Dragons, Manta Rays & Volcanoes - Komodo National Park is located within the Lesser Sunda Islands and consists of the three large islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca as well as 26 smaller ones.
The Komodo Islands are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accessible only by boat, they offer unparalleled views and easy hikes on grassy islands that are home to the world’s largest lizard - the Komodo Dragon. Guests can enjoy world-class diving and snorkelling in warm turquoise waters abundant with marine life as well as secluded white sandy beaches.
DAY ONE
Labuan Bajo
We will be moored 20 minutes from the airport, making your transfer by car and tender an easy journey. Sail toSabayor Kecil, keeping an eye out for dolphins, which love to swim alongside the bow. Dive or snorkel around the coral reef, full of colourful fish, sponges, Napolean wrasse, groupers and the odd stingray. Or enjoy the water from above, kayaking, waterskiing, kneeboarding or fishing. Later, relax on board with a good book or film before a leisurely supper.
DAY TWO
Rinca & Manta Point
Early morning sail to Rinca. After a light breakfast, take the tender to the shore to see the famous Komodo Dragons. Accompanied by a park ranger, explore the giant lizard’s habitat on foot and learn about its hunting habits. The island is home to about 2,500 dragons as well as monkeys, Sunda deer, wild pigs and jungle fowl, so there is plenty to see on the trail. Rejoin the boat and enjoy lunch while sailing for a couple of hours to Karang Makassar. Stop by Manta Point, a feeding ground for manta rays and one of the top diving and snorkelling spots in the park. On this relaxed drift dive, watch the mantas gliding gracefully through the water with their mouths open, feeding on plankton. Enjoy a second dive at Batu Balong, a massive underwater rock with pinnacles and rifts surrounded by grey reef and white tip sharks, giant trevallies and emperor fish. The coral garden on its top can also be enjoyed by snorkellers, who have a good chance of seeing the larger fish. In the late afternoon, relax on a quiet sandy beach or hike up the grassy hill behind for panoramic views across the islands. Then settle in to the comfortable bean bags relax on the beach while the crew mix you up a cocktail and build a giant bonfire before heading back to the boat for a hearty supper.
DAY THREE
Mauan & Kode
Mauan & Kode’s superb reef is teeming with turtles and can be appreciated by divers and snorkellers alike. Mauan harbours a sporadic manta ray cleaning station, where the animals congregate to have cleaner fish remove parasites and other organisms from their skin. Guests may prefer to explore by kayak, relax on deck or a deserted beach, or try their hand at wakeboarding. In the evening, ask the crew to make up the day beds with blankets and fall asleep under the stars. Overnight in Padar.
DAY FOUR
BBQ & Sunset Cocktails on a Secret Beach
Spend a lazy or an active day, as your mood dictates. A climb up Padar’s verdant slopes will yield spectacular views across the park landscape and the island’s four bays, fringed with grey or white sand. Resident wildlife includes sea eagles, deer and goats. Successful anglers will be rewarded with melt-in-the-mouth sashimi or ceviche prepared by the chef. Under the water, Pillarsteen has four large pinnacles covered in soft corals, as well as canyons, caves, swim-throughs and chimneys. Watch out for the brightly coloured red and purple fire urchins. As the sun begins to disappear over the horizon, catch the tender to a secret beach for refreshing cocktails and a BBQ. Overnight in Padar.
DAY FIVE
Pink Beach (Pantai Merah)
Sail for a couple of hours in the morning to Pink Beach. The sand has a soft pink hue, tinged by the high quantity of organ pipe coral growing on the surrounding reefs, which breaks off and washes up on shore. While other corals normally fade, this retains its bright red colour and mixes with the usual white sand. Enjoy freshly-caught fish for lunch. Snorkel or dive looking out for macro sealife such as blue-ribbon eels and crocodile fish. A night dive here is world-class, full of colourful basket stars, bobtail squid and spanish dancers. Overnight at Pink Beach.
DAY SIX
Tropical Birds
A day of downtime. Take a leisurely walk along the beach and discover the local tropical birds. Keep your eyes peeled for orange-footed scrubfowl, helmeted friarbirds and the critically endangered lesser sulpher crested cockatoo. Enjoy a BBQ on the beach for lunch, cooking up freshly caught fish. If you are still raring to go, the crew will be happy to oblige - opportunities to snorkel, dive, hike, kayak, waterski or fish are only a question away throughout the cruise.
DAY SEVEN
Crystal Rock & Castle Rock
Crystal Rock and Castle Rock are only 300m apart yet both are superb dive sites in their own right. The two submerged pinnacles are also accessible for snorkellers, offering the chance to see eagle rays, white tip, black tip and grey reef sharks, huge schools of snappers and fusiliers, batfish and Napoleon wrasse. Enjoy a cool beer or a freshly- made lemon and soda before your final supper on board - a traditional Indonesian feast comprised of many small dishes with bold flavours, sweet or spicy sauces and plenty of rice. Overnight sail to Labuan Bajo.
DAY EIGHT
Labuan Bajo
After breakfast, pack and prepare to disembark, returning to the airport by boat and car.
