From Raja Ampat To the Volcanoes of Maluku - From Sorong To Ternate

Description

This 12-day trip brings guests face to face with all the natural beauty of Indonesia as well as the life and observations of the famous Victorian naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace, co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Guests will learn about the journey and discoveries of Wallace, experience unique landscapes, snorkel rich and diverse reefs, see birds of paradise and black-crested macaques in their natural habitat, see one of the world’s largest butterflies, view ancient cave art, meet experience local customs with the wonderful people who live in these remote regions, visit the northern Moluccan spice islands, and snorkel to their hearts; content each day on exquisite and vibrant coral reefs.
BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE
Our mission is to provide the best experience possible for our guests given the current conditions and when unexpected opportunities for adventure may present themselves along our cruise routes. Sometimes weather conditions, tides or other local factors dictate that we need to vary from the published route, and at times there are special opportunities to explore and discover new locations, events and activities. These explorations will always be a definite enhancement to the published itinerary and will be undertaken after discussion and agreement among guests. Ultimately, the boat captains and your tour leader will make decisions to maximize trip safety and your overall enjoyment, so please come prepared to be flexible!

Trip Name

From Raja Ampat To the Volcanoes of Maluku - From Sorong To Ternate

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Yacht Length overall: 38 metres Passanger Capacity: 14 Led by Captain Ferdi and operated by a crew of 12, the 38-metre Katharina sits low in the water, making her a most beautiful looking boat. Built in 1995 in Kalimantan, her slim hull was originally planned for use as a commercial freighter before she caught our eye with her simple lines and sleek structure. After her 2014 interior refit, her transformation is a conservation exercise back to authenticity of a mighty seafaring tradition. Not only is the Katharina very elegant on the water, she is also fast becoming a classic yacht, as very few of these original designs remain. Accommodating just 12 guests in six cabins, with a salon & bar, two sun decks, and an outdoor dining area, she offers a more intimate experience.

Itinerary

Day 1 - D A Y 1 Sorong

-Your flight will arrive in Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. From the airport we will transfer you to the harbour where the Katharina will be waiting at anchor.-Once settled into your cabin, your cruise tour leaders will familiarise you with the vessel’s facilities and safety procedures.-We will weigh anchor, leave the harbour behind and cruise to a small island, where we can enjoy our first snorkel of the trip as we make our way north.

Day 2 - D A Y 2 Raja Ampat

-Today we will rise very early and head off in the tenders to a small village, where local guides will take us on a walk into the forest to spot the gorgeous Wilson’s Bird of Paradise.-Back in the village there will be time to meet with the community and perhaps visit the school. We will be back on the boat by mid-morning and if time permits we’ll travel over to a nearby island to snorkel.-In the afternoon, we will go snorkelling on the beautiful reefs that fill this area.

Day 3 - D A Y 3 Raja Ampat

- We will rise early once more to see the remarkable Red Bird of Paradise, and with a little luck and the help of our knowledgeable guides, we will see this rare bird’s elaborate courtship display as dawn breaks over the forest canopy.-Once we back to the ship, we will turn our attention from the sky to the sea as the Ombak Putih makes her way through the Dampier Strait, home of some of Raja Ampat’s premier reefs.- There's a chance that we may get to see some manta rays as we snorkel, but there are no guarantees. We will end the day by mooring off another tiny island, where the local children will perform their traditional dances for us and followed by exploring this charming village.

Day 4 - D A Y 4 Raja Ampat

-Today is a day of exploration and snorkelling and we will spend the day visiting a local village, and snorkelling on the many great reefs in the area.- We will visit a replica of Alfred Russel Wallace’s hut that was built by SeaTrek and call in on island where a local man has set up a coconut crab 'sanctuary' for what is the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod.-We will have another late afternoon snorkel along a reef with some spectacular giant clams (the world's largest marine arthropod and mollusc) will lead us into dinner at anchor on board.

Day 5 - D A Y 5 Raja Ampat

-Today is another day or snorkelling, Wallace tracking, and exploring some of Raja Ampat’s most beautiful limestone karst islands.-We will wake up in front of the island of Penemu, a dramatic location with a short hilltop climb to take in the amazing views, before continuing our island hopping northwards to an island where at duck, tens of thousands of fruit bats fly out to feed.- This night we will find a remote beach where we will have a beach BBQ and party.

Day 6 - D A Y 6 Raja Ampat

-This morning we will wake to see the sun rise over the picturesque chain of islands that makes up the eastern part of the Misool archipelago. Our tenders will take us to a large cave where it is possible to swim, snorkel or simply float while gazing up at the cavernous grotto adorned with stalactites.-We will then move on to a mysterious jellyfish lake and swim amongst the many thousands of stingless animals: undoubtedly one of Raja Ampat’s most memorable activities.- In the afternoon, we will use our tenders to explore more of this impressive maze of karst islands, both above and below the surface, complete with mysterious skull cairns in sea-cave cemeteries, and prehistoric cave paintings, estimated to be anything between 3,000 to 5,000 years old.

Day 7 - D A Y 7 Raja Ampat

- We will wake early once again and go ashore, where local guides will be waiting for us to take us through the forest to hopefully see the Lesser Bird of Paradise as they dance around in their ‘lekking’ trees.-On the way back, we have time for a stroll around the village and possibly a visit to the school and to learn about the way Nature Conservancy is working with the village to empower with local women with a fishing practice called ‘sasi’.

Day 8 - D A Y 8 Raja Ampat

-Today we will find ourselves off the extreme southern tip of Halmahera Island, where we will go snorkelling and visit a local Bajau sea gypsy village and learn about their way of life.

Day 9 - D A Y 9 Raja Ampat

-We will wake up off the western coast of Bacan and go ashore to explore the forested slopes in search of Wallace’s Giant Bee and the huge and magnificent Golden Birdwing Butterfly.-During this trip we might see some of other endemic animals of these islands, including parrots, cockatoos, lorikeets, hornbills, the elusive cuscus and the endangered Black-crested Macaque.

Day 10 - D A Y 1 0 Guarici Archipelago

-Today we will visit the Guarici Archipelago, a chain of islands with white sandy beaches, vibrant coral reefs and some lovely local villages. We will spend a full day here snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding, and pay a visit to one of the villages to meet the local people.-The islands are part of a government-controlled conservation area, designed to protect the reefs and the many beautiful marine species that live there.

Day 11 - D A Y 1 1 Halmahera

Today we will wake up off the coast of Halmahera and we will head to the village of Dodinga: the very place where AR Wallace was living when he discovered the mechanism which drives evolutionary change - natural selection. His Letter to Charles Darwin was the catalyst that prompted Darwin to publish his book Origin of Species in 1859, which explained the theory in greater detail.- Dodinga is a pretty little riverside village with friendly people, colourful houses and the ruins of an old Portuguese fort, and its importance in the history of science cannot be understated. After spending some time with the villagers, sharing some fresh coconuts and enjoying their hospitality,

Day 12 - D A Y 1 2 North Maluku

-Today marks the end of our adventure, but first we will head out for a tour of the city, which has retained its commercial and political importance as the administrative and trading centre of North Maluku.-We will visit a couple of old Portuguese and Dutch forts and pay a visit to the Sultan’s Palace with its rich collection of heirlooms.

Day 13 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Our tour leaders are a wealth of information on the regions we visit and will prepare you for each activity with on board talks and presentations to give you a greater understanding of the different experiences you will have each day.
They will also act as your cross cultural bridges to all the people we meet along the way, so feel free to ask them to translate when talking to local Indonesian people on your travels.