South Pacific: Melanesia Discoverer
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Overview
Highlights
- Watch lifetime species on remote islands where few have been before.
- The birding potential is exceptional with many highlights including the Manus Friarbird, Mussau Monarch and the Paradise drango.
- Endemic to the Solomon Islands we will be on the lookout for the Roviana Rail and Solomon Sea Eagle.
- An opportunities available to them there will be an optional specialised birding programme with customised excursions.
- Explore Mussa Island which represents one of the western-most extensions of the Lapita culture
- Visit historical sites including Henderson Airfield, war memorials and the open-air war museum while the birders head to the rain-forested slopes of Mount Austen
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Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- All meals on aboard the ship
- 24 hour tea and coffee station aboard the ship.
- Use of snorkel equipment where available.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac excluding optional specialised birding and kayaking programmes.
- Programme of lectures by noted naturalists.
- All onshore tips
- Service taxes and port charges.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- Airport transfers at the beginning and end of your voyage.
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Itinerary
Arrive in the port town of Madang and transfer to the Madang Resort for the first night. This evening meet with your fellow travellers and the expedition team over dinner at the resort.
Madang is a thriving community renowned for its traditional artists, world class diving opportunities and the richness of its surrounding forests. This morning visit the Lababia Wildlife Management Area with its tall forest and rich diversity of wildlife, before retur...
Sure to be one of the highlights of our expedition. The Sepik River is the longest river in Papua New Guinea, it is a rich arterial that has fostered great traditional artists. We plan to explore the river by Zodiac following tributaries and channels in search of local wildlife.
We also meet with the villagers and marvel at their artistry.
Seldom visited and little known, Manus Island is considered a jewel in the crown of Papua New Guinea. Biologically isolated, the islands are home to a high proportion of endemic species including the Superb Pitta which is likely to be one of the birding highlights of ...
Mussa Island represents one of the western-most extensions of the Lapita culture. Spend time with the local people to learn about their special culture and life on this remote outpost in the Pacific.
Historic Kavieng has significant evidence from the large Japanese occupation. Birders will leave early for the highlands while the rest of the group will spend the morning exploring the town of Kavieng and its history. Later snorkel in the clear waters of the local reefs.
Six beautifully cone-shaped volcanoes ring Rabaul’s dramatic flooded- caldera harbour. Visit the bubbling hot springs and take in magnificent views of the harbour and volcanoes from Observatory Ridge.
A tropical atoll bathed in rich tropical currents Nissan Island’s waters abound in marine life. Seldom has anybody had the opportunity to discover this world which promises abundant pelagic fish life and pristine coral reefs. Ashore there are still reminders of the br...
We plan to be amongst the first expeditioners to re-discover the treasures of Bougainville, long isolated and in a strange way protected by the conflict which swirled around its shores. A pristine island paradise it is home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the ...
Today we arrive in the Solomon Islands on the remote northern coast of Choiseul Island. This was once the home of the Choiseul Crested Pigeon and while it no longer walks the forest floor many other species still enliven the forest. We Zodiac cruise deep into the mangrove forest towards the Sui River Falls searching for Dugong and crocodiles.
The volcanic New Georgia Islands are found in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Birding enthusiasts will relish landing on Kolombangara Island, where we hope to see the rare Roviana Rail along with other endemic bird species.
The Arnavon Islands are north-west of Santa Isabel, an area rich in marine biodiversity and one of the most important rookeries in the western Pacific for the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. The islands also support a high diversity of terrestrial fauna, with 41 species ...
Honiara was founded as a military base during World War II and was witness to the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Tour Honiara, visiting historical sites including Henderson Airfield, war memorials and the open-air war museum while the birders head to the rain-forested slopes of Mount Austen in search of some of the Solomon Islands’ most spectacular birds including the Solomon Sea Eagle.
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Dates & Availability
Payment
On the implementation of the travel contract, the contracting party must pay to HE an advance of 25% of the total price, unless otherwise stated in the travel confirmation. The remaining 75% of the total price is due 90 days (with the exception of voyages travelling to the Ross Sea and Wrangel Island where it is due 120 days) before departure. In the case of a (travel) organisation that has guaranteed allocation, the following payment conditions apply: 25% of total deposit on signing the contract, 25% of total price 12 calendar months prior to departure, 50% of total price 180 days prior to departure.
After payment has been received, the travel documents will be dispatched.
If the contracting party fails to fulfil their payment obligations, HE will send him/her a written reminder and he/she will have the opportunity to make immediate payment. If payment is still not made, the contracting party is liable to pay interest on the amount due of 1% for each month or part of a month that this remains unpaid. Furthermore, he/she will be liable to pay compensation for legal collection costs equal to an additional 15% of the sum claimed, with a minimum amount of USD 50. If the contracting party fails to comply with his/her payment obligations, HE reserves the right to cancel the contract on the day of default. HE is entitled to charge the cancellation costs incurred (in line with paragraph 6 or as agreed otherwise in the travel confirmation).
If, regarding the above, payment is then made, but HE cannot send the travel documents to the contracting party before the start of the journey, any additional dispatch costs will be charged to the contracting party. HE will not be held responsible for any travel documents not arriving on time.
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Heritage Expeditions.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Heritage Expeditions Reviews & Ratings
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Heritage Expeditions promise a refund of deposit of $1082.0 if cancelled before 180 days and I cancelled 294 days beforehand. They refuse to refund my deposit saying at all times it is the exact amount of the admin fee $1082.0
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Zodiac cruises: amazing!
Many many thanks for our great experience to Kamchatka: jewel of the russian far east You really manage to make so many landings and zodiac cruises: amazing ! 6 year...
I was the most amazing experience
We have come back from doing the 'In the wake of Scott and Shackleton' expedition in February/March and it was the most amazing experience. The scenery and the wildl...
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Extensions
- Passport, visa, immigration fees
- Baggage/accident/travel protection plan
- Items of a personal nature such as bar, email, and laundry.
- Gratuities to ship's crew at your discretion.
- Airfares are an additional cost.
- Kayaking available at $995 per person.
Accommodation
The Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and is perfect for Expedition Travel. She carries just 50 passengers and was refurbished in March 2013 to provide comfortable accommodation in twin share cabins approximately half of which have private facilities. All cabins have outside windows or portholes and ample storage space. On board there is a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room. The cuisine is excellent and is prepared by top NZ and Australian chefs. The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is getting you ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Our Expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by a very enthusiastic and most experienced Russian Captain and crew. The name Spirit of Enderby honours the work and the vision of the Enderby Brothers of London. The Enderby Captains were at the forefront of Antarctic exploration for almost 40 years in the early 1800s. It also celebrates Enderby Island, arguably the greatest Subantarctic Island in the world.
Technical description: Classification: Russian register KM ice class Year built: 1984 Accommodation: 50 berths expedition Shipyard: Finland Main engines: power 2x1560 bhp (2x 1147 Kw) Register: Russia Maximum speed: 12 knots (2 engines), Cruising speed: 10 knots(one engine) Bunker capacity: 320 tons
Cabin details: Heritage Suite: Has a large lounge area, a separate bedroom with double bed, a single bed in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe, drawers. There is a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. There are large forward and side facing windows to allow great views. Mini Suites: Have a separate bedroom with a double bed and a single bed or a sofa in the lounge, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. The Mini Suites have windows. Superior Plus cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows. Superior cabins: Have bunks (an upper and lower berth), wardrobe, drawers, a desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows. Main deck cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, a desk, washbasin and porthole. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins. Main deck triple: Has one bunk (one upper and one lower) and one lower berth, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and wash basin. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins. (Not available on all departures).
Cancellation of the trip by HE
If the minimum number of participants has not been achieved, HE is entitled to cancel the planned trip up to 30 days before departure. Any payment already received from the contracting party will be paid back by HE if the contracting party does not agree to accept an alternative trip offered by HE.
HE has the right to cancel the trip in the case of force majeure (e.g. war, uprising, natural disasters, abnormal/exceptional weather and ice conditions, legal stipulations of the local/regional authorities and other ‘acts of God’). HE will not be held liable for force majeure. If situations of force majeure occur before the departure date, HE will pay back to the contracting party the amount already paid. If situations of force majeure occur during the trip, HE will try to offer an alternative programme. If this should prove impossible, either HE or the contracting party is entitled to cancel the trip. In such a case, HE will not be held financially liable. However, in the case of any cost savings, HE shall return these monies to the contracting party. HE is obliged to assist the contracting party – in the case of a (travel) organisation, the client(s) of the (tour) organiser, in obtaining a return trip/flight. The contracting party he/she is responsible for the costs of this.
If HE, by virtue of the provisions of paragraph 5.1 and 5.2, cancels the trip, only the equivalent of the billed price will be paid back to the contracting party. HE will not be held liable for costs the contracting party has incurred in preparation of the trip nor for reservations of travel components (such as but not limited to: flights, hotels, connecting programmes, travel insurances) which, in combination with the trip booked with HE, may have been booked elsewhere.
Cancellation of the trip by the contracting party
The contracting party may cancel the travel contract (exclusively in writing) at any time before the beginning of the trip. In the case of cancellation by the contracting party HE is entitled to charge the following costs to the contracting party: for cancellations received more than 180 days prior to the departure date, a full refund will be made less a USD 750 per person administration fee. For cancellations received within 179 and 91 days of the embarkation date the full deposit will be forfeited. If cancellation occurs within 90 days prior to the departure date the total price is forfeited. If cancellation occurs within 90 days and full payment has not yet been received, the total price will still apply and any unpaid monies are due immediately.
If the contracting party, after booking, wishes to make changes to the booked trip (e.g. the departure date, destination or type of accommodation), this is considered a cancellation and the cancellation costs stated in paragraph 6.1 apply.
It is possible for the contracting party – in the case of a (travel) organisation, the client(s) or the (travel) organiser, to take out cancellation insurance to cover the costs of any cancellation of the trip (see also paragraph 10.4).
All meals on aboard the ship.
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