Orangutans And Dragons - Cruising the Rivers of Kalimantan

Description

Starting in Borneo and ending in the Komodo National Park, this is a journey through the rainforests of Borneo and the volcanic epicenter of Indonesia’s Ring of Fire. Experience the homeland of the orangutan and then travel to Komodo, where you will see the results of countless millennia of Earth’s shifting tectonic plates, mighty forces that have helped shape the landscapes, cultures, and habitats that exist both on land and in the sea.
– Cruise on a riverboat along rivers and peat swamps and see orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and birds living free in their natural habitat.
– Visit local villages to experience local customs and experience the rich culture of the Dayak people of Borneo.
– Visit a highly successful coral restoration project on Hatamin Island to learn, where you can get a hands-on experience in creating and placing coral racks into the sea.
– Trek the hills and forests of the park’s prehistoric islands in search of Komodo dragons in the wild. Listen to the early morning birdsong as you hike through the dry tropical and monsoon forests of the region.
– Experience being in the water with whale sharks and learn how they live in symbiotic harmony with local fishermen. Swim with manta rays and sea turtles as they glide along the reefs and “cleaning stations”.
– Soar weightlessly through warm tropical waters as you snorkel on kaleidoscopic coral reefs teeming with underwater life.
– See thousands of giant fruit bats fly high above the boat as they emerge from their forest roosts on their nocturnal quest for food.

Trip Name

Orangutans And Dragons - Cruising the Rivers of Kalimantan

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 - Days 1-2 - Palangka Raya

After being picked up from your hotel in Palangka Raya (included) after breakfast, we board local motorized canoes to take you to the backwaters observe orangutans on the beautiful, forested island of Pulau Kaja. The island is managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation or BOS, and the orangutans live a totally ‘hands off’ existence free from human interference.Exploring by motorized canoes, we will visit the extensive blackwater lake of Bagantung, a unique peatland swamp ecosystem where we have the opportunity to spot birds, other wildlife, and fishing activities by the villagers.Cruise through the large forested Selat and Badak Islands, where it may be possible to spot orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and lots of endemic birds.Visit Dayak villages, where you will be greeted with traditional dance and hospitality as you see and experience their way of life.

Day 2 - Days 3-4 Tundai and Dayak villages

Walk through and explore a local rubber plantation and learn about the processes of growing and extracting the latex from the source by tapping the trees. Learn about the many medicinal herbs and plants that can be found growing in the forest.Visit more local Dayak villages and learn about some of their traditional livelihoods, such as rattan weaving, and enjoy local entertainment in the form of a kacapi (two-stringed instrument) performance, and local self-defense or shadowboxing.Explore the tiny fishing village of Tundai, perched atop raised walkways on the edge of an expansive blackwater lake. Here, we float through here on canoes, admiring the stunning reflections and learning more about the unique fishing practices.On the morning of Day 4, we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Bali.* If doing a 14-day journey, you will spend two nights in Bali with the extra day at your leisure.

Day 3 - Days 5-6 - Komodo

You will be met at the airport in Komodo by your tour leaders and be taken straight to your boat. After settling into your new home for the week, we will head off for our first of many snorkelling expeditions.Go ashore on Rinca Island in search of the fearsome Komodo dragons, found only in the Komodo National Park. This is the world’s largest lizard, growing up to a length of three metres and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms.Another highlight will be when we anchor off a small island to witness the nightly departure of thousands of flying foxes that fly at dusk to feed on the mainland.Enjoy a fantastic drift snorkel as we visit Gili Lawa Darat, an island in the north of the park, from where we can trek to the viewpoint and watch a majestic sunset across the park.

Day 4 - Days 7-8 - Sangeang Moyo Islands

Go ashore on Sangeang Island, an active volcano, where we will visit the local village and enjoy snorkelling on the colourful coral reef just offshore.Experience one of our famous SeaTrek beach BBQs under a night sky filled with millions of stars as you feast on the amazing local delicacies prepared by our chef, and all accompanied by live musical entertainment from our talented crew.We will go ashore on the forested Moyo Island, where we will travel to the interior of the island to visit a scenic waterfall in the rainforest, where we can bathe in the refreshing cool water.

Day 5 - Days 9-10 - Whale sharks and buffalo racing

Prepare for an exhilarating opportunity to swim with whale sharks, the majestic gentle giants of the sea. These massive but harmless animals have long congregated here in the bay, but now, thanks to travellers like you, we have formed a mutually beneficial alliance with the local fishermen who have their traditional small floating fishing platforms in the bay that attract the sharks.Visit a local village and witness their age-old practice of buffalo racing, where the local men ride their prized beasts through a mud-filled rice paddy, an exhilarating sight to behold.Visit a strange and mystical volcanic island with a sunken crater lake in its centre, and visit a small coastal community to see pinisi ships being built on the beach.

Day 6 - Days 11-12 - Snorkelling, coral, turtles and mantas

Enjoy a unique snorkelling experience where volcanic gas escapes in the form of bubbles from the sea floor among the corals, with the metallic black volcanic sand below being home to an abundance of very interesting invertebrates.Entering the Komodo National Park again, we will go drift snorkelling in one of the best and healthiest coral reefs in the park.You will have a hands-on experience at a coral conservation project on Hatamin Island, where you will learn about the work and get a chance to create your own coral rack and place it in the sea.Snorkel at a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle reptiles as they cruise along the shallow water of the reef. Swim with manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin.

Day 7 - Day 13 - Melo village and finish

After breakfast on our last day, we will take you on a scenic drive towards Melo Village, where you will witness the traditional Caci dance performance. Local strongmen perform a ritual whip-fight between two rivals in which the players, each armed with a rattan shield and a whip, will try to hit each other while dancing to the rhythm of traditional acoustic instruments.We say farewell to the crew and your fellow shipmates as you disembark and continue onto your next destination.The journey ends in Labuan Bajo (with a drop at Komodo airport or the hotel).

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 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Day 10 - D A Y 1 0

- Wake up in the most northerly part of the Komodo National Park and enjoy a morning of sea-based activities including a fantastic drift snorkel over the reef, kayaking and SUP at Gili Lawa Darat island. - Swim with schools of manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Hover above these giant and noble beasts for as long as you like. - Spend the late afternoon on a local sandbar, where we will enjoy snorkelling, swimming and relaxing on the sand.

Day 11 - D A Y 1 1

- Visit Rinca Island and go on a trek in search of the ancient Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. See monkeys, dear, pigs, buffalo, and myriad birds as we walk through the forests and savannahs of this large island. - Snorkel at Saba Island, a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle creatures as the cruise along the shallow water of the reef. - Enjoy Indonesian hospitality as your crew host a beach barbeque in your honour on a deserted island. On offer is plenty of good food, music, cocktails dancing and frivolity as we dance and sing the night away next to a bonfire under a clear tropical night sky.

Day 12 - D A Y 1 2

- Cruise into harbour as we eat our last breakfast on the boat, before taking a short drive to a traditional local village. Here we will enjoy their hospitality with coffee, betel nut and a highly potent local ‘arak’ before (not for the faint hearted), before being be treated to a selection of traditional dances by their men and women. - Enjoy a final lunch on the boat before being escorted to the airport for your onward flight to Bali.

Day 13 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Whether it’s swimming with whale sharks & manta rays, or leisurely gliding along a stunning tropical reef surrounded by myriad fish and corals, snorkeling 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.