Png - the Last Frontier
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PNG - THE LAST FRONTIER Mysterious Papua New Guinea is, in the truest sense, the last untouched frontier on earth. With exotic wildlife, turquoise seas, tropical rainforest, volcanoes and more than 1000 tribal groups, Papua New Guinea has all the ingredients for a truly memorable expedition cruise. Reach into the heart and soul of Papua New Guinea, and see your expectations of the place and its people soar. Its secret forests nurture over 3000 kinds of orchids, and the world’s largest butterfly and moth inhabit its rainforests. It is a place of rich cultural diversity. There is no such thing as a typical Papua New Guinean; as more than 1000 tribal groups, each with different traditions, are ITINERARY now recognised. On this journey of contrasts we will witness an astonishing array of cultural ceremonies from fascinating Day 1 - LONDON TO HONG KONG, CHINA. Fly by scheduled flight. villages, to the exquisite Tami, Trobriand and D’Entrecasteaux Islands offering exceptional underwater experiences. Day 2 - HONG KONG Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the Harbour Plaza Hong The only comfortable way to explore this vast and intriguing land Kong Hotel for an overnight stay. Remainder of day free to is by sea and we are fortunate in having one of the finest and explore independently. best equipped expedition vessels in the world for our explorations. We hope you will join us for this unparalleled Day 3 - HONG KONG TO PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. opportunity to explore, one of the most intriguing places on the After breakfast enjoy a morning city tour including a ferry ride map. across Victoria Harbour before taking the Peak tram to climb 373 metres above the city. We will take in the views of the harbour and Kowloon before continuing to Aberdeen and Stanley market. We will enjoy a dim sum lunch in a local restaurant before transferring to the airport for our scheduled flight to Port Moresby. 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Day 4 - PORT MORESBY Day 7 - LABABIA Arrive this morning in the capital of Papua New Guinea. On a Arrive at breakfast time in Lababia our entry to the Kamiali city tour we visit the National Museum with over 30,000 Wildlife Management Area. It is accessible only by boat and the anthropological collections and 20,000 war relics providing an area has been formally protected but is under the control of introduction to our upcoming exploration of Papua New Guinea. local landowners. It includes a wide range of lowland and We also see the Botanical Gardens with a huge collection of mid-montane rain forest, together with inshore marine areas plants from all over the island including an extensive orchid including lush coral reefs, and has a rich array of plants, house and wildlife displays. We will enjoy dinner at our hotel animals and ecosystems. We can take a rainforest walk on the this evening. David Suzuki Trail, seeking hornbills, parrots and palm cockatoos or enjoy time in the local village and maybe take a Day 5 - PORT MORESBY TO MADANG swim from the local beach. This morning we transfer to the airport for our specially chartered flight to Madang. Madang is often dubbed the Day 8 - TUFI FJORDS ‘Prettiest town in the Pacific’ perched on a peninsula Arrive at first light in the fjordland of Papua New Guinea. These surrounded by picturesque islands and sprinkled with parks, fjords are over 90 metres deep and rise vertically to 150 metres ponds and water-lily-filled waterways. Madang’s warm, wet from the water. The faces of the fjord are covered with moss and climate and fertile soil produce luxuriant growth and any of the orchids and waterfalls fall into the sea. We will use our zodiacs huge casuarina trees that tower over the Madang streets to explore the fjords and also visit the local villages. In the support huge colonies of flying foxes. The trees may have markets we will see the local pottery, jewellery and tapa cloth escaped WWII relatively unscathed but Madang itself wasn’t so typical of this region. Due to the protection of the fjords the lucky. The town was rebuilt after it was virtually destroyed during coral reefs are rich in colour and variety and have remarkable the Japanese occupation and subsequent fighting. We will enjoy visibility. We will find a suitable spot with our zodiacs to snorkel a drive around the city before transferring to the Caledonian Sky amongst the gobie, Mandarin Fish, pigmy seashorses and this afternoon. Sail this evening sponge and shelf corals. We also hope to spot the world’s largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra Bird Wing, which Day 6 - TAMI ISLANDS inhabitants the surrounding rainforest. Arrive this morning on the Tami Islands, four tiny atolls situated 7 miles off the Huon Peninsula with around 400 inhabitants. Day 9 - KITAVA, TROBRIAND ISLANDS We will be welcomed by the islanders and have a chance to see We sail overnight to the Trobriand islands first discovered by the distinctive wooden bowls, figure carvings and masks of the French vessel, Esperence, in 1793 and named after the first region. We return to the ship for lunch before using our zodiacs lieutenant. They are also known as the “Islands of Love” after and taking the opportunity to snorkel in the crystal clear waters the study by anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski. The islanders have made great efforts to preserve their culture and when we 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com land on the island of Kitava where we will receive a traditional whilst the more adventurous may wish to investigate the local welcome. We will also have the opportunity to visit the local caves home to thousands of bats village to learn about their unique culture and customs and vist the Trobriand Yam House. This afternoon we visit Narutu with Day 13 - SAMARAI the chance to snorkel these amazing coral reefs populated by This morning we will explore Samarai which was once known as parrotfish and neon damsel or join our naturalists on a walk the “Pearl of the Pacific” and was the Provincial capital until around the island in search of flying foxes, sulphur-crested 1968. Samarai was the country’s first provincial headquarters cockatoos, and helmeted friarbirds or simply relax on the and the faded colonial charm of the buildings is indicative of its beach. former importance Day 10 - GAWA, MARSHALL BENNETT ISLANDS Day 14 & 15 - PORT MORESBY TO LONDON We arrive this morning on the raised Atoll, of Gawa. The Disembark this morning in Port Moresby and transfer to the islanders will welcome us before a steep walk takes us to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London. Prices village of Kweupa where we can see their way of life and the available without flights to & from London. local crafts. Keep an eye out for the traditional Kula ring trading canoes and local fishing boats. Day 11 - D’ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS Awake this morning in the D’Entrecasteaux islands. We will use our zodiacs to land on Fergusson Island, the largest of the chain, in a small fishing village. From here we will walk to the local hot springs and bubbling mud pools surrounded by lush vegetation. This afternoon we will cruise through the spectacular Dobu passage and use our zodiacs to explore and snorkel on the local reefs Day 12 - ALOTAU, MILNE BAY Today we will visit our first “big” town as we arrive in Alotau, the provincial capital. As the centre for Milne Bay many of the islanders come here to sell their wares and the vibrant local market is a trove of local artefacts including Trobriand carvings. We will have time to explore the town whilst our naturalists will take walks to explore the surrounding rainforest looking for birds 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: CALEDONIAN SKY YOUR SHIP: Caledonian Sky VESSEL TYPE: Luxury Expedition LENGTH: 90 metres PASSENGER CAPACITY: 114 (in 57 suites) BUILT/REFURBISHED: 1991 / refurbished 2012 The MS Caledonian Sky accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven categories of suites and sixteen suites will have private many years that we are able to engender such an atmosphere. balconies. For those familiar with the MS Island Sky she will feel Your Suite Onboard there are 57 exceptionally spacious and like a second home, although there are some differences. The well designed suites. The passenger accommodation is dining room, lounge, Lido Deck and bar are all similar. However, arranged over four decks and all suites have outside views. All the 'Club' on the MS Caledonian Sky has been transported to feature a sitting room area and some have private balconies. the very top deck. Here, there is a library and bar which leads Each affords considerable comfort with en-suite bathroom out on to a lovely forward deck. The 'Club' has wonderful views featuring a country style wash basin, hot towel rack and vanity with ceiling to floor windows. unit with sink and walk-in shower and/or bath tub. If you like the MS Island Sky, we are sure you will also approve Facilities in the suites also include walk-in or spacious of her sister. And, of course it is important that we offer the very wardrobes, dressing table with large mirror and stool or desk, best of facilities. However, equally as important are the staff on mini-fridge, flat screen television, telephone, programmable board whether they are the vessel's crew or our own expedition electronic safe, hairdryer, assorted toiletries, air-conditioning staff.