Board our schooner Katharina on Saturday morning in Serangan, just south of Sanur, for a weekend cruise to Lombok and the picture perfect islets off its West coast. While you go back in time a few centuries- to the days Indonesia was only accessible by sea- , and while lazing on the deck of a traditional sailing ship, you will be treated to three days of great food and some superb cocktails. We will take you ashore on our private beach for a romantic Barbeque under the stars with the ship’s orchestra playing nostalgic tunes and the Southern Cross pointing down over the bonfire. It will be a weekend of sun and sea, swimming and snorkeling -and if you feel like it, some singing and dancing as well- an unfailing booster charge to refuel your batteries for a long time to come. Tour Itinerary: Saturday 8:00 a.m. Meeting in Serangan, Southeast Bali, where the Katharina will be at anchor, waiting for her guests. After boarding Katharina and settling in, we will first set a course for Nusa Lembongan, Here we will stop at the northern tip of the island to explore the local mangrove forest and the tidal areas where the islanders have established a flourishing seaweed farming industry. Once back on board for lunch we will proceed towards Gili Tangkong, a small islet off the southwestern coast of Lombok. After we drop the anchor in the late afternoon, we go ashore for some serious beach combing and to drink some fresh coconut milk. Back on the ship, you rinse off the salt water in your private shower, just in time for the first of two memorable sunsets. Once the night has fallen, you will see that the crew has gone ashore to gather the wood for a bonfire on the beach and that everything is ready for a splendid seafood barbeque and a memorable evening… We spend the night at the anchor. Sunday While you are enjoying an abundant breakfast prepared by the Chef, the vessel will make the short trip to the harbor of Lembar. Here some cars are already waiting to take you on a tour of Lombok. The island is known for the special skills of its craftsmen. You visit several villages to see textiles being produced, pottery, brooms or baskets being made. You also witness the process of the extraction of palm sugar. You stop at a local market packed with spices, tropical fruits and exotic vegetables. Lunch will be a typical Sasak-style meal, enjoyed at a local restaurant. Finally, after driving through the lush tropical landscape of North West Lombok you reach the coast at an unfamiliar bay but you will immediately notice the familiar contours of a ship at anchor. Obviously while you were crisscrossing the island, ‘Katharina’ has sailed up the coast. After your re-embarkation, the ship leaves for the nearby island of Gili Trawangan where you will spend the remainder of the afternoon swimming and snorkeling. Trawangan is a traveler’s paradise without any motorized vehicles. If you do not want to go into the water you may make a trip around the island in one of the horse drawn carriages. Depending on the tide and on the swell the ship will remain at anchor off Trawangan or move back to Nara Bay for the night, but in any case after sunset you will enjoy another fabulous dinner sprinkled with Rosé wine. Monday Landlubbers might consider it an indecently early hour, but you just might be awoken briefly when the anchor chain rattles into its locker at 04:00 at the start of what we call the ‘dog watch’ . On this last day of our cruise Katharina will leave early to go on a westerly course for the passage back to Bali and of course you do want to stay in your comfortable bed a little longer before getting up. However do keep in mind that one of the greatest joys of being on the ocean is to have the opportunity every very day of being able to see the sun rise and to see the sun set. Modern life in the city prevents us to witness what is always a breathtaking symphony of colors, whether there are clouds or not. So we do recommend that you make an appearance on deck shortly after 06:00 to witness that magic moment when the day breaks and the sun reappears. It will be a privilege to be able to see the sun rise above Rinjani to the East and have Mount Agung right in front of the bow. You are in a very special spot, as the Strait between Bali and Lombok marks an important ecological boundary, first described by Sir Alfred Russel Wallace, the British naturalist. He noticed that the flora and fauna of the islands to the west are home to Asiatic animal and plant species, whereas the islands to the east of that “line” have a greater similarity to species found in Australia. By seven we expect to make our landfall at Amed on the extreme Northeastern point of Bali. Amed is famous for its beautiful underwater world and on this last morning of the cruise you have the opportunity to enjoy another unforgettable color festival when you find yourself floating over the coral reefs off Amed surrounded by myriads of curious fish displaying a palette of bright and pastel tinges. By midday we go on a Southerly course again and follow the coast for our return to Serangan. In the late afternoon we say farewell to captain and crew of the Katharina. You just might find that you lost your sense of time. What was only three days seems so much longer when you return ashore….. Notes: Price Excludes: 
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Also see tour packages in: Asia Indonesia Outdoor: Water Drifter Boating and Sailing Cultural Journey Email it to a friend: Click here to email this vacation to a friend |
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