13 Night Cruise sailing from Manila to Darwin aboard Heritage Adventurer. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Manila.

Cruise Overview:

Explore the undiscovered pristine island paradises of the Philippines and Indonesia with pioneering small ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions as we sail well off the traditional tourist route aboard our luxurious 140-guest expedition ship Heritage Adventurer.

Lying like pearls scattered across the equator the archipelagos of the Philippines and Indonesia's undiscovered islands are the postcard definition of paradise where impossibly blue waves gently lap white sand beaches and friendly locals welcome us into their world, where primordial jungles and untouched coral reefs abound with astounding wildlife and myriad adventures await both above and below the water.

In addition to being among some of the mostbiodiverse regions on the planet and home to rareand endangered wildlife, these remote tropicaloutposts boast incredible history, heritage and ancient cultures. Escaping the tourist boom due to their hard-to-reach locations makes them perfect for exploration by expedition ship. Highlights of our Philippines and Indonesia cruise includes visiting the 'Whale Shark Capital of the World' and swimming with the gentle giants and discovering the 'eighth wonder of the world' on Bohol Island.

Discover one of the Philippines best kept secrets on Ticao Island where the towering Catandayagan Falls tumble down sheer stone cliffs into the ocean in a dramatic display of unrestrained nature. Delve into the fascinating history of the Spice Islands at Banda Neira and explore the iconic five-sided Fort Belgica built in 1611 and pending World Heritage Site status as well as the famed palace of the Sultan of Ternate.

At Tojoman Lagoon observe thousands of stingless jellyfish, look for the critically endangered Crested Black Macaque, known for their distinctive pink rumps and jet-black mohawks and the world's smallest primate the saucer-eyed Tarsier at Bitung.

Marvel at the sacred, perfect cone of Mayon Volcano, explore the tropical paradise that is the Lease Islands which are largely undiscovered by modern travellers, snorkel pristine coral reefs, sample local delicacies and experience thrilling cultural exchanges at villages where traditional life continues unchanged.

Set sail where few have gone before and join us on an authentic expedition as we expedition cruise the untouched beauty of the Philippines and Indonesia on this unforgettable voyage.

Heritage Adventurer is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Often referred to as the 'Grande Dame of Polar Exploration' due to her celebrated history and refined design, she was purposebuilt for adventure in 1991 at Finland's Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration.

Setting a peerless standard in authentic expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer (formerly known as MS Hanseatic) combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating (1A Super) with an impressive history of Polar exploration. Having held records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, and for traversing both the Northwest and Northeast Passages, makes Heritage Adventurer perfect for pioneering New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions signature experiential expedition travel.

Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 expeditioners ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition adventure. Heritage Adventurer proudly continues our traditions of exceptional, personalised expedition experiences as Heritage Expeditions flagship.

Every year Heritage Expeditions voyages with small groups of between 18 and 140 intrepid travellers to some of the most unique and remote islands, coasts and shorelines on earth aboard their expedition ships Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Explorer on voyages ranging from 5 – 28 days.

Founded in 1985 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, Heritage Expeditions is still proudly family-owned and operated. Contributing to conservation through experiential learning and providing funds for research and management, they are pioneers in environmentally-responsible expedition travel offering intimate group excursions to Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands, through the Pacific, and around New Zealand on their purpose built expedition ships.

Each expedition is meticulously planned and led by a team of botanists, ornithologists, naturalists and experts in their field, ensuring guests maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.