nature tours & travel, wildlife tours, adventure travel and general travel to Australia, Southeast Asia, South America and Alaska

BALI & KOMODO

DRAGONS IN PARADISE

February 13 to 29, 2008

led by Judy Brzoska

Day 1– Feb 13: Home City/In Flight
Depart your gateway – New York or Los Angeles - for Bali.   (*M)

Day 2 - Feb 14: Bali
Arrive Bali this afternoon, transfer to Puri Santrian Hotel, Sanur Beach. The hotel is right on the beach, and there are many small shops nearby, some with older fabrics, sarongs new and antique crafts, and even carvings from West Papua. (*B,*L)

Day 3 – Feb 15: Sanur/Jimbaran area
Free morning to relax. Bali is a sensory overload, where daily life combines of serenity, ritual and religion with the bustle of commerce. Rice paddies and flocks of fertilizing and insect controlling ducks butt up to hotels. The tropical air is redolent with the rich fragrances of flowers and spices, while everywhere are exotic colors and fabric adorned statues. This afternoon visit famous Pura Tanah Lot, just off-shore. There are usually vendors selling a sweet confectionary wrapped in banana leaves; and this tasty and different treat is recommended. Afterwards visit Pasar Badung (Denpasar Central Market), where we can shop like the locals. Suggested purchases here are sarongs, textiles, and especially the painted offering baskets we see women carrying to temples. We enjoy sunset at clifftop Pura Uluwatu, and afterwards dine on seafood on the beach. (B,D)

Day 4– Feb 16: Sanur/Permuteran
This morning travel via the scenic road of Munduk to Permuteran, on the north coast. Along the way we stop at Alas Kedaton to see the flying foxes, and Candi Kuning, where there is a fruit, spice and flower market near a small lake. Tonight’s accommodation is Taman Sari, a small beach resort. (B,L)

Day 5 - Feb 17: Permuteran
This morning we boat out to Menjangan Island for snorkeling. This has long been one of the best accessible snorkeling sites in Bali. Following a box lunch on the beach, return to the resort and spend the day relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the adjacent National Park and nearby area. At night the lights of fishing boats twinkle on the bay.

Day 6 – Feb 18: Bali Barat National Park
Explore Bali Barat National Park. Few truly wild Bali Starlings, Bali Barat’s most famous resident, still exist, so the wild population comprises mostly captive bred birds, part of a program to repopulate the park. In addition to the natural areas of the Park we visit the release station to see the conservation effort. As well as 160 species of birds, including hornbills, Bali Barat is home to leaf monkeys, macaques, banteng, rusa deer, beautifully colored squirrels, tiny muntjac deer, and leopard cat. (B,L)

Day 7 – Feb 19: Permuteran / Ubud
Stopping along the way at places of interest, including Bali’s oldest temple. we travel to Ubud, Bali’s arts & crafts center. Our Ubud boutique hotel, built in traditional Balinese style, overlooks a forested valley and rice fields. (B)

Day 8 – Feb 20: Kintamani/Batur
Visit Goa Gajah, the elephant cave temple, and Mt Kintamani across from smoking Mt Batur. A highlight is a performance of the Barong dance with gamelan music. (B,L)

Day 9 – Feb 21: East Bali
Ancient Tenganan village has a special form of weaving known as geringsing; double ikat that is dyed with great precision so patterns interlock. The fabric is commonly believed to possess magical powers and we have the chance to purchase some. Candi Dasa is an attractive village by the sea, with sweeping views along the coast, back to Mt Agung, Bali’s sacred home of the Gods that all shrines orient to. Continue on this scenic route to Pura Besakih, Bali’s Mother Temple; on the way back we stop at the Kerta Gosa in Klungkung. (B)

Day 10 - Feb 22: Ubud
Much of today is free to explore, after an early morning optional birding tour. Look for exquisite carvings, Batik and Ikat textiles, intricate silver and gold wares, and the masks used for cultural performances. Take a walk in Monkey Jungle, where macaques live around the temple. Late afternoon we visit a private botanic gardens and a heron rookery protected by villagers who consider the birds as good omens. This evening be mesmerized by a private temple performance of the stunning Kecak dance, lit only by torches and the burning coconut husks used in the performance. (B,D)

Day 11 – Feb 23: Ubud/Komodo NP
Fly to Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores, the western edge of Komodo National Park, where we board our traditional Indonesian Pinisi boat, home for the next three days, and sail to the islands and coral reefs of the Park. (B,L,D)

Days 12/13 – Feb 24/25: Komodo NP
We explore the reefs, islands and bays of Komodo National Park. In addition to superb snorkeling, pink sand beaches and brilliant star-lit night sky we’ll be walking both Komodo and Rinca Islands with Park Rangers in search of Komodo Dragons, the largest lizard on Earth, and certainly the most stunning and dangerous. (B,L,D)

Day 14 – Feb 26: Komodo/Labuan Bajo
Disembark and explore the eastern end of Flores, including a wildlife river trip by boat. Our flight from Bali crossed the Wallace Line between Bali and Lombok that separates the fauna and flora of Asia from Australia. White cockatoos often make their presence known, as do several species of typically Australian honeyeaters and plants. There is still a smattering of more adventurous species though, that made their way here from Bali and points west. (B,*M)

Day 15 – Feb 27: Labuan Bajo/Sanur
At lunchtime fly back to Bali. The late afternoon is free for to get final Balinese crafts, relaxing, or perhaps to enjoy a unique Balinese massage or spa treatments after the active days in Komodo. (B)

Day 16 – Feb 28: Bali/In Flight
Sadly we leave magical Bali today, but our enjoyment of the Island of the Gods will remain with us. Our flights home depart at different times, and those taking an extension will fly to their first new destination today. (B,*D)

Day 17 - Feb 29: In Flight/New York/LAX
Arrive in the US, and transfer to home flights. (*B,*M)

(B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner; M: Meal; * in flight meal)

Bali & Komodo 18-day all-inclusive tour led by Judy Brzoska and local English-speaking guides. Includes international air, internal air, all (4-4.5*) accommodation, private cabins on board the 6 cabin Pinisi boat in Komodo National Park, all transfers, guiding, entries, 26 meals. Does not include airline taxes, personal costs, visas, items of a personal nature, alcoholic or carbonated drinks, bottled water or tips to guides.

From Los Angeles: $3500* From New York: $3700*
Single Supplement: $1350

Maximum 11 Guests

*subject to current air costs which cannot be not guaranteed until ticketed.

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