With 24 diverse itineraries spanning the 'land of ice and fire' to the land of 'fragrant nails', visits to historic polar huts and encounters with orang-utans, Orion's expeditions provide an even greater range of adventures for adventurers in 2011.

Founded in 2005, the highly awarded Australian-based Orion Expedition Cruises is the leading operator of 5 star expedition cruising in the Australasian region, operating the 106 passenger expedition vessel Orion in the Kimberley region, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Antarctica.
Following the company credo "a path less travelled", the addition of the 100 passenger Orion II to the fleet in 2011 doubles capacity and allows expeditions to a wider range of rarely visited destinations; all enjoyed in a casual ambience, with 5 star facilities and attentive service onboard either Orion or Orion II.

Orion II's inaugural voyages in 2011 include the Russian Far East, also known as the 'land of ice and fire'; a circumnavigation of Borneo, the home to the orang-utan; fascinating Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia (including a visit to Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument), and the tranquil Inland Sea of Japan.

Orion's itineraries feature 13 voyages exploring Australia's Kimberley coast, the rarely visited indigenous art centres of Arnhem Land, and a voyage to the Spice Islands, known by the Chinese (referring to the abundance of cloves) as the 'land of fragrant nails'. Voyages to New Zealand and the Sub Antarctic islands will include the rarely visited Antipodes islands, while Orion's Papua New Guinea itineraries feature an exciting new voyage across northern Papua to West Papua and Maluku.

At year's end there are celebratory Centennial voyages to the historic Antarctic explorer's bases of Mawson, Scott and Shackleton.

Designed for travellers who seek intellectual and physical stimulation, while enjoying the company of like-minded adventurous spirits, Orion's ecologically sensitive expeditions provide authentic experiences in remote and seldom visited destinations, allowing time to relax and absorb the surroundings and cultures.

Discover worlds unknown to mainstream tourism. Explore hidden rivers, coves and fjords, photograph crocodiles, brown bears, Komodo dragons, penguins and humpback whales, visit ancient temples, stand inside Mawson's hut, dive on World War II wrecks, snorkel untouched coral reefs, learn about ancient and mysterious cultures and visit traditional tribal villages.
Onboard, biologists, ornithologists, marine biologists and historians - members of the dedicated Expedition Team - and specialist guest lecturers reveal secrets of destinations visited, sharing their knowledge and insight to enhance the travel experience and satisfy the curious.


2011 voyages feature:

13 Kimberley Expeditions, each including Bungle Bungle flights
Orion's inaugural West Papua and Maluku Voyage of Discovery
Orion II's Voyage of Discovery to the Russian Far East
Discover the ancient cultures on Orion II's Inland Sea of Japan voyage.

7 Borneo voyages including a circumnavigation of Borneo

2 Tasmanian Food and Wine focused voyages

Orion's inaugural Exploration of the Antipodes

3 Orion Antarctic Centenary voyages of celebration to the Ross Sea (Mawson's Hut) and Commonwealth Bay (Scott and Shackelton's huts)

Lord Howe Island and Aotearoa, including the active volcano at Mt White island

Christmas in New Zealand's spectacular fjordland and sub-Antarctic islands

8 voyages to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, including the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh and Angkor Wat

Seasonality / by ship:

Orion - Southern Hemisphere

Winter

The Kimberley
Spice Islands
Spring
Art of Arnhem Land
Lord Howe and NZ
Antipodes

Summer

Antarctica
Sub - Antarctica
New Zealand
Autumn
Melanesia
Papua New Guinea
West Papua

Orion II - Northern Hemisphere

Summer

Russian Far East
Inland Sea of Japan
Ryuku Islands, Philippines & Sabah
Autumn
Borneo
Vietnam, Thailand & Cambodia

Winter

Borneo
Vietnam, Thailand & Cambodia