This adventurous, 8-day inclusive voyage of discovery aboard the Katharina offers a cross-section of remote beaches, quiet coastal villages, jungle-clad mountain ranges, towering volcanoes, rivers, waterfalls, tribal rituals, a mysterious lake, and the legendary Komodo dragons. As always, there is ample opportunity to snorkel and view the kaleidoscopic beauty of the underwater world. Unlimited use of the stand-up paddleboards and sea kayaks onboard add yet another dimension to your nature explorations. Immerse yourself in the Komodo National Park and Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands from an intimate perspective, cruising through a panorama of islands and encountering new wonders on a daily basis.
Highlights
Relax and swim, snorkel, or walk in the surrounding rice fields of Bali
Visit the mysterious Satonda Lake, which local people believe is magical
Explore the famous Rinca Island in llok for dragons
Discover some of Melo's local traditions & culture thru a exotic performance
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
After flying from Bali in the early afternoon, you will be transported to a beachside resort just outside of the port town of Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the Komodo National Park. You will have the afternoon free to relax and unwind with a swim or a snorkel, or even a walk around the town. It’s also an opportunity for those unfamiliar with snorkelling to have a lesson with the tour leader. In the evening, enjoy sunset drinks on the beach before dinner with your fellow guests as you get better acquainted for the voyage ahead.
After breakfast at the resort, at about 9am leave the resort for a trip to the village of Melo. Here, local ‘strongmen’ will perform the ‘Caci,’ a ritual whip-fight between two rivals in which the players, each armed with a rattan shield and a whip, will try to hit each other while dancing to the rhythm of traditional acoustic instruments. The men of Western Flores are famous for this test of daring and skill, requiring lightning quick moves to dodge the infliction of a wound. The winner is loudly applauded and cheered by the village. Besides this, the cultural group will also showcase other traditional dances. After your visit to Melo we will return to Labuan Bajo where you will get your first glimpse of your splendid pinisi boat. We will have plenty of time to settle in and get acquainted with the crew and fellow passengers as you cruise to the island of Kelor. Once there, enjoy a swim or a snorkel, kayak, or have a little bit of fun on a paddleboard. You will also have the option of visiting the adjacent island of Kukusan where you will meet a settlement of ‘sea-gypsies,’ the Bajao people who build their homes on stilts over the sea. At around sunset you will be able to witness the departure of thousands of flying foxes departing their roosts to feed, and later that evening cruise to Komodo dragon country.
Today you will visit the ranger station of Loh Buaya on Rinca Island where we will have a ranger-led nature trek in search of Komodo dragons, which are indigenous to this small group of islands. Rinca is also well known for its diverse wildlife, so we may spot monkeys, wild buffaloes and deer as well. From the top of the hills along the walks, the scenery is breathtaking. In the afternoon, you can go snorkelling in the rich waters of Siaba Island and then later head to the gorgeous Pantai Merah ‘red-beach,’ which takes its name from the particles of red coral mingled with the sand. Here you will swim and snorkel, relishing the unforgettable spectacle of the region’s many varieties of coral and marine life. With over 1000 species of fish in the waters of the national park, there is much more to this wildlife reserve than just dragons.
Wake up in the most northerly part of the Komodo National Park and enjoy a morning of sea-based activities including a fantastic drift snorkel over the reef, kayaking, and SUP at Gili Lawa Darat island. Swim with schools of manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Hover above these giant and noble beasts for as long as you like. Spend the late afternoon on a local sandbar, where you can enjoy snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on the sand.
Wake up off the coast of Banta Island with its pinkish-white sand beach. You will go ashore and enjoy a morning of swimming, snorkelling and hill climbing for the fit. After lunch on the boat, you will then proceed to Pulau Sangean, an active volcano that towers 1,800 metres above sea level. Go ashore to a small and very simple village, which, because of the active nature of the volcano, is only inhabited for short periods during the year when the local people come to tend their crops and small herds of buffaloes. Luckily for you, the local community of boatbuilders on the mainland has started construction of a brand new and very large pinisi boat on the beach at Sangean village. You will have the opportunity to see the process that built both the Ombak Putin and Katharina in action; truly an impressive sight and a marvel of engineering. You will snorkel on both a nearby reef and maybe a location on the north of the island where volcanic gasses escape in the form of bubbles from the sea floor among the corals, a most interesting sight. At sunset we will head for Satonda Island.
Today you reach the strange and mystical volcanic island of Satonda with its beautiful coral gardens along the coastline. Satonda has a sunken crater lake in its centre that was filled with saltwater when the nearby Mt Tambora erupted in 1815, causing a tsunami that flowed into the crater. The eruption was the biggest volcanic explosion in the collective memory of mankind; it had roughly four times the energy of the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, and gave rise to the ‘year without a summer’ because of the effect on North American and European weather. Local people believe Satonda to be magical, and with this in mind, we will walk to the lip of the caldera to view the mysterious lake, alongside which are trees believed to be ‘wishing trees.’ Visitors to the island tie a small stone to a tree and make a wish. If your wish comes true, you are bound to return to the island to offer thanks. From Satonda cruise to the island of Moyo where we will moor off Labuan Aji village and walk to Diwu Mba'i waterfall. Here, you can swing on a rope and jump into the deep clear river pool below, or simply bathe in the refreshing cool water. Returning to the sea, find time for snorkelling on the reef, and later relax under the stars aboard the ship as you continue your westward voyage to Lombok.
Moored off the coast of North Lombok, have breakfast and then go ashore and then head off by bus or car into the interior of the northern side of the island to the traditional village of Senaru. Here, you will be taken on a tour, by one of the local women-guides, of the simple thatched houses and gardens of fruits and spices, which will give you an insight into the culture of the indigenous Sasak people. Your mellow adventure will then lead you down a well-trodden flight of steps through the tropical forest to Sindang Gila, a roaring 40-metre tiered waterfall. The small gravel beach and flat rocks at the base of the falls are a meeting place for the local people, and if you want you can take a dip under the full force of the intense flow. Your walk will continue alongside an old irrigation canal offering panoramic vistas of rice fields stretching towards the sea. The area around Senaru and Bayan was the birthplace of Lombok’s unique Wektu Telu belief system in which ancient animist practices are combined with Islam. If you have time, you will visit Bayan Beleq, a grass-roofed mosque with woven bamboo walls. Said to have been founded in the 16th century, this is the oldest mosque in Lombok. You may also see some weavers and spinners demonstrating their age-old skills. After lunch, snorkel on nearby Gili Sulat before heading of in the direction of Bali. Tonight, under s starry sky you will have a last night party with the crew on board.
Day 8: Disembark | Bali, Indonesia
1 Breakfast
Wake up off the coast of east Bali under the majestic gaze of Mt Agung, Bali’s mother mountain. Here you will go for a final snorkel and swim before heading south along the coast to your disembarkation point of Amuk Bay. Here, say farewell to your crew and join a bus for the 90-minute trip back to south Bali.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,610
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Cabin Deck
Cabin Deck. Spacious, air-conditioned twin-share cabins with twin bunks or double beds. Private bathroom with toilet, washbasin, and hot shower.
Notes
- All rates are quoted in USD and represent cost per person, based on double occupancy.
- Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.75 times the published rate.
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
