iExplore Best of Indonesia(Trip #66138)

Tour Overview

Welcome to Indonesia! Join our Indonesia cruise aboard the Clipper Odyssey as we sail from Manado, the capital of Sulawesi, to beautiful Bali. Snorkel or dive at Bunaken Marine Park, the Banggai Islands, and Buton Island—considered to be the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world. In the highlands of Toraja tour the unique boat-shaped architecture and cliff-side graves marked by life-sized effigies. Experience up-close encounters with Komodo dragons on their native island and enjoy traditional cultural performances by the villagers of Sumbawa Island. Voyage ends in stunning Bali.

Day by Day Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: (March 2 & 3, 2010)
Depart USA- Singapore
Board your independent flight to Singapore and cross the International Date Line en route, losing a day.
Overnight: In Flight

Day 3: (March 4, 2010)
Singapore
Arrive Singapore mid-day and transfer to our hotel for a chance to relax before dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Singapore

Day 4: (March 5, 2010)
Singapore- Manado, Indonesia
This morning return to the airport for your flight to Manado. On arrival a tour acquaints us with the capital city of North Sulawesi, and we visit the open-air produce market and the North Sulawesi Provincial Museum where a local guide presents the history of the region. This afternoon we board the Clipper Odyssey.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 5: (March 6, 2010)
Bunaken National Marine Park
Bunaken lies off the coast of Manado and encompasses more than 185,000 acres of crystal clear waters. The biodiversity here is phenomenal and its coral reefs are considered as some of the best in Indonesia. Established as a national marine park in 1991, Bunaken surrounds a cluster of small islands whose beaches offer easy access to some of the park’s shallow reefs. During our day here, we explore both above and below the waters, snorkeling or diving among kaleidoscopic reefs, investigating walls covered in colorful soft corals, and viewing the amazing invertebrate community that includes an abundance of sea lilies (or crinoids), sea stars, anemones, sponges, and sea urchins.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 6: (March 7, 2010)
Bitung- Tangkoko Nature Reserve
An important seaport on Sulawesi’s northern coast, Bitung is a bustling center of shops, markets, and maritime business. This morning early risers visit Tangkoko Nature Reserve, one of Indonesia’s most important conservation areas. Its 21,000 acres are among the last habitats for crested black macaques and cuscus, a lemur-like, slow-moving possum. Or, tour Bitung and visit the private wildlife center, the highlight of which is tarsiers, the world’s smallest primate. The Reserve is also a haven for an incredible variety of birds, including the endemic Sulawesi hornbill, varied lorikeet, blue-breasted pitas, and finch-billed myna.
Clipper Odyssey

Days 7 & 8: (March 8 & 9, 2010)
Togean Islands
We spend two days exploring the remote and picturesque Togeans, a 56-island archipelago surrounded by an ancient coral reef and the clear warm waters of Tomini Bay. Volcanic and covered in lush foliage, the islands protect a rich eco-system that harbors a variety of endangered wildlife, including Togean macaques, babirusa, and hanging parrots. Their coasts are the breeding grounds of hawksbill turtles and the rare dugong, and diving and snorkeling forays reveal a wonderland of spectacular corals teeming with colorful fish. Several ethnic groups reside in 37 villages throughout the Togeans and during our visit we meet the delightful locals and enjoy guided trail walks to search for the amazing variety of birds and wildlife.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 9: (March 10, 2010)
Banggai Islands
Just below the arm of Central Sulawesi, at the convergence of the Banda and Maluku Seas, sit the 120 Banggai Islands whose waters harbor “the mother of all living coral reefs” according to Alfred Wallace. An astounding variety of marine life inhabits the walls, caves, overhangs, and shallow reefs of this archipelago and our full day exploration gives snorkelers and divers several opportunities to witness such Sulawesi species as ribbon eels, blue-ring octopus, anglerfish, and the endemic Banggai cardinal fish. Deeper waters and vertical drop-offs shelter black corals and gorgonian fans, batfish, groupers, schools of napoleon wrasses, along with the colorful reef fish: damselfish, dottyblacks, pygmy sea horses anthias, and butterflyfish.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 10: (March 11, 2010)
Padeo Basar
Colorful reefs and island atolls offer further underwater wonderlands to explore today. If the opportunity presents itself, we go ashore to visit a local village.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 11: (March 12, 2010)
Buton Island
Dangling off the southeast coast of Sulawesi, Buton is part of the Wakatobi Island group. Our snorkel and dive excursions today reveal an incredible array of marine reef inhabitants and underwater photographers discover a bizarre macro world among corals as shallow as 20 feet. Highlights include colorful frogfish, octopus, marbled snake eels, cockatoo waspfish, flying gurnards, multitudes of crab species, and dazzling anemones.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 12: (March 13, 2010)
Palopo- Toraja
A full-day overland excursion takes us 4,000 feet into the cool highlands of South Sulawesi to fascinating Toraja. The terrain becomes a veritable Shangri-la of rugged mountains and granite outcroppings towering over valleys lush with terraced rice paddies, bamboo groves, grazing water buffalos, flowering trees, and tiny villages. The Toraja are Christians, yet have retained an intact system of ritual beliefs passed down from their ancestors. Legends say that the early Toraja people came from the north, possibly Indochina, and were blown off-course by a storm. Their stilt-raised, boat-shaped houses perhaps reflect this seafaring legacy, with a soaring “prow” that slopes skyward, and gables adorned by stylized carvings. The Toraja bury their dead in graves chiseled into vertical cliffsides, in keeping with the belief that ancestors repose halfway between heaven and earth. Beside these honeycombed graves, gazing out over the valleys are life-like wooden effigies, providing a receptacle for their souls to guard the gravesites. We explore local villages and admire the gravesites, markets, and ornate rice barns of the region. We return to the ship late this evening and sail southward into the Flores Sea.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 13: (March 14, 2010)
Tiger Island
Beautiful warm waters encircle the Tiger Islands and we make a stop this afternoon to snorkel or dive in this kaleidoscopic wonderland. The colorful coral reefs are home to angelfish, fairy basslets, and butterflyfish among hundreds of other species.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 14: (March 15, 2010)
Komodo Island
Komodo Island National Park is a sanctuary for the fabled prehistoric giant monitor lizard, the Komodo dragon (known as oras by the locals), which exists only here and on nearby Rinca. A guided walk along a forested pathway leads us to a viewing area for a close inspection of these enormous reptiles, which grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds. The surrounding forest is home to Javan rusa deer, the favorite prey of the Komodo dragons, as well as elegant yellow-crested cockatoos, friarbirds, and megapodes.

In the afternoon enjoy snorkeling or diving over the undersea spectacle off the lovely “pink beach.” Or, from our glass bottom boat we spot shimmering tropical fish such as the striped clownfish nestled among the protective tentacles of its sea anemone host, or a spotted grouper lazily swimming past a flamboyant coral sea fan. As we leave this magical place we may spot whales cruising the straits.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 15: (March 16, 2010)
Sumbawa Island- Satonda Island
After breakfast Zodiacs bring us to the shores of Sumbawa Island, home to the massive Tambora Volcano whose 1815 eruption was the largest in recorded history, turning the following year into one without a summer around the globe. Local villagers greet us with traditional drumming, dances, and a mock wedding ceremony. We also cheer on a pole-climbing competition where agile young boys shimmy up a tall coconut palm pole in a race to see who can reach bags of goodies dangling from the top.

As we enjoy lunch on board, the ship travels just a few miles to deserted Satonda, a small circular island that is an ancient volcanic cone itself. It is here where we enjoy our final snorkeling and diving excursions over enchanting reefs. Or, ascend the path over the ridge to view the island’s interior sacred lake, whose surrounding trees are adorned with “wish stones” hung from the branches by local visitors who believe their wish will come true when the wind blows the stones down.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 16: (March 17, 2010)
Benoa, Bali- Disembark Clipper Odyssey- Sanur
In the morning we disembark in Benoa, Bali. For centuries Bali has captivated the imagination of artists, writers, and travelers with its landscapes of emerald terraced rice fields, lush forests dwarfed by the sacred volcano, Mt. Batur, and exquisite Hindu temples. We drive to Ubud where artisans display their expertise in painting, sculpture, silver working, and batik. Enjoy time to visit some of the countless galleries and artisan workshops. We continue to Sanur, an expansive beachfront area, where we enjoy dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Clipper Odyssey

Day 17: (March 18, 2010)
Sanur- Denpasar- USA
We have breakfast at our hotel with the rest of the morning at leisure. After lunch transfer to the airport for your independent flight to the USA, arriving the same day due to crossing the International Date Line.
Breakfast

Expedition Leaders:
Our team of expert leaders and lecturers serves to bring a comprehensive educational component to your adventure through lectures, guided excursions, and daily recaps.
MIKE MESSICK (EXPEDITION LEADER) – One of the best expedition leaders in the business, Mike embarked on a full-time career in adventure travel shortly after graduation and has since visited more than 170 countries around the world. He is a member of The Explorers Club, holds a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license, and has his scuba instructor certificate from NAUI. In 1990 Mike and six others founded Zegrahm Expeditions.

KEVIN CLEMENT – Although his specialty is subarctic ecology, Kevin’s work as a naturalist and adventure travel guide has taken him from his home in Alaska to all seven continents. He has worked in several national parks and has guided groups in whitewater rafts, sea kayaks, and on foot. Kevin is a director of Zegrahm Expeditions and he holds certifications in scuba diving, swiftwater rescue, and wilderness medicine, as well as a Coast Guard Master’s license. He is also an artist. His artwork has appeared in galleries and gift shops across Alaska and elsewhere.

JONATHAN ROSSOUW – Jonathan is a medical doctor by profession; however, his lifelong interest in wildlife has resulted in extensive travels throughout the world. He is the author of the acclaimed Where to Watch Birds in Uganda and birding site guides to Southern Africa and Madagascar. He is equally enthusiastic about mammals and coral reef fishes as he is with his specialties, birds and reptiles. Jonathan is a director of Zegrahm Expeditions; he leads travelers on expeditions to all seven continents and scouts new destinations for Eco-Expeditions.

THOMAS AND NATALIA BAECHTOLD – Thomas and Natalia’s ceaseless passion for the outdoors, natural history, and photography has taken them on many expeditions around the globe. Certified as scuba diving professionals by PADI, they focus mainly on the underwater world. Thomas has worked on expedition ships and dive live-aboards, giving him the opportunity to explore all seven continents over the last twelve years. Natalia’s training in business management has allowed her to hold various managerial positions in a variety of fields, ranging from retail pharmacy to hospitality. For four years Thomas and Natalia lived in the Republic of Palau, acting as operations managers and underwater videographers at a well-established dive and kayaking facility. Their work as freelance photographers has been featured in many publications and videos.

CONRAD FIELD – A resident of Homer, Alaska, Conrad is a professional naturalist and biologist. He and his wife, Carmen, own Northcountry Nature, a small natural history publisher, and together have written and published guides and children’s books on marine life. Since 1989 Conrad has been a naturalist-lecturer aboard a variety of expedition vessels, where he has lectured on natural history, seabird biology, marine mammals, marine invertebrate life, and local flora and fauna.

KIM JANE SAUNDERS – A teacher and writer, Kim is a graduate of international politics and history. She has lived in Hong Kong and Indonesia, and has traveled extensively throughout East and Southeast Asia. She is the author of Contemporary Tie and Dye Textiles in Indonesia and is engaged in research on tourism and handicraft production in Southeast Asia. Currently living in Singapore, Kim is a lecturer and consultant and also works with the travel and tourism industry, promoting awareness and appreciation for locally produced Southeast Asian handicrafts.

PEPPER TRAIL – Dr. Pepper Trail is an ornithologist, conservationist, photographer, and writer. Since 1994, he has lived in Ashland, Oregon, where he is a senior analyst at the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. As the nation’s only forensic ornithologist, he is responsible for identifying all bird remains submitted in investigations of wildlife crimes. He has led expeditions to all seven continents.

CRAIG WARD – A dive instructor, marine biologist, and ship captain, Craig has also spent the past 12 years involved in marine research and education throughout the Indo-Pacific, particularly the Northern Great Barrier Reef, the Kimberley, Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. Along with running a marine expedition services company, he established a crocodile-monitoring program in the Daintree World Heritage area. He currently lives in northern Australia where he is actively involved in conservation research.

Clipper Odyssey:
The Clipper Odyssey is a 110-passenger luxury vessel, ideally suited for expedition cruising. She carries a fleet of Zodiacs, which allows us to land anywhere nature or curiosity dictates, and a glass-bottom boat, giving us a topside-look at the undersea world. All cabins have an ocean view, safe, minibar, individually controlled heat/air conditioner, in-room music system, and sitting area with sofa. Passengers can track the progress of their voyage on the Global Positioning System broadcast in each cabin. Beds can be configured for twin or queen-size sleeping arrangements. All cabins have an en suite bathroom with shower. The Clipper Odyssey maintains a gourmet kitchen, providing American and international specialties. Facilities on board the Clipper Odyssey include a dining room, lounge, small library and gym, outdoor pool, massage room, and gift shop. An elevator services all passenger cabin decks. The Clipper Odyssey has an infirmary staffed by a registered physician and a sophisticated telecommunications system permitting Internet access and telephone and fax communication with any location around the world. Ship registry: Bahamas.

Departure Dates

2010 Departure date:
March 2 to 18

Prices

Best of Indonesia 2010
Category 1: $9,380 per person, double occupancy.
Category 2: $9,980 per person, double occupancy.
Category 3: $10,680 per person, double occupancy.
Category 4: $11,380 per person, double occupancy.
Category 5: $12,180 per person, double occupancy.
Category 6: $12,980 per person, double occupancy.
Suite: $15,980 per person, double occupancy.
Single/Cat. 2: $15,980
Single/Cat. 3: $16,980

Limited singles available at the quoted single rate above. Additional singles may be available at 1.7 times the share rate (suite not applicable)

Inclusions:Accommodations in our hotels and on board Clipper Odyssey as outlined in the itinerary; all onboard meals; all group meals on land; group transfers; services of the expedition staff, including lectures, briefings, slide/film shows; all group activities and excursions; landing and port fees; all gratuities.

Exclusions: All air transportation; excess baggage charges; airport arrival and departure taxes; transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa fees; travel insurance; items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic beverages, e-mail/fax/Internet/telephone charges; scuba diving fees and equipment where required.

Trip Information

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON BOARD THE CLIPPER ODYSSEY:

Accounts Onboard
Upon embarkation, a shipboard account is automatically opened for your convenience. The "chit" system is used for all onboard purchases, including bar charges, gift shop purchases, laundry, medical services, communication, etc. You will sign a chit for each purchase, and the amount will be debited to your shipboard account, which is presented for settlement at the end of the voyage. The U.S. dollar is the currency used on board. Cash, traveler's checks, and Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts.

Air conditioning and Heating:
The ship is fully air-conditioned and heated throughout with individual controls in each cabin.

Baggage
Baggage is restricted only per the airlines' regulations (See Baggage Allowance section under General Information). We do recommend that you travel with soft luggage, as this is less bulky to store and storage space aboard the ship is limited. Please ensure that your baggage is clearly labeled with your name and home address and attach yellow Zegrahm Expeditions luggage tags, which will be provided with your final documents packet, to each piece of luggage. Our staff will use these tags for easy identification of group passengers and baggage.

Bar
There will be a bar on board stocked with liquor, beer, and wine. Please check the daily program for hours of bartender service. The ship carries a small, but varied, supply of fine wines and champagnes. Upon request, the service staff will be happy to retain unused portions of bottled wines ordered with your meals for consumption at subsequent seatings.

Bridge Visits
The bridge is available to visit most times throughout the day. However, the bridge will be closed to visitors during maneuvers in port, when anchoring, during periods of inclement weather, and at the captains' discretion.

Cabins and Service.
Cabins are serviced daily by your cabin attendant. If you require additional housekeeping service, please advise the reception desk.

All cabins feature an ocean view, two twin lower beds that can be made into a queen-size bed, sitting area with sofa, bathroom with tub and shower, in-room music system and intercom system for announcements, ample wardrobe space, three-sided mirror, personal safe, minibar and small refrigerator, television, and hair dryer.

Contact Information
There are three computers available for use in the Library, which have an Internet connection, via satellite, and can be used to access the web and personal e-mail accounts online. Personal laptops may also be used to access this service. The Library is the only area of the ship that has a wireless Internet connection. Cards can be purchased at Reception to utilize this service. Facilities for incoming and outgoing phone calls and faxes are also available. You will be charged for all personal communication to and from the ship.

Please be aware that due to our often remote location, all communications are subject to the availability of our satellite connection.

Daily Programs
The daily program is distributed to all cabins and posted in common areas every evening on board. The program announces the cruising schedule, lectures, and shore excursions. Weather conditions may, of course, alter the day's intended program.

Dietary Needs
Special dietary foods can be provided, but we must be notified in writing on the Personal Information Form. The galley is equipped to prepare or serve most special dietary foods except kosher cuisine.

Dining and Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the dining room on the A-Deck. A light buffet breakfast and lunch are also served in the Lido Lounge on the Lido Deck, with limited seating available in the adjacent Lido Bar during pleasant weather for passengers wishing to dine outside. Dinner is served only in the dining room on the A-Deck, and all dinners are prepared individually. The dining room accommodates all passengers in one seating. Table service is provided for all evening meals, and all of our meals will be open seating. Coffee, tea, and juice are available 24 hours a day in the Lido Lounge.

Electricity
The electricity on board runs at 110 volts, and outlets take standard, U.S. flat-prong plugs.

Elevator
An elevator services all passenger decks from the A-Deck to the Sun Deck.

Exercise Facilities
A gym is located on the Bridge Deck. Current equipment consists of a universal exercise machine, free weights, elliptical trainer, stationary bikes (one recumbent, one normal), and a treadmill. A 70-meter, dedicated jogging track is located on the uppermost Sun Deck.

Gift Shop
A shop stocked with gift items and toiletries is located adjacent to the Lido Lounge on the Lido Deck. There is a limited range of goods mainly local items, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, souvenirs, film, and basic toiletries. Hours of operation are posted in the daily program, and purchases will be debited to your shipboard account.

Gratuities
All gratuities for onboard staff and crew are included in the cost of the expedition.

Hair Dryer
Each cabin is equipped with a hair dryer.

Hair Salon
The ship does not offer hair cutting or hair styling services.

Identification Badges
Electronic ID badges with your name and a barcode will be provided for all participants. Upon embarkation, a digital photograph will be taken and matched to your barcode number. This identification badge all you will need to disembark and reboard the ship. When disembarking for landings or Zodiac cruises, your pass must be scanned. Upon return to the ship, your card will be scanned again and your identity verified. Passengers will not be allowed to embark the ship without a badge.

In addition to verifying that all passengers are safely on board before sailing to our next destination, this system assists us in ensuring that no unauthorized individuals board the ship.

Laundry
Basic laundry service is available on board. Please allow 24 hours turn-around time, although laundry picked up in the morning will usually be available the afternoon of the same day. Prices will be posted on board, and charges will be debited to your shipboard account, payable at the end of the voyage.

Lectures
Our onboard staff will present a series of informative lectures during the voyage. We plan to provide a lecture series that will cover all features of our expedition and the surrounding environment. These presentations are an integral part of this expedition and are designed to lend greater depth and understanding to your travel experience.

Library
A library is located on the Main Deck with books and games available for public use.

Mail
The purser handles the mailing of passengers' letters and postcards during the voyage. Postage rates and mailing instructions will be posted at reception. Mail will be sent when the ship is in port. Postage fees will be debited to your shipboard account, payable at the end of the voyage.

Massage
There is a massage therapist onboard offering personalized massages. Hours and prices will be posted onboard.

Medical Services and Special Needs
Facilities may not be available for the physically challenged traveler. If you have special needs, please contact our office directly.

A qualified physician will be on board throughout the voyage. Any applicable fees for services rendered on board will be debited to your shipboard account and presented for settlement at the end of the voyage.

Passengers requiring special medications should bring sufficient quantities to last the duration of the expedition. If you are under regular treatment for any ailment or disease, you should bring a summarized medical history as well. It is essential that persons with any medical problems and related dietary restrictions inform us well before departure so we may brief the ship's staff accordingly.

If you use a hearing aid that might be turned off at night or would otherwise require special assistance in case of an emergency, please advise the reception desk at the time of boarding.

Passports
Passports will be collected upon embarkation and returned at the end of the voyage. Please bring a photocopy of your passport's information page with you to be used for currency exchange and identification on our landings.

Safety at Sea
Safety at sea is of utmost importance aboard this ship. All officers are trained in emergency procedures, and regular drills are held to instruct the crew in their emergency duties. By international law, passengers must participate in a lifeboat drill within 24 hours of sailing. Upon embarkation, all passengers will be requested to locate their life jacket in their cabin and note their lifeboat and muster station. This mandatory lifeboat drill will be scheduled as soon as is convenient for the expedition leader and captain.

Life preservers are mandatory on Zodiac excursions. All passengers must have their life preserver secured properly before leaving the ship to board the Zodiac.

While the ship is your temporary home, it is also a mobile one, and it is essential that you take certain safety precautions. Here are some basic rules:

· Always turn on lights before moving about in a dark cabin.
· Walk, never run, aboard the ship, and be extra careful when walking on wet or icy decks.
· Wear shoes with slip-resistant soles, especially when walking on deck.
· Avoid large, open areas during rough weather, especially outside decks and the bridge. Do not move about unnecessarily.
· During particularly rough weather hold on to handrails in stairways, be very careful in the bathroom, never hold a door by its frame in case the ship's movement causes the door to close on your hand, and secure all baggage in your cabin and any loose items in your bathroom or on shelves, bureaus, or desks.

Shipboard Amenities
Shipboard facilities include a small library, gym, outdoor swimming pool, lounge, infirmary, and gift shop.

Smoking Policy
Smoking is permitted outside on deck in designated areas only. There is a no-smoking policy throughout the interior of the ship. When smoking on outside decks, please do not throw cigarettes over the side of the ship.

Valuables
Please try and leave any nonessential valuables at home. Zegrahm Expeditions is not responsible for the loss or theft of any jewelry, cash, etc. You are encouraged to use the personal safe is provided in each cabin.

Water
The ship's water supply provides potable water, but passengers are asked to practice conservation at all times.

Zodiacs
Zodiacs are the favored means of transportation, and the ship has a fleet that will be used for landings in suitable areas. Their flat-bottom design permits these craft to land directly onto beaches. You can expect, nonetheless, to wade through shallow surf to reach the shore during wet landings.

Zodiacs cruise at an approximate speed of four knots and in windy weather can make for rather splashy rides. We therefore recommend wearing wet-weather gear for Zodiac transfers, and life preservers are absolutely mandatory. You will be given a briefing on the safe use of these boats. Please see the section Proper Use of Zodiacs for further information about procedures during Zodiac landings.