Part of our The Kimberley guide →
You pay the same as booking direct. Here’s how we’re paid.
Kimberley costs at a glance
- Ten to eleven nights, Coral Expeditions
- Roughly $9,000 to $16,000 per person
- Seabourn Pursuit, ten to eleven days
- From around $9,500, higher for larger suites
- Small Australian vessels, 18 to 36 guests
- Often $12,000 to $22,000 for 7 to 10 nights
- Per night
- Roughly $900 to $1,600 per person
- Helicopter to Mitchell Falls
- Extra on most ships, priced by flight
- Domestic flights
- Perth, Sydney or Melbourne to Broome or Darwin, extra
- Our fee
- None. Pricing matches booking direct
What Does a Kimberley Cruise Cost?
Roughly $9,000 to $16,000 per person for a ten or eleven night voyage with Coral Expeditions, depending on cabin. Seabourn Pursuit's ten to eleven day expeditions start around $9,500 and rise well beyond that for larger suites. The smallest Australian vessels frequently cost more per night rather than less.
| Category | Typical cost per person | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose-built coastal expedition, 10 to 11 nights | $9,000 to $16,000 | Full coastal navigation, daily tender and Zodiac excursions, naturalist and cultural guiding, landing and permit fees, all meals |
| Ultra-luxury expedition ship, 10 to 11 days | From around $9,500, well above for larger suites | All-suite accommodation, large expedition team, premium spirits, Wi-Fi and gratuities, submersible operations where offered |
| Small Australian vessel, 18 to 36 guests, 7 to 10 nights | $12,000 to $22,000 | Flexible daily plans, small-group tenders, fishing tackle, close-knit Australian crew |
Helicopter excursions, domestic and international flights and hotel nights at each end are extra in every tier.
The counterintuitive part is that smaller is not cheaper. An eighteen-guest vessel spreads crew, fuel, permits and tender operations across very few passengers, so the nightly rate climbs as guest numbers fall.
Fares are broadly all-inclusive of excursions on this coast, because there is nothing ashore to sell you. Meals, Zodiac and tender operations, guiding and park or landing fees are normally in the fare.
How Does This Compare with Expedition Pricing Elsewhere on This Site?
It is consistent. Our general guidance is that expedition fares start around $1,000 per person per night. A ten-night Kimberley voyage at $9,000 to $16,000 works out at roughly $900 to $1,600 a night, and the small-vessel tier sits at the upper end of that. Nothing here contradicts the site-wide figures.
The Kimberley is not the most expensive expedition destination we sell — Antarctica and the high Arctic reach further — but it has an unusually high floor, because there is no budget end of this market at all.
What Is Included in the Fare?
On almost every Kimberley vessel: all meals, daily Zodiac or tender excursions, the naturalist and cultural guiding programme, and landing or permit fees. Seabourn includes premium spirits, Wi-Fi and gratuities. What is not included is flights, pre- and post-voyage hotels, and helicopter excursions on most ships.
Local fast-boat activity in Talbot Bay has historically been bundled into small-ship fares. Access there is changing, so check what is actually included on your departure — our Horizontal Falls guide sets out the current position.
What Are the Costs People Forget?
Four recur: the helicopter flight to Mitchell Falls, which is a meaningful extra rather than a token one; domestic flights to Broome or Darwin from Perth or the eastern capitals; two nights at each end, which are not optional if you want a buffer; and international airfare to Australia in the first place.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Helicopter flight to Mitchell Falls | Charged by flight or bundled into premium suites |
| Domestic flight, Perth or eastern capitals to Broome or Darwin | $200 to $600 per sector |
| Hotel nights in Broome or Darwin | $200 to $500 per night |
| Single supplement, small vessel | Often significant, few cabins to release |
Ranges are 2026-27 planning estimates and vary with season and availability.
The long-haul airfare is the reason we suggest treating this as a two- or three-week trip rather than a ten-night one. If you are already flying to Australia, adding a land extension spreads that airfare across much more travel — see combining the Kimberley with wider Australian travel.
Helicopter pricing varies by operator: some charge by flight minute, some bundle a Mitchell Falls flight into premium suite categories. Our Mitchell Falls guide covers how the flights are sold.
How Do You Keep the Cost Down?
Book early, because the tightest-supply months sell first and late availability here is expensive rather than discounted. Consider April or September rather than the June and July peak. Choose a mid-tier cabin on a purpose-built ship over an entry cabin on a small charter yacht, which is usually better value per night.
Booking 12 to 18 months ahead is normal on this coast. The season is about six months long, the fleet is small, and there is no late-discount culture of the kind you see on larger ships elsewhere.
Are These Numbers from Your Own Trip?
Not from our own Kimberley voyage — we sail this coast in 2027 with Seabourn. These figures come from current operator pricing, from what our clients have actually paid, and from live fares we quote day to day. They are reviewed on the date shown above.
We do work with both Coral Expeditions and Seabourn across their global programmes, and we have sailed Seabourn in Alaska aboard Seabourn Odyssey, though not aboard their expedition ships. See where we've been for the full record.
Kimberley cost questions
How much does a Kimberley cruise cost?
Roughly $9,000 to $16,000 per person for a ten or eleven night purpose-built expedition voyage. Ultra-luxury expedition ships start around $9,500 and rise well beyond for larger suites, and the smallest Australian vessels often cost more per night.
Are Kimberley cruises all-inclusive?
Largely, because there is nothing ashore to buy. Meals, tender and Zodiac excursions, guiding and landing fees are normally in the fare. Flights, hotels and helicopter excursions usually are not.
How much is the Mitchell Falls helicopter flight?
It varies by operator. Some charge by flight, some bundle a flight into premium suite categories. Confirm before booking if it matters to you.
Why are small Kimberley boats more expensive?
Fewer guests carry the same crew, fuel, permit and tender costs, so the nightly rate rises as the vessel gets smaller.
How far ahead should you book a Kimberley cruise?
Twelve to eighteen months. The season is about six months long, the fleet is small, and June and July depart first. Late availability tends to be expensive rather than discounted.