People often look for an other-worldly experience when they travel. Count yourself in on that thought? Then nothing says it better than the new cruise led by Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys. A 16-day cruise by Ponant and Smithsonianacross the Indian Ocean, the cruise will trace the path of a rare total solar eclipse in 2023, making it a once-in-a-lifetime voyage. The cruise is a luxury paradise, and designed to explore the total eclipse of the sun.
Photo courtesy: Ponant
This eclipse will take place in April 2023 and falls between Western Australia to Southeast Asia. The route has been specially tailored for the best view of the rare celestial event from the perfect vantage point—the Indian Ocean. The solar eclipse of 2023 is a hybrid eclipse and will only appear as a total solar eclipse when it passes over Western Australia and Timor-Leste. This is one of only five total eclipses remaining worldwide this decade and you have the chance to experience it.
Photo courtesy: PonantPhoto courtesy: Ponant
The 184-guest Le Lapérouse cruise will set sail from Bali in Indonesia and sail through Komodo National Park, followed by a stop at Timor-Leste where you can dive deeper into the nation’s cultural sites and diverse coral reefs. Moving towards the east, the second leg of the trip starts in Australia’s Kimberley region. But the special days of the cruise — days 11 and 12 — are spent on the sea in the path of the eclipse. Post the eclipse, the cruise continues along the Australian coast where you can take in the turquoise Taylor Bay, gaze at the stunning Horizontal Falls and visit the world’s largest inshore reef. Finally, the cruise makes its way to the Lacepede Islands known for its wildlife, and ends at Broome.
Photo courtesy: PonantPhoto courtesy: Ponant
Some of the key highlights of the cruise include an encounter with the Komodo dragon, snorkelling amidst the rich marine life on the reefs of Banta Island and Timor-Leste, discovering ancient rock art at Australia’s rugged Kimberley coast, dramatic geology, and horizontal waterfalls, across Indonesia and Australia.
