Private Komodo Cruise with Bali

Ubud is a beautiful region, characterised by steep rice terraces and lush green hills and winding its way through this verdant landscape is the Ayung River. The beauty of the countryside here has lured artists, sculptors and spiritual leaders for centuries and it is a wonderfully serene place to spend a few days.

During this downhill bike ride (which lasts approximately 2.5 hours) you will be able to find out about village life including rice, vegetable and coffee farming, traditional ceremonies and family life. You will also visit a village temple and learn about Balinese spiritual beliefs and practices.

The cycling starts at Penelokan village, located at an elevation of 1,717m. Visit a local family who own a small food stall where they prepare traditional Balinese cakes, served with tea or coffee. From the home you'll enjoy spectacular view of Mount Baturi, the most active volcano in Bali. The volcano is surrounded by a caldera, in which lies Lake Batur, the largest crater lake on the island of Bali.

Start cycling, descending through coffee, tea and mandarin orange plantations to Pisang village where you are free to stop and join the farmer in planting or harvesting. Pedal through the rice fields and through a tropical rainforest valley until you reach Sebatu village. This village is home to thousands of artists, who specialise not only in painted wood carvings and sculptures but also elaborated dance costumes. Continue on to Pejeng Aji village, known for its wood carving. You might like to stop briefly to observe how they carve the intrictae patterns from wood.

Rise early and head to the peaceful Abangan village, known for its huge rice paddies and tropical rain forest and for being the home of thousands of Balinese artists. Start the walk through rice paddies to learn how rice is grown, cultivated and harvested. You'll also visit local organic farms where you will see how the Balinese cultivate vegetable, root crops and spices. You will meet farmers ploughing and planting along the way.

Walk along the village paths and whenever possible, stop at the local houses to meet the villagers. You'll also pause to visit an artist’s workshop where you can have a go at wood carving or painting. Your walk finishes at Sebatu Temple in Tampaksiring where you'll take part in a blessing ceremony.

This evening you'll get the opportunity to learn more about Balinese Hindu spiritualism when you visit Mr. Sang Nyoman Sudiasa, also known as Mr. Dewa Sudiasa. He is the leader of the Shiva Hindu community who continue preserving Shiva Hindu sects. Dewa and his wife Jero will show you around their organic garden where they grows vegetables and spices and here you'll pick up ingredients for your cooking lesson. Dewa will share his spiritual knowledge with you while you observes how typical Balinese food is cooked.

You will be met at Labuan Bajo airport by the yacht’s crew and transferred to the harbour. After you have settled in onboard, your private yacht will set sail from Labuan Bajo and cruise to the outskirts of Komodo National Park while you enjoy lunch on deck. If time allows, you may enjoy a snorkel at Saboyer Island, an ideal spot to relax on the beach or watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand.

Today the yacht will anchor on the northwestern edge of Komodo, near the Gili Lawa islands. These two islands are home to some of Komodo's most famous underwater sites, including Castle and Crystal Rock, Shotgun, The Passage and Lighthouse. Theses sites are home to a myriad of schooling fish and critters alike. The islands also offer stretches of private beaches for relaxing on between underwater pursuits, and a steep trek to the top of Gili Lawa Darat rewards guests with one of the most stunning vistas, stretching off the northern side of the Komodo National Park into the distance, and makes for a wonderful signature Komodo sunset.

Set between Rinca and Komodo in the central region of the national park, you’ll find the picturesque island of Padar. A sheltered bay on the southeast side of the island makes for a beautiful anchorage, set in the shadow of the dramatic craggy peaks of Padar, and within reach of excellent underwater sites. Central Komodo’s nutrient-rich waters attract enormous shoals of schooling fish among deep pinnacles and current swept walls that are widely renowned as some of the best coral reef sights in Indonesia. The bay of Padar is also a wonderful spot for enjoying powdery soft shores and panoramic island views, watersports, beachcombing or cruising among the coves and mangroves in the tender spotting birdlife.

Although lesser known than neighboring Komodo Island, Rinca is an excellent place to observe Komodo dragons, as well as the monkey population and a vast array of birdlife. This morning, you can stroll through the park with a ranger early in the morning and catch sight of the famed endemic dragons. This afternoon, you may submerge at underwater sites in northern Rinca, relax on a sandy beach flecked with tiny shells and pink coral, or explore nearby coves and try some watersports. Nestled in the channel between Komodo Island and Flores, the dive sites of Tarawa Besar and Kecil offer bustling coral reefs and pelagic encounters.

Today you will have the chance to visit the well-known ‘Manta Point’, located in the south west of Komodo. This is home to the famous manta cleaning station, and you’ll have the opportunity to swim surrounded by manta rays as they circle around you in an underwater ballet. Known as the most active area in all of Komodo because of its topography, three rocks in this deep bay are covered in an array of vibrant soft and hard coral gardens and home to large numbers of fish, including species such as Tuna, Napoleon, Wrasse, Barracuda, and many more. After lunch onboard, you’ll spend the afternoon beach combing or cruising hidden coves and tropical mangroves on the tender, finishing the day with another spectacular sunset in a private bay.

This morning, the boat will return to the port of Labuan Bajo. After a farewell breakfast onboard, your crew will assist you with disembarking and escort you to the airport.

Spend your time in picturesque Jimbaran exploring the pretty fisherman’s villages or simply relax on the vast stretch of white sand beach. A fresh seafood feast whilst watching the sun set is a must do.