12 Night Cruise | Frontier Lands of Papua New Guinea

Day at Sea

Spend today relaxing onboard, listen and learn from our Guest Lecturer presentations, or enjoy an engine room or bridge tour.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Samarai Island

Located off the south-eastern tip of New Guinea in the China Strait, choose to explore the colonial settlement of Samarai, with a chance to purchase pearls from a local pearl farmer, or go for a snorkel at nearby Ebuma Island.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Dobu Island and Dei Dei Hot Springs

Join our Expedition Staff on a walk to Dei Dei Hot Springs on Fergusson Island, where the people share their mythical and spiritual tales of these hot water and mud springs located at the base of an extinct volcano. Locals still use the hot springs to cook food in palm frond baskets. Learn of the history of the Kula Ring at Dobu Island and meet the local primary school children, who will welcome us with a traditional song, and spend some time snorkeling in the Bubbling Springs Reef.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Trobriand Islands

Historically known as the ‘Islands of Love’, the Trobriand Islands offer a glimpse of traditional cultures largely unspoiled by outside influence. Be greeted at the small island of Kuiawa with an enthusiastic Trobriand’s welcome.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Tufi Fjords

Today enjoy a true highlight as we discover the scenic beauty of the Tufi Fjords. Featuring 25 individual canyons with sheer basalt cliffs, these are the only fjords in Papua New Guinea and offer a wealth of sightseeing opportunities.  Aboard Xplorer, travel to the entrance of one of Tufi’s most scenic fjords where you will be met by local villagers in traditional dress aboard outrigger canoes. Have the opportunity to board one of the outriggers as the locals paddle up the creek under the rainforest canopy. Here, spirits and sorcery remain integral to village life, and we will learn about bush medicines, fire making, mat weaving and traditional tattooing.  Deep in the rainforest, have the chance to witness the tribesmen perform a traditional sing song in their ceremonial dress. Later, discover white sand beaches, or snorkel or dive over spectacular fringing reefs.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Buna and Sanananda

We land at Buna Beach, home to some of the toughest fighting in the WWII Pacific campaign. Enjoy a welcome from the local residents, and then be guided through the jungle to visit the areas where Allied forces clashed with Japanese forces. In Sanananda, see the local monuments and pay tribute to fallen Australian soldiers at the war museum, located at the far end of the Kokoda Track. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the lush gardens surrounding the village.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Morobe Harbour

We arrive at Morobe Harbour early in the morning and cruise in the Xplorer to view the stunning forest from the Mou River. We receive a warm Oro Province welcome and enjoy exploring the village with local guides. At high tide, we may be able to cruise further into a picturesque hidden bay.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Kamiali (Lababia Village) and Fly Islands

In the morning, during a relaxing visit to the village, we are entertained with singing and dancing performances and join a local guide around the village. Board an outrigger canoe to explore further up the river with a guide and experience snorkeling and diving at the Biangatu Island reef in the Fly Islands.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Dregerhafen

At the beautiful anchorage of Dregerhafen, you will enjoy a high-spirited Papua New Guinea welcome and explore the market which is famous for Tami bowls and timber paddles. There are many WWII artifacts in this area. After lunch, enjoy snorkeling, diving, and kayaking in the blue waters of the lagoon.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Sepik Mouth and Kadovar Volcano

As we arrive at the mouth of the famed Sepik River we are greeted with stunning views of the landscape and this mammoth river which cuts a swathe through lush forest. Our first stop on the Sepik River is at the village of Bien, where local villagers greet us on their canoes and follow with dance performances. There is an opportunity to purchase highly sought-after hand-crafted artifacts, masks and carvings at the Sepik market.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Your program is over 12 nights. This blank day is to account for the spread of the itinerary across 13 Days / 12 Nights.  The itinerary is adaptable to be spread out across all days while traveling.

Meals: All Meals Onboard

Accommodation: Coral Adventurer

Madang

Disembark in Madang. Arrive in Madang to disembark Coral Adventurer at 8AM. Enjoy an included tour of Madang with a member of our expedition team until midday.
Post Cruise Madang Optional Charter flight: Depart Madang to Cairns $1,425 per person. This will be a direct flight to Cairns, with no stopover in Port Moresby, with a Coral Expeditions staff member to accompany guests. Limited seats are available, call our reservations team to book.

If you are doing this program in reverse today you will disembark in Cairns. Disembark Coral Adventurer at 8AM in Cairns and bid farewell to new-found friends, the Master and crew. A post cruise transfers to Cairns CBD hotels or the airport is included.