Coral Triangle is evident with sprawling coral fields where myriad fish species including scorpionfish, ghost pipefish, Napoleon wrasse, mandarin fish, hammerhead sharks, and more can be observed. Village visits and cultural immersion round out your time here, including observing Banda Neira’s famous Kora-Kora canoes in action.

Days 17-18: Kei Kecil Island / At Sea

Today you'll explore Indonesia's secret paradise—Kei Kecil Island, the crowning tropical jewel in the Kei Archipelago in the southeastern chain of the Maluku Islands. Located on the edge of the Coral Triangle, Kei Kecil is home to some of Indonesia's finest beaches where powdery white sands meet gin-clear turquoise waters, stunning coral reefs, and palm-fringed tropical jungles. Most famous is Ngurbloat Beach, known locally as “Pasir Panjang,” the insta-worthy combination of flour-soft white sand luxuriously stretching some 3 miles flanked between thousands of coconut trees and glassy calm ocean. Located among some of the world's most biologically rich waters, snorkeling the extensive fringing and barrier reefs is exceptional and rewards with numerous colorful reef fish, nudibranchs, cephalopods, dogtooth tuna, eagle and manta rays that make up the mesmerizing marine life. The following day is at sea.

Day 19: Darwin, Australia

This morning, arrive in Darwin, Australia's "northern gateway," famous for its glittering harbor, World War II history, and enviable tropical outdoor lifestyle. After breakfast, there will be a complimentary coach to a central hotel or Darwin International Airport. To allow time for disembarkation procedures and travel from Darwin, we do not recommend booking flights departing before 1:00 pm.