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Peregrine Travel Centre

Indonesian Island Odyssey – An Exploration of Indonesia’s Natural Wonders

Indonesian Island Odyssey – An Exploration of Indonesia’s Natural Wonders

From GBP £11,495

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Description

Made up of over seventeen thousand islands, Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country is a land of diverse cultures, histories and languages, unique flora and fauna and breathtaking scenery. During this exploration of some of Indonesia’s islands, we will visit places of deep spiritual significance, explore lush jungle, experience an underwater world teeming with life and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The islands we will visit are certainly not on the mass tourism circuit and their beauty and customs are relatively unscathed by the modern world. Our fleet of purpose built Zodiacs provides us with the freedom of spontaneity to explore and land in places where few travellers have been before us. We will land on otherwise inaccessible beaches, explore lagoons and coral reefs and encounter some truly remote communities. Obviously, such beauty and serenity is best enjoyed with a small number of travelling companions. After all, it would be disappointing to find yourself in the company of hundreds on what was a deserted beach.
As we island hop, we will encounter many diverse and splendid sights including the awesome Komodo dragons, vast crater lakes with surrealistic hues, lush spice growing islands, tropical forests and meet some extraordinary islanders. There will also be opportunities to snorkel in the pristine waters of some national parks including Bunaken National Park, a treasure trove of biodiversity, and whilst ashore there will be guided walks with our naturalists searching for the varied flora and fauna in some remarkable places such as the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, one of the oldest nature reserves in Indonesia.
A trip to Indonesia is so much more than a holiday and our expedition promises to be an adventure shared with like-minded travellers. We hope you will join us for this unparalleled opportunity to explore one of the most intriguing places on the map.

Trip Name
Indonesian Island Odyssey - An Exploration of Indonesia’s Natural Wonders
Days
17
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 90 metres Passenger Capacity: 116  Built / refurbished: 1992 / 2010 / 2017 The MS Island Sky is an elegant small ship, offering the atmosphere of a private yacht combined with the comfort of a country house hotel. Accommodating just over 100 passengers in 59 spacious suites, all with outside views and many with private balconies, she provides a refined and intimate cruising experience. Suites are beautifully finished with wood panelling and brass details, and feature marble bathrooms, ample storage, and thoughtful amenities such as dressing gowns, refillable water bottles, and Noble Isle toiletries. Public spaces are equally well designed, with inviting lounges, a well-stocked library, observation decks, and a promenade for enjoying sweeping views. Complimentary Wi-Fi, a clinic with doctor, and a lift serving all decks ensure that modern comforts are seamlessly paired with classic style. Life on board is relaxed, sociable, and far removed from the bustle of large resort-style ships. With open seating in the dining room, guests can enjoy fine à la carte cuisine, enhanced by locally sourced produce and accompanied by included wines. Al fresco meals on the Lido Deck, afternoon tea, and pre-dinner canapés further enrich the dining experience. Days are shaped by enriching talks from Guest Speakers and the Expedition Team, with evenings offering convivial conversation, music in the lounge, or simply time to unwind. With excellent service, a warm atmosphere, and itineraries designed for discovery rather than distraction, the MS Island Sky offers a truly memorable way to explore the world in comfort and style.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 London to Bali, Indonesia.
Fly by scheduled flight to Bali.
Day 2 - Day 2 Bali.
Arrive and transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 - Day 3 Bali.
Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel or explore the local area at your own pace. We will check out in the late morning and after lunch will transfer to the MS Island Sky moored in Benoa. Sail this evening.
Day 4 - Days 4 to 7 Nusa Tenggara Islands & East Timor.
Over the next few days we will be guided by our Captain and Expedition Leader for the best landing sites whilst we explore the Nusa Tenggara islands. We plan to visit Satonda Island, located between the large island of Sumbawa and the smaller Pulau Moyo. The island is wooded and uninhabited with a fringing reef and a small but swimmable crater lake where the trees are decorated with ‘wishing’ stones, shells and pieces of coral. From here we will sail to Komodo to see the distant cousins of the dinosaurs, the Komodo dragons. These rare, huge lizards grow up to twelve feet in length and were only known to the western world from 1910 when a Dutch lieutenant first laid eyes on them. Escorted by the islands’ wardens in the national park we will walk to the feeding station, witnessing the dragons in the wild. During our walk we also hope to see frigate birds, white buffalo and long tailed monkeys. We hope to include a call on the island of Flores in order to visit the remarkable Kelimutu National Park with its unique three coloured crater lakes. The lakes change colour from time to time and nobody can explain why, but stories vary from a changing mineral content of the water to angry ancestor spirits. Kelimutu is sacred to the local population, and they believe the souls of the dead go to the lakes. We will also visit the small island nation of East Timor (Timor–Leste) which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002. We will explore the island's history and take in the wonderful natural landscape of rich forested slopes teeming with wildlife and the Portuguese colonial towns.
Day 5 - Day 8 At Sea.
Enjoy a leisurely day at sea to relax and listen to some lectures in the lounge.
Day 6 - Days 9 to 13 Maluku Islands (Spice Islands).
Over the next few days we will sail between the Maluku Islands, also known as the Spice Islands. These islands had a thriving trade in spices and other goods in the Far East long before European vessels arrived in the 15th century. Over the following centuries, the Portuguese, Dutch and English fought for control of the lucrative trade in cloves, nutmeg, mace and cinnamon and the Dutch East India Company eventually secured the monopoly over the region’s spice trade. Today the islands are left with the forts these powers built to control the ports and islands as well as the still existent plantations. During our time in the region, we will visit some of the islands including Ambon, once the Dutch administration centre for the islands and known as the ‘Galapagos of Asia’. Whilst Charles Darwin was working on his theory of natural selection in the Galapagos, his contemporary Alfred Russell Wallace was taking up residence in the Spice Islands, primarily Ambon, and coming up with his own version of a similar theory based on his observations of the region’s wildlife. We also hope to visit Band Neira, the main port of the Banda Islands and see the remnants of an extravagant European lifestyle which remain from the port’s heyday as a spice exporter in the Dutch era. It is a charmingly friendly place and almost devoid of tourism as it is so difficult to reach. While on the islands of Halmaherea, Tidore and Ternate we will focus on the natural history of the islands, exploring the places that naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace visited and worked and had his epiphany moment during a bout of malaria when the pieces fell into place for his great work, the ‘Theory of Natural Selection’. Our expedition team and local guides will lead nature walks looking for some of the islands’ many natural wonders and there will also be time to swim and snorkel to discover some of the unique marine life.
Day 7 - Day 14 Bitung, Sulawesi.
On the north coast of the island of Sulawesi lies Bitung, known for its incredibly vibrant, varied and often bizarre marine life that thrives in the coastal waters. Whilst here we will explore the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, a conservation area on Mount Tangkoko that protects 8700 hectares of lowland rainforest. The reserve is known for its unique wildlife including tarsiers, the black macaque, maleo birds, cuscus and hornbills. The nocturnal tarsiers, the smallest primate in the world are only found in Sulawesi and Tangkoko is their last refuge. We will offer a range of guided nature walks here taking in the beautiful rainforest and its inhabitants.
Day 8 - Day 15 Bunaken National Park.
This morning finds us at the Bunaken National Park, which is a treasure trove of biodiversity situated near the centre of the Coral Triangle. Here we will find nearly 400 species of coral, over 90 species of fish including bluestripe snapper and emperor angelfish, whilst seven of the eight species of giant clams are also found here. Meanwhile on land we can find macaque and deer whilst mangrove forests are home to crabs. We will use our Zodiacs to land on a local beach and set up snorkelling platforms to explore the remarkable underwater world whilst our naturalists will lead walks ashore.
Day 9 - Day 16 Likupang to Singapore.
Disembark this morning in Likupang and transfer to Manado for the onward indirect flight to Singapore. On arrival in Singapore we will transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 10 - Day 17 Singapore to London.
Transfer to the airport this morning for our scheduled flight to London. Arrive this evening.
Day 11 - Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change. 

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £11,495Magellan Deck Standard Suite
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £11,995Columbus Deck Superior Suite
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £12,495Marco Polo Deck Premium Suite
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £12,995Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £13,495Magellan Deck Standard Single
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £13,995Columbus Deck Superior Single
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £14,395Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £14,895Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite
16-08-202701-09-2027GBP £15,495Explorer Deck Island Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £11,995Columbus Deck Superior Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £12,495Marco Polo Deck Premium Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £12,995Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £13,495Magellan Deck Standard Single
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £13,995Columbus Deck Superior Single
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £14,395Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £14,895Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £15,495Explorer Deck Island Suite
29-08-202714-09-2027GBP £11,495Magellan Deck Standard Suite

Inclusions

    • Komodo dragons, Kelimutu’s coloured lakes and remote Nusa Tenggara islands
    • Spice Islands history with Ambon, Banda Neira, Tidore and Ternate
    • World-class wildlife and snorkelling in Sulawesi and Bunaken National Park

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