On day two we go on a leisurely overland crossing of Lombok, the mighty volcano Rinjani always watching us. A first highlight is the romantic water palace of one of the last kings of Lombok - where we learn about  the amusing stories of the king and his (female) subjects. On the way further to the east, there are numerous interesting villages in the midst of luxuriously green rice fields, framed by palm trees and banana plants. Lush tropical landscape with a people who are conscious of their traditions and skilled craftsmen, well-known beyond their island - that is the definition of Lombok. On our way, we stop to see textiles being produced, pottery, brooms or baskets being made. Lunch will be a typical Sasak-style meal, Sasaks being  the original inhabitants of Lombok. With a bit of luck, we will witness the elegant yet expressive traditional dances still regularly performed in this traditional society. Just in time for sunset, we will be back on the boat.

On day three you wake up with the vessel docked in the harbor of Sumbawa Besar. Sumbawa is famous for its sandalwood, sturdy horses and fine woven cloths. We go ashore to visit the former palace of the Sultan of Sumbawa, but do not expect a palace like Buckingham! Nearby is one of the nicest markets in all of the Lesser Sundas. Enormous variety, lovely people, exotic greenery, proud fighting cocks and strange kitchen gadgets - endless motives for great shots.

 We return to the boat for lunch and set sail for Moyo Island, a wildlife and marine reserve, where we spend the remainder of the afternoon swimming and snorkeling. The intrepid may wander off into the forest to discover romantic cascades of clear, refreshing water.After sunset, we hoist the anchor and head east again.

On day four we arrive in  the Komodo National Park,  the home territory of the infamous and fearful Komodo dragon! Thrilling encounters guaranteed! The two main islands of Komodo and Rinca are very diverse and different from each other,

First we will go ashore on Komodo, the island that has given the dragon as well as the National Park its name. Accompanied by a ranger, we will hike for about 2 to 3 hours on this dry and  flat island that is covered by steppe and forest. A few of the wild beasts are always seen, as are deer and monkeys. The ranger shows us the dens and nests of the dragons and we learn a lot about this mysterious creature. Once the heat of the day hits the island, we escape to one of the postcard-picture beaches of the National Park.

On day five  we go  trekking  through the dry and rugged island of Rinca, which is well-known for its diverse wildlife. So aside from the Komodo dragons, we are likely to spot monkeys, wild buffaloes, deer and horses. From the top of the hills, the scenery is spectacular - you have to see it yourself! After this adventure and a healthy meal on the boat, we go to one of the many beautiful beaches in Komodo N.P. for snorkeling and swimming. The National Park is world-known for its teeming underwater world and colorful coral reefs. The plankton-rich seas around Komodo support amazing reefs and a range of large marine life, including whales and dolphins. In the course of the afternoon we hoist the anchor and after sailing around the extreme South- Western  Cape of Flores we go on an easterly course.

On day six, as the sun rises, we anchor off the town of Aimere with a fantastic view of Inerie volcano. Going ashore, we will discover the district of Ngada around Bajawa, an area where the people still treasure their rich cultural heritage. Megalithic traditions and ancestor worship are still alive in the hills around the Inerie volcano, although covered by a veil of Christianity. We visit villages in which the traditions and belief systems are incorporated in the building of each and every house as well as the whole outlay of the compound. And we enjoy breathtaking vistas! Lush bamboo forests, plantations with vanilla, cocoa, candlenut, clove and cashew nut cover the hills. After a full day ashore we are back on board for dinner and then the vessel follows the coastline Eastward again

On day seven, early in the morning, we reach Ende in Central Flores, our starting point for the excursion to Kelimutu. This is a volcano with 3 crater lakes and each one has a different color. Situated in the midst of forest covered mountains, the colors of the lakes are a surprise, as they change from time to time. They may be turquoise, black and a reddish brown, but don't be surprised if you find a white one or a red one! After a short walk back to the bus, we have a boxed lunch and head for Ende, where we visit a boarding school - one that is a perfect example for multi-religious and multi-ethnic harmony that is possible!  After a full day ashore we are back on board for the sunset and during the night Ombak Putih will start to cross the Savu Sea towards Sumba.

 On day eight  we anchor in the east part of Sumba island, in the main town of Waingapu.

The cultural life of Sumba is distinguished by spectacular rituals, huge megalithic grave sites, unusual peaked houses and beautiful ikat cloths. Sumba is one of the most culturally interesting places to visit in East Indonesia. Because of its position south to the other islands of Nusa Tenggara, Sumba managed to escape the influence of Hindu, Muslim and Christian religion. Today, still more than 50 % of its population adheres to traditional religion of animism and ancestor worship. When we visit one of the traditional villages in East Sumba, we are welcomed by horses dancing along the path and we are invited to share betel nut with the villagers, while some of them perform the local dances. The women show us the production of their famous textiles - from spinning the cotton to the finished "ikat". And of course, these pieces of art and workmanship are for sale! During the night Ombak Putih makes the 110 nautical mile crossing to the Island of Savu.

On day nine we arrive at the same spot where James Cook landed in 1770. Savu is one of the most precious islands of all of Indonesia! The locals on this rugged and dry island are extremely friendly and hospitable and the girls are famous for their beauty. We are welcomed by the Savunese during a special welcome ceremony, performed on the beach and accompanied by a ritual horse dance. We stroll through the ancient ruins of Bodo and a truck brings us to Mesara -aside from some motorcycles and an ambulance, trucks are the only means of transport on the island-. In Mesara, the ladies show us in a perfect demonstration how they make their beautiful "ikat"-textiles. How they spin the cotton, dye it with natural colors, use strings to bind ("ikat") the pattern into the yarn, weave it on the loom and finally wear it.

We also pay a visit to the historic village of Namata, center of the old animistic religion, home of the priests and clan leaders of the ancient city of Seba. Impressive round and flat megaliths are spread out in Namata and the special aura of this place can be felt. A visit to Savu is not complete without singing and dancing! While the locals perform dances and play their traditional musical instruments during our visit to the islands, we will invite them to join us for more modern Indonesian music and dances onto our ship in the evening!

On day ten we first make a landing on the neighboring small island of Raijua, before we continue our journey eastward  to West Timor.

On day eleven  we  anchor in the harbour of Kupang, West Timor. Here we go on a sightseeing tour of the city with the remains of the Old Dutch Fort "Konkordia" and the oldest church in Kupang from 1873. Kupang has a population of 120.000, a university and an interesting 'Museum of Nusa Tenggara Timur' with an excellent Dong Son drum.  Later in the morning we also briefly venture into the hinterland to learn more about the local customs, traditions, architecture and culture of the Timorese.

The island of Timor is split into West Timor as part of the Indonesian Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur and the independent state of East Timor.  West Timor is slightly bigger than the eastern part (16.500 sq km) and has a higher population with 1,25 million. The Portuguese established their first settlements in the mid-1600's and mixed with the local population, creating a large 'Mestizos' community, locally known as the 'Topasses'. Because of the strong Portuguese and later Dutch influences on Timor, most islanders are Christian. Some 18 languages are spoken on the island, several of which are non-Austronesian.

On day twelve, after another overnight crossing, we arrive on the Island of Lembata. Another highlight on our journey is certainly the visit of Lamalera, one of the two remaining whale hunting villages in Indonesia. For hundreds of years, the whale hunters have sailed the sea with their traditional boats, using harpoons to kill the whales (mostly sperm whales). Traditional whaling is still allowed under the International Whaling Convention, the local economy entirely depends on it and it cannot in any way be compared with the Japanese industrial variety. On the beach we will see the whalers preparing their small sailing craft. ). Each extended family owns such a boat that is still being built without any metal at all.  In the afternoon Ombak Putih will proceed towards the Cape of Flowers.

On day thirteen we reach the final destination of our voyage: Maumere, East Flores. We bid farewell to the crew and check-out of what has become our home-away-from-home.  Depending on the time of departure of our flight back to Bali, we may visit the salt panning near Maumere, the market or the weaving village of Watublapi, where a co-operative intensely works on the revival of the weaving, dancing and musical traditions of the area. Then we take you to the airport for the flight back to Denpasar, Bali.

Inclusive: full board, AC cabins with private h/c shower and toilet, tea and coffee, towels, excursions, use of snorkeling gear and sea canoes, transfer to/from airport Maumere, European cruise director and gifts.

Exclusive: all international and domestic flights, alcoholic beverages on board, overnight and meals before and after the cruise crew gratuities, laundry, donations to villages and schools, optional dives in Komodo N.P.

Participants should keep in mind that itinerary and program of our sea voyages occasionally may be (slightly) modified due to factors beyond our control: unfavorable weather conditions, delay in processing harbor clearances, modified schedules of domestic flights. The cruise director and captain of the Ombak Putih may have to adjust the program accordingly to the best interest of all.

Please click to go to Departures 2010, or Departures 2011 to check fare and book your desired cruise.