25 July

Indonesia: Saleh Bay (Sumbawa)

Saleh Bay is a vast expanse of sea on the northern side of Sumbawa island, semi-enclosed and scattered with uninhabited islands. The main attraction here is the marine life, and in particular the chance to see magnificent whale sharks in their natural habitat.

26 July to 27 July

Indonesia: Komodo Island

Komodo Island is situated within an area of spectacular natural beauty, home to the famous Komodo dragon. The stunning beaches are tinged with pink thanks to the high concentration of red coral just offshore, and the waters draw intrepid divers from all over the world.

27 July

: Padar Island

28 July

Indonesia: Ende, Flores

29 July

Indonesia: Larantuka (Flores)

The island of Flores is home to some of the most staggeringly beautiful scenery in the Indonesian archipelago, a lush landscape of smouldering volcanoes, spectacular lakes and verdant paddy fields. Flores is also culturally distinct from the other islands, with a population that is 95% Catholic.

30 July - At sea

31 July to 1 August

Indonesia: Wakatobi National Park

2 August

Indonesia: Alor Island

The Alor Archipelago is a fantastic destination for snorkelling and diving, much less well known than Raja Ampat and Komodo. On the main island, also called Alor, you can learn about the traditions of the Takpala indigenous people and visit the Museum of a Thousand Mokos in Kalabahi, with its collection of bronze kettle drums known as mokos.

3 August

Indonesia: Kupang

The city of Kupang is the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, and lies at the southwestern end of Timor island. It’s more of a transit hub than a tourist destination, although there are some interesting markets, and there are some nice beaches nearby - just watch out for the crocodiles!

4 August - At sea

5 August to 6 August

Australia: Darwin

More of a large town than a city, Darwin is less about what’s contained within the city limits and more about the huge expanse of wild landscape that’s outside it. Closer to Jakarta than Sydney, the city really does feel remote in its tropical perch.

7 August - At sea

8 August

Australia: Vansittart Bay

Vansittart Bay lies close to the northern tip of Western Australia, and is home to some interesting examples of aboriginal rock art. You can also take a trip across a lagoon to visit the intact wreckage of a C-53 aircraft that crash landed here during the Second World War.

9 August - At sea

10 August

Australia: Swift Bay

11 August

Australia: Hunter River & Mitchell Falls

The Hunter River region is home to a spectacular system of mangroves surrounded by red sandstone cliffs, providing a habitat for mudskippers, fiddler crabs, saltwater crocodiles and numerous species of bird. Head further inland and you’ll reach the stunning Mitchell Falls, where the waters cascade from one shimmering emerald pool to the next.

12 August - At sea

13 August

Australia: Careening Bay

14 August

Australia: Horizontal Falls (Talbot Bay)

Talbot Bay is home to one of the world’s most unusual natural wonders, the ‘Horizontal Falls’. This amazing spectacle occurs when tidal movements force water through the narrow gaps in the ridges either side of Poulton Creek, with the water building up on one side quicker than it can flow through the gap, causing a spectacular waterfall effect.

15 August

Australia: Lacepede Islands

The Lacepede Islands, situated just off Australia’s Kimberley coast, are a fantastic destination for birding enthusiasts, supporting over 1% of the world’s population of brown boobies and roseate terns. Other bird species here include masked boobies, Australian pelicans and lesser frigatebirds, and it’s also a key breeding site for green turtles.

16 August

Arriving in Broome

For travellers by ship, Broome is the gateway to the extraordinary Kimberley region, but that’s not all. It is also the pearling capital of Australia and boasts fantastic white sand beaches and memorable sunsets.