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Peregrine Travel Centre

South Pacific Island Odyssey

South Pacific Island Odyssey

From GBP £16,495

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Description

Here is an extraordinary expedition offering the opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful and untouched scenery to be found anywhere in the world. The term unique can be overused in the world of travel, however it is a totally fitting description of this epic exploration of the South Pacific which will take you from the glorious islands of French Polynesia right across the South Pacific to mainland Chile. Along the way we will visit islands and atolls of indescribable beauty, spend time on the island of Pitcairn, the final destination of the Bounty in the late 18th century, discover the mysteries and moais of Easter Island, see the uninhabited Islas Salas y Gomez, explore the Juan Fernandez Islands with their rare and endemic flora and fauna and spend time on Robinson Crusoe Island where Alexander Selkirk was marooned becoming the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s famous novel.
Our expedition promises to be a marvellous island hopping adventure and an enjoyable undertaking for those who relish travelling off the beaten track to remote and extraordinary islands. From coral reefs teeming with life to powerful legends that shaped history, each island we will visit is unique, each culture distinct. On the more remote islands, villages are still composed of thatched houses, set amongst the shade of the breadfruit and coconut trees. Being welcomed by friendly locals into a village untouched by the modern world is truly a memorable experience. Many islands are important nesting grounds for seabirds and sea turtles and the lagoons everywhere are breeding grounds for countless species of fish. Our days will be spent on nature walks, searching for endemic birds such as the Tuamotu sandpiper, beachcombing, snorkelling or swimming from the pristine beaches, interacting with the locals and learning about their way of life and traditional handicrafts or, simply experiencing some of the most pristine tropical scenery to be found anywhere in the world.
The only comfortable way to explore this beautiful and intriguing region is by sea and sailing aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky with just 100 fellow, like-minded travellers, we will be able to use the onboard Zodiacs to explore inlets, bird sanctuaries and land in otherwise inaccessible places accompanied by our expert expedition team including naturalists, marine biologists and ornithologists who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm during forays ashore and whilst on board. Sailing through the area long associated with Captain Cook, Captain Bligh and the Bounty, and Matisse, we can promise you an unforgettable voyage to a corner of the world which has lured adventurers and romantics alike ever since Magellan first sailed to these waters in 1521.

Trip Name
South Pacific Island Odyssey
Days
27
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 90 metres Passenger Capacity: 116  Built / refurbished: 1992 / 2010 / 2017 Sister ship to Hebridean Sky. Island Sky and Hebridean Sky are truly sisters. Built in the same Italian Shipyard, both boast spacious, well-appointed suites, stylish common areas, and redundant core technology that allows them to operate smoothly, even under the most challenging of conditions. Both ships are all-suite, all-inclusive small expedition vessels with touches of elegance throughout. The Island Sky is scheduled for additional upgrades in 2017, including the addition of tinted sliding glass doors to all cabins on the Promenade Deck. Services: World-Class Cuisine Complimentary Wine or Beer with Dinner Live Entertainment Complimentary Coffee/Tea station Voyage Photographer On-board MD and Facilities Dedicated Passenger Service Manager Pre-voyage hotel night Complimentary Expedition Jacket Facilities: Elevator serving all passenger decks Upgraded WIFI Internet Library with computers Panoramic Top Deck Observation Platform Bar/Lounge with Live Entertainment Lounge with Audiovisual Facilities DVD Movie Library Tinted sliding glass doors in all cabins on the Promenade Deck World-Class Cuisine: Great expeditions require great food! Our team of world-class chefs offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that change daily. They have boat-loads of creativity, so you are sure to experience a variety of remarkable cuisine throughout your voyage. Accommodations: All Suites Feature: Exterior views Your choice of queen-sized or two twin-sized beds Sitting area with sofa and side chair Flat Screen TV with DVD/CD player Telephone Independent temperature controls Mini-Bar Marble-appointed bathroom with fine toiletries Hair dryer 220 square feet or more Sofa can be converted to bed for third person PLEASE NOTE - DECK PLANS CAN VARY.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 London to Tahiti, French Polynesia.
Fly by scheduled flight via Los Angeles.
Day 2 - Day 2 Tahiti
Arrive this morning and transfer directly to the MS Island Sky which will be moored in Papeete. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing on board or exploring Papeete independently before we sail this evening.
Day 3 - Days 3 to 6 Tuamotu Islands.
Over the next four days we will traverse the Tuamotu Islands, an archipelago of 77 islands and atolls which constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world with a combined land area of 328 square miles. Our day to day itinerary whilst we explore the islands will be in the hands of our experienced Expedition Leader and Captain and based on sea and weather conditions. We hope to visit Fakarava, a protected atoll, which along with its six neighbouring islands, make up a UNESCO Classified Nature Reserve. The island was home to Robert Louis Stevenson in 1888 and Henri Matisse in 1930 whose art was influenced by the landscape for many years. The local villagers of Rotoava will welcome us and demonstrate their handicrafts and cultural traditions and we will also have the opportunity to sample local delicacies before enjoying walks on the island with our naturalists. Nearby Raroia is known for its pearl farming and we will see the strings of oysters all around the local farms. After the traditional welcome to the island including a selection of local fruits and fish, we will have the day to explore on a variety of walks or swim in the beautiful coral garden with parrotfish, angelfish and butterfly fish. Located on the outer fringes of French Polynesia, we also hope to call into Pukarua which faces thousands of miles of open ocean. Onshore, its small population lives in a spirit of cooperation and friendship, living largely on coconuts and the bounty of the sea. As we visit this small community, we will be enthusiastically greeted with genuine friendliness and lively music and we will be able to walk through the village or enjoy a swim in the lagoon.
Day 4 - Day 7 Acteon Group.
As we make our way towards the Gambier Islands we will pass by the Acteon Group of islands. These remote, uninhabited atolls were named by Lord Edward Russell, commander of the HMS Acteon who sighted the islands in 1837. Landing on the islands is very weather dependent but we hope to be able to spend time on Tenararo which, whilst small, is an important habitat for Tuamotu sandpipers, curlews and Murphy’s petrel which are not threatened by predators. We may also have the chance to swim from the beach.
Day 5 - Day 8 Mangareva, Gambier Islands.
Mountainous Mangareva is the capital of the Gambier group of islands and home to the remarkable St Michael’s Cathedral and its stunning mother-of-pearl altar. We will spend the full day on the island and there will be the opportunity to join an island nature walk, take a hike up the 440 metre Mount Duff, named after the first European vessel to visit the island in 1797, or spend time simply wandering around the small village. If weather permits, a snorkelling platform will be set up on the surrounding coral reef.
Day 6 - Days 9 & 10 Pitcairn Islands.
Spend a day and a half in the Pitcairn Islands where we plan to visit Oeno Atoll, three uninhabited islands situated around 75 nautical miles from Pitcairn. It is a designated Important Bird Area due to the colony of 12,500 pairs of Murphy’s petrels that nest here alongside sooty tern and brown noddy. We also plan a full day on the island of Pitcairn, famous as the final destination of the Bounty in the late 18th century. Meet the Anglo-Tahitian descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, who arrived here 200 years ago and see the ship’s anchor outside the courthouse. We will have time to explore this inspiring island setting and visit with islanders who display memorable stamps and handicrafts. We will experience a Pitcairn welcome in the Town Hall before exploring the capital of Adamstown and our expedition team members will lead a number of walks to explore the highlights of the island.
Day 7 - Day 11 Henderson Island.
Early this morning we will arrive at Henderson Island and will look for a suitable landing place. This upraised former coral atoll has fascinating eroded rock formations, with giant blowholes flinging up tremendous sea spray. Very rare birds inhabit the island, including the Henderson Island rail and Stephen’s lorikeet. Numerous underwater ravines and crevices support a great diversity of fish and during walks on the island or along the beach you are likely to come across coconut crabs.
Day 8 - Day 12 Ducie Island.
This morning we will experience expedition cruising at its finest as we hope to land on one of the wildlife sanctuaries where our expedition team will lead a series of walks. A remote coral atoll with good snorkelling and birding, Ducie Island is so remote that no threats to its native wildlife exist and it is one of the rare places in the world where wildlife is relatively unaffected by man’s presence.
Day 9 - Days 13 & 14 At Sea.
We have two days to spend relaxing on board as we continue our journey across the Pacific towards Easter Island.
Day 10 - Days 15 & 16 Easter Island, Chile.
We arrive at Easter Island for a day and a half of exploration. A half day tour includes Rano Kau, the second oldest volcano on the island. Its huge caldera (1.5 kilometres at its base) contains one of the island’s three freshwater lakes. From the lookout at the rim of Rano Kau we continue on to the ceremonial village of Orongo, best known for the birdman cult ceremonies. The site was restored in 1974 and within the village you will see 47 restored houses. Continue to Ahu Tahai, another restored ceremonial site and one of the oldest, dating back to the 6th century. On our second day on Easter Island, we will visit many of the different areas where moais (statues) can be found and will see the volcano of Rano Raraku, the site where 95% of all moais were carved and today you will find nearly 400 statues here in various stages of completion. A hike to the top of the volcano’s crater will not only reveal many statues but also a beautiful freshwater lake. We continue our exploration of the island at Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial site in Polynesia which was restored in 1996 and Ahu Akivi where we find seven moais which face out to sea which were built around 1460 BC. Lunch will be a specially arranged barbecue on Anakena beach, home of Easter Island’s ancient paramount chiefs and one of the prettiest coves in the South Pacific.
Day 11 - Day 17 Islas Salas y Gomez.
After a leisurely morning at sea we arrive at the uninhabited island of Islas Salas y Gomez located in the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park and named after the Spaniards, Jose Salas and Jose Gomez, who provided the first detailed descriptions of the islands after their visit in 1805. Part of a volcanic range that rises up to 3500 metres from the seabed, the rocky coastline makes landing impossible, however we will use our Zodiacs to view the coastline which is home to many bird species including Christmas shearwater, masked booby and brown noddy.
Day 12 - Days 18 to 21 At Sea.
Enjoy a leisurely four days at sea relaxing on deck, watching for wildlife with the expedition team and listening to the lectures from our onboard experts.
Day 13 - Days 22 & 23 Juan Fernandez Islands.
We will spend a day and a half at the Juan Fernandez Islands, an archipelago of islands which were named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The volcanic islands are recognised as a distinct ecoregion and are home to a high percentage of rare and endemic plants and animals. Located 400 miles off the Chilean coast, the islands were discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Fernandez in 1563 and were often used by passing sailors as a source of freshwater. In the 19th and early 20th century the islands were used as a penal colony for political prisoners and today the small population are mainly lobster fishermen and their families. We spend a day on Robinson Crusoe Island, also known Isla Mas a Tierra, it was here that the Scotsman, Alexander Selkirk, was marooned alone from September 1704 to February 1709 living off the land, and alongside the few goats that had been left by previous visitors, becoming the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s famous novel. Using the main village of San Juan Bautista as our base, our expedition team will lead nature walks looking for endemic flora and fauna including hummingbirds, Juan Fernandez petrel and Stejneger’s petrel. Also visit the caves used as prisons in the 19th century whilst those feeling active may wish to take a hike to the viewpoints in the hills around the town. Meanwhile on nearby Alexander Selkirk Island a Zodiac cruise will survey the prodigious birdlife and dramatic cliffs.
Day 14 - Day 24 At Sea.
Spend a relaxing day at sea as we make our way to the Chilean mainland.
Day 15 - Day 25 San Antonio to Santiago.
Disembark after breakfast and drive out to the Casablanca Valley which is now one of the country’s premier wine areas and learn about the cultivation of grapes during a visit to one of the vineyards for a tasting and lunch. In the late afternoon we arrive at our hotel in Santiago for an overnight stay with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 16 - Day 26 Santiago to London.
Check out this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Day 17 - Day 27 London.
Arrive today.
Day 18 - Exploring Ashore:
During this expedition, the vessel will be at anchorage each day and the Zodiacs will be used to transport passengers ashore and to explore remote inlets. Landings will be on to beaches, so will be wet landings in warm water. Visits to specific islands are weather dependent. Ashore, our onboard team will endeavour to arrange a selection of walks to include longer and shorter options to cater for different abilities and interests. There will be opportunities to swim and snorkel and some snorkelling opportunities will be from a snorkelling platform and only suitable for the more confident swimmers. Transport on the islands is very limited and when used will be small minivans, trucks and taxis.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £16,495Magellan Deck Standard Single
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £16,495Magellan Deck Standard Suite
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £16,795Columbus Deck Superior Single
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £16,795Columbus Deck Superior Suite
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £17,495Marco Polo Deck Premium Suite
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £17,995Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £18,995Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £19,395Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite
30-10-202625-11-2026GBP £19,995Explorer Deck Island Suite

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