Arrive in Bali. Check in to the Fairmont Hotel (or similar). Meet your fellow travelers this evening at the welcome reception. 

This morning, you check out of the hotel and head into the countryside, making your way to the artist's town of Ubud, renowned for its silver working, wood carving, and batik. As you wind up into the hills, you pass exquisite Hindu temples, lush forests, small villages, and terraced rice fields carved into the cliffs. From water buffalo to ducks and the harvest, you learn how every aspect of rice production fits together with nothing wasted. After lunch and some free time to explore Ubud's galleries, you return to Benoa to embark on the National Geographic Orion.

Your first stop is the uninhabited Indonesian island of Satonda, a small circular island that is an ancient volcanic cone. Spend the morning snorkeling or diving the vibrant reefs, or hike inland to the island’s sacred lake. In the afternoon, you visit the island of Sumbawa, where villagers welcome you with a lively cultural display. You witness a traditional wedding ceremony and a local boxing match.

You explore Komodo National Park, home to the world’s largest living lizard—the Komodo dragon. Park rangers guide you on a hike to spot these prehistoric giants in their natural habitat while sharing insights about their conservation. In the afternoon, you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, or beachcombing at “Pink Beach,” named for the coral fragments that give the sand its unique color.

Flores was once an important Portuguese trading center for sandalwood. Known for producing some of the finest ikat weaving in the world, you meet the people of this arid island as you travel inland from Maumere to the weaving village of Watublapi. While many other local weaving communities have switched to industrially spun yarn and chemical dyes to save time and money, the weavers of Watublapi still use traditional, hand-spun yarn made from local cotton and natural dyes. You'll also enjoy a cultural dance presentation.

You sail into the Molucca archipelago, also known as Maluku or the Spice Islands. In the heart of the Moluccas lie the Banda Islands, where a kora kora, or traditional war canoe, escorts you to the enchanted isle of Pulau Naira. Neighboring Banda Neira was once the center of the Spice Island trade and a hub for the Dutch East India Company. You stroll past Dutch architecture and visit Fort Belgica, built to protect the profitable spice trade. Next to Bandanaira, the near-perfect conical volcano of Banda Api quietly steams, while the crystal-clear waters offer excellent opportunities for swimming and snorkeling.

You snorkel and dive in one of the richest and most intricate marine regions in the world. You explore steep coral walls and drop-offs teeming with vibrant life—colorful corals, giant clams, and hundreds of different fish species. Above sea level, the experiences are just as breathtaking, with lush islands, towering limestone pinnacles jutting out of the water, and hidden white-sand coves to discover by Zodiac or kayak. On Gam Island, birders can join a pre-dawn nature walk to catch a glimpse of the ethereal red bird-of-paradise.

You find soaring mountains, pristine rainforests, and dozens of the most ancient, primal tribes on this incredible section of Indonesia. You use Zodiacs to get up close to 20,000-year-old rock art near the fishing village of Kokas. You explore the fascinating skull caves and rock art of the Macassan culture. You also see the remains of secret underground Japanese bunkers built here during World War II. Witness the traditional gabagaba, or stick dance, and learn about the myriad cultures that have passed through this region.

Arrive in the enchanting Asmat region, which stretches across mud flats and mangrove forests, with raised wooden boardwalks connecting one village to the next. Elaborately painted "warriors" escort you to one of the stilt villages on shore, where you attend a fascinating welcome ceremony. Your subsequent exploration is dictated by the tides, as you venture to neighboring villages by Zodiac and encounter the ancient culture of the Asmat people, renowned for their exceptional woodcarving.

You leave the Asmat region and sail through the Aru and Arafura Seas. During the last ice age, when sea levels were over 100 meters lower than today, this area served as a land bridge between Australia and New Guinea. You transit the shallow, island-strewn Torres Strait, which separates Australia from New Guinea, to enter the Gulf of Papua. Here, you explore the coast and scattered islands, searching for the perfect spot to relax on a deserted beach or snorkel through a reef teeming with color and life.

It’s hard to imagine today that Samarai Island was once a bustling trading port and the second largest city in Papua New Guinea. The town was evacuated at the onset of the Pacific War, and many of its buildings were deliberately destroyed. When the war ended, Samarai never regained its former importance. Life is much slower-paced now, and you’ll have a chance to meet and be greeted by the town’s residents. As you depart, be sure to be out on deck as the ship cruises through the beautiful neighboring islands.

The expedition concludes in Honiara, a former U.S. supply depot and a strategic WWII battleground. Tour around the outskirts of the city to see sites well known from the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942-43. See the shores of Red Beach and the vital airbase at Henderson Field. Visit the hills above Honiara where some of the fiercest battles took places. Then, transfer to the airport for our flight to Brisbane, where we will overnight at a local hotel.

Depart this morning for your flight home