![kayaking_Antarctica__AE Expeditions](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/portrait_quarter/101496-kayaking-antarctica-ae-expeditions.jpg)
Duration
14 Nights
Journey Type
Cruise only (Please call for flight options)
Ports
13 Ports
9 October
Setting sail from Darwin
More of a large town than a city, Darwin is less about what's contained within the city limits and more about the huge expanse of wild landscape that's outside it. Closer to Jakarta than Sydney, the city really does feel remote in its tropical perch. There are a number of waterfront restaurants and pretty parks, making it a pleasant place to relax after a long flight. For those with the energy we highly recommend a visit to Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks.
![Sunset in Darwin, Australia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_half/2013-sunset-in-darwin.jpg)
![Yellow Water, Kakadu National Park](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/16971-yellow-water-kakadu-national-park.jpg)
Don't miss
With rugged escarpments, sites of Aboriginal art, dramatic waterfalls and huge wetlands, Kakadu National Park is truly beautiful. The iconic scenery is some of Australia’s best, and served as the backdrop to the film 'Crocodile Dundee'.
10 October
At sea
11 October
Timor-Leste: Dili
![Church in Dili, Timor-Leste](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/71377-church-dili-timor-leste.jpg)
Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste (East Timor), one of the world’s youngest nations. The city’s old quarter includes a number of impressive buildings from the Portuguese colonial era, while the Resistance Museum documents the country’s 25-year struggle to win independence from Indonesia.
12 October
Timor-Leste: Baucau
13 October
At sea
14 October
Indonesia: Kai Archipelago
![Kai Archipelago, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/44851-kai-archipelago-indonesia.jpg)
The Kai Archipelago, part of the Maluku islands, is known for its idyllic beaches. The ancestors of the Kai people are believed to have come here from Bali, but there is no written history, with an oral tradition of stories known as Tom-Tad that are passed down from generation to generation.
15 October
Indonesia: Triton Bay
![Whale shark, Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/66949-whale-shark-triton-bay-west-papua.jpg)
The protected marine reserve of Triton Bay rivals Raja Ampat as one of Indonesia’s premier locations for snorkelling and scuba diving. The biodiversity here is remarkable, with species ranging from pygmy seahorses to mighty whale sharks, and it’s also a nesting site for green turtles.
16 October
Indonesia: Mommon Peninsula (West Papua)
17 October
Indonesia: Banda Neira
![Banda Neira, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/71762-banda-neira-indonesia.jpg)
Banda Neira is part of the Banda Archipelago, often known by the more evocative name of the Spice Islands thanks to the Myristica trees that produce nutmeg and mace. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive here, later supplanted by the Dutch, and the streets are still home to an eclectic mix of colonial architecture.
18 October
Indonesia: Barat Daya Islands
19 October
Indonesia: Kalabahi
![Takpala village, Alor, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/67253-takpala-village-alor.jpg)
The Alor Archipelago is a fantastic destination for snorkelling and diving, much less well known than Raja Ampat and Komodo. On the main island, also called Alor, you can learn about the traditions of the Takpala indigenous people and visit the Museum of a Thousand Mokos in Kalabahi, with its collection of bronze kettle drums known as mokos.
20 October
Indonesia: Maumere (Flores)
![Sunset over Flores island, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/67267-sunset-flores-island.jpg)
The island of Flores is home to some of the most staggeringly beautiful scenery in the Indonesian archipelago, a lush landscape of smouldering volcanoes, spectacular lakes and verdant paddy fields. Flores is also culturally distinct from the other islands, with a population that is 95% Catholic.
21-22 October
Indonesia: Komodo Island
![Boats in Komodo National Park, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/22753-boats-komodo-national-park.jpg)
Komodo Island is situated within an area of spectacular natural beauty, home to the famous Komodo dragon. The stunning beaches are tinged with pink thanks to the high concentration of red coral just offshore, and the waters draw intrepid divers from all over the world.
22 October
Indonesia: Sumbawa
![Lagoon in Sumbawa, Indonesia](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/92990-lagoon-sumbawa.jpg)
Sumbawa is just to the east of Bali and Lombok, though the island is drier, less developed and more conservative than its neighbours. It’s a popular spot for surfers, and home to sleepy villages where locals weave indigo cloth and build traditional wooden boats by hand.
23 October
Arriving in Benoa (Bali)
It's no surprise to us that Bali remains Indonesia's most popular tourist destination; though the island is not the undiscovered gem it once was, it's still a wonderful place to travel. The beaches, spectacular volcanic scenery and lush green rice terraces lend Bali a natural beauty that seems to dovetail perfectly with the island's distinct Hindu culture, which adorns the landscape with stunning temples. We advise steering clear of the backpacker beaches around Kuta, and heading instead for the quieter south coast resorts or the charming inland town of Ubud, the spiritual centre of the island.
![Pura Ulun Danu temple, Bali](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_half/22740-bali-pura-ulun-danu-temple-low.jpg)
![Batur Lake, Bali](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/32471-batur-lake-bali.jpg)
Our tip
Bali is seriously busy – it’s a long way for us, but just on the doorstep for Australians. The central mountains, or north and west coasts, are quieter.
Your home from home
![Ponant Explorers - Le Bougainville in Norway](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/lanscape_half/99348-ponant-explorers-bougainville-norway-low.jpg)
![Ponant - Le Laperouse - Suite de l'Armateur](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/50591-ponant-le-laperouse-suite-de-l-armateur.jpg)
![Ponant - Le Champlain pool](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/50592-ponant-le-champlain-pool.jpg)
Sleek and stylish, Ponant's wonderful Explorer yachts blend luxury and intimacy with a discreet elegance and tasteful décor.
What we love
Named after six of France's most famous explorers, Le Champlain, Le Lapérouse, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont d'Urville, Le Bellot and Le Jacques Cartier offer exciting and adventurous itineraries in the utmost comfort. Technologically advanced, with the latest in environmentally friendly hardware, the new ships embody Ponant's trademark élan and flair, with just 92 spacious rooms and suites, a stylish pool deck and an intimate, refined onboard ambience.
Capacity | 184 Guests |
---|---|
Crew | 110 Staff |
Style | Refined with a wonderful mix of a modern super yacht and nautical tradition, all with a French flair. |
Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
![Bamurru Plains](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/16779-bamurru-plains.jpg)
Where to stay near Darwin
Don’t hang around in Darwin itself; if you want to see more of the Top End, we recommend Bamurru Plains.
![Komodo dragon on the beach on Komodo island](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/32481-komodo-dragon-on-beach-komodo-island.jpg)
Beyond Bali
If you have time, make the slightly complicated journey via Labuan Bajo on to Rinca to see the Komodo Dragons.