DAY 1 - 3
Sumba
East of Bali and just south of the Komodo National Park, Sumba transports you to a time of ancient customs and unchanging landscapes. Local animist beliefs remain part of daily life, and it’s one of just a handful of places in the world where megalithic burials are still practised. The Lamboya region, on Sumba’s south west coast, is green and wide, with open grassland and clear beaches backed by gnarled hilltops peppered with farming villages, rushing waterfalls hidden within the jungle, and wide fields where horseback riders armed with ceremonial spears compete in the ancient festival of Pasola.
East of Bali and just south of the Komodo National Park, Sumba transports you to a time of ancient customs and unchanging landscapes. Local animist beliefs remain part of daily life, and it’s one of just a handful of places in the world where megalithic burials are still practised. The Lamboya region, on Sumba’s south west coast, is green and wide, with open grassland and clear beaches backed by gnarled hilltops peppered with farming villages, rushing waterfalls hidden within the jungle, and wide fields where horseback riders armed with ceremonial spears compete in the ancient festival of Pasola.
DAY 4 - 9
Flores
Flores is rich in culture and natural scenery, boasting hidden beaches and endless rice fields, dotted with smoking volcanoes. Spectacular crater lakes lie within the Kelimutu volcano: naturally coloured by minerals dissolved from the rocks, one is often bright blue, another green and the third red, although the colours can change suddenly. Photos give you some idea of their beauty, but nothing compares to seeing them for yourself. Stay in a select handful of village communities, experiencing the unique characteristics of each, and the overriding laid-back determination that defines the island.
Flores is rich in culture and natural scenery, boasting hidden beaches and endless rice fields, dotted with smoking volcanoes. Spectacular crater lakes lie within the Kelimutu volcano: naturally coloured by minerals dissolved from the rocks, one is often bright blue, another green and the third red, although the colours can change suddenly. Photos give you some idea of their beauty, but nothing compares to seeing them for yourself. Stay in a select handful of village communities, experiencing the unique characteristics of each, and the overriding laid-back determination that defines the island.
DAY 10 - 11
Komodo Islands Plataran Cruise
Encompassing the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Padar and the west coast of Flores, Komodo National Park is often cited as the epitome of national park best practise. Well managed reefs teeming with diverse marine life make it a diver’s dream, and visitors are always eager to observe its unique onshore wildlife too, particularly the infamous Komodo Dragon. Over the course of a three-day cruise, stop to explore the islands, keeping an eye out for the world's largest lizard among other extraordinary wildlife, swim and snorkel in the clear waters, and sit on deck soaking up the scenery.
Encompassing the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Padar and the west coast of Flores, Komodo National Park is often cited as the epitome of national park best practise. Well managed reefs teeming with diverse marine life make it a diver’s dream, and visitors are always eager to observe its unique onshore wildlife too, particularly the infamous Komodo Dragon. Over the course of a three-day cruise, stop to explore the islands, keeping an eye out for the world's largest lizard among other extraordinary wildlife, swim and snorkel in the clear waters, and sit on deck soaking up the scenery.