Katharina – Whale Sharks, Corals & Dragons (Bali to Komodo)

Vessel: Katharina – Whale Sharks, Corals & Dragons (Bali to Komodo)
Where: Indonesia

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Join traditional Indonesian boat Katharina as she takes guests from Bali to Komodo to discover Komodo Dragons, Whale Sharks and world famous coral reefs.

Spend eight days in a tropical paradise as you sail, trek and explore the Indonesian Ring of Fire between Bali and Komodo. Swim with gentle ocean giants, wander through savanna’s, home to ancient Komodo dragons and snorkel with sea turtles. Discover colourful kaleidoscopic coral reefs and wonder as majestic manta rays glide effortlessly past.

Watch the sunrise over the stunning volcanic landscapes as you breathe in the fresh ocean air. Enjoy tropical island exploration at its finest with a bucket list adventure holiday on board traditional Indonesian vessel Katharina.

Komodo Dragons
Whale Sharks
World famous Coral Reefs
Rainforest trekking
Private ensuite cabins
All-inclusive board
Package Travel Cover

A day to day guide

D A Y 1 – 2

After breakfast in our South Bali hotel meeting point, travel with a guide across East Bali as you discover the deep culture, glorious landscape and local cuisine. Arrive to your beachside resort in East Bali as spend your first day unwinding or having a snorkelling lesson with your cruise host. Sleep in the shadow of Bali’s Mount Agung, the “mother mountain” and the most imposing figure of the Balinese landscape.

Katharina will be your floating home for the rest of the voyage as you explore the local fisheries and coral conservation projects along the coast. Wind permitting, sail the famous Wallace Line, a deep-sea boundary separating Asia and Australia’s biological system.

D A Y 3 – 4

A village visit to the famous Bajao “Sea Gypsies” of Southeast Asia where nomadic sea-faring tribes live in wooden huts on stilts above the turquoise waters. Spend the afternoon relaxing on board or enjoying snorkelling, kayaking and paddle-boarding on the water.

Onto the next wildlife wonder of this adventure holiday, the Whale Shark. There are no promises that guests will be able to swim with these gentle giants but good connections with the local fisherman have seen a mutually beneficial alliance formed. The fishermen off the coast of Sumbawa are paid a healthy fee to spot the whales for sustainable tourism, rather than hunting them. Whale Sharks are under constant threat due to the sky-high value of their fins but fisherman are very glad to protect these beautiful animals and you get to be a conservationist!

Explore the mystical volcanic island of Satonda with a sunken crater lake at its centre. It was filled with saltwater when the nearby Mount Tambora erupted in 1815 and is believed by locals to possess special magic. Recent research at the crater lake found that the reefs here are like those found in the Precambrian era – the earliest part of Earth’s history. Swim, snorkel explore this natural wonder, and make use of the boats kayaks and paddle boards.

Drink sunset cocktails as the boat floats on the current providing the chance to watch the resident fruit bats from the boat at sunset as they fly to and from their roost on the mainland.

D A Y 5 – 6

A local connection sees guests visit a smoking volcanic island where local villagers are in the process of building traditional wooden pinisi boats – similar to Katharina. Walking around this village, guests can really get a feel for their simple way of life, chatting with happy locals and maybe buying some hand-made textiles.

The waters surrounding this island are teeming with marine life. Explore uninhabited islands of pure white sand where world famous coral reefs run parallel to the beach. Swim with manta rays and hangout with sea turtles as they cruise the shallows of the coral reef.

D A Y 7 – 8

The Komodo Dragons are a species of lizard found only in Indonesia. The largest living species of lizard, they can grow up to three metres long and weigh in at approx. 70kg! They are a fascinating species to watch on land as you explore the island of Komodo. Look out for monkeys, deer, pigs and buffalo and listen to the myriad of native bird life as you trek through the forests and savanna’s of Komodo island.

A short drive ashore takes guests to a traditional local village where you can enjoy their heart warming hospitality with betelnut and local “arak” (alcohol extracted from palm trees) before watching a traditional Indonesian dance performance.