Bali-Komodo-Sumba-Savu-Kupang (10D9N)

Bali-Komodo-Sumba-Savu-Kupang

With some imagination the storyline of this cruise could be made into the synopsis of a movie script. Each day and each island brings another flashback to the times before the archipelago became known as the East Indies and we invite everyone who yearns for a fresh dose of inspiration to join in…

In scene five you meet the Jurassic monsters on Komodo... in scene six you can hear the earth of Sumba being trampled by horses carrying ferocious warriors… in scene eight we see the gracious feet of virgins dancing on the beach of Savu at a thanksgiving ceremony following harvest…. In scene nine we listen to the delicate tones of the sasando, a 12-string lontar-leaf harp, evoking the nostalgia of the Portuguese era on the island of Roti…..this leisure expedition is a true voyage back in time…

 

 

Day 1	Leaving at 08.30 a.m. we transfer you from Sanur in the south of Bali to the anchorage of ‘Katharina’ off the village of Amed, in north-east Bali, a pleasant and beautiful drive of about 2 hours. After we board the vessel and settle in, the captain gives the orders for the anchor to be lifted and we cross the Lombok Strait. This stretch of water between Bali and Lombok marks a very important ecological boundary, first described by Sir Alfred Russel Wallace, the British naturalist. He noticed that the flora and fauna of the islands to the west are home to Asiatic animal and plant species, whereas the islands to the east of that “line” have a greater similarity to species found in Australia. In the afternoon we make a first stop at the small island of Gili Trawangan, just off the Lombok coast, for a couple of hours of swimming, snorkeling, and beach-combing. In the late afternoon we go on a north-easterly course again for the overnight passage to the Sumbawa region.
Day 2	As the sun rises we make our landfall at the island of Moyo. After breakfast we go ashore to hike through the monsoon forest to a lovely three-tiered waterfall for a dip or a swim in complete wilderness. Around noon once we return to the ship the anchor is raised again. We sail Eastward around the north coast of Moyo and a few hours later we arrive at Satonda island. Located just a couple of miles off the north-west coast of Sumbawa, Satonda is what remained of an extinct volcano of which the caldera was filled with water when nearby Mount Tambora erupted in 1815. It was the biggest volcanic eruption in the collective memory of mankind, much larger than Krakatoa. With an estimated volume of 160 cubic kilometers of rocks and ash ejected from the volcano the following year became known as the "year without a summer" because of the effect on North American and European weather. The slopes of Satonda are now covered in lush forest. We will go ashore to take some pictures of the huge crater-lake just a few minutes from the beach. Reefs around the island are spectacular and mostly in pristine condition, excellent for snorkelers. A highlight of a visit to Satonda is the sight of many thousands of flying foxes that commute at dusk from the island to feed on the mainland, returning before first light the next day. At sunset we head eastward again for another overnight passage.
Day 3	We arrive in the morning at Wera on the east coast of the island of Sumbawa. Wera is a Buginese settlement famous for its boat building. Here we will see all kinds of craft in various stages of construction, similar to how Katharina was built in 1998. If weather would not allow a smooth landing we sail to Sangean island, an active volcano towering 1800 meters above the surrounding waters. We will visit the tiny settlement on the island and make a short hike testing the steepness of the volcano. In the afternoon we proceed to Gili Banta, an island uninhabited by humans and a perfect place for some excellent swimming and snorkeling. During the night Katharina goes on a course to Komodo island.
Day 4	Shortly after sunrise we go ashore on the island that has given the dragon as well as the National Park its name. Accompanied by a ranger, we will hike for about 2 to 3 hours in a landscape of steppe and forest. A few of the wild beasts are always seen, as are deer and monkeys. The ranger shows us the dens and nests of the dragons and we learn a lot more about this mysterious creature. Once the heat of the day hits the island, we escape to one of the postcard-picture beaches of the National Park: Red Beach, its name derived from the fact that it is red-colored by pulverized coral. Here we spend another splendid afternoon beach combing and snorkeling. During the evening on another deserted beach nearby we will have a barbecue dinner under the blinking gaze of a million stars.
Day 5	We wake up with the ship at anchor off Rinca Island, the second largest of the eighty islands in the Komodo archipelago and the richest in terms of fauna. We will go trekking through spectacular scenery of savannah, looking for wild horses, water buffalo, wild boar, monkeys, and of course the famous ‘Komodo dragons’. Rinca’s unsurpassed savannah scenery is accentuated by deep blue coves and inlets. In the course of the afternoon we lift the anchor again and sailing out through the Linta strait we go on a southerly course to cross the Savu Sea.
Day 6	We arrive at Waikelo, West Sumba. Here we go ashore for a first impression and visit some of the traditional villages of West Sumba, where time seems an irrelevant factor and where it seems as if life has not changed for ages. We will admire numerous megaliths erected on ancestral tombs. Along the way we will stop for a picnic and have our lunch that was prepared beforehand by the crew. In the late afternoon we go back aboard Katharina and the ship will be heading east along the north coast of Sumba.
Day 7	We anchor in the eastern part of Sumba Island, off the main town of Waingapu. The cultural life of Sumba is distinguished by spectacular rituals, huge megalithic grave sites, unusual peaked houses and beautiful ikat cloths. Sumba is one of the most culturally interesting places to visit in East Indonesia. Because of its position south to the other islands of Nusa Tenggara, Sumba managed to escape the influence of Hindu, Muslim and Christian religion. Today, still more than 50 % of its population adheres to traditional religion of animism and ancestor worship. When we visit one of the traditional villages in East Sumba, we are welcomed by horses dancing along the path and we are invited to share betel nut with the villagers, while some of them perform the local dances. The women show us the production of their famous textiles – from spinning the cotton to the finished “ikat”. And of course, these pieces of art and workmanship are for sale! During the night Katharina makes the 110 nautical mile crossing to the Island of Savu.
Day 8	We arrive at the same spot where James Cook landed in 1770. Savu is one of the most precious islands of all of Indonesia! The inhabitants of this rugged and dry island are extremely friendly and hospitable and the girls are famous for their beauty. We are welcomed by the Savunese during a special welcome ceremony, performed on the beach and accompanied by a ritual horse dance. We stroll through the ancient ruins of Bodo and a truck brings us to Mesara -aside from some motorcycles and an ambulance, trucks are the only means of transport on the island-. In Mesara, the ladies show us in a perfect demonstration how they make their beautiful “ikat”-textiles. How they spin the cotton, dye it with natural colors, use strings to bind (“ikat”) the pattern into the yarn, weave it on the loom and finally wear it. In the late afternoon we sail onward to the island of Roti.
Day 9	We arrive at Baa, the capital of Roti, the southernmost Island in Indonesi. Roti has been long under the influence of Portugal, which is clearly demonstrated by the local handicraft. Here is your chance to buy silver ornaments, distinctive Rotinese ikats, and pinnacled hats plaited from lontar leaves. We are likely to be entertained by music and dances produced by the sasando, a 12-string lontar-leaf harp that originated from this tiny island. The music is reminiscent of the Fado music and the saudade sentiments of Portugal. If time allows we will attend music and dance performance before we depart on our last overnight passage to West-Timor.
Day 10	Early in the morning we arrive in the traditional harbour of Temau, Kupang, West Timor. After breakfast, you will say farewell to the crew and the Katharina. We will transfer you to the airport. On the way to Kupang airport, if time allows this, we will visit the museum of west-Timor in the center of the city. Return flight from Kupang to Denpasar, Bali.

Participants should be aware that itinerary and program of our sea voyages occasionally may have to be modified, due to factors beyond our control : unfavorable weather conditions, delay in processing harbour clearances, modified schedules of domestic flights. We will adjust the program accordingly in the best interest of all.


Please note that the domestic flights are not included in the price.

PRICE PER PERSON :

The price is subject to change. Please  contact us for more information.