A Journey to Moyo Island

(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron & Rodrigo)

Riung & Flying Foxes, Flores Island

(Photos Courtesy of Martine Bergeron & Marc Bergeron, Map Courtesy of Periplus)

Riung village, on the coast north of Bajawa, offers beautiful coral gardens in the Seventeen Island National Reserve, as well as thousands of flying foxes.

The National Park, Pulau Tujuhbelas (Seventeen Islands), in fact has more than 20 islands, but, in a gesture of patriotism, the number was declared to 17, to conform to Indonesia's Independence Day, August 17.

The biggest island is Pulau Ontoloe which is hilly, covered with short grass and a few trees, and fringed with mangroves. On the north coast of Ontoloe Island, the large fruit-eating bats called flying foxes mass in which the mangrove tress.

At high tide, our boat can get quite close to shore, where the bats hang upside down in the tree, thick as flies. A few shouts send them flying , and you can see thousands of the bats, with reddish fur and black wings (in some parts of Eastern Indonesia area, some people eat these kind of bats which are said juicy & yummy! Since the bats eat only fruits...), take off from the trees and wheel around in the sky before setting down again. A magnificent spectacle! these bats are said to forage every night as far away as Bajawa and Ruteng.
(Articles freely quoted from Periplus - East of Bali "From Lombok to Timor")

The Sea & The Sun, Lesser Sunda Islands

(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron & Miguel Cotton)

Meet the Komodo Dragons, Komodo & Rinca Island

(Courtesy of Martine Bergeron & Miguel Cotton)


Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological importance.

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2). As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.

A Journey to Encounter Komodo Dragons, Komodo & Rinca Island

(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)


(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)


(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)



(Courtesy of Miguel Cotton)


(Courtesy of Miguel Cotton)


Map of Komodo & Rinca Island

For more information about cruise trips to Komodo & Rinca Island 2006,
kindly click the link: Cruise F (Lombok-Flores-Lombok).

Visiting Traditional Markets

The Fish Market, Sumbawa
(Courtesy of Rodrigo)


Traditional Market in Sumbawa
(Courtesy of Rodrigo)


Traditional Market in Saumlaki, Tanimbar
(Courtesy of De Rham)


Traditional Market in Alor
(Courtesy of De Rham)


Traditional Market in Irian Jaya (West Papua)
(Courtesy of Ushuaia Expedition)

The Smiling Faces of Indonesia

Welcoming Big Smiles, Sumbawa
(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)


Smile Souvenir from Sumbawa
(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)


Shy Smile for A Photo Session, Sumbawa
(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)


A Smile before the Dancing Performance, Alor
(Courtesy of De Rham)


A Warm Welcoming Party, West Papua (Irian Jaya)
(Courtesy of Claudia Caduff)

Sea Trek's Profile
(Travel+Leisure Magazine, May 2005)

Katharina - A View over the Rinca Bay
(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)

Off the Beaten Tracks, Rinca Islands
(Courtesy of Marc Bergeron)

Welcome on board of our Phinisi Schooner ‘Katharina’!

Welcome on board of our Phinisi Schooner ‘Katharina’!

We invite you to embark on a truly adventurous cruise of a life time exploring the exotic islands of the ‘Southern Seas’.

Our sailing cruises are primarily focusing on Eastern Indonesia. Highlights during our sailing adventures are the Lesser Sunda Islands (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca, Flores), the Moluccas, and Irian Jaya (West-Papua) where we will visit among other places the famous Asmat tribe.

Our exploratory cruises will bring you to the unknown and extraordinary, to dragons in Komodo, whale hunters in Lembata, warrior tribes in Papua. We follow the ancient spice routes to the gorgeous Banda’s, trace the vestiges of Captain Cook in the Lesser Sunda Islands and marvel at undiscovered coral reefs the tropical treasures of the underwater world.

Cruising in Indonesia aboard Katharina means sailing adventures to the end of the world, truly exploratory cruises in the wake of ancient discoverers like Magellan, Cook, and Tasman.
Our home base is Lombok from where sailing charters may be organized tailored to your needs.

Rejoice this exclusive experience on Planet Earth light years away from the maddening crowds!

(Photos courtesy of De Rham & Miguel Cotton)