Indonesia is a vast archipelago shaped by volcanic activity and steeped in seafaring traditions. The region is in the heart of the Great Ring of Fire, and it is the most tectonically active region encircling the Pacific Ocean.
To explore Indonesia in great depth, you will at some stage need to take to seas – and how better to do so than in a luxuriously furnished wooden sailing ship called a pinisi. The traditional hand-crafted vessels blend seamlessly with modern-day merchant shipping fleets, carrying freight throughout Indonesia's Tropical waters. Whilst on this cruise you will visit a thriving village where these ships are being built.
You will also visit a myriad of islands, some tiny green surrounded by white sand and coral reef; others whose peaks reach almost 2,000 metres, visibly created by volcanoes which have exploded out of the tropical waters you will sail across. Some of these islands have an incredibly violent past, including Mount Tambora whose eruption had about four times the energy of Krakatoa. Its explosion in 1815 gave rise to the 'year without a summer' when ash filled skies as far away as North America and Europe.
Now, the coral reefs flourish in these calm waters. In fact, here within the Coral Triangle, you will find some of the most diverse and colourful reefs on our planet. This voyage provides once in a lifetime opportunities to snorkel in stunning waters where we can find hundreds of species of Acropora and other hard corals; pink, white and red soft corals; and thousands of tropical fishes.
If you prefer to keep your head above water, there will be several opportunities to utilize the paddleboards and kayaks and admire the coral reefs from a bird’s eye view. You’ll also have the chance to paddle across serene crater lakes nestled within volcanic islands, taking in the beauty from atop the water.
There will be plenty of opportunities to step onto the shore, with excursions planned to waterfalls, isolated beaches and forest fringed lagoons. At both Komodo and Rinca islands, you’ll witness Indonesia’s large legendary lizards: the Komodo Dragon. They share their habitat with their prey, which comes in the form of wild buffalo, monkeys and Sunda sambar deer.
Itinerary
Sample 9 Day Itinerary
These voyages are available on two wooden pinisi ships, built using hand tools and traditional methods by the highly skilled seafaring peoples of Borneo and Sulawesi. Both are outfitted with up to date safety equipment, tenders, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling gear. Cabins are located below decks and are well equipped with air-conditioning, storage space and private bathrooms.
Motor Yacht Option A
Built in 1997 and re-fitted in 2015, this 42 metre ship carries 24 guests in 12 comfortable cabins all located on the lower deck. The main and top decks are comfortably furnished with covered and open seating areas, large salon and sundeck.
Motor Yacht Option B
Built in 1995 and re-fitted in 2014, this 38 metre ship carries just 12 guests in 6 cabins. Onboard you will find a salon, bar, two sun decks and an outdoor dining area.
Days 1 - 2
You will be met at the airport and driven to the harbour to step onto your pinisi yacht base, before heading to your first snorkelling spot in this part of the Coral Triangle. This spot is a restoration project, where the abundance of coral and fish species richness has improved over the past decade.
Following this, you will head to one of the legendary homes of the Komodo Dragon, at Komodo National Park. These incredible creatures are part of the monitor lizard family and are the largest living lizards in the world, reaching up to 3 metres in length and 135 kg. These mostly inactive reptiles can be great subjects for cameras, but it is still a good idea to give them some distance when observing them.
Next, you will have the chance to snorkel some of the coral reefs around the Komodo Archipelago. Sea turtles can be seen visiting regular hangouts at many sites, hopefully allowing us to observe them with relative ease.
Days 3 - 4
Across these two days you will wake up off the coast of a beautiful uninhabited island with a beach of pure white sand with some sparkles of powdered red coral, creating the effect of a "pink beach". You will spend the morning in this area, swimming, paddle boarding, and snorkelling on the beautiful coral reef that lies parallel to the beach.
You will also cruise to a nearby active volcanic island where we will see a large wooden pinisi boat with the same pedigree and history as the ship you are on, being built on the beach. Walking around this small village, get a feel for their simple way of life, chat with the locals and maybe buy some handmade textiles as a souvenir.
On one of the days, you will visit a strange and mystical volcanic island with a sunken crater lake in its centre that was filled with saltwater when the nearby Mt Tambora catastrophically erupted in 1815. Here you will be able to swim, kayak and paddleboard on the lake; and those eager to expend some energy can go trekking around the crater rim.
Another highlight of your voyage will be the sight of thousands of flying foxes that fly at dusk from an island to feed on the mainland. You will also experience a beach BBQs under a night sky filled with millions of stars as you feast on the amazing local delicacies prepared by your chef, accompanied by live musical entertainment from the crew. At dusk, look out for any flying foxes that fly from the island to feed on the mainland.
Days 5 - 6
These two days you will visit a small limestone island for snorkelling, kayaking and exploring the karst formations. You will also visit Labuan Aji village on the island of Moyo and walk to a scenic waterfall. You can bathe here in cool freshwater.
At some stage you will anchor off the north coast of Sumbawa, where you will be able to see fishermen who catch small fish called ikan bilis, on nets hung directly beneath the floating platforms which are their homes. Whale sharks are often attracted to their catch, which the fishermen share with these, the largest of all fish. With any luck, you will be able to snorkel amongst them.
Days 7 & 8
To mark a week onboard the vessel, you will visit a volcanically active location known for its snorkelling experiences where gasses escape in the form of bubbles from the sea floor among the corals, with the metallic black volcanic sand below being home to an abundance of very interesting invertebrates.
You will also re-enter the Komodo National Park for further snorkelling opportunities in some of the best and healthiest coral reefs in the area, and if you want to take the land-adventure to another level, you can do a sunset hike up to a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the neighbouring islands in the park.
Another standout location is Rinca Island, which is well known for its diverse wildlife, and opportunities to spot dragons, monkeys, wild buffaloes and deer as well. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breath taking.
Day 9
On your final day, you will visit Melo village on a drive after a breakfast. This is where you will witness a Caci dance. The Caci dance is a type of duel, in which two men with whips and a shield of rattan attempt to hit each other whilst and dancing in time to the sound of playing instruments.
After you have eaten lunch onboard the ship, you will disembark and finish your itinerary aboard.
Dates
Our price includes:
- Accommodation in a shared twin cabin
- All meals onboard
- Soft drinks, tea, coffee and snacks
- Two items of laundry per day
- Towels and linens
- Complimentary sarong, cotton backpack and re-usable water bottle
- Basic first aid kit
- Toiletries inc sunscreen, soap and shampoo
- Complimentary beer, wine and selected cocktails with beach BBQ
- Port and park fees
- Use of facilities onboard inc snorkelling gear, paddle boards and kayaks
- Transfers to and from the boat as per the itinerary
Not included:
- Domestic flights
- Other alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature (e.g. souvenirs)
- Fuel surcharge US$400*
*may be subject to change
