Flores-Komodo-Sumbawa-Bali (9D8N)

Flores-Komodo-Sumbawa-Bali

Few areas in Asia can match the cultural and natural diversity as can be found following the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands : towering active volcanoes, jungle clad mountain ranges, alternated by dry savannah lowlands, both teeming with wildlife… quiet coastal villages, emerald seas, megalithic cultures, colorful market places, tribal rituals and in addition a world of kaleidoscopic beauty under water.

This leisure expedition includes the Komodo area for a couple of days of snorkeling, beach combing and hiking through one of the most beautiful National Parks of Indonesia. Entering the Flores Highlands you have an opportunity to hike to some remote villages and witness the tedious process of ‘ikat’ weaving, practiced amid unsurpassed scenery of gigantic volcanoes, bamboo forests and intriguingly colored crater lakes. It is the very best introduction to the soul of Indonesia.

Day 1	Early afternoon arrival by air from Denpasar, Bali in Maumere. east Flores. After boarding and settling in on Katharina, we will pay a visit to the small village of Watublapi where we will witness a cultural performance and a demonstration of the traditional hand weaving process typical for Flores. After the performance and dinner on board we will set sail headed for Ropa headed west along the north coast of Flores.
Day 2	Early morning we reach Ropa, Central Flores, the starting point for our excursion to Kelimutu. The Kelimutu is a volcano with 3 coloured crater lakes. Situated in the midst of forest-covered mountains, the colors of the lakes are a surprise, as they change from time to time. They may be turquoise, black and a reddish brown, but don’t be surprised if you find a white one or a red one! We take our time to experience the spooky atmosphere surrounding this natural phenomenon, quite unique in the world. On the way back we stop in villages to admire the architecture of the traditional houses of the Lio people with the typical high thatched roofs. We will have lunch n the village of Moni. At night we will sail from Ropa to Riung
Day 3	Today we take our time to explore the Riung Archipelago, a group of (17) non-inhabited islands surrounded by white sandy beaches and beautiful coral gardens just off the coast of Flores. Here we will spend the whole day beach combing, swimming and snorkeling. A hike up to the hill warranties the spectator of a spectacular view of the main island. We will visit a colony of fruit bats, hanging on the branches of mangrove lining up the coast. Time permitting we may make a stop at Riung village located on the opposite side on the mainland of Flores. Night sailing to Labuhanbajo, west-Flores.
Day 4	Early morning arrival in the beautiful bay of Labuhanbajo, the western-most tip of Flores. After breakfast we will board a bus, following a winding uphill road to the village of Melo where local ‘strongmen’ will perform the whip-dance, typical for west Flores. Armed with a rattan shield and whip, two men try to hit each other on the back. He who first inflicts a bleeding wound on the back of his opponent is announced the winner. After re-embarkation we sail to the island of Kelor and Kukusan, twin islands close to Labuhanbajo. In Kelor we will swim and snorkel and while the crew is preparing a BBQ and collects dead wood for a bonfire we will visit the island of Kukusan where we visit a settlement of the Baju, the ‘Sea Gypsies’ who are indigenous to the area and live in houses on wooden stilts protecting the residents from being flooded during high tide. In the evening we will continue our journey to the island of Rinca.
Day 5	We wake up while the boat is at anchor off Rinca island, the second largest of the eighty islands of 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’. While walking we will make stops at certain viewpoints to enjoy the beautiful vistas over the mainland of Flores and the surrounding islands. From Rinca we proceed to a beach, called ‘red beach’ because of the particles of red coral mingled with the sand. Here we will swim and snorkel over one of the ‘richest’ reefs in Eastern Indonesia. We will be stunned by the incredible variety of coral and fish on display underneath our arms and legs. From the red beach we will look for anchorage off the island of Komodo proper. With our dinghy will go ashore at the ranger station in Loh Liang for an afternoon trek through the Park searching for more of the infamous Komodo Lizards. In the setting of a dry and rugged landscape we will meet the enormous creatures that come closest to anything you ever fancied of prehistory. Shock and awe will be our part! To complete the day time allowing, we make a last stop in the Park at Gili Lawa Darat, another paradise in its own right, where the swimming and snorkeling is great and where we may go for a hike. The view from the 350 m top of Gili Lawa Darat may be one of the true highlights of your cruise. As the sun sets we hoist the anchor for the passage to the east side of the island of Sumbawa.
Day 6	In the morning we stop at the island Banta, all deserted and perfect for conducting explorations over and under the water. From Banta it is a short crossing to 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, much the way the Katharina was built in 1998. We stroll through the village and experience the friendliness of the population. If weather prohibits a safe landing, we sail to Sangean, an active volcano towering 1800 meters above the surrounding waters. We will meet the people of the tiny settlement on the island and make a short hike testing the steepness of the volcano. Evening and night sailing along the north coast of Sumbawa.
Day 7	In the morning we set our eyes on the island of Satonda, an extinct volcano. We walk over a tiny ridge hiding the crater lake of the volcano and sense the eery atmosphere surrounding this big pond, all silent except the sound of a lonely bird or a gecko exercising his unique vocal chords. Swimming over the stunning reef just off the island enlightened by a rainbow of aquarium fish, we enter a world entirely different in colors but similar for the absence of sounds. From Satonda we proceed to Moyo, approximately three hour sailing. We stop at the west side of the island where we will try and detect a local waterfall hidden in the dense shrubs. The ice cold, fresh water pool at the bottom of the cascade makes swimming a totally different experience! Continuing our sailing west we may make a final stop at Pulau (island) Panjang or Pulau Kramat for enjoying the sight of sun setting behind the Rinjani volcano in north Lombok. Onward night sailing to east Lombok.
Day 8	Docked in Labuhan Lombok, east Lombok, we board after breakfast a local coach for a tour into the interior of east Lombok, untouched by the crowds spotted in west Lombok. We will visit Masbagi, a pottery village, attend a local dance performance and will have a real Sasak (original residents of Lombok) lunch on the way. From east Lombok we will follow the road to the northern part of the island. We will pass through spectacular landscape along the foothills of the majestic volcano Rinjani (3900 m), monkeys staring at us from the wayside insisting to get some peanuts, a banana or a cookie We will re-board Katharina on the north side or on the east side of Lombok, depending on weather and sea conditions.
Day 9	Your last day aboard Katharina starts with a relaxing morning on a beach at Gili Nanggu (just off the coast of South west Lombok), the closest paradise to be found in Bali’s vicinity. Around lunch time we will depart for a four hour sail back to Bali, crossing the stretch of water between Bali and Lombok. The Lombok Strait marks an important ecological boundary, first described by Sir Alfred Russel Wallace, the 19th century British naturalist. He noticed that flora and fauna of the islands west of this boundary are home to Asiatic animal and plant species, whereas the islands east of that “line” have a greater similarity to species found in Australia.

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.