Itinerary

Days 1-3 En Route/Bali
Fly to Denpasar, Bali. Arrive on day 3. We’ll
continue to our luxurious hotel, an elegant
retreat. Convene for a welcome dinner tonight.
Overnight Tanjung Sari or Bali Hyatt (D)

Day 4 Bali/Sailing
Fly to Labuanbajo on the island of Flores.
Make the short transfer to the harbor where
we’ll board our sailing vessel and depart for a
cruise to our overnight anchorage in the Nusa
Tenggara Islands. (B,L,D) Note: Unpredictable
currents and tides prevent us from specifying a
fixed daily itinerary for this portion of the tour.
Following is an example of what you may expect.

Day 5 Sailing/Gili Lawa Laut
After breakfast we’ll indulge in an early morning
snorkel over some of Indonesia’s best coral reefs.
This is a chance to acquaint yourself with the
snorkel gear (provided) and to get your feet (and
face!) wet, as even better snorkeling lies ahead.
The reefs of Komodo are considered by many
marine biologists and snorkeling enthusiasts
to be among the world’s best and most diverse.
For many of our past travelers, the snorkeling
has been an unexpected highlight of their time
in Indonesia. We will sail to Gili Lawa Laut for a
morning hike. This afternoon, we’ll sail to neighboring
Rinca Island where we’ll drop anchor and
overnight in a secluded cove. The sunsets here,
backing myriad islands of the Flores Sea, are
unforgettable. Overnight at a secluded anchorage
near Rinca. (B,L,D)

Day 6 Sailing/Rinca
Enjoy a morning gamewalk through the rolling
hills and riverine thickets of Rinca. While
exploring the rolling, grass-covered hills of this
“Serengeti-by-the-sea,” we’ll likely encounter
wild horse, wild buffalo, Timor deer, wild pig,
and possibly Komodo dragons stalking their
prey! You may also see the rare megapod,
a strange bird endemic to only a few of the
Indonesian islands, that incubates its eggs in
rotting vegetable matter. We know Rinca will
be a highlight of your trip; few visitors to the
National Park get this far off the beaten path.
We’ll then cruise to Komodo Island, home of
the great Komodo dragon, where we will spend
the afternoon snorkeling and beachcombing.
Overnight anchorage in Komodo Bay (B,L,D)

Day 7 Sailing/Komodo
Venture out on an early morning gamewalk on
Komodo, to the dragons’ lair. The encounter
with these giant lizards will be an experience
you’ll long remember. Besides these dinosaurthrowbacks,
we’ll likely see wild pig, Timor
deer, wild horses, and a variety of birdlife,
including screeching cockatoos, brilliantly
colored parakeets and imperial pigeons.
Following our walk, and, if time allows,
stop to snorkel another pristine azure bay.
Overnight in Labuanbajo Bay. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Sailing/Bali
Disembark this morning. If time allows we’ll
stop at a local market. Fly to Bali and transfer
to Ubud—its cultural and artistic center.
On arrival in Bali we will visit Taman Burung,
the beautifully landscaped Bali Bird Park, home
to rare birds from around the world, including
several species of Indonesia’s endangered bird
of paradise. Our resort’s hillside setting provides
a blissful sense of seclusion and peace. Each
guest villa is uniquely designed, hosting classical
Balinese design and architectural elements.
Enjoy the rest of the day on your own to explore
or relax. Dinner will be on your own tonight.
Overnight Kamandalu Resort & Spa (B,L)

Day 9 Ubud
This morning we continue our journey to a small
village and Hindu temples, while stopping
to chat with local folk. We will visit the Neka
Museum and then enjoy lunch in small cafe.
This afternoon travel to the village of one of
Bali’s foremost mask makers to see his collection
and learn about the role of these exquisite
pieces in Balinese culture. Then visit a gamelan
studio to see how these traditional percussive
instruments are made. Some may even want to
try their hand at playing a few notes. Tonight,
we will enjoy a private performance of the spellbinding
kecak dance, where a chorus of a hundred
men chants hypnotically as dancers enact
scenes from the epic Ramayana. We will then
dine together at the lovely Laka-Leke Restaurant
in Ubud. Overnight Kamandalu Resort & Spa
(B,L,D)

Day 10 Ubud
This morning enjoy an excursion through lovely
central Bali. Visit the Royal Temple of Pura
Taman Ayun, built in 1634; it’s considered one
of the most beautiful temples in Bali. Then
walk amidst the beautiful rolling hills and terraced
rice fields of Jatiluwih, which translates
to “supreme beauty of nature.” Continue on to
Pacung for lunch, which commands a splendid
view over a deep valley of dramatically terraced
rice paddies. After lunch visit Lake Beratan in
the highlands, set amidst lush vegetation. Onto
Candi Kuning to stroll through its famous fruit
and vegetable market. Returning to Ubud vsit
Baha, a traditional Balinese village. Visit with
a local family in their home for an intimate,
insider’s glimpse into the lives of the Balinese.
We’ll continue back to Ubud with the rest of
the evening free to relax or explore on our own.
Overnight Kamandalu Resort & Spa (B,L)

Day 11 Borobudur/Semarang
We’ll fly to Yogyakarta (Java) this morning. On
arrival, we’ll depart for the magnificent ancient
temple ruins of Borobudur, the world’s largest
Buddhist monument, one of the wonders of the
ancient world, and a UNESCO World Heritage
site. From Borobudur continue to Semarang
where we’ll get situated in our hotel for a free
evening before traveling to Kalimantan tomorrow
morning. Overnight Ciputra Hotel (B,L,D)

Days 12-13 Camp Leakey, Borneo
Fly to Pangkalanbun, Kalimantan. Transfer to
Kumai River Harbor and board a traditional
klotok–flat-bottomed river boat. As we pass
through this bustling river port, we’ll see amazing
shipyards where Makassar schooners are
handcrafted from tropical hardwoods. Birds
and monkeys are abundant as we make our
way upriver. We’ll spend the next three nights
in comfortable and charming riverside accommodations,
a remote eco-lodge that can only be
accessed by boat.
The Camp Leakey portion of our program is flexible
to afford maximum opportunities for viewing
wildlife and taking advantage of any special
sightings, occurrences, or conditions. During our
time here we’ll visit the three ranger stations
at Tanjung Puting National Park: the orangutan
nursery at Tanjung Haraphan, Camp Leakey,
and Pondok Tanggui. We’ll likely be greeted by
several of the resident ex-captive orangutans
that roam within the grounds of the research
camp. We’ll have at least one and perhaps three
opportunities to see orangutan feedings at various
sites. Observing these intelligent and gentle
primates feeding at close-range in their natural
habitat will be a highlight of our trip.
We’ll start early each day to be on the river at
prime wildlife viewing times. We’ll see playful
proboscis monkeys bounding through the trees.
These large primates are found only in isolated
areas of Borneo; their pendulous noses give
them a comic appearance. We’ll also see majestic
hornbills flying low over the jungle canopy,
leaf-eating macaques and the occasional wild
orangutan. This is Heart of Darkness stuff; at
times the river narrows to the point that our
passage may seem to be in doubt. We’ll visit
a local village and be treated to a dance by
the children at the village school. We also take
time for hikes (of varying length depending
on members’ abilities and interests) into the
Kalimantan rainforest–one of the earth’s most
biologically diverse areas. Overnight Rimba
Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 14 Pangkalanbun/Yogyakarta
Return to Kumai Harbor where we’ll transfer to
Pangkalanbun for a trip up the Arut River. From
our long, slim sampans (small riverboats) we’ll
see the vibrant life along the riverfront—women
and men scaling fish, washing babies, dishes
and clothes, fishing, repairing boats, and curious
local children waving as we pass. Return
to Pangkalanbun and transfer to the airport for
our flight to Semarang, Java. We’ll then begin
our drive to Yogyakarta, enjoying lunch en route.
We’ll arrive early in Yogyakarta this evening. You
may wish to wander famed Malioboro Street, a
great, long, bustling, colorful bazaar. Perhaps
purchase some art or souvenirs. Dinner will be
on your own tonight, offering opportunities to
explore or relax. Overnight Dusun Jogya Village
Inn (B,L)

Day 15 Yogyakarta
This morning explore Yogyakarta by horse drawn
cart, stopping at the Kraton, the palace of
Yogyakarta’s sultans. We’ll also see the ruins
of Taman Sari, the Water Palace and a puppet
maker, if time allows. After lunch at a local restaurant,
visit stunning Prambanan, the largest
Hindu temple in Indonesia and a UNESCO site.
Tonight we’ll celebrate with a Javanese dinner
and classical dance performance. Overnight
Dusun Jogya Village Inn (B,L,D)

Day 16 Yogyakarta/Bali
Early this morning fly to Denpasar and transfer
to our hotel. The rest of the day is free. We’ll
reconvene tonight for our farewell dinner.
Overnight Tanjung Sari or Bali Hyatt (B,D)

Day 17 Fly Home/Extend
Fly home or begin an extension to other great
destinations in Asia or the Pacific region. (B)

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