Asian Island Odyssey

Arrive in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, set in a basin surrounded by mountains. Transfer to the hotel for the first night of the expedition. This evening, meet your fellow travellers and expedition team over dinner.

Meals:  D

Spend the morning exploring Taipei. Depending on the day’s arrangements, visits may include the Martyrs’ Shrine, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and National Palace Museum, home to an extensive collection of Chinese art. There may also be an opportunity to visit Yehliu Geopark, known for its unusual rock formations shaped by wind and sea. This afternoon, transfer to Keelung and board Heritage Adventurer. Settle into your cabin and explore the ship before sailing for Taiwan’s east coast.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Hualien, the gateway to Taroko National Park and its Marble Gorge. Extending for 19 kilometres, the gorge follows the Liwu River through steep marble cliffs and forested mountains. The national park covers a wide range of elevations and habitats, supporting considerable plant and animal diversity. More than 140 resident bird species have been recorded here, along with mammals and species such as the rare Nanhu Salamander.

Meals:  B,L,D

Cross into the Philippines and explore Calayan Island, part of the remote Babuyan Islands between Luzon and the Batanes. Depending on conditions, the day may include exploring beaches, coves and walking trails, with viewpoints from Nagudungan and Bangaan Hills. Birders will be particularly interested in searching for the endemic Calayan Rail, while whales and dolphins may also be encountered in the surrounding waters.

Meals:  B,L,D

Explore Divilacan Bay on the east coast of Luzon, an area of forest, mangroves and offshore reefs. Today's activities may include forest walks in search of wildlife, snorkelling, or Zodiac cruising through mangrove habitat. The region is also important for conservation of the critically endangered Philippine Crocodile, with local initiatives working to protect the remaining population.

Meals:  B,L,D

Explore Polillo Island, the largest of a group of 24 islands and islets off the eastern coast of Luzon. Its remaining lowland forests are protected within two reserves and provide habitat for a range of Philippine wildlife. Activities may include snorkelling, visiting waterfalls and exploring forest areas. Wildlife to look for includes the Philippine Cockatoo, Philippine Brown Deer, Warty Pig and Gray's Monitor, a tree-dwelling relative of the Komodo Dragon. Dugongs are also known to occur in the surrounding waters.

Meals:  B,L,D

Spend the day exploring the limestone landscapes of Caramoan Peninsula National Park. Forested karst formations rise behind beaches and clear coastal waters, while the wider park encompasses rivers, gorges, walking trails, caves and an underground river. Conditions will determine the day's activities, with opportunities to explore ashore and spend time swimming or snorkelling.

Meals:  B,L,D

Samar Island Natural Park protects the Philippines' largest tract of lowland rainforest together with extensive limestone karst landscapes. The park supports significant biodiversity, including more than 200 bird species and numerous endemic plants, mammals and reptiles. Exploration today will be determined by local conditions and may focus on the island's forests, wildlife and coastal landscapes.

Meals:  B,L,D

Visit Bohol and its distinctive Chocolate Hills, where more than 1,200 conical limestone hills extend across the interior. During the dry season, the grass covering the hills turns brown, giving the landscape its name. There may also be an opportunity to visit a Tarsier Sanctuary, explore the countryside and learn more about local food and culture. Later, travel to Balicasag Island, where the surrounding marine sanctuary offers opportunities to snorkel over coral gardens and look for reef fish and sea turtles.

Meals:  B,L,D

Explore Bucas Grande Island and the waterways of Sohoton Cove National Park, an area of limestone islands, mangroves, caves, inland lakes and coral reefs. Zodiac excursions provide access to sheltered coves and narrow waterways, with opportunities for swimming and snorkelling. A planned visit to Tojoman Lagoon may offer the chance to see the stingless jellyfish for which the lagoon is known. Birders can also look for species including the Rufous Hornbill.

Meals:  B,L,D

A day at sea as Heritage Adventurer continues south towards Indonesia. Join lectures from the expedition team, spend time with the naturalists on deck or simply relax in the Observation Lounge and enjoy a quieter day aboard.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Indonesia and travel to Tangkoko Nature Reserve, one of the country's oldest protected areas. The reserve extends from the coast into the forested slopes of Tangkoko Mountain and is particularly known for its endemic wildlife. Explore the lowland rainforest with local guides, looking for Crested Black Macaques, tarsiers and Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. Birdlife may include Knobbed Hornbills, kingfishers, Sulawesi Myna, lorikeets and Maleo.

Meals:  B,L,D

Gorontalo lies close to the Equator on the northern arm of Sulawesi. At the nearby village of Botubarani, Whale Sharks are known to gather in Gorontalo Bay. Conditions permitting, travel with local guides by boat into the bay for the opportunity to swim and snorkel with Whale Sharks. The afternoon is planned to be free for further exploration.

Meals:  B,L,D

Begin the day at remote Seho Island, where forested hills meet beaches and coral reefs. Depending on conditions, explore by Zodiac, search for birds and other wildlife, spend time ashore or snorkel over the soft corals. Later, continue to Taliabu Island and the township of Bobong, with plans to visit local markets and spice plantations and gain an insight into everyday life on the island.

Meals:  B,L,D

Buru lies near the boundary between the Asian and Australasian biogeographic regions and supports a high proportion of endemic wildlife, including ten endemic bird species and four endemic mammals. Explore with the expedition naturalists and local guides, with opportunities to walk through forest in search of wildlife and visit local communities.

Meals:  B,L,D

Explore Banda Neira, part of the small volcanic Banda Islands and once at the centre of the global nutmeg trade. Its historic buildings provide a reminder of the islands' complex colonial history, including Fort Belgica, constructed by the Dutch East India Company in the early 17th century. Across the harbour rises the volcanic cone of Gunung Banda Api, while beneath the water the islands sit within the Coral Triangle and are surrounded by extensive coral habitat. Depending on conditions, the day may combine historical exploration, village visits and time on or in the water. There may also be an opportunity to see Banda's traditional Kora-Kora canoes.

Meals:  B,L,D

Explore Kei Kecil in the southeastern Maluku Islands. Located on the edge of the Coral Triangle, the island is known for its long beaches, tropical vegetation and extensive fringing and barrier reefs. Visit Ngurbloat Beach, locally known as Pasir Panjang, where a five-kilometre stretch of white sand is backed by coconut palms. There should also be opportunities to snorkel, with the surrounding reefs supporting reef fish, nudibranchs, cephalopods, Dogtooth Tuna and rays.

Meals:  B,L,D

Spend the final full day at sea as Heritage Adventurer crosses towards northern Australia. There is time to relax on board, attend presentations and recap some of the experiences of the past two weeks before joining your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Darwin this morning and disembark after breakfast. A complimentary transfer is provided to a central Darwin hotel or Darwin International Airport, where your expedition concludes. To allow time for disembarkation procedures and travel from Darwin, we do not recommend booking flights departing before 2pm.

Meals:  B