Paul Gauguin Get Exotic With Shore Excursions

We already know that Paul Gauguin Cruises - operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury ship in the South Pacific - have an exotic array of voyages in that part of the world.

And now they are adding still further to their exotic quotient with the details of new, optional shore excursions this year for their Australia & South East Asia voyages.

On these 14-night itineraries, the Paul Gauguin sails between Cairns and Singapore, visiting less-travelled tropical ports of Australia such as Thursday Island, once a World War II military outpost, and Darwin, with its lively yet laidback ambiance. 

 

Indonesian ports include Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon; beautiful Bali, a coveted destination for generations; and Semarang, with its fascinating history and gateway to the temples of Borobudur. Two departures are offered: June 25 and August 4, with cruise fares from £3,890 per person if booked before March 31. Both sailings include round-trip airfare from Los Angeles.

Highlights of the optional shore excursions offered on the Australia & South East Asia voyages include:

• Thursday Island, Australia—Thursday Island Discovery: Gain insight into Thursday Island’s people, history, commercial base and culture; visit the refurbished Torres Strait Museum and Green Hill Fort; and see the Japanese Pearl Divers Memorial.
• Darwin, Australia—Crocodylus Park: Visit a park featuring more than 1,000 saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, ranging in length from 11 inches to 15 feet.
• Komodo Island, Indonesia—Komodo Trekking Tour: Trek through Tamarind Woods in search of Komodo Dragons, the largest reptiles on Earth.
• Benoa, Bali, Indonesia—Elephant Safari Ride & Monkey Forest: Acclaimed as one of the world’s best, the Elephant Safari Park is home to 29 of these gentle giants. Enjoy a 30-minute elephant ride then travel to Sangeh Village to visit the Sangeh Monkey Forest.
• Benoa, Bali, Indonesia—Bali Safari & Marine Park: 400 animals, representing 80 species, live here. Interact with the many different animals within these gardens and enjoy the water park, which has slides for both adults and children.
• Semarang, Indonesia—Fascinating Borobudur Temple: See the dramatic landscape of Central Java en route to Borobudur Temple, the world’s largest Buddhist monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and take in a performance by local entertainers.

Onboard the ship, a variety of special guests will lecture, perform or provide demonstrations which are in the all-inclusive fares. Parisian celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato, champion freediver Herbert Nitsch, “extreme artist” Jean Francois Detaille and soprano Françoise Krief will be on the June 25 voyage. 

 

Joining the August 4 voyage are Nobel Peace Prize winner John E. Hay, islands expert Helen Henry, destination specialist Mick Fogg and Paul Gauguin Cruises chairman Richard Bailey. On both voyages, art history professor and Paul Gauguin expert Caroline Boyle-Turner, renowned archaeologist and scholar Mark Eddowes and a World War II expert will provide a series of lectures.

More info: call 020 7399 7691 or visit www.pgcruises.com.

 

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