raja ampat: a 9-night spice island adventure · guest name dates of itinerary dd / mm / yyyy to dd...
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GUEST NAME
DATES OF ITINERARY
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RAJA AMPAT: A 9-NIGHT SPICE ISLAND ADVENTURE
COMBINING SCENERIES OF
OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY,
A VAST ARRAY OF WILDLIFE AND
STORIED HISTORIES, OUR SPICE
ISLAND ADVENTURE IS A UNIQUE
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AND
ADVENTURE L IKE NO OTHER.
RUN
DAY 1: Sorong — Timolol DAY 2: Farondi Cave DAY 3: Farondi DAY 4: Boo Rock DAY 5: Banda Neira (via Gorong Island) DAY 6: Banda Neira - Hatta - Banda Neira DAY 7: Fort Belgica DAY 8: Run Island & Banda Neira DAY 9: Gunung Api - Ambon DAY 10: Ambon
TIMOLOL
BOO ROCK
GORONG
HATTA
BANDA
AI
AMBON
AMBON AIRPORT
BANDA NEIRA (GUNUNG API)
FARONDI
FARONDI CAVE
SORONG AIRPORT
CENDERAWASIH BAY
Snorkelling
Manta Rays
Diving
Trekking
Fishing
Village Tour / Tribal Experience
Bird Watching
Fort
Kayak / SUP
Turtles
Whale Sharks
International Airport
Route
The Rascal team awaits at Sorong Airport to
meet and greet and assist with baggage and
boat transfers. After a warm welcome and full
yacht tour, the boat departs for Timolol. Timolol
is a former burial site of indigenous Papuans
and amazing “Gua Sacral” ancestral caves,
home to ancient rock paintings – a fantastic
place to explore.
DAY 1 – SORONG – TIMOLOL
Cabin 2
After breakfast, a visit to a pearl farm is
followed by a tender ride through secret caves
rife with otherworldly formations and flanked
by jungle. Kayak or paddleboard into a cavern
to marvel at these natural rock formations. In
the afternoon, we dive the intriguing depths
of Farondi Cave. Starting as a regular soft
coral reef at a shallow depth, Farondi Cave
consists of a long tunnel powdered with
white sand, leading to a wall with corals and
a large cave with stalactites, creating magical
underwater pictures.
DAY 2 – FARONDI CAVE
Kayaking
Paddleboarding
We set off early for Daram, one of Raja Ampat’s
most vibrant reefs. Its cast of rainbow coloured
characters includes fusiliers, surgeonfish,
DAY 3 – FARONDI
barracuda and anthias intermingling in the rising
and falling tides. We sail into the setting sun for
an overnight anchorage in north-west Farondi.
The next snorkelling wonder, thanks to a gully
called The Windows, is our next destination.
Alive with soft corals, dazzling fish, black
jacks and dogtooth tuna al l feed here
in the surge – a spectacular scene, whilst
DAY 4 – BOO ROCK
school ing banner f i sh b ide the i r t ime
behind sea fans to catch plankton wafting
in the current. After lunch on-deck, we dive
one of the most radiant reefs in Raja Ampat –
The Four Kings.
Diving
An early morning arrival at the small palm–
fringed Gorong Island allows for a remarkable
wall dive where pelagic fish patrol the deep
DAY 5 – BANDA NEIRA (VIA GORONG ISLAND)
water. After lunch, we set course south–west
to admire a sunset like no other en route to
Banda Neira.
We cruise to Hatta Island to snorkel, dive, fish,
kayak and paddleboard, followed by guided
walks and sunset drinks. Hatta is part of the
Banda (Spice) Islands, where nutmeg was once
indigenous. Used as a food preservative and
DAY 6 – BANDA NEIRA – HATTA – BANDA NEIRA
Diving
thought to be something of a panacea, this
spice was the reason why these islands were
fiercely fought over by the British and Dutch
in the 16th century. An evening cruise takes us
back to Banda Neira for anchorage.
A hike of the volcanic Gunung Api offers a
once–in–a–lifetime view of the impressive
Banda Islands. The image of the sulphur
clouds escaping from the active 666-metre
volcano is a staggering sight to behold. A
tour of the impressive colonial architecture
includes a visit to Fort Belgica, its historic
DAY 7 – FORT BELGICA
church and governor’s house, as well as a trip
to Fort Nassau and the local market by trishaw
to pick up fresh nutmeg, sun-dried cinnamon
quills and local spice delicacies. The day
ends with a candlelit dinner on the ramparts
of Fort Belgica and a traditional music and
dance performance.
Hiking
Wake to the sound of birds inhabiting the
slopes of Gunung Api. After breakfast, we
spend a day marvelling at magnificent ocean
panoramas followed by a snorkelling session at
Run Island. In 1674, the Dutch traded the island
of Manhattan with the British in exchange for
Run – so keen were they to assume ownership
of the nutmeg plantations. Later, we inspect
Malaki Islet, once home to an English fort.
We see Gunung Api in the dawn light as we
arrive at the island of Ai. This small island,
surrounded by pristine coral reef is perfect
for diving and snorkelling. The small village is
home to a Dutch storehouse from the 1600s,
and the nutmeg plantation has trees over 100
years old. We pause for some locally brewed
ginger tea on the beach, before cruising
towards Ambon as the sun sets.
DAY 8 – RUN ISLAND & BANDA NEIRA DAY 9 – GUNUNG API –AMBON
We continue the cruise to Ambon for breakfast, where
we bid farewell to Rascal and the crew and depart for the
onward flight.
DAY 10 – AMBON