11 Days in Indonesia

Benoa is the main cruise port on the island of Bali. There are numerous places that can be accessed from here including the party-centric Kuta, Nusa Dua the popular beach resort with its luxury hotels and restaurants, as well as coffee plantations and rice terraces. Trips to temples, palaces, markets, and a bat cave are some of the many things also on offer.

Gili Kondo is an uninhabited island which is part of 33 small islands in Eastern Lombok. The word Gili simply means “small island” in the Sasak language. Enjoy snorkeling directly from the beach, where the waters are very calm and there are plenty of multi-colored fish. Afterwards you can relax on the white sand and soak up some rays, or take a long beachcombing stroll.

The park was founded in 1980 with the aim of preserving the unique Komodo dragon and its habitat. Komodo Island is the bleak and desolate domain of this highly aggressive reptile that looks like a relic from the age when dinosaurs walked the earth. The species is notoriously fierce and the “dragon” moniker is well deserved. The Komodo dragon, which belongs to a once widespread order of monitor lizards, now survives only on a handful of islands. This giant lizard can grow up to 3 meters in length and weigh as much as 150 kg. Like other monitor lizards they have tapered heads, visible ear-openings, a long slender neck, round pupils and eyelids, and above all very powerful jaws.

Pink beach, or Pantai Merah, is one of only seven such beaches on the whole planet. The amazing color comes from microscopic animals called Foraminifera which leave a red pigment on the coral reefs and the name Pantai Merah literally means red beach. Pink beach is bounded by turquoise blue sea and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area, including small islands, hills, and mountains. It is said to be the best spot for snorkeling in Komodo National Park.

Sumba is an island of contrasts. The west is lush and green with rolling hills while the east is covered in arid grasslands. The capital Waingapu is known for producing the beautiful Ikat fabric, the finest in Indonesia. You can visit Waikabubak, a town where houses have thatched roofs that soar to over 15m high. The beaches are largely deserted and the island culture is rich. There are some very pretty waterfalls to visit in the forest areas.

Wera Sangiang Village in East Sumbawa is one of the few boat building villages in the world where traditional wooden boats are built without blueprints and using only hand tools. This expertise has been passed down from generation to generation by the Bugis. A visit to the area is a must when staying near this remote and beautiful region. The island also boasts a gold and copper mine and a volcano. Mount Tambora's eruption in 1815 was considered to be one of the most powerful and destructive volcanic explosions in human history.

Satonda is a tiny uninhabited island formed millions of years ago by an eruption which rocked the sea bed at 1000m and projected volcanic rock upwards to a height of 289 meters above sea level. The local people believe that the island is sacred and you can see offerings in the form of bits of coral hanging in the trees; these have been put there by pilgrims who visit the island in the hope of having their wishes granted. Satonda is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs with a large variety of tropical fish; to protect this unique underwater paradise the island was declared to be a Marine Nature Park in 1999.

Of the 124 bird species found in the region, 86 of them can be found on the island of Moya. These includes rare birds such as yellow-headed parrot and bird coral. So this is indeed a bird lover's paradise. Visitors can trek into the forest to experience the beauty of Brang Rea Waterfall or relax on one of the many white-sand beaches. Pristine coral reefs and all their inhabitants are now protected from fishing and pollution so divers and snorkelers have the chance to visit a truly untouched paradise.

Sengiggi is Lombok's traditional tourist resort. A large bay forms the center of the resort and it is one of the busier places on the island of Lombok. The main street comes alive at night and there are many restaurants to dine in as well as plenty of bars for live music and nightclubs to dance in. However one of the most amazing sights on the island can be viewed from Sengiggi Beach, the spectacular sunset. The bright orange sun sinks into the ocean with Bali's Mt. Agung volcano silhouetted on the horizon.

North of Bali, the Lovina tourist area stretches over 12 km and consists of a string of coastal villages: Kaliasem, Kalibukbuk, Anturan, and Tukad Mungga, collectively known as Lovina. Lovina’s black sandy beaches are quite lovely, and the sea is very calm here and safe for swimming. The atmosphere on the beach is one of laid-back tranquillity with colorfully decorated traditional outriggers called perahu dotted along the shoreline.

This is the perfect island getaway, a small “resort” with fine white sand, coral reefs, and limpid turquoise waters teeming with marine life including colorful tropical fish and starfish. The island has facilities and there is shade. From here the ship’s zodiac can take you to “Gili Kadiz”, a great snorkeling site.

Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent trip back home.