| The Komodo National Park Located some 500 kilometers east of Bali, the Komodo National |
| Travel East of Bali Travel into the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago |
PT Ombak Putih |
Maumere to the Spice Islands and Ambon
USD 3,575 per person sharing a double or twin cabin or USD 5,900 per cabin in single occupancy 13 days/12nights children between 2 and 12 years 25% discount Please click to go to Departures 2011 to check the exact fare and if you wish, to make an online booking. On this voyage we leave the Lesser Sunda Islands behind and venture into the Maluku archipelago, a large group of in total almost a thousand islands that straddle the equator between Sulawesi to the west, Papua to the east and Timor to the south. Formerly known as the Moluccas or the Spice Islands they have been a magic destination for over ten centuries. The first seafarers from faraway countries to explore the region, as early as the 8th century, were Chinese, later followed by the Arabs in the 1200s. In fact, the name Maluku is thought to have been derived from the Arab trader's term for the region, Jazirat al-Muluk ''the island of the kings" and an ancient Arab text places the islands rather precisely "fifteen days sailing east of Jaba". What the Arab traders brought back to their home ports, were exotic spices: nutmeg, mace and cloves. These were sold to Venetian merchants and became known in Europe as "the nuts from Muscat". Because of the high value of these spices in Europe and the large profits they generated, many adventurers followed in the wake of the Chinese and the Arabs, first Portuguese and later Dutch and British. For two centuries the latter two nations fought naval battles over control of the Banda Islands, principal centre of the nutmeg trade*) These tumultuous events also explain how several islands in the Maluku archipelago came to harbour cosmopolitan societies where spice traders from different backgrounds established settlements and enclaves. It can easily be understood that these outposts far from the mother countries often attracted rather desperate and avaricious characters and it was this special mix that created a fascinating history. What makes our Seatrek sailing adventures through Maluku so interesting is that traces of this colorful past can still be found everywhere ....
*) An amazing historical footnote is the fact that in 1667, under the Treaty of Breda, the small island of Run in the Banda archipelago was ceded by the English to the Dutch in exchange for Manhattan..... On day 2 you will wake up with the ship standing off near the Island of Kumba, a smoldering volcano in the middle of the Flores Sea. If the conditions allow us to, you will go ashore on one of the pebble beaches and perhaps there is even an opportunity to go snorkeling. We leave again in the course of the morning on our way to the island of Lembata. On day 3 we arrive on the South coast of Lembata to visit the traditional whale hunting village of Lamalerap. Here local fishermen still practice whaling with small open boats. 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. In the afternoon Ombak Putih will proceed towards the Alor archipelago. On day 4 you will go ashore on the island of Alor. We anchor in front of the town of Kalabahi and through the rugged landscape we will cross to the village of Takpala to get some insight in the specific character of the island and witness some traditional dances in the 'mesbah', the ritual centre of the village. Here we will see the moko drums, since centuries part of the dowries in this part of the world. Ikat cloth from Alor is famous for its intricate patterns. In the evening we proceed further to the east and during the night we cross the imaginary 'border line' between the Lesser Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. On day 5 we will reach the West Coast of Wetar Island around noon. The biggest island of southeast Maluku, it is one of the least populated, with an interior thick with jungle said to still be populated by untouched jungle dwellers. We anchor off the small islet of Reong and go ashore on the main island for a walk to the hot springs and the small settlement. In the course of the afternoon we continue sailing around the north coast of the island. On day 6 we will first go snorkeling off the deserted beach of Moapora, a small island near Pulau Romang. In the afternoon we will meet the inhabitants of the main island and then make a two hour trek from east to West through the orange and coconut groves. The tidiness of the main village and the neat small houses will come as a surprise. Most likely we will be invited for a cup of sweet tea. n day 7 you wake up in the small bay on the East Coast of Damar Island. We go ashore at the village of Beber. The dwellings in the village are simple huts made from leafs of the sago palm. Staple food of the locals is sweet potatoes, bananas and fish. We make a two hour trek around the volcano to the beach on the North coast. If the conditions are favourable, during the afternoon we will anchor off the small uninhabited island of Pulau Terbang Utara where our tender will take us into its lagoon. On day 8 We will sail by three different volcanic islands: Teun, Serua and Nila. These islands are literally some of the most remote ones in the archipelago. Here cloves used to be grown by the local people but since the eruptions in the seventies most of the population migrated to other islands in the Moluccas. If time allows we will make a short stop at Serua and go ashore at the village of Jerili. On day 9 Ombak Putih reaches the small island of Manuk which is uninhabited by humans but truly a bird and marine sanctuary. Frigate birds, gannets and other marine birds have their nests in the trees. In case the tide allows it, we will make a landing. If not, we watch bird life from the ship. In the late afternoon we proceed towards the Spice Islands. On day 10 you arrive in the Banda Archipelago, famous for its natural beauty and its cultural heritage from the time the Spice Islands were the target of the European colonizers. We will anchor stern-to or tie the ship's bow to a palm-tree on the waterfront at Bandanaira, the only (small) town of Banda. We will stroll through the city, visit old fortresses and admire the planters' houses from the old days. We have dinner on board spending a quiet evening in the lagoon. On day 11 we will visit a few of the other islands of the archipelago, such as Ai, Revenge and Hatta and will see what remains of the ancient plantations, churches and cemeteries. We will breathe the atmosphere of the time that the Banda youth were sent to the most expensive boarding schools of Europe and dream about the splendid, but short-lived glory during a remarkable episode in world history. Day 12 is in principle a spare day. We know from experience that more often than not, we all want to extend our stay in Banda - to attend one of the frequent ceremonies or to visit Run Island. An amazing historical footnote is the fact that in 1667, under the Treaty of Breda, this small island was ceded by the English to the Dutch in exchange for Manhattan. In the late afternoon we hoist the anchor for the 115 nautical mile crossing to Ambon. On day 13 we arrive at Tulehu harbor on the island of Ambon. After breakfast we say farewell to the crew and the Ombak Putih and we board a coach for our transfer to Ambon airport for the flight via Makassar to Denpasar.
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 in Ambon and Maumere, European cruise director and gifts. Exclusive: Local airfares, beverages, crew gratuities, laundry, 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 2011 to check the exact fare and if you wish, to make an online booking.
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