Group Size: Le Soléal can accommodate up to 264 passengers for this voyage Price: Starting from $15,635 per person, double occupancy
Harvard Alumni Travels has reserved a limited number of cabins on this regularly scheduled PONANT voyage. Harvard Alumni Travels passengers will be joined by various travelers from independent registrations.
This voyage offers an immersive exploration of Southeast Asia’s layered histories, vibrant cultures, and extraordinary natural environments. Over 12 nights aboard Le Soléal, you will move from the dynamic urban energy of Taiwan through the Philippines and into Borneo and beyond, encountering a region shaped by centuries of trade, colonization, and enduring local traditions.
In the Philippines, encounters with Spanish colonial legacies and World War II history provide powerful context for understanding the region’s past, while time in remote island settings highlights the deep cultural and spiritual connections between indigenous communities and their land. The journey continues through some of the most biodiverse marine and rainforest ecosystems on Earth, where pristine waters, coral reefs, and protected habitats offer insight into both ecological richness and ongoing conservation efforts.
Further south, the cultural tapestry expands in Malaysia and Brunei, where Islamic architecture, traditional crafts, and indigenous ways of life coexist alongside rapidly modernizing cities. Throughout the voyage, expert-led discussions deepen each destination, connecting history, culture, and environment into a broader understanding of the region.
Schedule by Day
Click each drop-down below to view a detailed itinerary. For a full view, please select the "print page" button above.
The program begins with a hotel pre-night on Tuesday, May 18, 2027, Taipei, Taiwan. Most flight options from the US East and West coast will arrive in two calendar days into Taipei, Taiwan. Consequently, guests should plan to depart on Sunday May 16, 2027, to ensure arrival on Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
Arrive at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Taipei, Taiwan meet your driver in the arrivals hall and transfer to the five-star Regent Taipei Hotel, where an early check-in is guaranteed, and you may spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Regent Taipei Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, set off for a day of discovering Taipei's cultural and historical highlights. Begin at Lin An Tai Historical House and Museum, a beautifully preserved traditional courtyard residence that offers an example of 18th-century Minnan architecture. On Dihua Street, famous for its tea merchants and herbal stores, visit the textile shops of Yongle Market, before sitting down to a traditional Taiwanese lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is divided between Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and a visit the historic railway town of Shifen and its iconic waterfall, Taiwan’s “Little Niagara.” A welcome reception at the hotel is followed by an included dinner.
Overnight: Regent Taipei Hotel
Meals: B, L, R, D
Today begins with an excursion to Taiwan's National Palace Museum, one of the great museums of the world, boasting some 620,000 priceless treasures from virtually every period of China’s 5,000-year history. Lunch is at Taipei's iconic Grand Hotel, followed by a tour of its secret underground tunnel, built during the Cold War as an emergency escape route. On the drive to Keelung to embark Le Soléal, pause at the Martyr’s Shrine on the slopes of Chingshan Mountain, dedicated to the 330,000 men who died in the struggle to establish the Republic of China.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
During this day at sea, enjoy some of the ship's many amenities and attend lectures and discussions with your Harvard study leader.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
In the small coastal town of Currimao, you have the opportunity to choose between excursions focused on two different but equally important influences on Philippines culture and history. The legacy of the indigenous Ilocan people is preserved and celebrated in nearby Laoag City, the capital of the province, as well as at the Sitio Remedios Heritage Village. And about 40 miles to the south is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns in all of Asia—the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vigan.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
When the heavily fortified island of Corregidor at the entrance to Manila Bay surrendered in May 1942, it was a significant victory for the Japanese army. The island's recapture by American and Allied forces in 1945 was an equally significant fulfillment of General MacArthur's famous pledge to return. Today, tours of the remains of tunnels, gun batteries, and barracks offer a sobering reminder of the human costs of World War II and an opportunity, at the Pacific War Memorial, to honor the sacrifice of those who died here.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
Manila is a city of contrasts. On the one hand, it is a highly Americanized, ultramodern metropolis of soaring skyscrapers. On the other, the Intramuros District—the walled center of old Manila—is a well-preserved neighborhood that maintains much of the look and feel of the 17th- and 18th-century city that was the headquarters of Spanish imperial rule in the Philippines. Here, among other Baroque treasures, you will find the UNESCO World Heritage site of the San Agustin Church, built in 1607.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
A morning on Coron Island, in the heart of lands sacred to the indigenous Tagbanuas tribes, offers tropical rainforests, the incredibly clear waters of Lake Kayangan, and fine sandy beaches with some of the best swimming and snorkeling opportunities in the whole of the Philippines.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
The city of Puerto Princesa is a gateway to the Subterranean River—the longest navigable underground river in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to a snorkeler's paradise of richly diverse marine life. And for those especially interested in the history of World War II, there is the Palawan Special Battalion WWII Memorial Museum, dedicated to the victims of the horrific Palawan Massacre of 1944.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
Balabac is the westernmost island in the Philippines, about 30 miles across the Sulu Sea from Malaysia. It is remote, virtually undeveloped, and known for its crystal-clear waters, extensive shallow sandbars, and frequent encounters with sea turtles. Tender to the shore aboard one of your ship's Zodiac™ RIBs for an unforgettable day at the beach.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
Muara is your gateway to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei, where your visit begins with a stop at Kampung Ayer, the largest collection of stilt villages in the world—home to upwards of 10,000 people—just across the river from the capital's waterfront. In the city itself, tour the Royal Regalia, the opulent Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, built in 1958 to honor Brunei's 28th ruler, and the even more opulent Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, completed in 1994.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
During your time in the city of Bintulu, once a sleepy fishing village and now the center of the Malaysian oil and gas industry, travel to nearby Similajau National Park for a hike through the mangrove, scrub, and beaches of this coastal rainforest and encounter the endemic wildlife, including macaques, monitor lizards, hornbills, and sea turtles. Alternatively, tour the old town, with its Chinese Temple set on a hill overlooking the sea, lively native market, and handicraft center, where Sarawak's artisanal traditions are on display—rattan baskets, beadwork, carved wooden masks, and textiles.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
Kuching is the largest Malaysian city on the island of Borneo and the capital of the state of Sarawak. Its Cultural Village is a living museum of authentic buildings representing the major ethnic groups of Borneo and showcasing a variety of traditional crafts, including pua weaving, bamboo carving, and tattooing. A tour of a garden of pepper, nutmeg, turmeric, and exotic herbs hints at the flavors of the local cuisine. And a visit to the Semenggoh Wildlife Center introduces you to orangutans in their natural habitat and explains the conservation work of the sanctuary to protect this endangered species.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
During this day at sea, enjoy some of the ship's many amenities and attend lectures and discussions with your Harvard study leader.
Overnight: Le Soléal
Meals: B, L, D
After breakfast aboard, your exploration of Singapore begins with a guided tour of the Botanic Gardens, one of only three gardens in the world to be honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Chinatown, which you visit next, the streets are crowded with shops and boutiques that surround a number of important Buddhist and Hindu temples. Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by time in the Colonial District and in Merlion Park to see the statue of the half-lion/half-fish beast that has come to be an iconic symbol of the city. Check in to the Pan Pacific Singapore hotel, where the balance of the day is at leisure and dinner is independent.
Overnight:Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
Meals: B, L
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), Singapore for flights homeward.
Meals: B
Pricing
More information on the cabin categories can be found on the ship webpage here.
Cabin Category
Double Occupancy
Single Occupancy
Superior Stateroom - Deck 3
$15,635 per person
$24,825
Deluxe Stateroom - Deck 3
$16,365 per person
$26,285
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$17,425 per person
$28,400
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$17,955 per person
$29,460
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
$18,595 per person
$30,740
Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$23,225 per person
$40,000
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$29,015 per person
$51,580
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
$30,175 per person
$53,900
Owners Suite - Deck 6
$40,195 per person
$73,940
Comprehensive 12-night cruise aboard the deluxe Le Soléal; two hotel pre-nights on May 18 & 19, 2027 at Regent Taipei Hotel (or similar) in Taipei, Taiwan with welcome reception and dinner on May 19, two days of touring & lunch on May 19 & 20 prior to embarkation; complete program of expedition activities led by expert guides; welcome cocktail reception aboard ship for HAA guests only; Captain’s gala dinner; all meals aboard ship including early riser’s coffee & pastry, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner; open bar aboard ship, including select wines with lunch and dinner; 24-hour complimentary room service; comprehensive pre-departure materials; unlimited Wi-Fi (as available via satellite); airport/hotel/pier transfers and handling of luggage on official arrival & departure days; port taxes and charges; gratuities to shipboard personnel, porters, guides, and drivers, one hotel post-night on June 1, 2027 at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel (or similar) in Singapore
Airfare; airport taxes; passport and visa fees and/or immigration reciprocity taxes (if applicable); trip cancellation and baggage insurance; medical and repatriation insurance; meals and beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses (such as telephone, laundry service, hair salon services, à la carte spa treatments, etc.); Gratuities to drivers of transfers from/to airport; Transfers outside of official arrival/departure dates
To reserve a space on this program, a $3,000 deposit is required per person. Final payment is due 90 days before departure (February 17, 2027) payable by cash, check, wire transfer, ACH, debit card, or credit card. Participants will receive an invoice directly from the tour operator, PONANT Group for all subsequent payments after the initial deposit.
Notification of cancellation must be received in writing by HAA from the participant. Cancellations received within 14 days of booking are eligible for a full refund, provided that initial deposits were made 121 days or more prior to departure. From 15 days after booking, deposits are non-refundable; cancellations received after February 17, 2027 (90 Days prior to departure) are subject to 100% forfeiture of all deposits and payments, regardless of booking date. No refunds will be given for cancellations on or after the day of departure, or for unused portions of the tour, for any reason.
The program terms and conditions can be found here and must be acknowledged upon registration.
Accommodations
Regent Taipei Hotel, Taipei (two nights)
Le Soléal (twelve nights)
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore (one night)
What to Expect
Activity Level 3
This journey features a range of activity levels to suit various preferences and physical capabilities. Most excursions are moderate, typically involving about 1 to 2 miles of walking on a mix of cobblestone, paved, or uneven surfaces, with some stairs or inclines. On some excursions travelers will encounter uneven terrain in nature preserves where paths can be rocky or slippery. Some of our walks, up to two or three miles in a day, may involve ascents or descents on steep hills and standing for long periods of time. Opportunities for swimming and snorkeling may be offered during the cruise, depending on conditions. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and layered clothing and sun protection are recommended for comfort in changing conditions. While some tours are gentle, others are not recommended for guests with limited mobility. These specifications will be shared in an upcoming mailing in the Shore Excursions Descriptions document. In certain ports of call we will use a tender or Zodiac (inflatable excursion boats) to disembark and get to shore and then again to embark back onto the ship – this requires stepping down into the tender or Zodiac assisted by your crew onboard.
The highly acclaimed Le Soléal represents the newest generation of five-star small ship, featuring 110 suites and staterooms with distinctive French sophistication.
This journey features a range of activity levels to suit various preferences and physical capabilities. Most excursions are moderate, typically involving about 1 to 2 miles of walking on a mix of cobblestone, paved, or uneven surfaces, with some stairs or inclines. On some excursions travelers will encounter uneven terrain in nature preserves where paths can be rocky or slippery. Some of our walks, up to two or three miles in a day, may involve ascents or descents on steep hills and standing for long periods of time. Opportunities for swimming and snorkeling may be offered during the cruise, depending on conditions. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and layered clothing and sun protection are recommended for comfort in changing conditions. While some tours are gentle, others are not recommended for guests with limited mobility. These specifications will be shared in an upcoming mailing in the Shore Excursions Descriptions document. In certain ports of call we will use a tender or Zodiac (inflatable excursion boats) to disembark and get to shore and then again to embark back onto the ship – this requires stepping down into the tender or Zodiac assisted by your crew onboard.
