Tour Itinerary:
On day one you will touchdown early in the morning at the airport of Timika and we will immediately transfer you to the harbour which is located at the mouth of the local river. Embarkation on Ombak Putih and departure direction Agats. On day two the vessel will arrive off Agats, the capital of the Asmat region and we will remain there for two days in order to explore the Asmat heartland which is located in a huge expanse of swamps and mangroves along the southern coast of Papua (Irian Jaya). Moving about on local longboats, we shall visit various villages. All Asmat villages are located on river banks and until about 50 years ago this land was completely unexplored and home to fierce warriors. We see the traditional longhouses (called “jeu”) and the exquisite woodcarving that has made the Asmat people world famous. We learn how they tap the wild sago to satisfy their daily needs. We’ll experience ritual welcome ceremonies and other traditional rituals pertinent to the Asmat tribe. At one stage the Ombak Putih will be surrounded by dozens of war-canoes and the air will be filled with shrieks and shouts expressing a heartfelt welcome to the honored guests coming from overseas. On day three, in the course of the evening of our second day in the Asmat region we will lift our anchor and set sail heading for the Triton bay located over 200 nautical miles to the west. During day four we will sail the entire day along the swampy coast of Irian Jaya. If winds are favorable, we will hoist the sails and share the experience of Sir Alfred Wallace who described Phinisi vessels as “more comfortable than the modern day steamers” during his Odysseys through the “Malay Archipelago” (1854-1862). When conditions allow one or more swim stops will be made. In the course of day five Ombak Putih arrives in Triton bay, certainly one of the most beautiful and undisturbed places of Asia. The scenery is magnificent: tall cliffs, limestone outcrops separated by narrow channels, secluded beaches, turquoise waters…..the perfect pirates’ den. We’ll use our tenders to explore the area. If time permits, we may also visit the village of Lobo at the foot of a 3000 feet cliff. Quiet evening in a protected cove and BBQ on the beach. On day six on our way to the small town of Kaimana, we may make a stop at Namatote village to search for cliff paintings and other pictorial signs left by ancient inhabitants high on the cliff galleries. In Kaimana we will spend a few hours in the centre of town to get the feel of ‘urban’ Papua. West of Kaimana we sail mile after mile along a coastline of uninhabited, towering mountains covered with thick jungle. Here, in complete wilderness, a roaring river cascades down the jungle-clad mountains and crashes right on the white-sand beach. Plenty of lobsters inhabit the rocky waters around Kiti Kiti. On day seven we arrive at Karas island in the bay of Sebakor. We visit local villages or laze around on one of the secluded beaches. Then we proceed to the district centre of Fakfak where we disembark to explore the city. It is one of the few places on the entire coast where the crew has the opportunity to take on fresh supplies. Day eight is a spare day. As our journey leads us through remote areas that lack the infrastructure to provide ships with supplies, bunkering facilities for fuel or any other important supporting services, we need to be open to the unexpected. Delays of various sorts may occur and we know from experience that we must keep our time schedule flexible so we can absorb any potential setbacks. On day nine, on the way from Fakfak to the island of Misool, we make a stop at one or two of the so-called “Valsche Pisang” islands, and definitely will not skip the desert island of Daram where pristine white beaches populated by myriads of hermit crabs present the perfect site for an unforgettable BBQ. Great snorkeling! On day ten we reach the north coast of Misool which is dotted with numerous uninhabited islets and fringed by white-sand beaches and coral reefs; we spend the morning snorkeling and exploring these islands. After one or two stops we sail onward to the east-coast of Misool Island. Few areas in Indonesia can lay claim to such unsurpassed natural beauty as the eastern end of the Misool archipelago; its landscape is typical of ‘karst dissolution’ so the chain of islands were cut into hundreds of coves and lagoons, high cliffs and limestone overhangs, narrow channels and inlets, caves and jagged rocks as well as countless shaded beaches….another perfect pirates’ den. The reefs are mostly untouched with many underwater caves waiting to be explored. If you feel like doing some rock – climbing, you will enjoy incredible scenery and you will have a fair chance of spotting exotic birds, including large hornbills. On day eleven and twelve we explore more of the so-called and world-famous ‘Raja Empat’ (four kings) islands, located west and north of Bird’s Head, the western tip of New Guinea. We will look for the elusive Wilson’s Bird of paradise, take a bath in waterfalls and follow tracks into the jungle. The last night we will spend at anchor off the island of Mansuar, close to the mainland. Here we will enjoy some final white-sand beaches, clear waters, iridescent reefs, always with the backdrop of thick forests. On day thirteen, after breakfast we say farewell to the crew of the Ombak Putih and disembark on Jeffman Island in front of Sorong, and take you to the airport of the city for the return flight to Bali. Notes: Price Includes:
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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