Komodo Fire and Dragons - True North Adventure Cruises€¦ · the Komodo area and then, another ‘dragon walk’ – this time on Rinca Island. In the afternoon join a tour of a

Fire and Dragons“Adventure and intrigue in the Spice Islands”

Day One

To ensure comfort and reliability of service your adventure will begin with a chartered flight from Darwin – the capital of Australia’s frontier north! Our attentive crew members will collect you from your accommodation and escort you on the short flight to Kupang.

Kupang is an Indonesian port city on the island of Timor - it was an important trading port during the Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras. Crew will guide you through customs formalities and then welcome you aboard the mighty TRUE NORTH. Enjoy a welcoming cocktail as we make preparation for the first activity of the cruise – a chance to

Roti

KomodoKupangSumba

AmbonReturn charter flights ex Darwin ARE INCLUDED in the cruise tariff.This itinerary is provided as example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.Helicopter flights can be purchased additional to the cruise tariff as a package or individually.

Darwin

swim with the large manta ray aggregations that occur off Semau Island. Then it’s time for the first stunning sunset of the cruise and, for your first equally stunning on-board dining experience.

Day Two

Our feature island today is Rote Island, another stunning island in eastern Indonesia. The island was incorrectly named when a lost Portugese sailor misunderstood words of welcome - Rote was just one of the first words he heard! Today, the people of Rote are dependent on cultivating lontar palm and supplement their livelihoods with fishing and jewellery making. Rote’s spectacular saltwater lagoons are a photographer’s delight and the secluded beaches and coral reef at the southern end of the island offer an ideal marine playground!

Day Three

There’s something a little different on the agenda this morning when we go ashore at Ende on the island of Flores. Here a village visit will reveal celebrated weaving skills. In fact this region of Eastern Indonesia is world-renowned for its traditional weaving. Natural dyes and back-strap looms are employed and each area has its own special motif. Cloth plays an important part in the local culture and traditional cloth pieces are prominent in major ceremonies such as births, deaths and marriages. Textile collectors from all over the world come to this region and there will be opportunities for you to also acquire your own special piece of Ende cloth. Another early cruise highlight will be the opportunity to fly in the ship’s helicopter over Kelimutu – a volcano to the north of Ende. The volcano summit contains three strikingly different coloured lakes. Tiwu Ata Bupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue. The other two lakes, Tiwu Ko’o Fai Nuwa Muri (Lake of

Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are typically green or red respectively. The lake colours vary on a periodic basis and may be the result of chemical reactions triggered by volcanic activity. Regardless - the view from the ship’s helicopter is bound to be spectacular!

Day Four

A definite cruise highlight today as we visit Komodo Island to see the largest lizard on the planet – the Komodo dragon! A member of the monitor family, the Komodo grows up to 3 metres in length and can weigh as much as 70 kilograms! Their size has been attributed to “island gigantism”, since no other carnivores exist on the islands where they live. However, recent research suggests that they may be better understood as representatives of a relict population of very large lizards that once lived across both Indonesia and Australia. The dragons dominate the ecosystem in which they live and hunt invertebrates, birds and mammals. Join crew and local guides on an extended walk where we will encounter this impressive animal in its natural habitat!

But there is more to Komodo than dragons. In 1980 a national park was founded to protect the dragons but since then the surrounding waters have also come to prominence account of tremendous underwater diversity and beauty. The region is known for its treacherous currents but we’ll avoid these and seek out the large fish species that are swept into the area including big aggregations of reef mantas. We’ll also visit southern areas of the national park which are a technicolour wonderland of benthic reef life – perhaps some of the most colourful reef you will ever see! Sunset drinks on a ‘pink beach’ courtesy of small fragments of red organ pipe coral might also get your attention. And a night dive to see torpedo rays in the aptly named “Torpedo Alley” might prove to be yet another highlight!

Day Five

This morning we will go ashore at Horseshoe Bay to photograph dragons on the beach.

A snorkel or dive around Cannibal Rock comes highly recommended – it is considered one of the best dive sites in the Komodo area and then, another ‘dragon walk’ – this time on Rinca Island. In the afternoon join a tour of a pearl farm – perhaps an opportunity to purchase a very special memento indeed! Then join all back on-board for another unique dining experience and the overnight cruise to Kauna Island.

Day Six

Kauna and Kakabia Islands are two small rocky islets that lie off South Sulawesi in the Taka Bone Rate National Park. At Kauna we will go ashore to see the seabird rookeries. The area is also highly regarded for snorkelling and diving featuring sheer walls and excellent visibility. Then enjoy a typically sumptuous TRUE NORTH lunch and a leisurely mid-day cruise to Kakabia. Kakabia presents more opportunity for once in a lifetime diving and snorkelling – not too many of your friends will have even heard of these places! If time permits – a night dive at “Manhattan” could be special! The site is named after the thousands of flashlight fish that light-up the undersea walls in mimic of the borough’s night time silhouette.

Day Seven

It’s Volcano Day! Make sure you are up nice and early to see the spectacular sunrise in Lewelling Bay. The bay’s ring of volcanos will provide unique foreground to the start of a new day. The early morning heli-flights will also be a ‘not-to-be-missed’ activity. Ile Api is the highest cone and undoubtedly

the best views of this very active volcano will be from the chopper! And again, the surrounding area is highly regarded for both snorkelling and diving.

Then enjoy another lunchtime cruise as we make our way to Pulau Komba for more breathtaking vista both below and above the water. Komba is dominated by Batu Tara – an active volcano that will provide stunning backdrop for the TRUE NORTH’s Volcano Party. The ship’s alfresco bar is likely to be a popular venue on the night - as ‘Tara’ entertains with frequent mini-eruptions that splash into a moonlit ocean!

Day Eight

Today we wake in the Alor Strait. There are numerous snorkelling and dive sites in this area and a change in water temperature will introduce a new gallery of fishes and other marine life. The keen fisherpersons on-board might also find opportunity to troll for blue-water species. Ashore, the locals cultivate vanilla, tamarind and almonds. The area is also known for traditional weaving. Another interesting opportunity to meet the local people might be a visit to Kalabahi Bay – the people who live here specialize in fishing for thresher sharks and a village visit promises intrigue.

Day Nine

Wakatobi National Park and Lintea Island will provide another memorable day in paradise. Snorkelling or diving in the channels around the island will likely be an underwater highlight – Lintea is a prominent part of the Coral Triangle – an area which contains the richest marine biodiversity on earth! And heli-flights over the spectacular Wakotobi Islands will round-off the adventure nicely!

Day Ten

The Penyu Islands are to the west of Banda Island. It’s your last day on-board so squeeze-in as much as you can! Snorkel and dive the atoll walls and go game fishing for mackerel and giant tuna! Then finish with stunning sunset drinks and a farewell dinner to remember!

Day Eleven

You’ll enjoy breakfast on-board before a private car transfer to Ambon Airport and your chartered flight back to Darwin.