To many seasoned travellers the chain of islands to the East of Bali is the most fascinating in all the Indonesian archipelago. Certainly, they are not on the mass tourism circuit and their beauty and customs are relatively unscathed by the modern world. Our adventure explores the Nusa Tenggara islands which cover a relatively small geographical area of the country but deliver a rich experience where neighbouring islands embrace different cultures, lifestyles and languages. As we sail from one island to another we will enter a timeless world that is blessed with pure white sandy deserted beaches that in turn give way to stunning, beautiful coral reefs in dazzlingly clear water. Obviously, such beauty and serenity is best enjoyed with a small number of travelling companions. After all, it would be disappointing to find yourself in the company of hundreds on what was a deserted beach. We have therefore chartered the Heritage Adventurer which accommodates a maximum of just 140 passengers and offers all the comforts of a larger vessel, but with the added luxury of a small number of passengers. The onboard fleet of Zodiacs gives us the freedom of spontaneity to explore and land in places where relatively few travellers have been before us.
Afloat and ashore, our expedition will be filled with unforgettable images and experiences, sky-piercing volcanoes, multi-coloured crater lakes, remote idyllic islets, kaleidoscopic reefs and endemic flora and fauna including the Komodo dragon. There will be opportunities to snorkel in the coral wonderlands and the cultural component of the region is equally unique; the spectrum of customs, spiritual beliefs and artistic craftsmanship is mind-boggling. We hope you can join us for what promises to be a wonderful adventure and an opportunity to set foot on islands of astonishing richness and beauty.
Heritage Adventurer
The Heritage Adventurer is a pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. The vessel was purpose built for small ship adventures in 1991 in Finland’s Rauma shipyard. Formerly known as the MS Hanseatic, we know the vessel well and she is ideal for our small ship explorations. When required, the onboard fleet of 14 Zodiac landing craft enables guests to reach every spectacular site, no matter how remote and explore otherwise inaccessible fjords and waterways.
Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, the Heritage Adventurer now welcomes between 100 to 140 passengers (depending on region) ensuring ample space on board and the opportunity to accommodate more solo travellers than is usual for a vessel of this size. The vessel offers an informal and relaxed atmosphere and you will be joined on board by a knowledgeable cruise team including a Guest Speaker who will provide informative talks in the comfort of the Presentation Theatre whilst the excellent crew will offer attentive service on board.
Itinerary
Day 1 London or Manchester to Bali, Indonesia.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 Bali.
Arrive this afternoon and transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day is at leisure before we meet this evening for dinner in the hotel.
Day 3 Bali.
Spend the morning relaxing in the hotel or exploring the local area at your own pace. Check out in the late morning and after lunch we transfer to the Heritage Adventurer moored in Benoa and sail this evening.
Day 4 Lombok.
Overnight we sail the short distance to neighbouring Lombok. An island drive passes the beautiful scenery of rice fields and palm trees to the village of Banyu Mulek, famous for its handmade pottery. Continue to the unique Lingsar Temple. Built around 1714 and renovated with a stunning garden and lotus pools, it is sacred to both Hindus and Muslims. Our final call will be at Waktu Telu Sasak village with its unique traditional houses and bonnet-shaped rice barns which are the symbol of Lombok.
Day 5 Sumba.
Enjoy a relaxing morning at sea arriving into northern Sumba at lunchtime. From the port of Waikelo we head into the Kodi region where we will learn of the Pasola horseback fighting. Here rival Sumba tribes in traditional costume battle bareback on horses using hand carved spears (Pasola). This activity is a ceremonial part of the Marapu religion and is run during the harvest months. We will also visit Rotenggaro village and see the traditional Sumba houses, which are as high as coconut trees. Upon arriving at Rotenggaro village we will be welcomed by Merapu traditional danceand then there will be time to browse around the village, see the high roof houses with backdrops of the Indian Ocean and the large decorated tombs carved from stone.
Day 6 Flores.
Arriving in Flores at dawn we embark on a full day excursion to the remarkable Kelimutu National Park with its unique three coloured crater lakes. These three lakes change colours from time to time and nobody can explain why, but stories vary from a changing mineral content of the water to angry ancestor spirits. Kelimutu is sacred to the local population and they believe the souls of the dead go to the lakes. We will make our way to ‘Inspiration Point’ with views over all three lakes and enjoy lunch in the picturesque village of Moni which is ringed by volcanoes and dotted with rice fields before our scenic drive back to the vessel.
Day 7 Lamalera, Lembata.
Well off the tourist path, the island of Lembata is a perfect destination for us to explore with our small ship. Here we find traditional whaling villages, mentioned in Portuguese documents dating back to 1643, who hunt large sea animals, like whales and manta rays, to provide food and a living for the entire village. Using simple sailboats and following ancient beliefs and traditions they are exempt from the ban on whaling due to the small numbers of whales taken and the traditional hunting methods they use. We will have the chance to walk around the fascinating village and see the boats made entirely of wood with wooden pegs (there is not a nail to be found) and sails made of palm leaves. Return to the vessel for lunch and this afternoon we will find a suitable location to snorkel and swim.
Day 8 Kalabahi, Alor.
Arrive this morning in the Solor and Alor archipelago for our visit to the island of Alor, home to indigenous tribal groups renowned for their Moko drum culture. This is a beautiful island with its smouldering volcanoes reaching down into crystal clear waters fringed with coral reefs, coconut palm beaches of pure white sand and traditional villages built halfway up mountainsides. From our berth in Kalabahi we will explore the rugged interior of the island where we find the indigenous Melanesian people living a very traditional life. In the village of Takpala, we will meet the Abui tribe, see demonstrations of local handicrafts made of wood and bamboo and observe their daily life. On our return to Kalabahi we will visit the colourful Kadelang traditional market and the local museum with its unique collection of ikats textiles, ceramics, traditional music and a bronze Dongson drum (Moko). After lunch on board we will enjoy a leisurely afternoon at sea.
Day 9 Taka Bonerate National Park.
Stretching south from the main island of Sulawesi into the Flores Sea is the Taka Bonerate National Park. Spread out over 220,000 hectares this is the largest coral reef in Indonesia and is rich in marine life and also a variety of bird species. Using our small ship to navigate and our Zodiacs to land, we will find a suitable spot amongst the 21 islands of the park to spend the day. The clear waters offer snorkellers a chance to explore the reefs where we find many species of coral and colourful reef fish as well as dolphins and turtles. Alternatively enjoy a walk in the sand dunes where we will find many land, coastal and sea birds.
Day 10 Komodo National Park.
One of the highlights of our expedition for many will be our visit to Komodo to see the distant cousins of the dinosaurs, the Komodo dragons. These rare, huge lizards grow up to twelve feet in length and were only known to the western world in 1910 when a Dutch lieutenant first laid eyes on them. Escorted by the island’s wardens in the national park we will walk to the dragon’s feeding station, seeing dragons in the wild. Today fewer than 300 of this protected species remain and its continuing existence hangs in the balance. During our walk we also hope to see frigate birds, white buffalo and long tailed monkeys. Over lunch we will sail to Pink Beach where we can relax, enjoy a nature walk or swim or snorkel from the beach.
Day 11 Satonda Island.
Spend the day exploring the diminutive Satonda Island, located between the large island of Sumbawa and the smaller Pulau Moyo. The island is wooded and uninhabited, with a fringing reef and a small but swimmable crater lake where the trees are decorated with ‘wishing’ stones, shells and pieces of coral. This is a snorkeller’s paradise with pristine reefs, colourful coral and abundant fish whilst guided walks inland will search for the local birdlife including the endemic island monarch and rufous chested flycatcher.
Day 12 Labahani, Moyo.
Awake this morning anchored off the lovely island of Moyo. Moyo is a nature reserve with wild oxen deer, wild boars and a great variety of bird species which we will explore on nature walks with our naturalists. If conditions allow there will be the opportunity to snorkel and explore by Zodiac. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruising as we return to Bali.
Day 13 Bali to London or Manchester.
Disembark this morning in Benoa and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to the UK.
Day 14 London or Manchester.
Arrive this morning.
Dates and Prices
2 to 15 October 2024 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
1 Deluxe Twin/Double Cabin with Portholes | £8995 | £8495 |
2 Superior Twin/Double Cabin with Panoramic Windows | £9295 | £8795 |
3 Superior Twin/Double Cabin with Panoramic Windows | £9495 | £8995 |
4 Worsley Suite with Panoramic Windows | £10495 | £9995 |
5 Heritage Suites with Double Panoramic Windows | £10995 | £10495 |
6 Deluxe Twin/Double Cabin with Portholes for sole occupancy | £8995 | £8495 |
7 Superior Twin/Double Cabin with Panoramic Window for sole occupancy | £9295 | £8795 |
8 Superior Twin/Double Cabin with Panoramic Window for sole occupancy | £9495 | £8995 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHA021024
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Overnight hotel accommodation in Bali with breakfast • 10 nights aboard the Heritage Adventurer on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch & dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Indonesian visa.
![Expedition Cruising Expedition Cruising](/images/expedition_cruising_logo_60x60px.png)
During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
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Heritage Adventure Deckplan
Heritage Adventurer
The Heritage Adventurer is a pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. The vessel was purpose built for small ship adventures in 1991 in Finland’s Rauma shipyard. Formerly known as the MS Hanseatic, we know the vessel well and she is ideal for our small ship explorations. When required, the onboard fleet of 14 Zodiac landing craft enables guests to reach every spectacular site, no matter how remote and explore otherwise inaccessible fjords and waterways.
Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, the Heritage Adventurer now welcomes between 100 to 140 passengers (depending on region) ensuring ample space on board and the opportunity to accommodate more solo travellers than is usual for a vessel of this size. The vessel offers an informal and relaxed atmosphere and you will be joined on board by a knowledgeable cruise team including a Guest Speaker who will provide informative talks in the comfort of the Presentation Theatre whilst the excellent crew will offer attentive service on board.
Travelling with You
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Martin Newbery
Formerly Western Australia’s Government Trade Commisioner to Indonesia, Martin has travelled and worked extensively in Indonesia over many decades. He was one of the early surfing explorers in Bali during the 1970s and has run major fishing operations in West Papua and Eastern Indonesia. As a naturalist he is able to provide deep insights into Indonesian history, language, culture, geography and fauna, particularly orang utan conservation. He is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and Malay. When at home on the NSW South Coast he continues surfing and serves as the Deputy Captain of the local volunteer bushfire brigade. He has been awarded The Australian National Medal and recently the National Emergency Medal for his service to Australia during the country’s major bushfires in 2019.
Tour Extensions
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After disembarking the Heritage Adventurer you can extend your time on the island of Bali with our two night hotel stay in the charming town of Ubud in the uplands of Bali.
Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary
The Itinerary
Day 1 Benoa to Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
Disembark this morning and drive into the interior of the island. Our first call will be the 11th century Pusa Puseh Batuan Temple, a five-tiered gateway tower, clearly influenced by Indian religious architecture its icons and decorations, however, are typically Balinese in style. Continue to Tegalalang, a valley of rice paddies which has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Learn about the traditional irrigation systems still used to this day in the terraces and enjoy the stunning scenery. After lunch we will check into our hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B, L)
Day 2 Ubud.
Enjoy a free day to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary or the town’s vibrant market. Alternatively enjoy the hotel facilities. This evening we will enjoy a special Balinese dinner and cultural event. (B, D)
Day 3 Bali to London.
Check out and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London. (B)
Day 4 London.
Arrive this morning.
Prices per person based on double occupancy
14 to 17 October 2024 Category Price Twin £895 Single £1145 Price Includes: Two nights hotel accommodation in Bali, meals as stated (B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner), excursions, Noble Caledonia Tour Manager, gratuities, transfers.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000