A JUNGLE TO SEA EXPEDITION
HOSTED BY LAWRENCE BLAIR
Dr. Lawrence Blair is an explorer, film maker, author and public speaker on
the peoples and creatures of Indonesia. A resident of Bali, he has assisted
and led marine expeditions throughout the archipelago since the Lindblad
Explorer – the first genuinely exploratory tourist ship – broached the Spice
Islands in l978. His onboard companions have included Mick Jagger, Jerry
Hall, Sir Peter Scott, Ron and Valerie Taylor, Sir Michael Cowdray, Baron
Von Schenk, Larry Summers, Richard Dawkins and numerous luminaries,
less publicly known, in the fields of science.
DAY 1 | WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Saturday, 26th August 2023
Arrive to Denpasar airport, where your private transfer will welcome you to Bali
and your adventure will begin at Capella Ubud. Perhaps you’ll explore the Camp,
lounge by the Cistern or enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Officers Tent.
As the sun sets you’ll gather for a Balinese Sandikala Ritual at the Campfire, placing
offerings at the camp’s temple as gratitude for the abundant blessing received
throughout the day. You’ll meet your host Dr. Lawrence Blaire for some sunset
storytelling and introduction to the adventures that await you.
Dinner will be served in the split-level tented dining room named in honor of the
famous Danish spice trader and peace maker of Bali, Mads Lange. Your Indonesian
“Rijsttafel” feast will include classic dishes, designed for sharing using ancient
recipes inspired by the spice trail across the Nusantara archipelago.
DAY 2 | ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Sunday, 27th August 2023
Mount Batur is an active volcano believed by Bali’s Hindu population to be sacred
and is part of UNESCO’s Global Geopark Network. You’ll begin your hike before
dawn under a blanket of a million stars and our expert local guides will help you
climb to the ‘top of the world’ for a spectacular view of the sacred scenery and
witness the sun breaking through the horizon ahead of a new glorious day – a
deeply moving and momentous experience. The daylight will reveal fantastic
panoramic photo opportunities of the volcanic valley and spectacular views of
holy Mount Agung, Mount Abang and Mount Rinjani all the way in Lombok.
Back at Camp you’ll enjoy relax and renew in our Auriga Wellness Spa, a perfect
reward after the morning physical exertion.
Dinner this evening will ignite some ‘fire to the soul’, as our chefs at the award-
winning Api Jiwa restaurant create exciting Asian barbecue food served in an
intimate, lively atmosphere.
DAY 3 | FROM JUNGLE TO SEA
Monday, 28th August 2023
After breakfast you’ll head to Bali Airport for the short flight to Komodo. Arrive
in Labuan Bajo Airport, where it’s only a 15 minutes ride to the Kudanil Explorer.
Welcome aboard! After an hour’s sail, we anchor at a nearby island. Complete your
check-dive or enjoy a snorkel or kayak session before sunset when a cloud of
thousands of bats fly over the yacht to take off for the night.
Day 4 | CENTRAL KOMODO
Tuesday, 29th August 2023
We snorkel the pristine coral reef of Pulau Saiba, home to numerous turtles, and
relax at Gili Makassar with its picture-perfect sand bank and more giant manta
rays. For sunset, we go ashore at Gili Lawa Laut, for a trek up to the hilltop to enjoy
spectacular views over Komodo National Park.
DAY 5 | KOMODO DRAGONS & PINK BEACHES +
NUSA KODE
Wednesday, 30th August 2023
We wake up in Komodo Island and visit the local ranger station for a hike to look
for the endemic, infamous Komodo dragons. Afterwards, we will stop at one of the
iconic pink beaches with the chance for a snorkel or dive at the nearby reef.
During lunch time, we sail to the southern part of the National Park towards the
majestic entrance of Nusa Kode. Komodo dragons are regularly visible on the
beach, hanging out with the usual crowd of monkeys, deer and wild pigs. There are
three dive sites here offering a mixture of coral, macro and pelagic experiences,
which will suit divers and snorkelers alike.
DAY 6 | MANTA ALLEY + PADAR ISLAND
Thursday, 31th August 2023
Snorkel or dive the sites around Manta Alley which, as the name suggests, is a
perfect place to see these peaceful rays with their enormous wingspans.
We will then cruise towards Padar Island where we will spend a relaxing afternoon
on the beach before ascending Pulau Padar for its magnificent sunset view point,
a highlight of the National Park!
DAY 7 | GILI LAWA ISLANDS & BATU MONCO
Friday, 1st September 2023
We dive in the limpid waters amongst the teeming pelagic life at several of
the world-class dive sites, such as Crystal Rock, Castle Rock. Snorkelers can
experience a unique site called “Shotgun” - a narrow, short passage between Gili
Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat with plenty of fish and fantastic corals.
We will spend the last afternoon in Batu Monco, a beautiful bay in the far northwest
of Komodo Island with a lovely, virgin beach - perfect for water sports and final
sunset drinks.
DAY 8 | DISEMBARKATION
Saturday, 2nd September 2023
After breakfast, we pack and prepare to disembark, returning to Labuan Bajo
Airport by tender and car.
