'Papua' ,the largest province in the Indonesian republic  covers the entire western half of New Guinea, which is the second largest island in the world after Greenland. (The eastern  half of New Guinea is known as PNG, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea  which became independent from Australia in 1975.) Papua is a huge expanse of tropical rainforest.  It has the tallest tropical trees in the world and immeasurable and largely unexplored biodiversity. There are regular reports of scientific expeditions discovering new and unknown animal and plant species.  The province also contains the highest mountains between the Himalayas and the Andes, rising up to almost 5000 meters, covered in snow. In the north and the south the lowlands stretch for hundreds of kilometers where the rainforests merge with extensive wetlands, such as for example Asmat country, where we will find "the best woodcarvers of the stone-age" ....  In Papua there are virtually no roads outside of the few major towns and the only way to visit Asmat, "the prehistoric place that produces modern art", is to go there by boat....

Prior to the cruise you need to fly from Denpasar to Ambon (via Makassar). Once you have arrived at Pattimura Airport in Ambon we transfer you to hotel Ambon Manise where you will spend the night. (It is necessary to be in Ambon one night prior to the cruise because there is only one flight to Kai once a day early in the morning. Domestic flights and accommodation may be booked through our office and are not included in the cruise fare). After check- in to the hotel there is time to visit the Siwa Lima Museum in the hills outside Ambon City to study the history and culture of the Moluccas.

On Day 1 you will fly from Ambon to Kai, departing at 07:00 and arriving at 09:05. Transfer from Langgur, airport of Tual to the harbour and embarkation on board of the Ombak Putih. After settling in on board we go for a short exploration of the city of Tual and then we will set sail to the neighboring island Kai Besar.

On day 2 you arrive at Kai Besar where we will explore some coastal villages, go snorkeling or trekking into the local forest. In the course of the afternoon we hoist the anchor again for our passage to the mainland of Irian Jaya.

On day 3 the vessel sails into the Nautilus Strait between Pulau Adi and the mainland of Irian Jaya. We will stop at the Kiti - kiti waterfall that runs from the mountains straight into the sea. From there we will cross to the island of Namatote where we will search for cliff paintings and other pictorial signs left by ancient inhabitants high on the cliff galleries. We also watch for whales as the area is a known breeding ground.

On day 4 we will sail into the narrow bay of Triton, one of the natural wonders of Irian Jaya. Here we find ourselves surrounded by small eroded rocks mushrooming from the sea, like flying saucers that landed from outer space. We will explore the area at closer range from our tender.

On day 5 and 6 we will explore the virginal coastal areas and bays east of Triton. Westerners rarely ever set foot ashore here and the days will be surely full of interesting surprises. In the late afternoon of day 6 we will start our passage to Agats, the main village of the Asmat area.

During day 7 we will sail the entire day along the swampy coast of Irian Jaya. If the winds are favorable, we will hoist the sails and share the experience of Sir Alfred Wallace who described Phinisi vessels as "more comfortable than the modern day steamers" during his Odysseys through the "Malay Archipelago" (1854-1862).

On day 8 we hope to make an early morning landfall and go for anchor in the coastal area near Agats. Depending on the tide our distance from the shore will vary from 1 mile to 7.

During day 8 and 9 the daylight hours will be filled with ceremonial welcome rituals, meticulously and over many days prepared by the Asmat population in anticipation of our arrival. The Ombak Putih will be surrounded by an armada of war-canoes; the air will be filled with shrieking and shouting of the tribal people expressing their joy with our coming. This and other rituals will be carried out in line with the local customs so as to not disturb the balance between the living and the deceased, between gods and men. During the late afternoon of day 9 we will set sail for our final journey to Timika.

Day 10 is a spare day to be taken up along the route in response to spontaneously emerging conditions.

On Day 11 we will arrive during the early morning in Timika. Disembarkation and transfer to Timika airport from where we will make our return flight to Bali at 11.25, arrival in Denpasar at 13.50.

Please note that all flight times are subject to changes and that the domestic flights are not included in the cruise fare.

Inclusive: full board, AC cabins with private h/c shower and toilet, tea and coffee, towels, excursions, use of snorkeling gear and sea canoes, transfer from/to airport , European cruise director.

Exclusive: Local airfares, beverages, crew gratuities, laundry.

Itineraries: subject to change without notice due to sea and weather conditions, availability of safe anchorage, government regulations and other factors beyond the company's control.

Please click to go to Departures 2010 or to Departures 2011 to check the exact fare and if you wish, to make an online booking.