Swim with Whale Shark & Stingless Jelly Fish on Cruise to Lesser-Known Indonesian Islands

Christchurch, New Zealand, 17 February 2020:  Following the recent success of its inaugural ‘Indonesian Explorer’ voyage from Raja Ampat to Papua New Guinea, specialist expedition tour operator Heritage Expeditions has announced that it will again run the two-week cruise departing 28 September 2020.

Last year acclaimed author, scientist, explorer and 2017 Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery joined the voyage and described it as “real pioneering zoology”. Taking in numerous remote, little-known volcanic islands, ‘Indonesian Explorer’ showcases the region’s rich concentration of flora and fauna, its pristine jungles and beaches, and tropical waters teeming with exotic sea life and spectacular corals.  Botanists, bird enthusiasts and nature lovers will have a multitude of opportunities to spot once-in-a-lifetime species including up to 10 species of Bird of Paradise and experience rare wildlife encounters, with highlights including swimming with thousands of stingless jelly fish off Misool Island, and with the gentle whale sharks in Kwatisore Bay in the Cenderawasih Marine Park.

Beginning in Sorong, West Papua, the voyage explores Raja Ampat, or Four Kings Islands, first to discover hidden caves, rock art and the ‘lekking’ trees of the Wilson’s bird-of-paradise, red bird-of-paradise and lesser bird-of-paradise, followed by the spectacular underwater environment boasting beautiful coral gardens and a vast array of marine life including dugong, parrotfish, clownfish, manta rays and pygmy seahorses.

Each of the islands is bursting with different attractions. On Kofiau, passengers may snorkel and explore the verdant rainforest in search of endemic birds, such as the Kofiau paradise kingfisher and the Kofiau monarch, as well as the Kofiau green-tree python and the red bird-of-paradise.

Raja Ampat comprises 1500 tiny islands covered in lush jungle, surrounded by turquoise seas, which form part of the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse marine habitats on Earth.  As Indonesia’s least developed, easternmost islands, they provide a bounty of rainbow corals, shoals of fish, interesting limestone formations and exotic birdlife for visitors to enjoy.

Moving on to West Papua, passengers have the chance to trek into the lush rolling hills and tropical rainforest of the Arfak Mountains, and to take a zodiac cruise along the Mambero, considered to be the Amazon of the South Pacific, which boasts a plethora of wildlife as well as a number of indigenous tribes who are largely cut off from the rest of the world.

Visitors return in awe of the beauty of this Melanesian paradise, having also learned about the Papuan culture through distinctive handicrafts, artwork and dance displays, travelling on local buses and traditional longboats and meeting local people throughout the journey.

The 14-day Indonesian Explorer cruise departs Sorong on 28th September 2020 and concludes in Madang, dubbed the prettiest town in the South Pacific.  Prices start from US$6995 per person based on a triple-share cabin and include all meals on board, zodiac cruises and return transfers to/from the ship to local hotel accommodation or the airport.

For further information please visit:  https://bit.ly/31YxuVc

For enquiries call: +64 3 365 3500

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For media enquiries please contact Debra Taylor, debra@toucanmoon.com +44 7956 852197

About Heritage Expeditions

For more than 30 years New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions has been a pioneer in environmentally responsible, conservation-focused voyages to some of the world’s least-explored, wild and biologically rich regions.

The family-owned and operated company, which spans two hemispheres from Antarctica’s Ross Sea to the Russian Far East more than 16,000 kilometres north, specialises in taking small groups of up to 50 intrepid wildlife and wilderness enthusiasts on comfortable adventures to some of the most unique, far-flung locations on earth.

Travelling on board one of two expedition ships designed for polar research and carrying a maximum of just 50 like-minded guests – Spirit of Enderby and Akademik Shokalskiy – on voyages ranging from eight to 31 days, passengers visit remote, indigenous communities and rarely-visited sites such as the sub-Antarctic island of Macquarie and Russia’s Wrangel Island, accompanied by expert botanists, ornithologists and naturalists.

Each expedition is meticulously planned and led, ensuring passengers maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit.

www.heritage-expeditions.com