Southern Kimberley and Solar Eclipse Sailing Expedition

Day 1: Kununurra

Transfer from Kununurra airport to the hotel. Time at Leisure and dinner on your own.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Embarkation Day – Kununurra to Kuri Bay

Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

Transfer to Kununurra airport. Board a unique Paspaley Grumman Mallard amphibious aircraft for your scenic flight Kununurra/Kuri Bay. Approximate flight duration: 1 hour, 30 min. Embarkation - 4pm. Departure - 6pm.

Located 370km north of Broome and 460km west of Kununurra, Kuri Bay lies at the heart of the Lalang – Garram/Camden Sound Marine Park. It was the location of Australia's first cultured pearl farm and is named after the company's first principal, Tokuichi Kuribayashi. Today it is the home of Paspaley, the world’s most important producer of cultured pearls. Such is the superior and widely recognised quality of the gems they are in their own category and recognised simply as Paspaley Pearls.

Kuri Bay is the ideal location for starting or ending your Kimberley sailing expedition combining a spectacular scenic flight over the Kimberley landscape aboard a Paspaley Grumman Mallard amphibious aircraft between Kuri Bay and Kununurra.

Day 3 - 7: Kimberley Explorations

Whilst there is no standard itinerary, our sailing expedition will feature the iconic destinations of Montgomery Reef and the Horizontal Falls, described by Sir David Attenborough as “One of the greatest wonders of the natural world.” Additional destinations that maybe visited include:
The Lacepede Islands, home to the world’s largest breeding colony of Brown Boobies and Western Australia’s most important breeding habitat for Green Turtles.
The iconic Cape Leveque, at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, best known for its pristine white sand beaches and golden red sandstone cliffs. The 800 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago provide an ideal sailing ground to explore. Scattered amongst the islands are secluded white sandy beaches including Silica Bay, historical pearling locations such as Strickland Bay and The Edeline Islands and the remarkable geological scenery of Whirlpool Pass and Nares Point.
Further North Collier Bay showcases the massive tides that the region is renowned for at the Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef. Here the many outdoor rock art galleries including Wijingarra Bard Bard provide an insight into the remarkable history and culture of Australia’s First Nations People. To the East lies Doubtful Bay providing access to multiple river systems, including the Sale River and Red Cone Creek, lined with mangroves, creating the ideal environment to spot crocodiles and an abundance of birdlife. High above the saltwater influence freshwater waterholes provide the ideal locations for cooling off after a day of exploration.

Day 8: Solar Eclipse Viewing

Your extraordinary voyage ends with an open water viewing of the solar eclipse. The ship will be positioned to ensure the optimal viewing experience. The intended viewpoint will experience 1 minute and 12 seconds of totality. Enjoy this incredible natural phenomenon without any crowds from the top deck of Le Ponant, with drinks and refreshments available to mark the occasion.

Day 9-10: Disembark in Broome

Located in the northwest of the Kimberley region and in the far north of Western Australia, the town of Broome is reputed for its history and its glorious pearling era. The fascinating Chinatown district, which is the historic city centre, and the famous Japanese Cemetery, dates back to 1896, and has a past marked by the immigration of numerous Chinese and Japanese workers, attracted by the prosperous pearl industry at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. Broome is also famous for the “Staircase to the Moon”, an optical illusion created by the Moon reflecting on the sand banks at low tide, like a staircase climbing up towards the sky, a unique spectacle provided by nature…

Transfer from Broome Wharf to the hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon. You will have two nights in Broome, giving you plenty of time to explore the surrounding area.

Day 11: Departure

Depart for your onward journey after breakfast.

• 1-night accommodation in a 4* hotel the night before embarkation.
• Scenic flight Kununurra/Kuri Bay onboard a Paspaley Grumman Mallard amphibious aircraft.
• 2-night accommodation in a 4* hotel the night of disembarkation
• Meals as mentioned in the programme.
• Transfers as mentioned in the programme.

• Inward flights to Kununurra
• Onward flights from Broome.
• Additional expenses associated with early check in and/or late check out.
• Personal expenses.
• Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.

Barefoot luxury sailing expeditions are fully flexible itineraries with no predetermined destinations. With a maximum of 32 guests, the crew are able to create bespoke itineraries showcasing the changing environment throughout the dry season from April to September. Each day’s activities will be determined by the Captain and Expedition Leader, taking into account the season, prevailing weather, tide and sea conditions to deliver the best experience possible.