Bali and Komodo Islands Cruise

Saturday, 30 September 2023

Fly to Bali

Depart in the evening on the overnight flight to Denpasar, via Doha.

 

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Sunday, 01 October 2023

Arrive in Bali, transfer to Jimbaran

After arriving early morning, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Belmond Jimbaran for a 2 night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. This is also the opportunity for our guide to provide you with expert local advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax at your hotel. 

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Monday, 02 October 2023

At leisure in Jimbaran

A day to relax and enjoy the fine facilities of the Belmond Hotel, take a dip in the warm sea and enjoy wonderful cuisine.

Tuesday, 03 October 2023

Fly to Labuan Bajo

Transfer to the airport and fly to Labuan Bajo. On arrival, transfer to your hotel where you can relax by the pool, swim in the sea, and have a chance to brush up on your snorkelling skills with your SeaTrek tour leader. Gather at sunset for evening cocktails before sitting down to an Indonesian buffet dinner as you get acquainted with the rest of your fellow guests who will be joining you on the cruise ahead.

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Wednesday, 04 October 2023

Kalong Island

In the morning we will take a short drive to a traditional local village high up in the hills, where we will be witness to the fast and imposing ‘caci’ whip dance by the local villagers. Here we will enjoy their hospitality with coffee, betel nut and a highly potent local ‘arak’ before (not for the faint hearted), before being be treated to a selection of traditional dances by their men and women.

By late morning we will be on the boat, and as we enjoy a buffet lunch we will cruise out into the Komodo National Park where we will have our first snorkel amongst the corals.

In the early evening at cocktail hour we will anchor off Kalong Island to see thousands and thousands of fruit bats emerge from their mangrove homes and fill the sky as they head off to the mainland in search of food.

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Thursday, 05 October 2023

Rinca Island

Visit Rinca Island and go on a trek in search of the more Komodo dragons. See monkeys, dear, pigs, buffalo, and myriad birds as we walk through the forests and savannahs of this large 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. Snorkel at Siaba Island, a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle reptiles as the cruise along the shallow water of the reef.

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Friday, 06 October 2023

Gili Banta and Sangean Islands

Spend the morning on Gili Banta, a deserted island with a beautiful white sand beach. Explore the magnificent coral gardens, hike to the crest of the surrounding hills for a view of the surrounding islands, swim, paddle and kayak.

Cruise across the sea as we get the sails up and set course for Sangean Island, where local villagers are in the process of building a fifty-plus metre, traditional wooden pinisi boat, with the same pedigree and history of SeaTrek’s very own ships. Walking around this small village, get a feel for their simple way of life, chat with the locals and maybe buy some handmade textiles as a momento.

Snorkel on a vibrant coral reef just off the shore filled with fish and marine creatures from all shades of the colour spectrum, including a meadow of hundreds of glass eels.

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Saturday, 07 October 2023

Satonda and Moyo Islands

Wake up off Satonda Island, an extinct volcano with a brackish lake at its heart, where we will swim, snorkel, kayak, paddle board and explore the surrounding forest if you wish. The lake was created when it the crater was flooded by a tsunami caused by a massive volcanic event from the nearby Tambora Volcano, which in 1815 was the largest eruption in recorded history.

Set sail for Moyo Island and take a walk through a village to a jungle waterfall and play with locals as they take the lead on a rope swing above a cool, deep jungle pool to show us how it’s done.

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Sunday, 08 October 2023

Sumbawa

Wake up early in the North of Sumbawa, where we will hopefully swim with a group of whale sharks that congregate off fishing platforms, where local fishermen catch small baitfish and keep them suspended in nets, which attract the sharks. Spend the afternoon on a nearby beach where we will snorkel, paddle, kayak and explore our jungle surroundings.

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Monday, 09 October 2023

Bajao Sea Gypsies

Visit a village of the famous Bajao ‘Sea Gypsies’ of Southeast Asia, and see how they live their lives on and in the water.

Another relaxing afternoon awaits as we land on a nearby uninhabited island, where once again we will relax and enjoy snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding. Enjoy Indonesian hospitality as your crew host a beach barbeque in your honour this evening. On offer is plenty of good food, music, cocktails dancing and frivolity as we dance and sing the night away next to a bonfire under a clear tropical night sky.

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Explore Bali and transfer to Ubud

Wake up at anchor off the coast of Bali under in the shadow of Bali’s Mt Agung, the mother mountain of all Balinese people, and the most imposing figure on the whole landscape of Bali. Enjoy an early morning swim or snorkel before we say goodbye to the crew and start our tour back to the south of Bali.

Along the way, experience East Bali with a tour of its deep culture and glorious landscapes. Visit water palaces, ancient villages, see lush rice terraces and jungles and the islands volcanic peaks, and dine on some of Bali’s freshest and most delicious traditional cuisine.

Transfer to Ubud and your chosen hotel for a 3-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

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Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Scenic Mount Batur

Today we set off after breakfast on a full Lake Batur day tour exploring Bali’s scenic interior. Take a picturesque drive along small winding roads, climbing into the hills to enjoy fantastic panoramas over the beautiful rice fields and landscapes.

Stop at the town of Tampaksiring for a visit to Gunung Kawi. Set amid lush rice terraces, these 11^th century temples feature 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face. Continue along the scenic roads of the countryside to visit Tirta Empul, a sacred water temple.

Arrive in Kintamani, a volcanic region home to majestic Mount Batur. Inside the caldera of the once giant Batur Volcano is a calm, clear lake in which a new, active volcanic cone was formed. Grab a table at a restaurant nearby, enjoying lunch overlooking Lake Batur. 

Continue to Penglipuran, a traditional countryside village. Take a stroll through the typical Balinese entrance gates and admire the unique architectural styles found throughout the village. The last stop is sacred Kehen Temple. Explore the site’s eight terraces, its massive Banyan tree and detailed religious inscriptions. Gain insight into the Hindu faith and its role in the lives of the deeply spiritual Balinese people.

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Thursday, 12 October 2023

At leisure

At leisure at your hotel.

Friday, 13 October 2023

Lakes and hills to Sanur

Today we explore some of Bali's exquisite scenery on our way to the beach at Sanur. We visit the Royal Temple of Mengwi built in 1634 to serve as the family temple of the Mengwi dynasty. Explore the traditional market of Bedugul where a myriad of locally-grown fruits, vegetables and orchids are for sale. 

Observe Lake Bratan, one of Bedugul’s three natural lakes with Ulun Danu, a 17^th-century temple located on the lake’s edge. 

Stop at Mount Batukaru, Bali’s second highest mountain, for an included lunch and continue to your hotel in Sanur for a 2-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.  

 

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Saturday, 14 October 2023

At Leisure

Your final day to relax on the beach or at your resort.

Sunday, 15 October 2023

Departure for return flight

Transfer to Denpasar International airport for your daytime flight back to the UK.