ASIAN ISLAND ODYSSEY-TAIPEI TO DARWIN

Day 1

Taipei, Taiwan.

Arrive in Taipei.
This evening meet your fellow voyagers and expedition guides over dinner at the group hotel.

Day 2

Explore Taipei before boarding the Heritage Adventurer in the afternoon.
Settle into your cabins and familiarise yourself with the ship, then join the expedition team in the Bridge, Observation Lounge or on the Observation Deck as we set sail for Hualien.

Day 3

Hualien, Taiwan. Taiwan’s second largest city and gateway to the incredible Taroko National Park and its Marble Gorge.
The spectacular marble walls here soar to more than 300 feet high and are surrounded by verdant green bamboo forests promising an unforgettable experience.

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. Part of the 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, sprawling coral gardens and iconic lookouts.

DayS 7-8

Caramoan Peninsula National Park. Caramoan Peninsula National Park will be one of the highlights of our voyage. With jungle- capped towering limestone
karst formations, white sand beaches, impossibly clear blue waters offering some of the best snorkelling, deep gorges, snaking rivers, forest trails, an islet lake and underground river all waiting to be explored.

Samar Island, Philippines.
Samar Island National Park contains 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, Philippines.

Bohol Island and its famed Chocolate Hills, often dubbed the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, are our destination today. During the dry season the grass covering the more than 1,200 conical karst hills scattered across an area of 50 square kms turns a
chocolatey brown creating an incredible phenomenon best enjoyed from a viewing station some 200 steps up, but absolutely worth the effort. Other highlights include a visit to a Tarsier Sanctuary to see the world’s second smallest primate, the tiny Philippine Tarsier.

Day 10

Bucus Grand Island, Philippines.
Bucas Grande Island combines stunning white sand beaches, emerald-green waters, mangroves, waterfalls, an expansive limestone cave systems, ironwood forests, inland lakes, elaborate coral gardens and exotic wildlife.

Day 11

At Sea.
Relax on board after our recent adventures, join a lecture, update your photos/journal or watch the world go by in the Observation Lounge.

Day 12

Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Indonesia.
Today we arrive into Indonesia and head for the nearby wildlife- filled jungles of Tangkoko Nature Reserve, one of Indonesia’s oldest parks. Spanning some 8,800 hectares from beaches to the peak of Tangkoko Mountain, the reserve is a haven for endemic flora and fauna.

Day 13

Gorontalo, Indonesia. Sitting on the Equator, Sulawesi’s culture capital and hidden paradise, Gorontalo combines rich history, the mountainous landscape is dotted with 500-year-old Portuguese forts, with 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, we plan to enjoy the unforgettable experience of swimming and snorkelling with these gentle giants which are known to grow more than 12 metres in length.

Day 15

Buru Island, Indonesia. 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.
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, Indonesia. Under consideration as a World Heritage Site due to its fascinating history as the centre 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 harbour. 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 640-metre cone of active volcano Gunung Banda Api, which sits on its own island and
is home to a variety of wildlife and bird species.

Day 17

Kei Kecil Islands, Indonesia. Today we 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.
Kayakers will enjoy paddling Ngurbloat Beach, known locally as ‘Pasir Panjang’, stretching five kilometres between thousands of coconut trees and glassy calm ocean.

Day 18

At Sea.
Take the time to relax and reflect on an amazing experience as we recap the highlights and enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.