Indonesian expedition cruise operator, SeaTrek Sailing Adventures, has added more dates to its 12-day Orangutans and Dragons river and ocean cruise for 2023, giving guests even more opportunities to see and learn about Indonesia’s own ‘Magnificent Seven’ – orangutans, Komodo dragons, whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, giant flying foxes and the most important of all, the thriving, kaleidoscopic coral reefs.
Starting with a four-day Borneo riverboat cruise on Kalimantan’s beautiful black water lake system, daily canoe expeditions allow guests to get up close to see orangutans in their natural jungle habitat, marvel at the strange-looking, big-nosed proboscis monkeys that line the river, spot amazing birdlife swooping low over the river and swim in the black water lake.
Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the famous Dayak people, one of Borneo’s indigenous ethnic groups, walk through a village with the village elders and see the beautifully painted Sandungs – small wooden houses with ornate roofs, windows, doors, and miniature stairs where the bones of the Dayak’s ancestors are preserved.
Flying on to Bali guests join the ocean cruise aboard one of SeaTrek’s traditional, UNESCO-heritage, Indonesian wooden pinisi sailing ships. Sailing across the ‘Wallace Line,’ the invisible deep-sea boundary that represents the biogeographical separation point between Asia and Australia, where landscapes, animals, and plant life separated into distinct groups, the group will embark on an eight-day journey of discovery between Bali and the Komodo National Park and the many diverse volcanic islands in between.
Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to get up close to wildlife from rare encounters with Komodo Dragons, Indonesia’s own living dinosaurs on a gentle trek on Komodo Island. There is also the chance to swim with rare whale sharks, magnificent manta rays and graceful sea turtles and snorkel each day through a kaleidoscope of colourful coral reefs, surrounded by hundreds of fish and coral species.
Guests can also swim in a jungle waterfall, paddleboard, kayak and explore on glorious white sand beaches, and meet the Bajau ‘Sea Gypsies’, to learn about their unique way of life. And as the sun sets over Satonda Island, cocktails will be served on board as tens of thousands of giant flying foxes (fruit bats) emerge from their forest lair and fly directly over the boat en route to their nightly foraging missions.
Michael Travers, Head of Communications at SeaTrek Sailing Adventures says, “This is an off-grid safari with a difference where guests can immerse themselves in nature’s playground. From the man of the forest to dragons, manta rays to whale sharks, turtles to bats and the vast living coral reef ecosystem, guests will have a great chance to learn about Indonesia’s magnificent seven with our expert tour leaders on hand. This truly is an opportunity to excite all the senses and to tick so many boxes.”
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