Sail from Maumere to Ambon exploring the magical East Indies Spice Islands
11 Nights: Various dates in September 2023
From $9,190 per person
D A Y 1
After arriving in the early afternoon from Bali, you meet at Maumere airport and taken directly to the boat, where you will meet your fellow passengers and your crew.
Cruise out of the harbour and head off to the east giving you a chance to become familiar with your new home for the next 12 days, stopping for a snorkel and a swim along the way, before sunset cocktails and dinner as you cruise on into the night.
D A Y 2
The morning you moor offshore of the capital town of Flores – a Christian dominated island as a result of Portuguese influence – where you go ashore and see the five Catholic churches and the ‘Stations of the Cross’ along the waterfront.
During lunch you cross to a neighbouring island where you visit a small local village and the ruins of a 16th Century Portuguese fort.
Later in the afternoon get out your snorkelling gear and explore one of the richly vibrant reefs nearby.
D A Y 3
You wake up on Lembata Island in a bite-shaped bay under the gaze of a massive live volcano called Ile Api – Island of Fire. You are welcomed ashore in a local village with singing and dancing, and witness the production of their famous local textiles.
After lunch on the boat, you sail across the bay to snorkel on a vibrant local reef and to swim and paddle on a local beach. This evening, the crew sets up for a beach BBQ and party under the stars before heading off to your next destination.
D A Y 4
You visit a traditional village up in the mountains, where you are welcomed by the chief and witness a ceremonial war dance in honour of your visit.
You see their traditional ‘Moko’ war drums and intricately designed ‘Ikat’ fabrics, which have been woven and dyed using age old techniques, and used in local bridal dowries for centuries.
You weigh anchor and cruise east as you enjoy lunch on board, stopping in the late afternoon at a picturesque tropical island to snorkel and swim on a coral reef.
D A Y 5
You wake up in a lovely bay on Wetar Island and go ashore to a local fishing village to meet the locals and see their way of life as they dry their catch on the beach.
Spend the day swimming and beaching, snorkelling and exploring, and indulge in a bit of local culture by way of ‘sopi’, a strong alcoholic drink made from a local palm tree.
Later in the afternoon you weigh anchor and continue your journey east.
D A Y 6
You go ashore on a small island and are welcomed into a remote village where the locals will share their way of life as farmers and fishermen with you.
After lunch you continue cruising, stopping off at another tiny island, this one deserted, to swim, kayak, snorkel over the reef and relax on the sand.
In the evening the crew will set up for a beach BBQ and you dance and sing your way into the night before heading off again for an overnight cruise to your next destination.
D A Y 7
Another day of cruising and exploring in one of the remotest parts of Indonesia. You visit a very simple village where the people’s houses are made using the products of the sago palm, the staple crop in this part of the world. The villagers demonstrate how they process the heart of the sago palm into the edible product that sustains them.
After lunch you cruise around the island and stop off to explore the beaches and reefs, where you snorkel along the way.
D A Y 8
A day at sea where you pass four spectacular volcanic seamounts, explicit examples of Indonesia’s place along the Ring of Fire. One of these islands is uninhabited by people, and is home to tens of thousands of seabirds (brown and red-footed boobies, and frigate birds), who will likely come out to encircle the boat in great numbers on your approach.
If the tide allows, you will go ashore and explore, and have a snorkel. In the late afternoon you proceed north to the fabled Spice Islands.
D A Y 9
By dawn you should have the Banda Archipelago ‘Spice Islands’ in your sights, original home of the nutmeg and the scene of much bloodshed between the colonial powers of Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries over control of the spice trade.
You go ashore and visit Fort Revenge, built by the Dutch, before snorkelling on the local reef.
Later you head across to the main island group, and the main town, and anchor in the beautiful enclosed anchorage under the imposing gaze of a 600-meter-high volcano. If you get there in enough time before nightfall, you go ashore and explore the town.
D A Y 1 0
Spend the day exploring the history and beauty of the Spice Islands with a visit to the main town of the Spice Islands and its fort overlooking the harbour.
You wander through the streets and markets of this bustling town and meet the local people. After lunch on the boat you take a local boat over to the biggest of the islands, where you walk among the vast nutmeg plantations, visit another Dutch fort, talk with the locals and visit one of the last ‘perkineers’, the farmers who still run the larger plantations on the island tell you about life on the islands.
Later in the afternoon you can snorkel on a local reef and have a chance to see the rare and multi-hued Mandarin fish, who only comes out at dusk to mate.
Dinner is had ashore at a local restaurant that offers traditional and delicious local dishes.
D A Y 1 1
In the morning you have time for a final stroll around the town or a last snorkel before you say farewell to the Spice islands around lunchtime and head north.
You have lunch on the way, passing another major seabird island, before settling in for a relaxing afternoon on board as you scour the horizon for migrating whales.
D A Y 1 2
You wake up just south of your final destination and your last few hours are spent enjoying the majesty of the ocean, and may very well see more whales along the way.
As you drop anchor in the harbour, you say farewell to our crew and tour leaders and are taken to the airport, ending a magical 12 days of exploration and adventure.
Maumere Airport,Indonesia
Pattimura International Airport Ambon
D A Y 1
After arriving in the early afternoon from Bali, you meet at Maumere airport and taken directly to the boat, where you will meet your fellow passengers and your crew.
Cruise out of the harbour and head off to the east giving you a chance to become familiar with your new home for the next 12 days, stopping for a snorkel and a swim along the way, before sunset cocktails and dinner as you cruise on into the night.
D A Y 2
The morning you moor offshore of the capital town of Flores – a Christian dominated island as a result of Portuguese influence – where you go ashore and see the five Catholic churches and the ‘Stations of the Cross’ along the waterfront.
During lunch you cross to a neighbouring island where you visit a small local village and the ruins of a 16th Century Portuguese fort.
Later in the afternoon get out your snorkelling gear and explore one of the richly vibrant reefs nearby.
D A Y 3
You wake up on Lembata Island in a bite-shaped bay under the gaze of a massive live volcano called Ile Api – Island of Fire. You are welcomed ashore in a local village with singing and dancing, and witness the production of their famous local textiles.
After lunch on the boat, you sail across the bay to snorkel on a vibrant local reef and to swim and paddle on a local beach. This evening, the crew sets up for a beach BBQ and party under the stars before heading off to your next destination.
D A Y 4
You visit a traditional village up in the mountains, where you are welcomed by the chief and witness a ceremonial war dance in honour of your visit.
You see their traditional ‘Moko’ war drums and intricately designed ‘Ikat’ fabrics, which have been woven and dyed using age old techniques, and used in local bridal dowries for centuries.
You weigh anchor and cruise east as you enjoy lunch on board, stopping in the late afternoon at a picturesque tropical island to snorkel and swim on a coral reef.
D A Y 5
You wake up in a lovely bay on Wetar Island and go ashore to a local fishing village to meet the locals and see their way of life as they dry their catch on the beach.
Spend the day swimming and beaching, snorkelling and exploring, and indulge in a bit of local culture by way of ‘sopi’, a strong alcoholic drink made from a local palm tree.
Later in the afternoon you weigh anchor and continue your journey east.
D A Y 6
You go ashore on a small island and are welcomed into a remote village where the locals will share their way of life as farmers and fishermen with you.
After lunch you continue cruising, stopping off at another tiny island, this one deserted, to swim, kayak, snorkel over the reef and relax on the sand.
In the evening the crew will set up for a beach BBQ and you dance and sing your way into the night before heading off again for an overnight cruise to your next destination.
D A Y 7
Another day of cruising and exploring in one of the remotest parts of Indonesia. You visit a very simple village where the people’s houses are made using the products of the sago palm, the staple crop in this part of the world. The villagers demonstrate how they process the heart of the sago palm into the edible product that sustains them.
After lunch you cruise around the island and stop off to explore the beaches and reefs, where you snorkel along the way.
D A Y 8
A day at sea where you pass four spectacular volcanic seamounts, explicit examples of Indonesia’s place along the Ring of Fire. One of these islands is uninhabited by people, and is home to tens of thousands of seabirds (brown and red-footed boobies, and frigate birds), who will likely come out to encircle the boat in great numbers on your approach.
If the tide allows, you will go ashore and explore, and have a snorkel. In the late afternoon you proceed north to the fabled Spice Islands.
D A Y 9
By dawn you should have the Banda Archipelago ‘Spice Islands’ in your sights, original home of the nutmeg and the scene of much bloodshed between the colonial powers of Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries over control of the spice trade.
You go ashore and visit Fort Revenge, built by the Dutch, before snorkelling on the local reef.
Later you head across to the main island group, and the main town, and anchor in the beautiful enclosed anchorage under the imposing gaze of a 600-meter-high volcano. If you get there in enough time before nightfall, you go ashore and explore the town.
D A Y 1 0
Spend the day exploring the history and beauty of the Spice Islands with a visit to the main town of the Spice Islands and its fort overlooking the harbour.
You wander through the streets and markets of this bustling town and meet the local people. After lunch on the boat you take a local boat over to the biggest of the islands, where you walk among the vast nutmeg plantations, visit another Dutch fort, talk with the locals and visit one of the last ‘perkineers’, the farmers who still run the larger plantations on the island tell you about life on the islands.
Later in the afternoon you can snorkel on a local reef and have a chance to see the rare and multi-hued Mandarin fish, who only comes out at dusk to mate.
Dinner is had ashore at a local restaurant that offers traditional and delicious local dishes.
D A Y 1 1
In the morning you have time for a final stroll around the town or a last snorkel before you say farewell to the Spice islands around lunchtime and head north.
You have lunch on the way, passing another major seabird island, before settling in for a relaxing afternoon on board as you scour the horizon for migrating whales.
D A Y 1 2
You wake up just south of your final destination and your last few hours are spent enjoying the majesty of the ocean, and may very well see more whales along the way.
As you drop anchor in the harbour, you say farewell to our crew and tour leaders and are taken to the airport, ending a magical 12 days of exploration and adventure.
Temperature in this sailing area varies little (27° to 33° Celsius year-round) with mostly blue skies and light winds. We suggest you bring the following:
Light cotton/ linen clothes, including a pair of long trousers for visits in the villages
Water shoes (boots or plastic shoes)
Hiking shoes
Camera
A plastic / waterproof bag for your camera when disembarking
High protection suntan lotion
A hat
Insect repellent
Dive/ snorkelling equipment if you have your own (there is plenty on board)
A sweater for cool evenings
