Monday, Day One - Boarding time will be between 1730 and 1800.

Please have your luggage, tagged and ready for collection in the foyer of Madang Resort at noon. On boarding the MTS Discoverer, the Cruise Director, will show you to your cabin. Once everyone has settled in, a safety and cruise briefing will be held in the lounge located at the top deck. Tonight enjoy your welcome dinner and become acquainted with fellow passengers, as the ship travel across the Bismarck Sea. Documentary videos will be shown nightly.

Tuesday, Day Two - Friday Day Five

Today visit villages in the lower Sepik area such as Murik Lakes. This expedition will be by speedboat along an exciting barat (canal), skimming below the overhanging jungle growth as the egrets rise hastily ahead of us, and then along the mangrove lined lakes to visit the village of Mendam. Sometimes we call at Bien Village and go up the Bien River by speedboat.

The following morning we will travel up river to Angoram, the main Administration Township on the Sepik. You will see the markets, have the opportunity to purchase valuable artifacts and see a crocodile farm. In the afternoon take a trip up the Keram River to Kambot to see the unique storyboards and spirit houses. 

A short distance upriver we shall visit Kambaramba by speedboat, a village erected entirely on stilts over water, presenting a magnificent picture against the skyline. Until a few years ago Kambaramba was one of the largest villages along the Sepik, and  relied heavily upon their women to earn an income through prostitution. This practice has been largely halted by the Missions and the Government, and many of the people have been relocated to higher ground not far from Angoram. The ship continues upriver until nightfall, sometimes managing to reach the village of Tambanum for overnight anchorage. 

The ship continues upriver for a short distance to Timbunke, a very attractive village set along a winding canal, adjacent to a large Roman Catholic Mission Station. Quite often we see the people making sago, a staple item in the diet. The method of deriving flour from the sago palm is time consuming, requiring many hours of labor. The firm pith is beaten and washed free of fibre producing a starchy extract which is stored for future use. 

The vessel then returns to the Sepik River and moves upstream and anchors near the entrance of the barat which lead to the Chambri Lakes. The ride along the barat takes around 45 minutes by speedboat, and along the way you may see a variety of bird life....snowy egrets, delicately long-legged lily hoppers, ducks and cormorants. At the edge of the lake we visit the village of Wombun with its very attractive Haus Tambaran and unique art form, and also the Village of Aibom, famous for  its pottery. On the way to the ship keep alert for crocodiles (pukpuk in pidgin). 

The following morning we visit Palembei Village, a walk of about 25 minutes through the gardens of corn, kaukau (sweet potato), melons and variety of trees including breadfruit, Malay Apple (laulau), Five Corner. Two Haus Tambarans are set at each end of a park like ceremonial ground, both containing very interesting statues, ceremonial lime containers, garamut drums and masks, whilst the women spread their colourful bilum bags on the grass outside with selections of shell jewellery and other items.

We may also visit Yentchen, where a newer, well kept Haus Tambaran can be inspected alongside the river and possibly Korogo.

The ship then returns downstream, normally in the late afternoon to Timbunke, one of the few reliable airstrips along the Sepik River.

Saturday, Day Six - Depart by chartered flight to Mt Hagen or Madang. 

It is important to remember that the schedule is subject to change due to prevailing conditions, and that we may visit villages not mentioned, thereby perhaps eliminating one of those previously mentioned.