8 Night Cruise sailing from Sanur (Bali) to Serangan (Bali) aboard Katharina.

Few areas in Asia can match the cultural and natural diversity as can be found following the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands: towering active volcanoes, jungle clad mountain ranges, alternated by dry savannah lowlands, both teeming with wildlife. quiet coastal villages, emerald seas, megalithic cultures, colorful market places, tribal rituals and in addition a world of kaleidoscopic beauty under water.

Full Itinerary:

Day 1 Leaving in the morning. We transfer you from Sanur in the south of Bali to the anchorage of 'Katharina' off the village of Amed, in the north-east Bali, a pleasant and beautiful drive of about 2 hours. After we board the vessel and settle in, the captain gives the orders for the anchor to be lifted and we cross the Lombok Strait. This stretch of water between Bali and Lombok marks a very important ecological boundary, first described by Sir Alfred Russel Wallace, the British naturalist. He noticed that the flora and fauna of the islands to the west are home to Asiatic animal and plant species, whereas the islands to the east of that "line" have a greater similarity to species found in Australia. In the afternoon we make a first stop at one of the gili islands, just off the Lombok coast, for a couple of hours of swimming, snorkeling, and beach-combing. In the late afternoon we go on a north-easterly course again for the overnight passage to Sumbawa.

Day 2 We first go ashore at Pulau Bungin, a small settlement of 'sea-gypsies' (bajao) on the coast of Sumbawa. We stroll through narrow streets lined up by houses on stilts that are underwater at spring tides. Here we witness a first performance of traditional music and dance. Afterwards we continue to Pulau Moyo. At the Southern point of Moyo we spend a few hours relaxing, swimming and snorkeling. During the night we follow the coast towards the East of Sumbawa.

Day 3 Today we visit Wera on the east coast of the island of Sumbawa. Wera is a Buginese settlement famous for its boatbuilding. Here we will see all kinds of craft in various stages of construction, much the way the Katharina was built in 1998. During lunch we proceed to Gili Banta, an island uninhabited and a perfect place for some excellent swimming and snorkeling. During the night Katharina sails to Komodo Island.

Day 4 We wake up with the ship at anchor off Komodo island, the largest of the eighty islands in the Komodo Natinal Park.We will go trecking looking to view wild boar,wild deer,birds and of course the famous 'Komodo dragons'.After trecking we sail to pink beach whice called as red beach a famous reef with a huge variety of live coral and beautiful fish. It is a dream location for snorkeling, or just beach combing.after lunch if the wind alows we hoist the sail toward west of Flores where we anchor for the night in the bay of Labuhan Bajo.

Day 5 We arrive in Labuhan Bajo in the course of the morning. Here we will go ashore and visit a nearby village to attend the so-called caci (whip-) dance for which the Manggarai district of Flores enjoys national fame. At noon we leave to explore some nearby islands, for swimming, snorkeling and beach combing. In the afternoon we proceed towards Rinca anchor in the bay of Loh Buaya.

Day 6 Shortly after sunrise we go ashore on 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 in open savanah a few of the wild beasts are always seen, as are deer and wild buffalo, monkeys. The ranger shows us the dens and nests of the dragons and we learn a lot more about this mysterious creature. In the course of the afternoon we also visit Gili Lawa, the northern most island in the Park so we can snorkeling and hike to its summit and enjoy a last look over the eighty islands of the Komodo Archipelago and the mainland of Flores. As the sun sets Katharina goes again on a westerly course.

Day 7 We visit Satonda, the top of an extinct volcano, just to the North of Tambora. (Tambora is well known for its eruption in 1815, the year the world had no summer). On Satonda we will visit the Crater Lake in the center of the island and explore the reefs in front. At noon we sail on to Moyo or as far as Kromo Island if time allows and enjoy sunset and dinner before leaving toward east Lombok.

Day 8 Docked in Labuhan Lombok, east Lombok, after breakfast we will board a local bus for a tour into the interior of east Lombok, we will visit a pottery village, attend a local dance performance and enjoy a real Sasak (indigenous people of Lombok) lunch on the way. After re-embarkation we move to the small island of Kondo, where we will visit a coral conservation project and have a refreshing swim and will snorkel inspecting the local reef. Long night sail to the southwest coast of Lombok Island.

Day 9 The last day on board the Katharina starts with a relaxing morning on a desert beach at Gili Nanggu (just off the coast of southwest Lombok). While snorkelling, local fish will eat rice out of our hands. Unperturbed by the crowds on Kuta Beach, 70 km from here as the crow flies. Around lunch time we will depart for the six hour sail back to Bali. In Serangan (Turtle Island), east Bali, we will disembark in front of the Dolphinarium and say goodbye to the crew and be headed for transfer to your next destination.