Welcome to your trans-Timor Sea expedition—where ancient megalithic ceremonies meet spectacular marine parks, and every island reveals traditions shaped by isolation and ancestral wisdom.
Over the next 12 days, you’ll witness the spectacular Pasola festival where skilled horsemen gallop at full speed while flinging wooden spears, explore pristine limestone formations rising from crystalline waters, and walk among Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. This isn’t cultural tourism—you’ll participate in traditional ceremonies at megalithic sites unchanged for millennia, join ikat weaving demonstrations using techniques passed through generations, and swim among coral gardens protecting extraordinary marine biodiversity.
Each morning brings new adventures as we cross from Southeast Asia’s youngest nation to Australia’s tropical frontier. You’ll discover islands where most inhabitants trace their ancestral lineage back several hundred years, explore traditional villages featuring impressive thatched-roof houses marked by buffalo skull ceremonial tombs, and experience how ancient animistic beliefs continue influencing daily life despite outside religious influences.
From snorkelling vibrant coral reefs to witnessing living cultural traditions, every encounter connects you with communities whose genuine warmth and ancestral connections have remained largely unchanged for centuries. Our small expedition community of just 30 guests ensures meaningful cultural exchanges and intimate wildlife encounters.
This is expedition travel bridging ancient cultures with modern nations: respectful, transformative, and utterly fascinating. Your trans-Timor Sea adventure begins in young Timor-Leste and concludes in tropical Australia.
Day-by-Day Adventures
Dili, Timor Leste
- Portuguese colonial heritage
Board Paspaley Pearl in Southeast Asia’s youngest nation, where Portuguese colonial heritage blends with independence resilience. Visit the iconic Cristo Rei statue overlooking the Timor Sea while exploring museums documenting the remarkable 20-year struggle for independence and traditional Tais markets showcasing ancestral weaving methods.
DAY 1
At Sea
- Cultural experiences and traditional societies
Connect with expedition community during our crossing toward Indonesia’s eastern islands as cultural experts prepare you for encounters with intact traditional societies. Learn about megalithic ceremonies, textile creation, and animistic beliefs while understanding how geographic isolation preserved cultural practices unchanged for centuries.
DAY 2
Maumere, Flores
- Village tours
Meet the Sikka people whose culture blends indigenous traditions with Portuguese-influenced Catholicism. Join village tours witnessing stunning ikat weaving demonstrations creating bold geometric patterns telling ancestral stories, observing life centered around traditional “Sa’o” clan houses with characteristic high-peaked roofs preserving cultural continuity.
DAY 3
17 Islands Marine Park
- Secluded beaches and caves
Explore 24 pristine islands featuring stunning limestone formations scattered across crystalline waters. Board expedition vessels to discover secluded beaches with powdery white sand, explore dramatic karst caves, and snorkel vibrant coral gardens while most islands remain uninhabited sanctuaries for nesting seabirds.
DAY 4
Komodo National Park
- MARINE DIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE
Spend two full days exploring environments protecting the world’s largest lizards while discovering dramatic landscapes and snorkelling coral reefs teeming with over 1,000 fish species. Visit Pink Beach—one of only seven such coloured beaches worldwide—experiencing remarkable convergences of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
DAYS 5-6
Sumba
- Festival and village exploration
Witness the spectacular Pasola festival where skilled horsemen gallop at full speed while flinging wooden spears in ancient rituals. Explore traditional villages featuring impressive thatched-roof houses and ceremonial tombs marked with buffalo skulls, experiencing authentic animistic culture resisting outside religious influences for generations.
DAY 7
Savu
- isolated island ceremonies
Discover an isolated island where most inhabitants know ancestors’ names spanning several hundred years. Visit ancient megalithic ceremonial complex at Namata village while witnessing traditional textiles showcasing sophisticated patterns embodying complex cultural symbolism passed through countless generations of master artisans.
DAY 8
Kupang, West Timor
- Port city exploration
Explore this bustling port city blending Portuguese and Dutch colonial heritage with modern development. Tour vibrant markets showcasing unique eastern Indonesian cuisine while walking streets where historical buildings create fascinating architectural contrasts in this important regional transportation hub.
DAY 9
At Sea
- MARINE LIFE AND ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS
Reflect on extraordinary cultural encounters during our Timor Sea crossing toward Australia’s tropical frontier. Join enrichment sessions about Northern Territory while scanning waters for marine life, processing transformative encounters with communities whose ancestral traditions created lasting memories of authentic exchange.
DAYS 10-11
Darwin, Australia
- Capital diversity and culture
Conclude your expedition in Australia’s northernmost capital, where First Nations culture creates distinctive tropical frontier atmosphere. Visit Mindil Beach Sunset Market showcasing cultural diversity against spectacular sunsets, carrying memories of extraordinary island cultures from your transformative journey through eastern Indonesia’s remarkable archipelago.
DAY 12
Departure dates
Ocean Double/Single Stateroom
$17,495
Ocean Twin Stateroom
$18,495
Ocean Stateroom
$19,995
Horizon Suite
$23,495
Pearl Suite
$28,995
Prices are in AUD$ per person based on twin share. Single supplement pricing is available on application. *Sole occupancy of stateroom #107 attracts no single surcharge.
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