Product Description
Highlights
Visit a selection of remote and seldom visited islands – not only Rinca and Satonda Islands, but little gems such as Banta Island, whose beaches are usually totally deserted. Make the most of magnificent snorkelling opportunities, keeping your eyes peeled for tropical fish and Indonesia’s famous sea turtles. Escape the tourists of Komodo Island by visiting Rinca Island, where Komodo dragon-spotting is a much more natural experience. Unwind with a dip in Satonda Island’s incredible crater lake – just one of many superb natural wonders to be found in this rambling archipelago
Overview
There’s no question that Bali’s a beauty, but just beyond Indonesia’s popular holiday island there’s a vast new world to explore. Join Intrepid on a small-ship adventure cruise to some of the most enchanting isles of the Indonesian archipelago: the tiny twin paradises of Saringi and Karamat, the incredible crater lake of Satonda, unspoiled Banta, Komodo dragon-filled Rinca, and quiet Moyo, where hidden cascades lie in wait. Before returning to Kuta, stop on Lombok proper for a taste of traditional life on the mainland around gorgeous Senggigi Beach. With the comfort of four-star accommodation and the mobility of small ship, this adventure cruise is Indonesian island-hopping at its finest.
Breakfast Included: 7 Lunches Included: 5 Dinner Included: 7
Bali
Om Swastiastu! Welcome to Bali. The adventure begins from Port Benoa, near Kuta, and embarkation is between 2 and 4 pm. Meet your leader, attend a welcome meeting and a get briefed on safety, then set sail for Kenawa, departing at 6 pm. The night is spent at sea.
Kenawa Island
Arrive at Kenawa Island at around 9 am. There is a short walk to a look out point over the island. Afterwards enjoy some beach time; swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding is all in a day's work in this little slice of paradise. Later we will depart to Bedil Island - a tiny island covered in coconut trees where you will have the chance to take a walk around the island or enjoy some more snorkelling.
We will overnight nearby and start sailing at around 2am to Satonda.
Satonda Island
After a 6 hour overnight sail, arrive at Satonda island. Sure to be one of the highlights of the itinerary, this destination takes its name from its dormant volcano which has an extraordinary crater lake in its centre. Take a short walk to the lake and enjoy a refreshing dip. Perhaps take the optional walk from there to a lookout located high on the island – definitely a good choice for any photographers in the group. As the day draws to a close, catch the sunset, then leave Satonda at 8 pm and sail overnight to Banta Island.
Banta Island & Rinca Island
Arrive in Banta Island in the morning. This spot is largely uninhabited and seldom visited, so there's a good chance it will be just you and your fellow travellers here to enjoy it for yourselves. There's an optional hike to partake in if you're feeling active. Lunch today will be a BBQ on the boat. In the late evening, set sail to Rinca Island, one of the larger islands within the spectacular Komodo National Park.
Rinca Island
Join local rangers for a walk, heading out in search of the famous Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Rinca is far less touristy than Komodo Island, so dragon spotting here is less staged and more natural. These captivating creatures are often much larger than they look in pictures, sometimes growing to as long as three metres. After an active morning, the group will find a quiet beach for a swim and some time to relax. Afterwards, sail overnight to Moyo Island.
Moyo Island
Arrive in Moyo Island around lunch time. This usually hard-to-access spot is another fine example of Indonesia's smaller, forest-clad isles. It's not hard to see why Lady Diana dropped anchor here for a holiday in 1993. After lunch, there is an optional walk to Mata Jitu waterfall, this is around 4 kilometres in each direction and will take around 4.5 hours. After dinner on board, set sail towards Lombok, the sleepy giant that lies to the east of Bali.
Bangsal
We will arrive at Bangsal at around 9am and journey to Bonjeruk village which takes about 1.5 hours. We will take a short walk around the rice fields and enjoy a local lunch with our new friends followed by a gandeng Beleq performance. Roughly translated this means 'big drum' and is a traditional Sasak dance accompanied by huge drums. After a simple lunch, we will travel on to sukerare village which is another 30 minute drive and we will learn about the local weaving of sorongs. Later, we will travel back to Bangsal which will take about 1.5 hours, return to the boat for a leisurely farewell dinner, and sail overnight to Bali.
Bali
After an early arrival in Bali, farewell your shipmates as the adventure ends after breakfast.