Working on the principle that ‘the more you know, the more you see’, Indonesian expedition cruise operator, SeaTrek Sailing Adventures, has expanded its series of expert-led cruises for 2024 with even more special departures headed up by a series of historians, biologists, textile and cultural specialists, and marine ecologists.
With cruises lasting from 10 to 16 days, the expedition-style adventures have been specifically designed to be informative and enlightening. Throughout the cruise, experts will share their knowledge through nightly presentations and will be available to answer guests’ questions, providing a better understanding of the region and a more enriching, intellectual, and cultural experience.
Best for wildlife – 6 February and 4 October 2024
Join tropical biologist and world-renowned expert on the great Victorian naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace (co-discoverer of the theory of evolution through natural selection with Charles Darwin), Dr George Beccaloni as he leads two cruises in Wallace’s old stomping grounds through Raja Ampat and the Moluccan Islands.
On a 12-day journey from Ternate in the Maluku Islands to Sorong in West Papua, Wallace fans will visit the village of Dodinga where Wallace was living when, in a fit of malarial delirium, he discovered the mechanism which drives evolutionary change – natural selection. Further opportunities for keen naturalists, include a number of pre-dawn forest walks in search of the Lesser Birds of Paradise and the remarkable Red Bird of Paradise (one of the species that Wallace was most anxious to collect). And off the western coast of Bacan explore the forested slopes where Wallace made some of his greatest zoological discoveries, including the Golden Birdwing Butterfly.
As the boat makes its way through the Dampier Strait, home of some of Raja Ampat’s premier reefs, visit Yenbeser village where Wallace spent some months and visit a faithful replica of Wallace’s small hut. Throughout the voyage there will be opportunities to snorkel in coral rich waters and explore reefs teeming with fish, swim in lakes filled with stingless jellyfish, and snorkel amongst giant clams.
Best for culture -9 May 2024
Join textile experts, Sue and David Richardson, as they lead a 12-day journey around the Lesser Sunda Islands in May 2024, visiting many of the villages and people who create the iconic ‘ikat’ fabrics using traditional weaving and natural dying techniques passed down through the generations for centuries.
The remote islands of eastern Indonesia have one of the most diverse textile cultures on the planet. British textile experts David and Sue Richardson will lead a fascinating voyage and discover more about these textiles, the techniques used to make them and the role that cloth plays within the local community. Textile enthusiasts will learn how a warp becomes a weft in the same textile, how mud is used in dyeing, how two different dyes are obtained from sea hare and in each village guests will see every aspect of textile production with the opportunity to purchase fabulous textiles directly from the women who made them.
Best for families – 30 July 30 & 10 August 2024
Join Ray and Angela Hale who have travelled the length and breadth of both Indonesia and Malaysia in search of endangered species and will lead two family friendly cruises in the Komodo National Park, specially designed with kids of all ages in mind, they are keen to share their passion for conservation and the wonders of the natural world.
Families can expect to learn about the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation, animal camouflage and how to spot animals in the wild, and how the famous Komodo Dragons evolved to live in the barren and ancient islands of the Ring of Fire.
There will be opportunities to get up close to wildlife from rare encounters with the Komodo Dragons to hunting for bats, butterflies, and bugs on a gentle trek through Komodo National Park. They can swim with whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles and see a kaleidoscope of colourful coral reefs, surrounded by hundreds of fish and coral species below the waves. Or paddleboard, kayak and explore on glorious white sand beaches.
Best for maritime history lovers – 6 September 2024
Join seafaring history expert, Jeffrey Mellefont, as he leads an adventure through ancient monsoon sailing routes to some of Indonesia’s remotest islands, connecting guests with the true nature of this island nation: a maritime crossroads of rare spices, sea-borne trade, migration, and boat-builders.
Boarding the boat in Portuguese influenced Flores the 6-cabin ‘Katharina’ will sail east through a string of remote islands on a 12-day voyage to meet local islanders, see their unique and intricate textiles, have a demonstration of Ikat woven fabrics, and witness a ceremonial war dance. Meeting local fisherman and farmers to learn about their way of life and crossing the Banda Sea, the boat will pass four spectacular volcanic sea mounts, explicit reminders of Indonesia’s place along the Ring of Fire, to reach the fabled Spice Islands. There the small group of passengers will be able to visit markets, tour a nutmeg planation and have dinner in a local restaurant. Along the way there will also be daily stops to go snorkelling and hopefully spot whales near the final destination of Ambon.
Best for marine life – 29 December 2024
Join French marine biologist Vincent Chalias as he leads an end-of year cruise around Raja Ampat passing on his knowledge and the complexities of the myriad coral species and their interconnected relationships in these marine rich underwater habitats.
The islands of Raja Ampat are one of the jewels of Indonesia with some of the most biodiverse underwater habitats on the planet, featuring almost 90% of all known coral species and home to several species of Birds of Paradise. The 10-day voyage sails to the southernmost islands of the Raja Ampat National Park with its picturesque chain of jungle-covered limestone islets. There is the chance to swim in a mysterious stingless jelly fish lake, visit sea caves filled with massive stalagmites and stalactites, and see 3,000-5,000-year-old prehistoric caves painted on the walls with human figures, flowers, and fish.
On forest treks the small group will go in search of the elusive Lesser Bird of Paradise dancing around in their ‘lekking’ trees and take a dawn trek to spot the rare Red Bird of Paradise. There’s a refreshing jungle waterfall swim, plus a visit to a pearl farm and possible brushes with marine life including the wobbegong shark, the humphead wrasse, schools of giant trevalley and resident hawksbill turtles.
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