Faraway 2024 | Page 127

INDONESIA CRUISE
8 night cruise from £ 5199pp
Breakfast on board Katharina
WHALE SHARKS , CORALS & DRAGONS
KATHARINA OR OMBAK PUTIH SEATREK SAILING ADVENTURES CRUISE
SeaTrek ' s two wooden pinisi ships , Ombak Putih and Katharina , are part of a beautiful , centuriesold maritime tradition of hand-crafted boat building now classified as a UNESCO cultural heritage . Katharina has six cabins , while Ombak Putih has 12 , all of which are ensuite and below decks . Each ship offers a lounge area , bar , sun decks and outdoor dining areas .
DAYS 1-2 Bali / Komodo National Park
On arrival at Komodo airport , transfer straight to your boat . After settling in , head to the first snorkelling spot , a coral restoration project . Spend time ashore on Komodo Island in search of the fearsome Komodo dragons , the world ' s largest lizards . Enjoy further magnificent snorkelling over some of Komodo National Park ' s best reefs . Hopefully , you ' ll also get to swim with manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations , where small fish remove parasites from their skin . The next hangout is a favourite with sea turtles , and swimming with these gentle reptiles as they cruise along the shallow water of the reef is sure to be a highlight .
DAYS 3-4 Offshore islands
Rise to the sight of a beautiful uninhabited island with a beach of pure white sand punctuated with sparkles of powdered red coral to create a ' pink beach '. You ' ll get back in the water to swim , paddleboard or snorkel on the coral reef that lies parallel to the beach . Cruise onwards to a nearby active volcanic island , disembark for a walk around a small village for the chance to chat with locals . Visit a mystical volcanic island with a sunken crater lake for further swimming , kayaking and paddleboarding or , if you fancy , you can trek around the crater rim . Another highlight of this island visit is the sight of thousands of giant fruit bats that emerge from forest lairs and fly out on foraging missions . You can also look forward to a beach BBQ under a night sky illuminated by millions of stars .
DAYS 5-6 Sumbawa / Moyo
Wake early off the northern coast of Sumbawa , where you hopefully get to swim with a group of whale sharks ( not guaranteed ). These massive , but harmless animals , have long congregated here and have formed a mutually beneficial alliance with the local fishermen who have their fishing platforms in the bay . Thanks to visits by SeaTrek , the fishermen are paid a healthy fee for spotting the whale sharks and letting guests in the water by their platforms and as a result the fishermen are very glad to protect these endangered animals .
Spend time on a beach located on nearby small limestone island with further time to snorkel , kayak , swim and explore the local karst formations . Cruise also to Labuan Aji village on the island of Moyo to visit the village and walk to a scenic waterfall where you can bathe in the refreshing cool water .
DAYS 7-8 Offshore islands / Komodo National Park / Rinca Island
Enjoy a unique snorkelling experience on a colourful and vibrant coral reef where air bubbles are released from the volcanic chambers below the seabed . The metallic black volcanic sand is home to an abundance of very interesting vertebrates . At Komodo National Park sea-based activities include a fantastic drift snorkel over the one of the best and healthiest coral reefs in the park . For those who want to take land adventure to another level , you can do a sunset hike up to a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the other islands in the park . Visit Rinca Island , which is well known for its diverse wildlife , and maybe spot Komodo dragons , monkeys , wild buffalo and deer . From the top of the hills , the scenery is simply breathtaking .
DAY 9 Cruise / Komodo / Bali
After breakfast on your last day , take a scenic drive towards Melo Village to witness the traditional Caci dance performance . Local strongmen perform a ritual whip fight between two rivals in which the players , each armed with a rattan shield and whip , will try to hit each other while dancing to the rhythm of traditional acoustic instruments . Following lunch on the boat , it ' s time to bid farewell to the crew and fellow shipmates as you disembark for your onward journey .
visit your travel agent or call 08444 937 444 • www . premierholidays . co . uk
Manta ray , Komodo National Park
Mojo Island
WEST NUSA TENGGARA
SUMBAWA
Sangeang Island
Mount Rinjani
Komodo National Park Rinca
Island
SeaTrek 8 nights
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Departures : Selected dates in May 24 . Alternative departures available between Apr-Aug 24 . Accommodation : Double or twin cabin aboard either Katharina or Ombak Putih . Meals : Full board ( including soft drinks , tea & coffee ) Cruise price : Includes transfers , park fees , fuel surcharge , excursions as outlined , use of kayaks , snorkelling equipment and stand up paddleboards , and return flights between Bali and Komodo . International flights are not included . Note : The itinerary shown is a guide to what you can expect . SeaTrek like to keep things flexible just in case there ' s something exciting going on and you don ' t miss it !
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