New Guinea Odyssey

In partnership with The Explorers Club and with featured guest Graham Reynolds, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Programme of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (USA).

An interpreter will be on board to provide simultaneous translation into French of all the moments of exchange and sharing with the English-speaking guest.

PONANT invites you to embark on board Le Lapérouse for an 17-day tropical expedition cruise to discover the sublime natural landscapes of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

From Darwin, you will be sailing to the Kei Islands, in the heart of the Malukus, to discover a peaceful paradise of stunning white-sand beaches.

Then, you will sail to the heart of Triton Bay. Located within a protected marine environment in the middle of the Coral Triangle, you will enjoy an unforgettable zodiac cruise through the spectacular rainforest capped karst islands.

Le Lapérouse will continue to sail in the Indonesian province of West Papua to allow you to admire the superb natural site of Kitikiti Waterfall where you could enjoy a swim or snorkel surrounded by lush nature, both on land and under water.

As you voyage across Western New Guinea you will experience the spectacular Cenderawasih Bay, with an unforgettable opportunity to swim with whale sharks.

Your ship will then set sail for Papua New Guinea, a fascinating land that is home to no fewer than 700 ethnic groups within a highly diverse yet mainly unexplored, ecosystem.

In the village of Kopar, situated at the mouth of the Sepik River, you will be welcomed with cultural performances and will witness life in a traditional village.

You will then head south along the coast to Madang, nicknamed "the most beautiful city in the South Pacific”. Within this attractive province with great geographical diversity, 170 different languages are spoken.

Your call at Tufi, will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your voyage. You will fall under the charm of this picturesque region, dubbed the “Scandinavia of the Tropics”, with its deep fiords or locally known ‘rias’ formed through volcanic activity. In this unique setting the local Papuan tribes will share their customs, beliefs and artwork with you.

Finally, you will sail up to Alotau in Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay Province where you will discover how a combination of pearl farming, mineral resources and the presence of missionaries over the centuries shaped the history of this bay, which was also marked by the Second World War.

Your expedition will finish in in Cairns, known as the capital of ‘Far North Queensland, this vibrant and welcoming city is the ideal place from which to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and the Tropical Rainforests.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.