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Peregrine Travel Centre

Rare Species, Remote Cultures & Remarkable Corals with Nicole, Coral Specialist

Rare Species, Remote Cultures & Remarkable Corals with Nicole, Coral Specialist

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Description

This is an outstanding sailing and snorkelling adventure that crosses from the original clove “spice Islands” of Maluku to North Sulawesi, visiting some of the most remote and least visited regions of Indonesia and snorkelling on some of the best reefs that the Coral Triangle has to offer.
Led by  marine biologist, Nicole Helgason and starting in Ternate, you will travel south following a long chain of conical active volcanoes to the island of Bacan, where you will see Wallace’s Standardwing bird of paradise, and the world’s largest butterfly, the Golden birdwing. Crossing the Sula Archipelago, you will travel where very few tourists ever venture, visiting local people and experiencing their unique island culture and way of life. Following on, you can look forward to a swim in a lake filled with stingless jellyfish, a visit to a giant clam restoration programme, a one-of-a-kind interaction with Maleo birds, babirusa (Indonesia’s native pig), a visit with the Bajau ‘sea gypsies’, who live in communities built on the water and most famous for the ‘Jago’, the patriarch seen on the BBC, and the awesome experience of swimming with whale sharks before reaching your final destination after a glorious 14 days at sea.
** Ending in Bitung, Sulawesi, this trip offers the perfect opportunity to do a post-cruise add on land tour to visit the Tangkoko National Park to see tarsiers, black-crested macaques, and all manner of birds living wild in the rainforest. Contact us for more information.

Trip Name
Rare Species, Remote Cultures & Remarkable Corals with Nicole, Coral Specialist
Days
14
Overview
Vessel Type: Yacht Length overall: 42 metres Passanger Capacity: 24 Led by Captain Jufri, with a crew of 14, Ombak Putih means ‘White Wave’ in the Indonesian language. Her keel was first laid down in Kalimantan in 1995, and she became operational in 1997. At 42 metres long, she is the larger of our two ships, providing accommodation for up to 24 guests in 12 comfortable cabins. Approximately 400 square metres of public space is divided over her two main decks, including a large salon, as well as covered and open areas, allowing plenty of room for our guests to spread out, relax, and enjoy as much company or solitude as they wish. Twelve superior cabins en-suite bathrooms, Salon & bar.Outdoor covered dining area, Rooftop lounge. Kayaks, Stand,up-paddle boards (SUP). Snorkelling equipment. Fishing gear, Three tender boats. Full complement of crew; engineering and service. SLEEPING CONFIGURATION 6 x double bed cabins 2 x triple cabins (one double bed and one upper single bunk - bunk ideally suitable for child 12 or under) 4 x twin bunk cabins (one above the other)

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 & 2
Visit Dodinga Village, a pivotal place in scientific history, where the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace first came up with the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.Visit the Guraici Archipelago, a chain of islands with white sandy beaches and vibrant coral reefs, where we will spend time snorkelling, swimming, and also visit 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.It may also be possible to see manta rays here, and these protected waters also provide the perfect location for beginner or rusty snorkellers to become familiar with the water and to hone their skills for the many days of snorkelling that lie ahead.
Day 2 - Day 3 & 4
Explore the deep forest and rivers of Bacan Island, where Wallace first saw what he called ‘the most beautiful butterfly in the world, the Golden Birdwing. During our trek, the other species that we might see here include cuscus, hornbills, and other birds, and maybe even an encounter with the black-crested macaque.Snorkel on some spectacular coral reefs and visit a local hot spring where we encourage you take a warm dip.Visit Belang Belang Island, which offers fantastic snorkelling both on the reefs and the mangroves, which act as a nursery to many marine species, including baby sharks and many kinds of school fish. We will explore the huge inland lagoon, which we can explore from the boat tender. The island is home to healthy populations of birds, including parrots, tree swifts, imperial pigeons, and many more.
Day 3 - Day 5 & 6
Time for snorkelling, culture, and history as we find ourselves in the middle of the Banda Sea in the remote and breathtaking Sulu Archipelago, where the reefs are teeming with fish and other marine life. True to the desert island locales, we will also kayak, paddle, swim, explore, and relax on the white-sand beaches.Visit a local village market and see the ruins of a 17th-century Dutch fort, which once protected the spice trade along these routes. We will be treated to a traditional dance known as the ‘cakalale’, by local warriors. We will also have a chance to explore the local village and meet the people of this remote region.Enjoy a beach BBQ for us, and they will regale us with traditional Indonesian folk songs and sea shanties as we party by firelight late into the night.
Day 4 - Day 7 & 8
The Bokan Islands are an area of unsurpassed beauty, and today will be a day of marine exploration and relaxation. We also have the rare privilege to swim in a small marine lake filled with stingless jellyfish, one of only 20 lakes of its kind in the world.We will visit the bustling Indonesian island port town of Banggai, where we will visit the local market, the sultan’s palace, and the Maleo bird egg ‘museum’, and all from our fleet of brightly-coloured motor rickshaws, which will be on the dock awaiting our arrival.We will pay a hands-on visit to LINI, an NGO doing great work with coral restoration on the surrounding reefs, in addition to working with local fishermen in finding sustainable solutions for supplying fish for overseas markets and the live aquarium fishing trade.
Day 5 - Day 9 & 10
Today you will have the chance to see possibly one of the strangest and most unique flightless birds found in the world – the Maleo. We visit a conservation project on the mainland where scores of Maleo live and breed. Entering in twos, we can watch them at their sandy nesting sites from a camouflaged hide as they go about their business.We visit the Togean Islands National Park for some island hopping and spectacular snorkelling, wildlife, and culture. – Today will be your first encounter with the Bajau sea gypsies of Southeast Asia and their famous patriarch ‘Jago’, a people with a unique way of living with the sea. About 2,500 people live in this small village, and we will be welcomed into their world to meet and talk with them about their lives.
Day 6 - Day 11 & 12
Some great wildlife experiences await both in the water and the air, with birds, fish, Babirusa (Indonesia’s rare native pig), and invertebrates as the main features. We will enjoy a snorkel on the lush reefs near the island of Malenge, before taking our snorkels and masks for a rare second swim with stingless jellyfish.We will visit a local village and meet the people, and enjoy a late afternoon walk in the forest before being witness to a most amazing show of nature as flocks of hornbills come flying in to roost in the trees – a once-in-a-lifetime sight only accessible with SeaTrek.
Day 7 - Day 13 & 14
After an overnight crossing from Togean, we start the day with an early morning swim with whale sharks that congregate just off the coast at a small village in North Sulawesi. Swimming with these gentle giants is one of life’s highlights and is not to be missed.Visit Tangkoko National Park for a trek through the forest, a haven for many rare and endemic wildlife species, including spectral tarsiers, black-crested macaque, cuscus, and a wide variety of birds. This is where Wallace did a lot of his collecting, and we will visit a statue that celebrates this great man.After a final swim and snorkel on the beach and then a short sail into Bitung Harbour, we will say a fond farewell to our crew and tour leaders and head to Manado City for your onward flights.
Day 8 - Please Note:
Whether it’s swimming with whale sharks & mantas rays, or leisurely gliding along a stunning tropical reef surrounded by myriad fish and corals, snorkelling lies at the very heart of what we do at SeaTrek. We do it well and we do it often – usually twice a day for an hour or more at a time. No matter if you are a novice or a seasoned pro, our tour leaders will ensure that you have everything you need to have some of the best underwater experiences of your life.
Day 9 - D A Y 9 Togean Islands National Park
 - Today you will have the chance to see possibly one of the strangest and most unique flightless birds found in the world - the Maleo.- After a morning snorkel, we will sail north to visit the endemic Maleo in their beachside environment, the symbol of the province within which it lives. We visit a conservation project on the mainland where scores of Maleo live and breed. Entering in twos, we can watch them at their sandy nesting sites from a camoflagued hide as they go about their business.- Later that afternoon, we set sail for the Togean Islands National Park, for some island hopping and spectacular snorkelling, wildlife and culture.
Day 10 - D A Y 1 0 Kabalutan Village
 -  The Bajau sea gypsies of Southeast have a very uqique way of life living in harmony with the water, and today you will get to see it up close.- We will go ashore to Kabalutan Village, where a population of about 2500 Bajau call home, and we will be welcomed into their world to meet and talk with them about their lives.- In the afternoon we will snorkel and swim on some pristine coral reefs before moving on further into the park.
Day 11 - D A Y 1 1 Lake Mariona
 - Some great wildlife experiences await us today both in the water and the air, with birds, fish and invertebrates as the main features.- We will enjoy a snorkel on the lush reefs near the island of Malenge, before taking our snorkels and masks for a rare second swim with stingless jellyfish in nearby Lake Mariona, the second jellyfish lake on our route.- We will visit a local village and meet the people, and enjoy a late afternoon walk in the local forest before being witness to a most amazing show of nature as flocks of hornbills come flying in to roost in the trees – a once in a lifetime sight only accessible with SeaTrek.
Day 12 - D A Y 1 2 Sulawesi
 - Waking up in the east of the park, we will go snorkelling and visit a local village  before setting sail on a long crossing towards the Sulawesi mainland, where we can relax, watch the world go by and take in the beauty of the sea from the decks of our ship.- In the afternoon, our chef will offer a cooking class for those interested in learning how to prepare some traditional Indonesian dishes. For the rest of us, it's sunbathing, reading, relaxing and reflection.- To finish the day, cocktails will be served on the back deck before a specially prepared dinner is served, followed by a party with the crew's band providing the music and entertainment.
Day 13 - D A Y 1 3 North Sulawesi
 - This morning we are on the outside 'elbow' of North Sulawesi and we will have the chance for some more cultural exchanges and some impressive snorkelling.- After breakfast we will go ashore to a remote village and meet the local people as they invite us into their village to share in their way of life. We will also go for a walk in the nearby forest on the look out for birds.- We will snorkel a local reef before we head north, stopping off en-route for another snorkel and a swim towards the end of the day before the crew throw us a final beach BBQ, where we will dance and sing into the night under the stars next to a roaring bonfire.
Day 14 - D A Y 1 4 Bitung
 -Waking up just off the coast near the Tasikoki Rescue Centre, we will go ashore and have a short tour of the impressive facilities at this NGO and hear all about their conservation programme and also have the chance to see orangutan, cackatoos, sun bears, monkeys, and other endangered wildlife.- After a final swim and snorkel on the beach and then a short sail into Bitung Harbour, we will say a fond farewell to our crew and tour leaders and head to Manado City for either your onwards flights, or to start one of our special SeaTrek add-on programmes. Whatever your schedule, it will have been our pleasure having you on board.
Day 15 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change. 

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

    • Whether it’s swimming with whale sharks & mantas rays, or leisurely gliding along a stunning tropical reef surrounded by myriad fish and corals, snorkelling lies at the very heart of what we do at SeaTrek. We do it well and we do it often – usually twice a day for an hour or more at a time. No matter if you are a novice or a seasoned pro, our tour leaders will ensure that you have everything you need to have some of the best underwater experiences of your life.
    • 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.

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