El Aleph

AM: Embarkation at Serangan Harbour for a welcome drink and boat briefing.

PM: After guests settle into one of El Aleph’s spacious cabins, we set sail for Nusa Lembongan, located just 15 nautical miles off the Bali coast where we enjoy the sunset and a sheltered night anchorage.

AM: Next morning we head for the Gili Islands, located just a mile north of the shores of Lombok. First discovered by backpackers in the 1980s, these islands have developed into a relaxed and lively tourist destination, famous for the total absence of automobiles, dogs, or police. Local transport is by horse carts and boats, making the Gilis an ideal place for travelers to unwind and slip into the Asian groove.

PM: The islands are famous for diving, snorkeling, surfing, and beach life, but there is plenty of activity on land - horseback riding and buzzing night life.

AM: Next stop on our voyage is Moyo Island, north of Sumbawa. We visit a small fishing village and take a hike up through the fields up to a small waterfall for a refreshing morning swim.

PM: We can also visit the famous Aman Moyo luxury resort. Good snorkeling is available on the reef in front of the fishing village, and a first “intro-dive” can be done here.

AM: North of Moyo lies the amazing volcanic island of Satonda, created in 1815 by the massive eruption of Tambora. This eruption left a great saltwater lake in the crater of Satonda, and over the next several hundred years rainfall gradually diluted the seawater, resulting in an ecosystem unique to this lake.

PM: Our crew will carry our kayaks up the hill to the lake, where one of nature’s truly magnificent spectacles awaits you: flights of millions of fruit bats – nesting in the trees along the edge of the late by day, at dusk they swarm low across the sky, flying across the channel to Sumbawa to feed.

AM: Further east along the coast of Sumbawa we come to Sangean, a member of the volcanic chain known as the Ring of Fire. We stop at the rocky shores of Sangean with black volcanic beaches and breathtaking underwater scenery for snorkeling or diving. Few places in the world host such amazing coral gardens, with hundreds of species, some found only here.

PM: Visit a small village nearby that produces traditional handicrafts, much as they have for generations. Nearby is the famed champagne reef natural volcanic gases are vented from the sea floor, creating curtains of bubbles – divers/snorkelers can enjoy a natural Jacuzzi.

AM: The Komodo archipelago is the high point of any cruise in Indonesia. Located between Sumbawa and Flores, the Komodo National Park is a secluded Eden, a unique environment that is home to the Komodo dragon, the direct descendent of the great lizards which once ruled the earth – at up to two meters in length, it is the world’s largest surviving reptilian species.

PM: Scientists remain fascinated by this unique environment, the last terrestrial area where the reptiles dominate the mammals. Komodo was once inhabited by a close relative of modern man - the Flores pygmy, as well as numerous now-extinct species including a strange breed of a pygmy elephant.

AM: It’s hard to say what is the most remarkable aspect of Komodo – the amazing scenery above water, or the extraordinary marine life of this national marine preserve, carefully protected by the Indonesian authorities for the benefit of future generations.

PM: The protected beaches of Komodo are deserted and pristine. Picnics and barbecues can be organized ashore, remarkable sea shells and red coral can be scavenged on the beach, or grab your camera and come hunt the Komodo dragons – the lords of these isles.

AM: Our itinerary will vary depending on the tides, the currents, and the weather. Captain Kahar has cruised these waters for nearly two decades and can be relied upon to find the quietest anchorages and the best beaches. Our local dive guides know some secret dive spots, as well as the times to find the best marine life.

PM: Komodo has some of the best diving/snorkeling in Asia. Cold currents, rich in nutrients, well up from the Southern Ocean, feeding a huge variety of fish and corals. Komodo is rated one of the world’s ten top dive sites, ranging from easy drift dives to more challenging exploration of deep marine environments. Divers will encounter everything from giant manta rays and a variety of reef sharks to the most extraordinary macros including pygmy seahorses and an infinite array of nudibranchs. Of course, snorkeling and kayaking are excellent, with numerous protected bays to explore; or you can just take in the magnificent scenery from on-deck, before relaxing on the secluded beaches where Robinson Crusoe might have landed.

AM: We team up with the park rangers for a guided walk through, Komodo looking for the endemic dragon but also, with a chance to spot Kakaduas, wild horses, boars, and bush life.

PM: We will enjoy some of the most peaceful anchorages in Asia, the perfect stillness of which is overwhelming and rarely experienced at sea. Even from the ship we often spot pods of dolphins, great sea turtles, and the occasional breaching whale. At night, during the mating season, giant manta rays can be seen dancing in the light of the ship lamps.

AM: On the final day, after a morning swim, we land at Labuan Bajo where guests embark for the short flight back to Bali.

AM: Embarkation at Sorong harbor for a welcome drink and boat briefing.

PM: After lunch, we head out from Sorong to some nearby Islands for the first stop. Here we get familiar with the snorkeling gear and stretching out from the flight on a small beach with coconut trees. After dinner we cruise south all night, in the morning we arrive in Misool the last of the 4 kings in Raja Ampat.

AM/PM: After breakfast, we start exploring many of Misool's hidden lagoons for snorkeling and kayaking. The diving in the area is excellent.

AM/PM: After breakfast, we set off in the tenders to the Tomolol cave, the mouth of which begins in a jungle pool. You swim for several hundred meters, through a tunnel in semi-darkness towards a dull glimmer, then, turning right through the stalactites, you suddenly find yourself in an immense cave, as big as Notre Dame de Paris, and far more spectacular. The roof, a hundred meter overhead, is a latticework of limestone – floating on your back under the dome, staring upwards, time seemed to stop.

AM: After breakfast, we will visit a village on Misool to see how the natives live in this remote part of the world.

PM: For the rest of the day, we snorkel, dive, or whatever water-sports catch your fancy.

AM/PM: After Sunrise we head further south to Daram Island, the last Island of South Raja Ampat. Here we got some of the best diving in all of Raja Ampat, the snorkeling is also outstanding. In the night after dinner we lift anchor and head further south to Pisang Island.

AM/PM: Spending the day exploring these beautiful islets and fine beaches. Snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and watersports. Here we have a good chance of seeing the Great Oceanic Mantas flying by. After dinner, we continue further south.

AM: Between Misool and Kaymana we make another stop. Here the diving, although not disappointing, is not quite up to the level of the best sites in the region, but the spectacular icy waterfall flowing down from the hilly rainforest straight into the warm sea is breathtaking. If you're feeling brave, you can climb under it for a pounding water massage, or even try to kayak into it. There is great swimming. The lagoon, where the jungle canopy lies over the ocean - float on your back and look up at the rainforest!

PM: In the afternoon we go with the kayaks to check out the millions of bats nesting on a rock in the middle of the sea. After dinner, we head south to Triton Bay.

AM: In Triton Bay, we have numerous world-class dive sites to choose from, many of them quite easy. The snorkeling is also absolutely amazing, along with the dozens of paradise beaches. During our last trip, we had repeated encounters with the Giant Whale Shark, an amazing experience, spending the day diving snorkeling, and fishing.

PM: In the afternoon we get a BBQ going on the beach and hopefully grill the fish we caught earlier.

AM/PM: Early this morning we head for a secret location where we have the chance to swim and play with Whale Sharks - grab a dorsal fin and have a ride! The area is also normally full of dolphins and huge Jacks, the experience is absolutely amazing. We'll have a few hours of fun with the giants.

AM/PM: We taking the tenders to explore the amazing area of Tanjung Papisoi the landscape is quite unique, with channels, inlets, and bays, with beautiful sandy beaches around the freshwater bay and channels that lead to a lush and rich green tropical forest behind.

AM/PM: We stop and visit some amazing lagoons in Bitsyara Bay. We also take a look at art paintings probably made by the Aborigines 3000-5000 years ago when you could still walk on dry land from Australia's Torres straight to the island New Guinea across what is now the shallow, muddy Arafura Sea. Ethnologists believe the artwork was left on these hard-walled galleries before they got tired of life between the tides and moved to higher ground to farm sweet potatoes and raise pigs. Local legend, however, relates that the design decorating the cliffs was painted by spirits.

AM: Arrivial in Kaimana, our final destination. If time permits, we'll pay a quick visit to this small port town in West Papua, before catching our flight back to the modern world.