Sepik Soirée (10 nights)
CAIRNS / KAVIENG – MADANG / CAIRNS (OR REVERSE)
Explore the mysterious Sepik River. Witness the infamous crocodile initiation ceremony and visit the stilt houses on Lake Kambaraumba. Wander idyllic tropical isles fringed with sandy white beaches and bounded by endless coral reef. Discover Papua New Guinea’s distinctive landscapes – both above and below the water.
Day 2: Wake up to your first morning in paradise and enjoy a spectacular heliflight over the upper reaches of the jungle, landing in the breathtaking location that inspired James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’. The locals will welcome us onto bamboo rafts where we’ll float downstream to the ocean, before returning once again to True North.
Day 3: Today you’ll visit Mussau Island where you’ll have the opportunity for a once in a lifetime snorkel with a Manta ray congregation. Then, after congee, we’ll cruise to the spectacular tropical paradise of Margaret’s Island. Here we’ll enjoy walks along the picturesque beach, and diver’s will descend on a ‘Submarine Chaser’ wreck that lies just off the shore of the island. For the afternoon we’ll then venture ashore at Little Massau where you’ll meet the locals and have a walk through the beautiful island village.
Day 4: This morning you wake in Manus Province where very few travellers get to venture to. This remote group of Islands, including the Horno Islands,the Admiralty Islands (including Manus Island), the Hermit Islands, Ninigo Islands and Wuvulu Island are true wonder surrounded by sparkling sea. Only 45,000 people live within the province boundaries, and are known for their rich and interesting history, centred around their long standing individualism and self-reliance. For visitors, the area is renowned for scuba diving because of its vibrant marine life, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and clear water. It’s fringing reefs here are amongst some of the most spectacular we see anywhere in Papua New Guinea, with very high coral cover and spectacular walls dropping into deep water. The mosaic of small islands in the area offers a wonderful backdrop and provides an incredible range of different habitats to explore.
Day 5: Today, guests will spend the entire day on the beautiful Ponam Island. Known for its vibrant and welcoming sing-sing, Ponam village is also steeped in World War II history. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the terrestrial remnants of HMS Nabaron, with onboard experts providing fascinating insights into its history. For snorkellers, the Manus Barrier Reef offers an abundance of bommies and coral outcrops teeming with colourful butterfly fish and parrotfish. Divers can explore the longest coral reef in Manus Province, while those interested in game fishing can target marlin, yellowfin tuna, trevally, mackerel, and potentially snapper. In the afternoon, guests will also have the chance to take a helicopter ride, offering a stunning bird’s-eye view of the island’s lagoons and the nearby Manus Island.
Day 6: Today, guests begin their exploration of this stunning region, beloved by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, home to a 22-kilometre-long barrier reef. Known for its clam gardens, the snorkelling here offers exceptional visibility (usually over 40m), revealing vibrant marine life, including sharks, manta rays, turtles, and schools of barracuda and trevally. Divers will explore The Hermits, featuring impressive reef formations, mobula rays, snapper, and grey reef sharks. Fresh currents also provide thrilling dives through giant sea fans and soft coral. Fishers can target marlin and sailfish, while hikers may spot deer introduced by German colonists. In the afternoon, the adventure boats will land on Luf Island for a sunset cocktail on the beach.
Day 7: The Ninigo Islands are a stunning open-atoll structure, surrounded by smaller atolls, offering plenty of opportunities for exploration. Known for some of the best diving in Papua New Guinea, the day will be filled with magical snorkelling, thrilling dives, exciting fishing, refreshing dips in crystal-clear lagoons, and peaceful walks along palm-fringed beaches. Guests will also visit Lau Island, the ‘Garden Island’, and Longan Island, famous for volleyball and sailing canoes.
Day 8: As dawn breaks, the journey will take us to the mouth of the Sepik River, where we’ll cruise for 70 nautical miles, ready for a day of exploration. Guests will enjoy discovering the river’s rich history and art via adventure boats and helicopter rides. The Sepik is famous for its vibrant tribal culture, with stunning wood carvings and clay pottery. The tribes also use garamut drums in rituals, carved from hollowed tree trunks shaped like totem animals. It promises to be a day of unforgettable experiences.
Day 9: Today, guests will witness a fascinating coming-of-age ceremony, where young men undergo ritual scarification in the image of the crocodile. Next, we’ll visit the township of Angoram, where the waterside market offers the chance to purchase local carvings. At Kambaraumba village, we’ll be welcomed by a vibrant sing-sing, featuring giant crocodile puppets moving through crowds of dancers and drummers. The day will also include an exploration of the swamps and small waterways leading to Lake Kambaraumba and its stilt village.
Day 10: Start your morning in the outer reef, teeming with fish, turtles, and dolphins, renowned for its vibrant sea fans, pristine corals, and large pelagic species. Snorkellers can explore the inshore coral, while others may enjoy a swim at Bagabag Beach. Next, take a thrilling helicopter ride to explore the nearby KarKar Island and its active volcano. The day will conclude with a relaxing stroll through the plantations before enjoying a sunset drink ashore.
Day 11: Enjoy your final morning in Paradise before heading ashore at Madang
where we’ll transfer to your charter plane and return flight to Cairns.