Day 1-2
After a relaxed breakfast and some time to swim and rest, you’ll be transferred to the embark on the boat for a week of sailing around these gorgeous tropical islands. After settling into your cabin, take the chance to snorkel in the crystal-clear reefs this area is famous for before you begin to make your way across the Lombok Strait. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to learn more about the trench of water between Bali and Lombok, and the ecological boundary called the Wallace Line. You’ll enjoy lunch as you sail along the water, as well as sunset drinks later on.
Overnight: Onboard for the next 7 nights
Day 3-4
Visit a village of the famous Bajao ‘Sea Gypsies’ of Southeast Asia, and see how they live their lives so close to, on and in the water.?
Off the northern coast of Sumbawa, we hope to swim with a group of awe-inspiring whale sharks. These massive but harmless animals have long congregated here. As you probably know, whale sharks are under constant threat due the sky-high value of their fins, but thanks to your visit with us, these fishermen are paid a healthy fee for spotting where the whale sharks are and letting us in the water by their boat platforms to be up-close to one of the largest creatures in the ocean. As a result the fisherman protect these beautiful animals and you get to be a conservationist.?
Swim, snorkel, kayak and paddle board in the crater lake on Satonda Island, whose caldera filled by water from a tsunami caused by a massive volcanic event from the nearby Tambora Volcano, which in 1815 was the largest eruption in recorded history.?
Drink sunset cocktails as we float on the current while tens of thousands of giant fruit bats emerge from their forest lair and fly out directly over the boat on their nightly foraging missions.
Day 5-6
Step ashore on an active, smoking volcanic 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.
Spend the afternoon time on a deserted white sand beach on another volcanic island, this time an extinct one. Explore the magnificent coral gardens, hike to the crest of the surrounding hills for a view of the surrounding islands, swim, paddle, kayak and laze away the day before enjoying sunset cocktails on the sand.?
Swim with majestic 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.
Day 7-8
Go on a trek in search of the ancient Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. See monkeys, deer, pigs, buffalo, and myriad birds as we walk through the forests and savannas of this large island.?
Snorkel at a nearby island that is a favorite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to glide with these gentle creatures as they cruise above the technicolour reef below.
Taking a short drive to a traditional local village where we will enjoy their hospitality with betelnut and local ‘arak’ (alcohol extracted from palm trees), before being treated to a selection of traditional dances performed by both men and women. We will then say our goodbyes as we each move on towards our next destination.
Fly onwards to your next adventure