Cruise Papua's Whale Sharks & Birds of Paradise
Cruising Raja Ampat must rate as one of life's most beautiful experiences in the world. This exciting expert-led cruise follows in the footsteps of British naturalist and explorer, Alfred Russel Wallace. Wallace’s observations of the marked zoological differences across a narrow strait between the islands of Bali and Lombok, and Borneo and Sulawesi, led to his proposing the zoo-geographical boundary now known as The Wallace line. In 1858, Wallace conceived the theory of natural selection independently of Charles Darwin. It was published, along with a description of Darwin’s own theory, in the same year. We will explore some of the areas that Wallace found so fascinating: remote mountainous islands with forested coastlines, idyllic white sand beaches and jungle waterfalls. We will go bird watching, snorkel through Raja Ampat’s marine wonderland, swim through a mysterious cave, and cruise through a maze of karst islets. Hopefully, we will experience the magic of seeing the birds of paradise performing their extraordinary courtship dances within their natural habitat. If we get really lucky – and there are no promises – we may even have the opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks in Triton Bay.
Vertrekdata
2019
9 november Ombak Putih Kaimana-Sorong
2020
28 oktober Ombak Putih Sorong-Kaimana
30 oktober Katharina Sorong-Kaimana
9 november Ombak Putih Kaimana-Sorong
11 november Katharina Kaimana-Sorong
9 november Ombak Putih Kaimana-Sorong
2020
28 oktober Ombak Putih Sorong-Kaimana
30 oktober Katharina Sorong-Kaimana
9 november Ombak Putih Kaimana-Sorong
11 november Katharina Kaimana-Sorong
Aanbetaling 25%
Restbetaling 3 maanden voor vertrek
Annuleringskosten:
Tot 90 dagen voor vertrek: 25%
90 tot 60 dagen voor vertrek: 50%
Binnen 60 dagen voor vertrek: 100%
Restbetaling 3 maanden voor vertrek
Annuleringskosten:
Tot 90 dagen voor vertrek: 25%
90 tot 60 dagen voor vertrek: 50%
Binnen 60 dagen voor vertrek: 100%
RouteRoute
Programme
Dag 1
Uw vlucht arriveert in Sorong de havenstad van West Papua, de toegangspoort tot de Raja Ampat. Vanaf de luchthaven brengen wij u naar de haven waar de Ombak Putih voor anker ligt. Na inchecken in uw hut en kennismaking met de kapitein en bemanning, bent u klaar om aan het cruise avontuur te beginnen. Het anker wordt gelicht, we verlaten de haven en varen het beschermde gebied van Raja Ampat in, thuisbasis van uniek birdlife en de grootste biodiversiteit aan koraalriffen ter wereld. We cruisen naar het eiland Waigeo, stoppen voor een verfrissende duik en genieten van een betoverend mooie zonsondergang op onze eerste dag op zee.
Dag 2
While it is still dark, our tenders will ferry those of us who are feeling fit and adventurous to the village of Sapokren, where a local guide will take us on a challenging trek into the forest in the hope of seeing the Wilson’s bird of paradise. The male is red and black with a yellow mantle on his neck, light green mouth, rich blue feet and two violet tail feathers. The featherless crown is turquoise, ornamented with double black crosses. If we are lucky, we may be able to observe the male dancing from a distance of just five metres. Before the dance, he will clear the ground from any leaves or other obstacles that may disrupt his performance. On our way back to the boat, accompanied by the sounds of the jungle coming to life, we will be sure to spot a number of bird species along the way. We will spend the remainder of the day resting from the morning’s activities and enjoying the waters and reefs of Raja Ampat.
Dag 3
Today will present another opportunity for keen birdwatchers, as we rise early and walk into the forest on a pre-dawn quest to spot the remarkable red bird of paradise, one of the species that Wallace was most anxious to collect. With a little luck and the help of our knowledgeable guides, we might catch sight of this rare bird’s elaborate courtship display as dawn breaks over the forest canopy. After returning to the ship, we will turn our attention from the sky to the sea as the Ombak Putih makes her way through the Dampier strait, home of some of Raja Ampat’s premier reefs. If the currents are in our favour, we might see some of the area’s larger specimens of marine life, which are attracted to the strait’s nutrient-rich waters. We will end the day by mooring off Pulau Arborek in front Arborek Village. Here, we can easily circumnavigate the tiny island by foot and gain a sense of the Asai culture, which is still kept alive by the villagers living in this isolated place.
Dag 4
Bij het opstaan zien we vandaag hoe de opgaande zon een schilderachtige gloed over de eilanden van de Misool archipel legt. De topografie is typerend voor 'karst ontbinding,' waarbij door de onophoudelijke beweging van eb en vloed de contouren van veel kleine eilandjes zijn gevormd. Zwemmen in de mysterieuze, overwelfde grot van Tomolol is ongetwijfeld één van Raja Ampat’s meest gedenkwaardige activiteiten. Na een vroeg ontbijt varen we naar het hart van de baai en komen bij een grot die zich grotendeels onder water bevindt. Hier kunt u zwemmen, snorkelen of gewoon drijven, terwijl u uitkijkt op wanden van de grot getooid met verbazingwekkende stalaktieten. De meer avontuurlijke deelnemers kunnen zwemmen of peddelen over de donkere wateren naar het andere uiteinde van de grot. Hierna varen we door een doolhof van karst eilandjes met grotten boven en onder water, waar we ondermeer prehistorische grotschilderingen kunnen bewonderen van menselijke figuren met enorme handen van 3.000 tot 5.000 jaar oud. Na een wederom heerlijk bereid diner genieten we van een rustige nacht.
Dag 5
Vandaag hebben we een ontspannen dag in Misool. Al varende zullen we vanaf een relaxt zonnebed (??) zowel onder als boven het water genieten van de fascinerende omgeving. Wij kunnen onze vaardigheden testen door op zee te peddelen op surfboards of te kayakken met uitzicht op eilandjes vol exotische vogels; of we leunen gewoon achterover en genieten van het schitterende landschap. Na een lange dag van eilandhoppen, zal de Ombak Putih haar cruise voortzetten.
Dag 6
This morning we will explore the Pisang Islands. These tiny gems isolated in the vast waters of the Ceram Sea offer us a chance to relax and enjoy the sparkling white-sand beaches, clear waters, and vibrant reefs before making our way to the shores of West Papua. Here we will follow the shoreline until we reach the village of Sipitnanam. After visiting the village and meeting the residents, who spend their days fishing the nearby waters and tending their nutmeg plantations, we will continue south along the coastline through the night.
Dag 7
Today we will wake up to the beautiful sight of Kitikiti waterfall. Here, in the wilderness, a roaring river cascades down the jungle-clad mountains and crashes into the sea below. We can swim under the waterfall and explore the extraordinary reefs nearby before rounding Cape Papisol to the Karawawi region, where we will stop to refresh ourselves before journeying on to Triton Bay.
Dag 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 keep masses of baitfish in nets that attract a migratory group of whale sharks, which we may have the chance to swim and snorkel with. We can’t make any promises, as we don’t have these wild animals on a leash, but fingers crossed we will. We will also spend our time swimming from secluded beaches, snorkelling the vibrant turquoise waters and kayaking amongst the rocky outcrops. We can also enjoy watching the birdlife from the comfort of our tenders as we explore this extraordinary maze of karst islands, before visiting the village of Lobo, which is a friendly place at the foot of a 1000-metre-high cliff.
Dag 9
We will make the most of our last morning in Triton Bay by cruising through the undisturbed coves, caves, and lagoons before heading north through the Namatote Passage. Namatote’s cliffs are also well known as a gallery of prehistoric art, boasting an impressive collection of cave paintings, glyphs and pictorial signs left by ancient nomads high upon the rock walls. We will spend our final evening on the ship resting at anchor and enjoying a farewell dinner with our captain and crew.
Dag10
In the morning, we will find ourselves at anchor in the harbour of Kaimana. After a final, hearty breakfast, we will say goodbye to the Ombak Putih and her crew. Our tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.
Your stay
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KatharinaDe Katharina is een originele Buginese schoener met 6 luxe 2-persoonshutten en één family suite, elk met AC en eigen badkamer.
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