Eastern New Guinea Cruise - Rabaul to Alotau

Why Join This Cruise:

• Visits to traditional villages where welcoming locals offer a glimpse of their traditional lifestyle


• Experience the visual richness of the contrasting cultures of each region


• Snorkelling crystal clear waters on coral reefs alive with marine life
• Exploring the unique fjords of Tufi
• Visits to remote volcanic islands ripe for exploration
• The chance to visit the legendary Sepik River, home to some of the most famous artists in the Pacific
• Good wildlife opportunities, particularly birdlife (hornbills, parrots, cockatoos, birds of paradise), but also dolphins, whales and dugongs

Trip Overview
This is an expeditionary voyage in the real sense of the phrase, incorporating exploration of the islands of the Bismarck and Solomon seas of eastern New Guinea, as well as an in-depth look at the southern coast of New Britain.

A largely undiscovered paradise, Papua New Guinea is slowly opening its arms to the world. Travellers who are privileged enough to visit will discover a wealth of magnificent tropical scenery and cultural diversity. We'll aim to visit active volcanic islands and walk through pristine rainforest alive with unique wildlife. PNG's warm waters hold more aquatic species than anywhere on the planet - snorkelling magical reefs off white sandy beaches and isolated atolls will give you the chance to learn more about this incredibly diverse marine ecosystem.

Our visits to remote coastal and island villages will provide a genuine insight into a traditional lifestyle that has changed little in centuries. From witnessing colourful sing sings to appreciating the intricate art of the master carvers of the lower Sepik River, your experiences with the smiling people of Papua New Guinea, in sharp contrast to our own world, are sure to leave a lasting impression.



Daily Itinerary

Day 1 Embark Rabaul
Pick-up from your hotel and transfer to embark your expeditionary ship. Surrounded by six volcanic peaks, you will cruise out of stunning Simpson Harbour and into the Bismarck Sea, heading west along the New Britain coast.

Day 2 Kimbe Bay

With over 70% of all coral species in the Indo/Pacific region found here, Kimbe Bay is recognised as one of the world's most diverse marine environments. Here you will have the chance to snorkel the exceptionally clear water of the bay's pristine reefs and hope to visit some of its idyllic islands, including the thermal geysers of Pangula Island.

Day 3 Witu Islands

Today the hope is to explore this enchanting island chain, home to a rich array of aquatic life and spectacular rugged scenery. We visit remarkable Garove Island, a flooded caldera with water 300 metres deep. Entering through the narrow jungle covered walls of the caldera promises to be an unforgettable experience. We also hope to visit some of the villages on this remote island group and gain an insight into their traditional way of life.

Day 4 Karkar Island

Morning traversing across the Bismarck Sea toward Karkar Island. Join the onboard naturalist on deck in identifying seabirds. Our small team of expert lecturers will host entertaining talks on Papua New Guinea's unique natural history and vibrant mix of cultures.

After lunch, we plan to visit Karkar Island. Dominated by an active volcano that rises over 1,800 metres, Karkar is one of the most fertile places in PNG and has a thriving copra industry. We will search out a suitable landing spot from the myriad of superb beaches that surround the island and hope to spend time with the Karkar Island people.

Days 5 Sepik River

The Sepik is one of the world's great river systems and culturally one of the most fascinating parts of PNG. Village life remains virtually unchanged from when first contact was made by German explorers in the late 1800's.

We'll travel upstream from the mouth of this mighty river to explore the lower Sepik region. Visiting some of the small villages that line the riverbank, we may have the chance to appreciate and purchase some artworks of the famed master carvers of the Sepik. Reputed to be among the finest artists in the Pacific, these skilled craftsman base their work on a complex web of spiritual beliefs and totems.

Day 6 Bagabag Island

If all goes well, we awake to the dramatic scenery of delightful Bagabag Island, home to small communities surrounded by magnificent steep hills covered in dense forest and coconut trees. The islands rich blue waters and sheltered bays are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
We will endeavour to land our Zodiacs on the superb beaches that characterise this little visited island for a closer inspection.

Day 7 Tami Islands

The stunning tropical setting of these pristine coral atolls will make for some exciting explorations. The islands inhabitants are famous for their intricately carved wooden bowls and we hope to visit their peaceful fishing villages, beautifully located by a well-protected lagoon between the two main islands.

Day 8 Lababia

We visit the picturesque village of Lababia, whose inhabitants are custodians to one of the most important conservation areas in PNG - the 47,000 hectare Kamiali wildlife management area. Led by local guides, we hope to take a rainforest walk along the David Suzuki Trail. With luck we may see some of the prolific birdlife resident here including hornbills, parrots, palm cockatoos and the striking Raggiana bird of paradise.

Day 9 Tufi

The dramatic fjords of Tufi and Cape Nelson are a breathtaking sight. Often rising to more than 100 metres, the sheer walls of these natural wonders are covered in dense forest alive with birds and numerous waterfalls cascading directly into the sea.

This morning we have the opportunity to visit some of the small communities in this area. Maybe greeted by outrigger canoes and a welcome dance, the local people will share with us some of their ancient tribal customs. We hope to take a walk through the rainforest, home to the world's largest butterfly, and explore the clear waters of Tufi's famed outer reefs, looking out for dolphins on the way.

Day 10 Goodenough Island

The lofty mountains of the D'Entrecasteaux archipelago should come into view early this morning as we enter into Milne Bay Province. We will endeavour to explore rarely visited Goodenough Island, one of the most steeply sided islands on the planet. Steep volcanic slopes rise sharply up from the fertile coastal planes culminating in a summit that sits at over 2,500 metres.
Perhaps more than anywhere in Papua New Guinea, the power of the occult is feared and respected in the D'Entrecasteaux group. Mysterious legends and sorcery form a part of every day life. On Goodenough, the yield of the numerous yam crops are said to be under the power of a large painted stone in the middle of the island.

Day 11 Alotau/ Disembark

This morning we will arrive at the laid-back coastal town of Alotau, capital of Milne Bay province. Disembarkation and transfer to the local airport for onward travel home.

IMPORTANT: Travelling through this remote, little-visited area is both thrilling and challenging, particularly from an operational perspective. Please be aware that the daily itinerary will need to be able to incorporate a certain amount of flexibility to make the most of what the opportunities you find.

Activities available on all departures

• Exploring pristine islands on foot


• Snorkelling


• Zodiac cruising


• Kayaking**

** = Please note that this activity attracts an additional surcharge



The Boats
The following boat operates this particular cruise:

Marina Svetaeva (max. 100 passengers)

Cruise dates for 2009

20th - 30th April

Please contact the office for more details

Guide Price

	Prices based on 2 or more sharing from:
Quadruple cabin	£2,295 pp*
Triple cabin	£2,450pp*
Twin cabin with shared bathroom	£3,045 pp*
Twin cabin with private bathroom	£3,545 pp*
Mini Suite	£3,790 pp*
Suite	£4,140 pp*

*Please note: These prices exclude International flights and are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

What's included?

• Transfers to and from the group hotel at the beginning and end of the voyage


• On board accommodation and food on full board basis


• All shore excursions from the ship including Zodiacs

What's not included?

• Air transport to and from the ship


• Hotels and meals not included in ship cruise itinerary


• Drinks, laundry and gratuities


• Optional excursions not included in ship cruise itinerary

Single Supplements on board
Please contact the office for a quotation.

To discuss this trip, for further details or to check boat availability, please either:

Call 01285 880981
Email voyages@steppestravel.co.uk

Steppes Travel cruise destinations include: Alaska, Amazon, Antarctica, Arctic, Baja Mexico, Galapagos.