The Wonders of North Maluku - A Snorkelling, Wildlife & Cultural Adventure

Description

This 13-day cruise has been designed with a strong emphasis on snorkelling and for people who prefer shorter crossings and nights at anchor, leaving more time for local exploration. On this journey, we will explore the many islands, forests, villages, reefs, and shoals of North Maluku at a slower pace than normal, with lots of cultural and wildlife experiences combined with exploration by tender and on foot, lots of time on white-sand paradise beaches, and snorkelling on distant and unexplored reefs.
– See birds of paradise in their natural habitat as they perform their elaborate courtship rituals high in the forest canopy.
– Visit Ternate and Tidore Islands, rich former sultanates that are home to the clove plant, and once some of the most valuable real estate on earth that was fought over by European powers for control of the spice trade.
– Visit Dodinga, the small village where Victorian adventurer and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace first formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection.
– Enjoy daily snorkelling sessions on beautifully rich and abundant coral reefs, and explore uninhabited islands with white sand beaches, hidden coves and bays, and spend long hours swimming and playing in the warm tropical waters
– Experience the age-old ritual of crossing the equator by ship, where we will swim with one leg in each hemisphere.

Trip Name

The Wonders of North Maluku - A Snorkelling, Wildlife & Cultural Adventure

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 - Day 1 & 2

After settling into your cabins, we will set course north for about 90 minutes and enjoy our first snorkel of many on a lovely coral reef.Explore a remote and forested set of islets renowned for its limestone outcrops and a large and dramatic waterfall, which cascades directly into the sea in a beautiful bay.We will pay a visit to Dodinga Village, a seminal place in the history of science, where Victorian explorer and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace first formulated the Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection, which was later published together with Charles Darwin.

Day 2 - Day 3 & 4

Go ashore to the village of Bastiong on Halmahera, where we will be welcomed by the friendly residents and guided through their fruit plantations and forests to a giant waterfall, where we can bathe in its cool, clear waters. On our way back, the villagers will likely get their musical instruments out and invite us all to sing and dance together.Snorkel, paddle board, kayak, and explore the beaches, reefs, and mangroves of two beautiful small island groups. If we are lucky, we will see white-tipped reef sharks as we swim among the rich beautiful coral gardens.

Day 3 - Day 5 & 6

Beautiful, rare, and endemic wildlife is what awaits us on our visit to Bacan Island as we go see the Golden-birdwing butterfly, one of nature’s biggest and most beautiful specimens. We also hope to see the stylishly quaffed black-crested macaques, mohawk-sporting monkeys that live in the forests.Visit a copra processing plant and learn how the villagers make their living from their coconut plantations, and visit a local hot spring to bathe in the thermal waters.Visit a large settlement of the famed Bajau ‘Sea Gypsy” people, who spend their entire lives living on, above, and near the water. We will be welcomed into the community by the village head and shown around to see their way of life and how they make their living from the ocean. Expect lots of wonderful smiling and excited kids to accompany us as we move around the village – always a huge treat.

Day 4 - Day 7 & 8

There will be an early wake-up and a quick breakfast as we go ashore in search of one of the highlights of the trip, the Wallace Standardwing Bird of Paradise, which inhabits the deep forests in the interior. We will also have a second chance to see the Black-crested macaques as we return to the boat later in the morning.Go ashore to the town of Labuha, the capital of Bacan, a large and vibrant fishing and trading port, which offers a great insight into the economy of eastern Indonesia’s islands.Cruise the fascinating, tight passage north through the narrow, island-filled channels that separate the heavily forested islands of Bacan and Kasuruta. At the head of the channel, we will stop at an uninhabited island to snorkel, paddle, kayak, swim, and play.

Day 5 - Day 9 & 10

Another pristine island group awaits with white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise water, which is ideal for snorkelling, swimming, and exploring with its limestone formations and very picturesque setting.We get to explore the beautiful Guraici Archipelago, another chain of islands with white sandy beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and some lovely local villages. We will spend a full day here snorkelling, swimming, and beachcombing. The islands are part of a government-controlled conservation area, designed to protect the reefs and the many beautiful marine species that live there. We will also have the chance to see manta rays, which are often found in these waters.

Day 6 - Day 11 & 12

We will cross the Equator in the daytime and partake in a centuries-old seafaring ritual for novices to celebrate their first crossing. The crew dress up in gaudy costumes, and we will count down to ‘zero’ on the GPS as we approach the Equator, and then all take a swim in the sea with one leg in each hemisphere to celebrate.Go ashore to visit the Equator monument, explore the island surrounds and reefs, and experience the glorious SeaTrek tradition of a beach BBQ and party under the stars with our crew.Visit Tidore, an island dominated by a massive volcanic cone, and once a rival sultanate to Ternate just across the bay, for its highly valued cloves. Highlights include a visit to a local blacksmith and an old Spanish fort as we circle the island by car.

Day 7 - Day 13

Today marks the end of our cruise adventure, but not before we take you on a short tour of the town of Ternate, the provincial capital. This and the neighbouring islands were once the world’s only source of cloves and were highly contested by European powers. We will visit the Sultan’s palace, the market, and an 17th Century Dutch fort, a remnant of Indonesia’s colonial past.We will say farewell to our crew before taking you to your hotel or the airport for the next leg of your journey.

Day 8 - Please note:

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!

Day 9 - Day 9: Maluku Beaches & Reefs

- Today is a day of pure play and relaxation on we spend time snorkelling, paddle boarding and exploring the local islands and reefs and beaches of this very untouched part of Maluku. The area is pristine and relatively untouched and known for its white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise water, which is ideal for snorkelling and swimming with its limestone formations and very picturesque setting.- After sunset cocktails and dinner, we will make a short crossing north and spend a quiet night at anchor.

Day 10 - Day 10: Guraici Archipelago

- The beautiful Guraici Archipelago, awaits us today as we have another day of play and exploration. This is 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 and beachcombing. The islands are part of a government-controlled conservation area, designed to protect the reefs and the many beautiful marine species that live there. We will also have the chance to see manta rays which are often found in these waters.

Day 11 - Day 11: Equator Crossing & Celebration

- Today is a special day as we will cross the Equator in the daytime and partake in a centuries’ old seafaring ritual for novices to celebrate their first crossing. The crew dress up in gaudy costume and we will countdown to ‘zero’ on the GPS as we approach the Equator and then all take a swim in the sea with one leg in each hemisphere to celebrate.- In the morning we will go snorkelling on the reef of a small island, and then we will go ashore and visit the Equator monument. After lunch, we will explore the island surrounds and later in the afternoon move to another location for a second snorkel of the day.- Tonight we will get to experience the glorious SeaTrek tradition of a beach BBQ and party under the stars with our crew.

Day 12 - Day 12: Tidore & Dodinga Village

- We go ashore today Tidore Island, an island dominated by a massive volcanic cone, and once a rival sultanate to Ternate just across the bay. We will visit a local blacksmith, and a an old Spanish forts as we circle the island by car.- During lunch, we will head east to Halmahera and visit Dodinga Village, a seminal place in the history of science, and the place where Victorian explorer and naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace first formulated the Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection, which was later published together with Charles Darwin.- Later that afternoon, we will cruise north to have a last snorkel on a colourful nearby reef.

Day 13 - Day 13: Ternate Historical Tour

- Today marks the end of our cruise adventure, but not before we take you on a short tour of the town of Ternate, the provincial capital. Once the world’s only source of cloves and highly contested by European powers, we will visit the Sultan’s palace, the market, and an 17th Century Dutch fort, a remnant of Indonesia’s colonial past- After lunch, we will say farewell to our crew before taking you to your hotel or the airport for the next leg of your journey.

Day 14 - Please note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

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.