Embark on an exclusive small-group journey by private jet, offering just 14 guests the chance to explore some of Asia’s most remote and rarely visited destinations. Over two unforgettable weeks, you'll sail through the Indonesian archipelago on a luxury yacht in search of the legendary Komodo dragon, encounter the isolated tribes of Papua New Guinea, delve into the rich heritage of the Sultanate of Brunei, visit tiny Timor-Leste, and much more.
Traveling by private jet on the custom-outfitted Embraer Lineage (or similar) for Remote Asia in Six Countries offers the ultimate in convenience, luxury, and exclusivity. With a spacious cabin featuring plush seating and high-end amenities, the journey is as relaxing as the destination. The jet allows guests to bypass the hassles of commercial airports, offering seamless, direct access to remote locations like Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, which are almost impossible to reach via conventional travel in just one trip.
Amankila is perched on a cliff overlooking Lombok Strait and the private beach just below the resort. The 34 thatched-roof suites have walkways that wind through vegetation, attaching them to restaurants and public areas. The restaurant overlooks the pools and the sea and serves Western and Indonesian cuisine; private dining in the suites is available all day.
The wonderful Kudanil Explorer is a luxury expedition yacht designed to explore Indonesia's remote islands. With just eight spacious suites, each featuring private balconies, it offers an intimate experience. The vessel is equipped with a spa, sundeck, and dive center, making it perfect for exploring Indonesia’s stunning marine biodiversity in style and comfort.
The new Hilton Dili Palm Springs has been selected as the best hotel from which to explore the local area. Situated in the heart of Dili's business district, the property overlooks mountains and the ocean.
A stylish contemporary lodge around 40 minutes from Mount Hagen, Rondon Ridge sits at over 7000ft above sea level with spectacular views over the Wahgi Valley. It is perfectly located for nature treks and for visiting the local tribal villages. The lodge has just 12 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms and powered by the lodge's own hydroelectric power plant.
Karawari is a striking, rustic-style wood and bamboo lodge located in the heart of the rainforested Sepik region, home to numerous indigenous tribespeople. Its 10 private cottages are built from local bush materials and designed for minimum impact on the local residents.
Situated in ultimate seclusion, 60 miles from the nearest town, the beautifully-designed Borneo Rainforest Lodge denotes understated elegance. The hotel’s 31 eco-friendly chalets feature high ceilings, dark wood panels and incandescent draping lights, all made from locally-sourced, recyclable material. The chalets use ceiling fans rather than air conditioners and have outdoor tubs, decks and patios boasting panoramic views of the million-year-old rainforest: drenched in the vivacity of the surrounding tropics, there is perhaps no better place to experience undisturbed nature.
The Raffles Hotel, located in Singapore’s culturally rich Bras Basah district, is an iconic, opulent hotel housed in a 126-year-old colonial monument. Set among palm and frangipani trees and surrounded by cafes, museums, and eateries, it is a centerpiece of Singaporean history and architecture. It has hosted luminaries like Somerset Maugham, Charlie Chaplin, and Pablo Neruda, and it’s soaked in the atmosphere and feel of the 1920s and 1930s heydays.
Discover some of Asia's most untouched and remote corners, including the wilds of the Indonesian archipelago, the tribal lands of Papua New Guinea, and the jungles of Malaysian Borneo. This journey offers a rare glimpse into ancient cultures and pristine ecosystems, far from the beaten tourist path.
Encounter iconic wildlife in their natural habitats: track Komodo dragons in Indonesia, spot wild orangutans in Borneo's rainforests, and observe an array of vibrant bird species in Papua New Guinea. These diverse ecosystems are home to some of the world's most elusive and fascinating creatures.
Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Papua New Guinea's tribes, from Mount Hagen to the Sepik River basin. You'll enjoy private sing-sing celebrations, rarely seen by outsiders. These traditional gatherings feature vibrant costumes, music, and dance, celebrating the unique identities of the island’s tribes.
Explore the pristine lowland rainforest of Malaysia's Danum Valley, home to orangutans, pygmy elephants, and a variety of bird species. Take guided jungle walks and night safaris, offering unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in one of Borneo's most remote natural environments.
On this small-group adventure, each couple or solo traveler will enjoy the personal touch of having their own car, driver, and guide, allowing for customized experiences and ensuring privacy while still enjoying the camaraderie of a group.
Sail aboard the luxurious Kudanil Explorer through the stunning waters of Komodo National Park. Enjoy snorkeling and diving among manta rays and vibrant coral reefs, as you hop between island. Dr. Lawrence Blair—an explorer, film maker, and author—will join the cruise for a special guest appearance.
Arrive at Bali's Denpasar Airport after your own long-haul flight, meet your guide and driver for your private transfer to your hotel. Transfer to your luxury hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. We suggest you ease your travel muscles with a Balinese-inspired treatment at the hotel’s spa, and enjoy their world-class dining options.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your day of exploration. Start with a guided hike through the terraced rice farms outside Ubud. Then visit the Sebatu Temple, a beautiful temple complex that is largely unknown to tourists. While here, receive a private blessing. After lunch, you will visit the Sacred Monkey Forest & Padangtegal Temple, a nature preserve and that contains a small Hindu temple. Here the monkeys of the forest roam the area freely. The temple sports elaborate statues carved from volcanic rock, quaint Balinese-style roofs, and a multi-tiered central stele covered in life-like bas-reliefs of Hindu gods, goddesses, and other divine beings. Complete your touring with a visit to the Ubud Market, a traditional market, featuring local wares, fruits, and street food, and the Ubud Arts Market, which specializes in local handicrafts and folk art. Return to your hotel for leisure time for the rest of the day.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport where you will board your private jet and fly to Labuan Bajo. Upon arrival in Labuan Bajo, transfer to the boat dock and board your chartered private schooner. Once aboard, relax and enjoy the great views, while cruising towards the first stop, the Komodo National Park. Enjoy the remainder of the day in park. You may wish to go for a dive or enjoy a snorkel to get acquainted with marine life in this part of the world before mooring for sunset while a cloud of thousands of bats goes out for the night.
Please note that your itinerary may change at the discretion of the captain throughout the journey based on weather and other factors.
In the early morning, arrive at Manta Alley. Snorkel or dive the site, a great place to see these peaceful rays with their enormous wingspans. Many reef sharks, wrasses and schools of giant trevallies also abound and the coral is also very beautiful with rich invertebrate life. In the afternoon, cruise toward Padar Island where you can spend the afternoon strolling along pink beaches, as well as embarking on a hike up to the island's magnificent sunset viewpoint, a highlight of the National Park. As the hills overlook many beautiful beaches, the sunset seen from Padar’s highest points is nothing short of magnificent.
After a short cruise, anchor at Rinca Island for an encounter with the endemic Komodo Dragon. Trek through Rinca's "Savannah" in search of the legendary Komodo dragon that is only found in three places on the planet — in Padar, Rinca and Komodo. On your walk, also be on the lookout for Megapode birds and flying lizards. After your search for the Komodo Dragon, enjoy snorkeling the pristine coral reef of Pulau Saiba, home to numerous turtles, and relax at Pulau Mawan.
After a private jet flight from El Tari, Indonesiam arrive in Dili, Timor-Leste. Upon arrival, spend the afternoon touring Dili, one of the world’s youngest nations. Discover its rich history shaped by over 400 years of Portuguese rule, 24 years of Indonesian occupation, and three years under UN administration before gaining independence in 2002. Explore key historical sites and local culture at your own pace. Please note, if local conditions affect your stay, an alternate overnight stop in Darwin, Australia en route to Papua New Guinea will be arranged. Cocktails and dinner follow with your expedition group.
Enjoy breakfast aboard before transferring to the Labuan Bajo airport where you will board your private jet to fly to Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea. Lunch will be served during the flight. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.
After you’ve settled in, enjoy a private mini-cultural show and learn about the local tribes and festival practices of the nation. Sing-sings are a cultural tradition in which members of different tribes don their tribe's unique costumes and body paint and then perform the traditional songs and dances of their tribe. The people of the Western Highlands have some of the most elaborate body decoration practices in the country, making this private cultural experience a riot of color, feathers, music, and dance.
After breakfast, you will take a local charter flight from Mount Hagen to Goroka. While in Goroka, immerse yourself in a unique cultural spectacle hosted by the Jonteve tribe of Henganofi– a wedding vow renewal. Observe the traditional exchange of gifts and pigs, integral to the tribal wedding dowry, while your guide elucidates the nuances of courtship and marriage customs. A fascinating aspect of this ceremony is the headdresses adorned by the bride and groom, each feather and ornament borrowed from relatives, symbolizing familial pride and beauty. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the custom of the Jonteve tribe includes a cultural exchange that deepens with the sharing of a Mumu meal, a Melanesian custom that fosters communal bonds between tribes.
Following lunch, transfer to the Asaro Valley where you will experience the captivating Mudmen performance, where ancient warriors don masks and dance a silent eery dance. After this performance you will return to Mount Hagen via local charter flight.
After breakfast you’ll transfer via a local charter flight from Mount Hagen to Ambunti. After arriving you’re first stop will be to visit their spirit house, known locally as “Haus Tambaran”. The male-dominated Tambaran culture uses these spirit houses as a meeting place and site for rituals and initiations. The Sepik people are renowned for their superb artistic ability in painting and carving, which is often exhibited in these religious structures. You will also have the opportunity to meet the “Sepek Crodile Men” whose skin resembles crocodile flesh after they’ve undergone ritual scarification as a rite of passage to manhood. Following these experiences you will transfer via local charter flight to Karawari. Upon arrival you'll experience another Sing Sing, where various ethnic groups from all reaches of the island gather to display the dance, music, and costumes that represent the their unique identities. After this festive display, head off for a shared motorboat journey down the meandering Karawari River to your local lodge. View the sights of stilt homes, ceremonial dances, and local artistry along your journey. Check in to the Karawari Lodge, once a base for the Kiaps, who were travelling representatives of the British and Australian governments with wide-ranging authority, in pre-independence Papua New Guinea.
This morning begins early with a sunrise cruise where you will embark on a birdwatching adventure along the Karawari River. Return to the lodge for breakfast then spend the day further cruising and exploring the Sepik River's waterways, tributaries and complex lake-systems. On your journey, observe a culture steeped in traditional craftsmanship and personal artistry, represented in handmade wooden masks, drums, and woven baskets. If the opportunity presents itself, you may even sit in on a ceremonial dance or witness the carving of a mask. During this experience you will be able to interact with the Palembai, Swagap, and Juamo tribes each having their own unique cultural values and lifestyles. Return to the lodge for the rest of the day for leisure time.
Enjoy breakfast before checking out, then transfer to the airstrip via motorboat. You’ll be transferred to Mount Hagen where you’ll board your private jet to Tawau, Malaysian Borneo for your next country and adventure. On arrival, you’ll transfer to your lodge in Danum Valley with touring en route. You’ll stop to visit the Madai Caves, a huge limestone cave with an important archaeological background history. After checking in to your lodge, you’ll have time to freshen up before dinner, and optionally if weather permits, take a shared nature drive after the sun is down to seek out some of Borneo's more elusive animals, like slow loris, leopard cats, and civets.
Early this morning, head out for a birds-eye view of the surrounding jungle as you walk along the Canopy Bridge, suspended high above the lush treetops of the Borneo rainforest. The walkway is designed and engineered to be 'tree friendly' without rigging any of the steel cables directly onto the trees. Its spacious and sturdy platforms provide a safe and unobstructed up-close view of the 130 million year old virgin jungle's canopy below. Return to the lodge for breakfast and then explore the area further on a morning jungle trek. The lush rainforest here is one of the best places to observe wildlife in its natural environment, including wild orangutans, rhinoceros hornbills, and pygmy elephants. Spend the morning exploring the forest and searching for Borneo's unique birds and mammals. After lunch, you may enjoy the remainder of your afternoon at leisure or go hiking on the Segama Trail. This approximately 1.7 mile walk stretches along the Danum River, giving you the opportunity to spot any wildlife in the forest and in the waters.
Begin the day with a visit to the Global Atmosphere Weather Research Center for an early morning sunrise with a spectacular view. The 328 foot tower offers scenic views of the lush rainforest filling the valley below. Return to the lodge for breakfast then enjoy another morning jungle trek exploring the forest and searching for the valley’s unique birds and mammals. Spend the remainder of your afternoon and evening at leisure to enjoy the lodge’s amenities.
After breakfast transfer to the airport where you will board your private jet to transfer to Brunei for a touchdown and touring of Bandar Seri Begawan. Upon landing, visit the Istana Nurul Iman which serves as both the official residence of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the seat of Brunei's government. Next stop at the Royal Regalia Museum, established to narrate and celebrate the life of the eccentric Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Then stop at Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, locally known as the Kiarong Mosque, Brunei's largest mosque built in 1992 to celebrate the 25th year of Sultan Hassanil Bolkiah's reign.
Return to your private jet and transfer to Singapore, checking into your hotel and enjoying the rest of your evening at your leisure.
Visit the Gardens by the Bay, the country's premier outdoor space, and home to a huge complex of conservatories, gardens, and the awe-inspiring supertrees, massive tree- like structures whose trunks teem with plant life. Next explore Little India, where you will find countless shops selling fresh flower garlands, glittering bangles, multicolored saris and textiles, and all the manner of Bollywood movies and soundtracks. Then stop in at Tekka Center, a brightly painted building that offers a hawker center focused on Indian and Halal foods. After visit Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, founded by money lenders in 1859 in honor of the six-faced Hindu god, Lord Subramaniam. Stop at the recently restored Abdul Gaffoor Mosque, its highlight being a one-of-a-kind sundial at its entrance. Move on to Kampong Glam, a neighborhood originally created for the city's Muslims, today it is a trendy area, filled with an array of shopping boutiques and restaurants. Explore “Arab Street” and “Haji Lane”, before moving on to the colorful sights of Chinatown’s street markets, temples, museums, and bustling street food and hawker scene. In the evening enjoy a bumboat ride as you explore the waterways and see the city's iconic landmarks, such as the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles and the Merlion.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out. Leave your luggage at the bell desk and enjoy the hotel’s facilities until your private transfer to the airport for your long-haul flight home.
