Contents
Katharina Liveaboard
Cruise Destinations & Itineraries
Katharina Boat Details Cruise Schedules 2022 Cruise Schedules 2023
Katharina Liveaboard – Cruise Destinations
Flores – Ambon
North Maluku (Ternate)
Raja Ampat
Please Note: Aside from usual dive cruises in the liveaboard industry, Katharina offers 4 different kind of liveaboard cruises
throughout the Indonesian island archipelago with focus on:
History
Photography
Culture and
Aventure & Fun
Katharina Liveaboard – Cruise Itineraries
Sample itinerary – Komodo National Park (8 Days / 7 Nights)
Have you ever imagined the feeling of soaring weightlessly over a school of majestic giant manta rays?
– Would you like to experience the beauty of snorkelling above kaleidoscopic, colourful and diverse coral reefs?
– How about having that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling while swimming with whale sharks, the largest but most gentle animals in the ocean?
– Do you want to feel your senses come alive as you walk with the ancient Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizard?
– Or perhaps to just sit quietly and cradle your morning coffee as you breathe in the cool early morning ocean air while watching the sunrise over the stunning volcanic landscapes.
If this sounds like you, then come fill your senses with eight days and seven nights of snorkelling, trekking, iconic wildlife encounters and tropical island exploration as we cruise between Bali and Komodo along Indonesia’s Ring of Fire.
Day 1: Upon arrival at Komodo Airport, you will be escorted to your hotel where you can relax by the pool, swim in the sea, and have a chance to brush up on your snorkelling skills with your SeaTrek tour leader.
Gather at sunset for evening cocktails before sitting down to an Indonesian buffet dinner as you get acquainted with the rest of your fellow guests who will be joining you on the cruise ahead.
Day 2: In the morning we will take a short drive to a traditional local village high up in the hills, where we will be witness to the fast and imposing ‘caci’ whip dance by the local villagers. Here we will enjoy their hospitality with coffee, betel nut and a highly potent local ‘arak’ before (not for the faint hearted), before being be treated to a selection of traditional dances by their men and women.
– By late morning we will be on the boat, and as we enjoy a buffet lunch we will cruise out into the Komodo National Park where we will have our first snorkel amongst the corals.
– In the early evening at cocktail hour we will anchor off Kalong Island to see thousands and thousands of fruit bats emerge from their mangrove homes and fill the sky as they head off to the mainland in search of food.
Day 3: Visit Rinca Island and go on a trek in search of the more Komodo dragons. See monkeys, dear, pigs, buffalo, and myriad birds as we walk through the forests and savannahs of this large island.
– Swim with schools of manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Hover above these giant and noble beasts for as long as you like.
– Snorkel at Siaba Island, a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle reptiles as the cruise along the shallow water of the reef.
Day 4: Spend the morning on Gili Banta, a deserted island with a beautiful white sand beach. Explore the magnificent coral gardens, hike to the crest of the surrounding hills for a view of the surrounding islands, swim, paddle, kayak and play.
– Cruise across the sea as we get the sails up and set course for Sangean Island, where local villagers are in the process of building a fifty-plus metre, traditional wooden pinisi boat, with the same pedigree and history of SeaTrek’s very own ships. Walking around this small village, get a feel for their simple way of life, chat with the locals and maybe buy some handmade textiles as a momento.
– Snorkel on a vibrant coral reef just off the shore filled with fish and marine creatures from all shades of the colour spectrum, including a meadow of hundreds of glass eels.
Day 5:Wake up off Satonda Island, an extinct volcano with a brackish lake at its heart, where we will swim, snorkel, kayak, paddle board and explore the surrounding forest if you wish. The lake was created when it the crater was flooded by a tsunami caused by a massive volcanic event from the nearby Tambora Volcano, which in 1815 was the largest eruption in recorded history.
– Set sail for Moyo Island and take a walk through a village to a jungle waterfall and play with local kids as they take the lead on a rope swing above a cool, deep jungle pool to show us how it’s done.
Day 6: We wake up early off the northern coast of Sumbawa, where we hope to swim with a group of awe-inspiring whale sharks. These massive but harmless animals have long congregated here but now, thanks to travelers like you, we have formed a mutually beneficial alliance with the local fisherman who have their traditional small floating fishing platforms in the bay.
As you probably know, whale sharks are under constant threat due the sky-high value of their fins, but thanks to your visit with us, these fishermen are paid a healthy fee for spotting where the whale sharks are and letting us in the water by their boat platforms to be up-close to one of the largest creatures in the ocean. As a result the fisherman are very glad to protect these beautiful animals and you get to be a conservationist.
Day 7: Visit a village of the famous Bajao ‘Sea Gypsies’ of Southeast Asia, and see how they live their lives so close to, on and in the water.
– Another relaxing afternoon awaits as we land on a nearby uninhabited island, where once again we will relax and enjoy snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding.
– Enjoy Indonesian hospitality as your crew host a beach barbeque in your honour this evening. On offer is plenty of good food, music, cocktails dancing and frivolity as we dance and sing the night away next to a bonfire under a clear tropical night sky.
Day 8: Wake up at anchor off the coast of Bali under in the shadow of Bali’s Mt Agung, the mother mountain of all Balinese people, and the most imposing figure on the whole landscape of Bali. Enjoy an early morning swim or snorkel before we say goodbye to the crew and start our tour back to the south of Bali.
– Along the way, experience the best that East Bali can offer can offer with a tour of its deep culture and glorious landscapes. Visit water palaces, ancient villages, see lush rice terraces and jungles and the islands volcanic peaks, and dine on some of Bali’s freshest and most delicious traditional cuisine.
Day 1: Meet at Bali airport early in the morning for your flight to Borneo in the company of your SeaTrek guide, and be escorted to your river boat to start your journey.
– Cruise past the stilted and floating houses of the and continue upstream along the forest lined river, passing local villages along the way and catching glimpses of wildlife in the canopy.
– Visit a local village to visit the local library foundation, before continuing upstream to a beautiful black water lake system, where we take canoes out at sunset. Later we find a quiet location to anchor overnight.
Day 2: The boat moves upriver as you enjoy breakfast to a pre-release island operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS). We take a motorized canoe to observe the orangutans and later continue to the BOS Education Centre where orangutans are awaiting release in socialization cages and we can learn about the BOS history and rehabilitation programs.
Over lunch we cruise upstream passing more orangutan pre-release islands, where we can see the great apes in their natural environment. Here we transfer to small canoes to have closer observation of the orangutans before heading for a refreshing swim in the black water lake.
Day 3: Early in the morning we travel by car to visit a local Dayak to see the cultural spirit houses and learn about their ancient forest culture. We are met by the village elder with Dayak Ngaju welcoming ceremony then stroll around with him to see the village home gardens, rubber field & rubber tapping demonstration, and other village livelihoods.
Visit to the elder’s house and enjoy the traditional spices coffee while sharing stories, before returning to the boat for lunch as we cruise downstream through the forest, relaxing and looking out for wildlife along the way.
Day 4: After breakfast, the boat cruises to a local village where we disembark for the short trip to a Dayak village, where we see the ancient Dayak painted sandungs and watch a traditional dance.
We head back to the boat boat for the final cruise to Palangkaraya, where we will check out and head to the airport for our flight to Bali. Upon arrival in Bali, you will be escorted to your hotel for the night.
Day 5: After breakfast in the hotel where you meet your fellow guests, experience the best that Bali can offer with a tour of East Bali with its deep culture and glorious landscapes. Visit water palaces, ancient villages, see lush rice terraces and jungles and the islands volcanic peaks, and dine on some of Bali’s freshest and most delicious traditional cuisine.
In the late afternoon you will arrive at your beachside resort in East Bali and have a chance to unwind, swim, or have a snorkelling lesson with your tour guide. In the evening join all your fellow guests for a welcome dinner and drinks in the hotel’s beachside restaurant.
Sleep in the shadow of Bali’s active volcano Mt Agung, the mother mountain of all Balinese people, and the most imposing figure on the whole landscape of Bali.
Day 6: Watch a spectacular sunrise from the beach in front of your resort as hundreds of small traditional ‘jukung’ fishing boats return from their overnight expeditions, as your SeaTrek boat comes into view.
Sail across the Wallace Line, the deep-sea boundary that represents the biogeographical separation point between Asia and Australia, where the landscapes, animals and plant life separate into distinctly different groups.
Snorkel the magnificent coral gardens of the Gili Islands off the northwest corner of Lombok.
Day 7: Wake up off the coast of Kenawa Island under the gaze of Lombok’s towering Mt Rinjani, the largest volcanic peak in Indonesia, and spend the morning swimming, snorkelling and exploring.
Visit a village of the famous Bajao ‘Sea Gypsies’ of Southeast Asia, and wee how they live their lives so close to, on and in the water.
Day 8: Wake up early in Saleh Bay, where we will hopefully swim with a group of whale sharks that congregate off the local people’s fishing platforms that sit in the bay.
Swim, snorkel, kayak and paddle board in a deep lake on a volcanic island lake on Satonda Island, whose caldera filled by water from a tsunami caused by a massive volcanic event from the nearby Tambora Volcano, which in 1815 was the largest eruption in recorded history.
Drink sunset cocktails as we float on the current while tens of thousands of giant fruit bats emerge from their forest lair and fly out directly over the boat on their nightly foraging missions.
Day 9: Step ashore on an active, smoking volcanic island, where local villagers are in the process of building a fifty-plus metre, traditional wooden pinisi boat, with the same pedigree and history of SeaTrek’s very own ships. Walking around this small village, get a feel for their simple way of life, chat with the locals and maybe buy some handmade textiles as a momento.
Snorkel on a colourful and vibrant coral reef above small geothermal fissures where air bubbles are released from the volcanic chambers below the seabed.
After a few hours under sail, spend the afternoon time on a deserted white sand beach on another volcanic island, this time an extinct one. Explore the magnificent coral gardens, hike to the crest of the surrounding hills for a view of the surrounding islands, swim, paddle, kayak and laze away the day before enjoying sunset cocktails on the sand.
Day 10: Wake up in the most northerly part of the Komodo National Park and enjoy a morning of sea-based activities including a fantastic drift snorkel over the reef, kayaking and SUP at Gili Lawa Darat island.
Swim with schools of manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Hover above these giant and noble beasts for as long as you like.
Spend the late afternoon on a local sandbar, where we will enjoy snorkelling, swimming and relaxing on the sand.
Day 11: Visit Rinca Island and go on a trek in search of the ancient Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. See monkeys, dear, pigs, buffalo, and myriad birds as we walk through the forests and savannahs of this large island.
Snorkel at Saba Island, a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle creatures as the cruise along the shallow water of the reef.
Enjoy Indonesian hospitality as your crew host a beach barbeque in your honour on a deserted island. On offer is plenty of good food, music, cocktails dancing and frivolity as we dance and sing the night away next to a bonfire under a clear tropical night sky.
Day 12: Cruise into harbour as we eat our last breakfast on the boat, before taking a short drive to a traditional local village. Here we will enjoy their hospitality with coffee, betel nut and a highly potent local ‘arak’ before (not for the faint hearted), before being be treated to a selection of traditional dances by their men and women.
Enjoy a final lunch on the boat before being escorted to the airport for your onward flight to Bali.
Sample itinerary – Flores & Ambon (12 Days / 11 Nights)
Sample itinerary – Ternate “Birds of paradise” (10 Days / 9 Nights)
Day 1: We will pick up and and transfer you by car and ferry to Weda Bay Resort, where in the afternoon you will enjoy your first bird watching expedition in the forests that surround this beautiful seaside resort.
Day 2: Early in the morning, we will begin our bird-watching expedition into the forest starting with a search for Wallace’s Standardwing Bird of Paradise. The forest is alive with many beautiful species and we can expect a full morning of great bird spotting.
Back at the resort, after lunch you can snorkel or kayak or relax before we venture back into the forest for more magnificent birding at dusk.
Day 3: At dawn, we will set off for more trekking around Weda rainforest looking for more birds of Halmahera, including another spot where we can watch the Wallace’s Standardwing Bird of Paradise once more.
After lunch, we will board Katharina. As you settle into your new home will start the crossing to Gebe Island.
Day 4: The island of Gebe is home to a plethora of birds from both regions. We will go ashore early to a local village and meet our local guides who will show us many parrots, imperial pigeons, fruit doves, kingfishers and other local birds, and if we are lucky, we will see the Glossy-mantled Manucode.
Overnight we will head towards Kofiau Island.
Day 5: Kofiau is home to two wonderful endemics, not least the Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher, which we hope to see on a long early morning visit to the forest along with many other birds.
In the afternoon we can snorkel and explore the island before continue our birding experience in the early evening. During the night, we will set sail to Misool.\
Day 6: Long before dawn we start our trek near the village of Kapatcol, partly by dingy and partly on foot, towards one of the leks of the Lesser Bird of Paradise. On our return, we will see other special birds of the region, and hopefully also the King Bird of Paradise.
In the afternoon, we have the chance to go snorkelling on a local reef before heading back into the forest. During night, we continue our journey towards Salawati Island.
Day 7: Today with the help of local guides we hope to see the beautiful, yet elusive, King Bird-of-Paradise, which can be seen high in the canopy. We will also have the possibility to see the Western-crowned Pigeon.
Later that day, if sea conditions allow, we will go ashore on the north-east corner of Salawati and look for the Northern Cassowary, which is known to roam freely in the forest here.
Day 8: Today will bring us an encounter with one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the Wilson’s Bird of Paradise. Rising once again before the dawn we will walk through the forest to a hide, where we can hopefully see the male’s elaborate forest floor mating display, and maybe even see a female or two come and join in.
On the way back to the boat we will be on the look out for more birds in the busy forest canopy and floor. In the afternoon, we sail on towards Mioskon Island. When we arrive around dusk, we can see thousands of flying foxes head out from their forest home on their nightly forage.
Day 9: We will go ashore in tenders to meet with our local guides who will lead us through the forest to the lekking trees of the Red Bird of Paradise, where we will be witness to their outlandish courtship display.
On the way back through the forest we will be on the lookout for many other bird species native to the area.
After a late full breakfast on the boat we will move to another nearby island where we can snorkel and relax. Come late afternoon we will enter the forest once again in search of more endemic bird species. During the night we travel the final leg of our trip to Sorong city.
Day 10: After breakfast, we will go ashore on Doom island and tour this small town by three-wheeled motorised transport known locally as ‘becaks’. The town used to be a Dutch Colonial outpost and was also home to a Japanese base during WWII.
We will have a final lunch on the boat before saying goodbye to the crew and being transferred to your hotel or the airport for the next part of your journey.