Raja Ampat, with its glittering turquoise waters and natural karst formations, is best known for showcasing the world’s most diverse collection of underwater habitats and marine species. On land, uncover hidden lagoons, coves and beaches, as well as forests that shelter rare bird species, including the endemic Wilson’s bird of paradise.

This incredible itinerary takes in not just one, but four of East Indonesia’s finest cruising destinations: East Nusa Tenggara, The Forgotten Islands, Spice Islands and Raja Ampat. Beginning in the coastal town of Maumere on the north Flores shoreline and finishing at Sorong, the capital of West Papua, this sea-borne odyssey stretches for 950 nautical miles and includes a huge variety of sights, sounds and experiences, on land and in the sea.

Besides retracing the route of Old World European colonialists in their quest for spices, avid divers and snorkelers will also relish the sheer variety of marine habitats as they journey towards the heart of the Earth’s one and only Coral Triangle. In the meantime, uncover your passion for bird-watching as you sail into the habitats of the rarest and most intriguing bird species in the world.

The Spice Islands in the Maluku region was once the center of the global spice trade. Centuries-old traditions and European relics on Banda Neira, once a booming spice hub, sit against the backdrop of Gunung Banda Api (“Fire Mountain”), an active volcano that’s also a hiker’s and birdwatchers’ favourite. Lava flows into the sea has created magnificent underwater gardens.

Raja Ampat, a land of glittering blue waters and strange rock formations, is part of the Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papua, the Indonesia’s second easternmost province. The region is home to endemic and rare bird species, including the exquisite Wilson’s bird of paradise. As well as the most diverse marine habitats in the world.