MV Raja Ampat Explorer Liveaboard
https://come2indo.blogspot.com/2014/01/mv-raja-ampat-explorer-liveaboard.html
Raja Ampat Explorer Liveaboard
Representative |
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www.come2indonesia.com |
Type Of Ship |
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Motor Vessel |
Size |
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Length 33.52 m |
Max Speed |
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9 Knots |
Numbers Of Cabin |
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7 |
Maximum Passenger |
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Guest 14 Persons |
MV Raja Ampat Explorer has the facilities and services as follows :
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Vessel’s Technical Specifications
Type |
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Wooden Schooner | |
Length |
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33.52 meter | |
Beam |
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7.50 meter | |
Draft |
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2.10 meter | |
Main Engine |
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300 hp | |
Speed |
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8 - 9 knots | |
Electricity |
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220 V | |
Tenders |
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2 Capacity max 8 divers per tender | |
Safety |
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2 life - rafts, 4 life buoys, 50 life jackets 1 Cylinder of Emergency Oxygen First Aid Kit |
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Navigation |
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Furuno Radar 1932 K Furuno Depth Sounder FCV - 612 Furuno GPS HF SSB Radio |
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Flag |
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Indonesia |
Liveaboard Diving Schedules, Prices, and Booking
Please click the image to download the schedule of Banda Sea |
Please click the image to download the schedule of Komodo |
Please click the image to download the schedule of Papua |
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DIVE DESTINATIONS
According to world renown Ichthyologist, Indonesia possesses the world’s richest fish fauna. The Indonesian archipelago stretches in an east-west direction for approximately 5000 km (3100 miles) encompassing nearly 18,000 islands and seemingly endless array of marine habitats. Moreover, the world’s highest reef fish total (1,111 species) for a single restricted locality was recorded at Maumere Bay on the island of Flores (Allen & Kuiter unpublished).
Raja Ampat offers some of the most outstanding diving in Indonesia! RAJA AMPAT and TRITON BAY have been continuously "in the news" in major nature and dive magazines as of late. You are probably all aware of these, but if not, four major recent articles include:
Komodo..., little-Explored Reefs around the Realm of Dragon Komodo is one of the driest regions in Indonesia. Although the rainy season is well on its torrential way in the western part of Indonesia (December – January), around Komodo the skies are usually blue and the tanning sun beats down. |
Geologically,
Komodo is part of Flores, separated from Sumbawa to the west by the
Sape Strait. In the middle of the strait, the bottom drops to almost 300
meters. The many islands and relatively shallow seas between Flores and
Komodo’s west coast mean very fast currents at tidal changes. This fast
current more than 8 knots is fierce, which is a problem no matter how
experienced a diver you are. Diving here is all year around.
Because of the upwellings, it can also get very, very cold. Don’t dive here with a super – thin, high – tech, pantyhose type suite. Bring a proper, thick suit (5 mm). Even a hood wouldn’t hurt.
DIVING THE NORTH : late March – early November
Because of the prevailing winds, in the middle of the summer when most people travel the southern islands are inaccessible. The seas are just too rough and is the time to dive the north.
Best period : during Southeast Monsoon, late March – early May, late September – early November, BUT often currents here.
Water temperature : 28 – 29 C
Visibility : 20 – 25 m
DIVING THE SOUTH : late November - early March
In the winter, when wind and waves are stiring up the water at the northern sites, which is the Northwest Monsoon, head South. The seas are calm and there is enough of a breeze to cool down sunburnt bodies. In November, December, January, visibility is as good as it can get in such plankton-rich seas, 10-15 meters, and the coral growth and fish life in the south are nothing short of excellent.
Best period : late November – early March
Water temperature : 27 – 28 C (from usually 21- 24 C late March – early November)
Visibility : 25 – 35 m (from usually 10 – 15 m late March – early November)
We operate Komodo all year around. Komodo is a must and a great place divers should come back and come back !
Raja Ampat, Papua
Raja Ampat Dive Lodge
( Grand Komodo's eco dive lodge in Raja Ampat )
Raja Ampat Dive Lodge is located at the heart of the most spectacular diving in northern Raja Ampat. Mere minutes from the famous Manta aggregation sites and the fish-filled dives at the western edge of the Dampier Strait, our intimate lodge is the perfect place to experience the most bio-diverse reefs in the world. Fronted by a white sand beach and backed by the ever-verdant Papuan rainforest, the dive lodge is surrounded by natural beauty. Sit on your veranda and listen to the early morning sounds of the jungle as you prepare for another day of spectacular diving accompanied by our knowledgeable dive guides.
Because of the upwellings, it can also get very, very cold. Don’t dive here with a super – thin, high – tech, pantyhose type suite. Bring a proper, thick suit (5 mm). Even a hood wouldn’t hurt.
DIVING THE NORTH : late March – early November
Because of the prevailing winds, in the middle of the summer when most people travel the southern islands are inaccessible. The seas are just too rough and is the time to dive the north.
Best period : during Southeast Monsoon, late March – early May, late September – early November, BUT often currents here.
Water temperature : 28 – 29 C
Visibility : 20 – 25 m
DIVING THE SOUTH : late November - early March
In the winter, when wind and waves are stiring up the water at the northern sites, which is the Northwest Monsoon, head South. The seas are calm and there is enough of a breeze to cool down sunburnt bodies. In November, December, January, visibility is as good as it can get in such plankton-rich seas, 10-15 meters, and the coral growth and fish life in the south are nothing short of excellent.
Best period : late November – early March
Water temperature : 27 – 28 C (from usually 21- 24 C late March – early November)
Visibility : 25 – 35 m (from usually 10 – 15 m late March – early November)
We operate Komodo all year around. Komodo is a must and a great place divers should come back and come back !
Raja Ampat, Papua
Raja Ampat Dive Lodge
( Grand Komodo's eco dive lodge in Raja Ampat )
Raja Ampat Dive Lodge is located at the heart of the most spectacular diving in northern Raja Ampat. Mere minutes from the famous Manta aggregation sites and the fish-filled dives at the western edge of the Dampier Strait, our intimate lodge is the perfect place to experience the most bio-diverse reefs in the world. Fronted by a white sand beach and backed by the ever-verdant Papuan rainforest, the dive lodge is surrounded by natural beauty. Sit on your veranda and listen to the early morning sounds of the jungle as you prepare for another day of spectacular diving accompanied by our knowledgeable dive guides.
The
duplex rooms at the Dive Lodge are comfortable ensuites furnished with
either double or twin beds, tiled bathrooms and wooden interiors cooled
by individual air conditioning units. In between dives you will feast on
serve delicious, healthy meals utilizing the freshest local
ingredients. The staff of Raja Ampat Dive Lodge has been handpicked to provide the same level of service found on our popular liveaboard dive boats. We strive to offer our guests the best value in a diving holiday while ensuring that everyone who stays with us feels like part of our family. This is the final frontier, at the eastern end of Indonesia. Raja Ampat offers amazing diving and the most stunning topside scenery of any dive destination on Earth. This is where Dr. Gerald Allen counted 273 fish species on a single dive. If you’re looking for unusual sea life like the elusive wobbegong shark, or looking for Birds of Paradise, then a Grand Komodo liveaboard cruise here is for you. Water temperature: 24 – 29 C. Visibility: 10 – 30 M (seasonal). Year-round diving. |
The Essence Of Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat is not really about rare critters or seeing sharks, there are generally not as many of what one would call - classic critters or big marine life. What is so special about this area is the scenery and in places the abundance of fish life. Dives where you are inundated with vast schools of fish, on the best of dives fish seem to block out the sun there are so many. Mellow drift dives across the most beautiful coral slopes and channels, unique dives with heavily undercut mushroom shaped islands with gorgeous coral growth virtually to the surface. Some of the best coral gardens we have seen are in this area.
Taking a live-aboard will allow you to see not just these great fish dives but also the topside highlights of this area too. The real “essence of Raja Ampat” is the incredible mix of wonderful topside scenery with great reefs to dive on. Another highlight of this area is taking rides on the tender boat through the most outstanding island scenery of any dive destination anywhere.
Birds of Paradise.
A short trek through a village and small plantation at Yapmanbaba village on Mansuar island, takes us under the canopy of prime forest where we can see these rare and mythical birds. If you don’t do this it’s like going to Komodo and not seeing the dragons. The sounds alone are worth the effort.
Mansuar Area
This is also the place where Dr. Gerald Allen found those 273 different species—see how many you can count! A great range of dive sites here makes this area stand out as being probably the best dive area in the whole of Indonesia for fish life. And not just for the species diversity; the schooling fish life is also incredible. Most reefs here are vibrant with vast amounts of soft corals covering huge coral outcrops that in turn are surrounded by thousands of small sweepers. There are critters as well, but not as many as in other areas, though for sure there are some great areas with rare and unusual marine life.
Waigeo (Aljui Bay).
A great area to anchor amongst the many small islands that make this area like a huge maze. There is also an interesting pearl farm here. The welcoming staff can show divers some of the processes that go into farming high-end pearls. Dive sites vary; many feature brilliantly colorful invertebrate-covered walls that are dotted with caverns. These all seem to just fall from the rock faces that rise up above the water, being topped off with incredible tropical scenery. There are dive sites here that are great critter dives, with many kinds nudibranches and crustaceans to keep the macro lovers content. This area probably has the best macro site in the northern RajaAmpat we have come across up to now!
Kawe Area
More small islands here that are home to some incredible dive sites. Amongst these we encounter groups of small islands. Here pelagic fish and many different schooling fish can be seen. Right on the edge of the Equator there are more impressive islands, some looking like Bonsai trees sitting on a rock base. One very small island has what can only be described as being one the best topographical sites in the area. Walls surround most of the island, which can be circumnavigated easily on one dive. But there is much more, including a coral-covered seamount with hundreds of schooling fish swimming around it, small plateaus, a small cavern, giant sea fans, and many black coral bushes surrounding a tall pinnacle. Some sites here are open to the seas and often experience strong currents. Swells frequently make safety stops near the reef a little awkward.
Wayag Area
This has to be as good as it gets for topside scenery, with lagoons and small mushroom shaped islands. A short trek will reveal this island in all its glory, with great abovewater views of the lagoons and islands you’ve been diving in. The dive sites are home to great marine life, beautiful reef scenery, some schooling pelagic fish, and great topographical underwater landscapes. Also this is home to a hidden blue lagoon with the only way in being from the ocean. Only us divers will ever see this sight.
Surrounded by white sand beaches and reefs that are home now to plane wrecks as well as great marine life. One plane lays on a reef slope covered in an array of beautiful soft corals, with the slope itself sometimes sporting various interesting critters. Reefs here have been impacted in the past, though in places the reef crest is an area where you will want that over-under lens. With a tropical island backdrop, what more could you ask. At times it is possible to see large groups of manta rays cruising by here.
Papua Islands
Misool
Untouched environments, completely in their natural states. Fish populations and coral are healthy, with an enormous variety of species. Many rare and exotic critters. Local villagers are culturally interesting and friendly.
Triton Bay
Triton Bay is still pretty much in the middle of nowhere, far away from the crowd. There are innumerable small islands in the bay. Spectacular scenery over the mainland features rock art cliffs. This area enjoys an unexcelled fish Biomass. Soft coral gardens cover the ridges. Hard coral growth also shows excellent health. This area has both pelagics and critters, with the diving ranging from very good to outstanding.
Mapia
Atiny island right on the equator, between West Papua and Palau.
Come here for nudibranchs galore beneath huge schools of fish. You’ll see snappers, trevally, big groupers, barracudas, gray sharks, pink leaf scorpion fish, rainbow runners, jacks, tunas, huge Napoleon wrasses, and even huger bumphead parrotfish by the hundreds. Dive sites include Bumphead City, Schooling Point, Mapia Boulevard, and Bumphead City—and they came by their names for good reason.
Manokwari
Come to Manokwari for amazing WWII wreck diving, including P-40 (a Curtiss Tomahawk fighter), Cross Wreck, and the Japanese freighter Shinwa Maru, plus the usual amazing wildlife, including healthy and profuse hard and soft corals. Dive profiles extend down to the 30 meter range.
Komodo
Komodo is one of Indonesia’s driest regions. Be sure to include a land visit to see the huge Komodo dragons when you go there. Underwater, Komodo offers just about every type of diving; from current-swept seamounts patrolled by sharks, tuna and other pelagics to calm reefs with teeming schools of fish.
Diving is good year-round. Because of strong currents and upwelling the water can be cold. We suggest a 5mm suit and hood.
Diving in the NORTH : Best period is during the southeast monsoon, from late March to early May and late September to early November. Currents are often encountered during this time. Water temperature: 24 – 29 C. Visibility: 20 – 25 m.
Diving in the SOUTH : Best period is during the northwest monsoon, mid November to early March. Water temperature: 21 – 27 C. Visibility: 10 – 15 m.
Sangeang
Sangeang is an active volcano whose steep, conical slopes extend up to a nearly 2,000m peak. Lava flows are occasionally visible on its flanks. This island lies between Komodo and Sumbawa island. Sangeang’s black volcanic sands offer underwater photographers a wonderfully contrasting background for fish and other critters, with streams of bubbles rising from the sands here and there due to the volcanic activity. A wealth of sea life can be found in the coral reefs around Sangeang, including nudibranchs and flatworms.
Alor
Alor is still pretty much in the middle of nowhere, away from the crowd. Remote and pristine. The masses of swirling, schooling fish and rich concentrations of invertebrates and critters may well make Alor one of the best diving Indonesia has to offer.
Shear drop offs with amazing coral reef scenery and great fish life, giant pinnacles covered in beautiful corals. Shallows are home of anthias and damselfish. Banks and walls reef. At some sites the current is 2 knots or more. Macro sites with all sorts of weirds and rare critters such as rhinopias, leaf scorpion fish, frogfish,and many other cool critters. One famous site here is renowned for large pelagic fish. Night dives usually are rich of interesting surprises.
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The
diversity and marine life range from beautiful coral reef scenerey and
great critters to larger fish. It is not just the diving that makes Alor
special. The fact that the local communities guard their reefs for
their future keep all the reef pristine makes Alor even more special.
Among the special souvenirs to take home is the handwoeven IKATsarong. |
Alor’s
friendly inhabitants are the original source of those beautiful Ikat
fabrics sold in Bali. Remote and pristine, Alor’s waters offer masses of
swirling, schooling fish and a comparable diversity of rare and weird
critters on the reefs. Alor is a macro photographer’s dream. |
Banda Sea, Halmahera and Maluku
Banda in the Banda sea
Knowledgeable divers seek out this remote location due to a confluence of currents and nutrients there, producing an unusually diverse and brilliant growth of marine life—even for Indonesia. Fishes large and small can be found on any of the dive sites. The diving ranges from the shallow lagoon between Banda Neira and Gunung Api to the vertical walls of Hatta Island.
Halmahera in North Maluku
These were the original Spice Islands. Until the Dutch planted cloves on Ambon Island, every clove in the world came from the Halmahera islands Ternate and Tidore.
This region features unique reef formations, with visibility 20 – 30 m, and water temperature of 27 – 28 C. Plenty of macro and micro subjects for UW photographers.
Lembeh Strait and Togian
Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi Critter heaven! Bring your macro lens and shoot flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimp, skeleton shrimps, innumerable nudibranchs, and amazing fish such as stargazers, snake eels, stonefish, sea robins, devilfish, weedy scorpion fish, pygmy seahorses, Pegasus sea robins, cardinal fish, ghost pipe fish, and the queen of small tropicals, the kaleidoscopic mandarin fish. Moreover, while much of Indonesian diving requires dealing with currents, Lembeh features easy diving in calm lake-like water. This place has earned its reputation as the muck diving capital of the world. And it makes for part of a great combination trip with Togian National Park (see the next listing). Togian National Park in Central Sulawesi We know of nowhere else where you can dive on barrier reefs, atolls and fringing reefs all in the same area. Togian’s coral reefs offer beauty and diversity with visibility of 15 – 30 m. Eye-popping density of fish life includes schools of jacks and barracudas, bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasses, snappers, fusiliers and more. The underwater landscape matches the beauty of the fish life. Explore drop offs with crevasse and overheads, canyons, rock formations, pinnacles, steep slopes and walls. You’ll see abundant gorgonians and healthy soft corals. Plus you can see a remarkably intact WWII B-24 Liberator plane wreck at 18m. |
Wakatobi Wakatobi (also called the Tukangbesi Islands) in Southeast Sulawesi This archipelago is named after its four main islands: Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, and Binongko. Here you’ll experience great wall diving, unparalleled diversity of marine life and the healthiest reefs in the Sulawesi region. On any given day look for mimic octopus, devil scorpion fish, stonefish, ribbon eels, “disco clams”, and many other fascinating critters. Night dives are breathtaking. Entire walls burst into vivid colors as nocturnal tubastrea and soft corals “bloom.” And the diversity of invertebrates such as crustaceans, nudibranchs and mollusks is bewildering. Caribbean divers will sit staring at their logbooks after each dive, not knowing where to begin. |
Kalimantan
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Derawan & Sangalaki in East Kalimantan Derawan is home to numerous critters plus turtles (green turtles and hawksbills) that come to the shore at night during high tide to lay their eggs. Kakaban Kakaban features wall diving, with the walls patrolled by schooling barracuda, bluefin tunas, jacks, leopard sharks, gray reef sharks, and sometimes hammerheads. The world’s largest jellyfish lake is here also. Halimeda green algae covers the bottom of the lake, and mangrove roots live side by side with tunicates, sponges, tube worms, crustaceans, anemones, sea cucumber, sea snakes and gobies. Still unidentified species abound. Sangalaki Sangalaki is home to squadrons of giant manta rays. They emerge from all directions, undisturbed by your presence. Most are at least 3.5m (12 ft) wide. These have the typical white underside but there are also a few black mantas with 6m (20 ft) wingspans, referred to fondly as Darth Vader fish. Maratua Maratua island boasts a massive lagoon. The island only rims apart of the lagoon, with the rest fringed by a reef and wall covered with hard and soft coral. |
DIVE ITINERARY
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SCHEDULE RAJA AMPAT EXPLORER 2014
Note : For divers who are not part of a group or chartering one of our boats we have “Scheduled” departures. You may book your dive trips to us.
GETTING TO THE DIVE BOATS
DISTRIBUTION POINTS : DENPASAR, MANADO and JAKARTA
RAJA AMPAT – MISOOL – TRITON BAY DIVE PROGRAMS Embarkation & Disembarkation port : Sorong. You can either fly from Denpasar to Ujungpandang with one transit overnight in Ujungpandang before flying to Sorong the next morning. Or fly from Manado to Sorong. Or fly from Jakarta to Ujungpandang then Sorong. In Sorong you will be met by Grand Komodo staff who will take you directly to the boat. |
MANOKWARI W W II WRECKS PROGRAM Embarkation & Disembarkation port : Manokwari You will fly from Jakarta or Denpasar to Ujungpandang for one transit overnight before flying to Manokwari the next morning. |
CENDRAWASIH BAY PROGRAM Embarkation port : Manokwari or Biak. Disembarkation port : Biak or Manokwari. You will fly from Jakarta to Ujungpandang for one transit overnight before flying to Biak or Manokwari the next morning. |
HALMAHERA PROGRAMS You will fly to Ternate from either Denpasar or Manado or Jakarta. |
KOMODO DIVE PROGRAMS You will fly to Bima on the Island of Sumbawa or to Labuan Bajo on West – Flores. The drive from Bima to Sape seaport is approximately 1:30 hours. There are many photographic opportunities as you will pass through the beautiful teak forests and many villages along the road. |
ALOR AND WAKATOBI PROGRAMS You will fly from Denpasar to Maumere. In Maumere you will be met by Grand Komodo staff who will take you directly to the boat. |
DERAWAN AND SANGALAKI PROGRAM Embarkation and Disembarkation port : Tarakan. You will fly from Denpasar or Jakarta to Tarakan. You will be met by Grand Komodo staff who will transfer you to the boat. |
Why Dive with Grand Komodo
Grand Komodo’s pioneering efforts pay off for divers today. Our divemasters all grew up here, and nobody knows the sites, the conditions, and the critters better than they do. We always have a Plan B if a given site isn’t good that day. Likewise our captains, chase boat drivers, compressor operators, engineers, cooks and cabin attendants are all local people experienced in our locales, operations and customers.
And because we have a fleet of boats in these waters they’re able to back each other up when need be. In the distant areas where we operate this provides a level of security few others can offer.
Plus, because we’re locally owned and operated, we have a “home court advantage” in dealing with local authorities and airlines. Our agents greet you and handle local arrangements for you every step of the way. But when you travel halfway around the world to go diving you want more than competent service—you want excellence where it counts most: underwater.
And even though our cruises consistently cost less than those of competitors, we never stint on the quality of the diving. On the boats the accommodations aren’t fancy but they are safe and comfortable. Overall the individualized service of the competent and friendly local divemasters and staff ensures customized, personal diving experiences not soon to be forgotten.
Grand Komodo runs scheduled departures throughout the year, and our diverse fleet makes it easy to arrange a charter to fit your specific needs. We can also provide you with an itinerary combining several consecutive trips—not a bad idea, considering the distance and cost of getting to Indonesia for most divers.
Our Strengths
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Operating
in Indonesia for over 20 years. Experienced in dealing with local
conditions and culture as well as getting you to all the best dive
sites.
- Comfortable, affordable liveaboards with experienced and friendly team who help insure the best dive trip experience.
- We operate 5 liveaboard vessels of varying sizes : Raja Ampat Explorer (14), TemuKira (12), Putri Papua (9), Tarata (12) and Nusa Tara (6). We can accommodate individual divers or groups as small as 6, up to a maximum of 14.
- Our Departures are all year round to various destinations thus providing flexibility for combining trips.
- Specializing in Raja Ampat, Komodo, Halmahera and beyond, that include Misool, Mapia, Manokwari, Triton Bay, Banda, Togian, Lembeh, Derawan & Sangalaki. To Sangeang, Alor, Wakatobi.
- Our Support Center Network : Denpasar, Bima, Labuan Bajo, Sorong.
- Over 70 % of our bookings are from repeating customers -- a testament to customer satisfaction.
- English and French speaking owners have been in the tourism business over two decades and are highly respected in the industry.
- Our programs are designed to maximize the diving experience in all destinations, avoiding unnecessary long crossing from/back to Bali.
- Personalized services by competent staff, pre and post trips. We are experts in local touring also and can help you arrange other land-based tours throughout Indonesia.
- Reasonably priced, good value for the money.
The price is subject to change. Please contact us for more information.