Indonesia: Bali, Borneo, and Beyond

Celebrate the mosaic of vibrant cultural traditions and striking natural beauty found

throughout the Indonesian archipelago. This journey combines traditional demonstrations, a gamelan performance, cooking workshops, and weaving presentations with wildlife walks and snorkeling in warm, clear waters. Guests will visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, home to the renowned orangutan rehabilitation center at Camp Leakey; the Borobudur Temple Compound in Java; and Komodo National Park, where visitors may encounter water buffalo, Timor deer, elusive Komodo dragons, and a wide variety of birdlife.

Beginning in Bali, the voyage sails east through the Indonesian archipelago, linking Java’s sacred temples and gardens, Borneo’s rainforest waterways, and the remote islands of Sumbawa and Komodo. The itinerary balances immersive time ashore with scenic days at sea, offering insight into Indonesia’s cultural and ecological diversity. The expedition concludes in Bali after exploring Lombok and the Lesser Sunda Islands.

The Heritage Adventurer offers nine nights in deluxe, spacious accommodations on a vessel equipped with 14 Zodiacs, snorkeling gear, and a professional expedition team. These resources support exceptional opportunities to observe marine life, including reef fish, sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, and reef sharks. The program also includes two nights at a beachfront resort in Bali, creating a well-paced balance of exploration and intellectual engagement.

Guests engage directly with local communities through cooking demonstrations, gamelan performances, weaving sessions, and an introduction to the traditional subak water management system used in terraced rice fields. Single travelers are warmly welcomed, with cabins available at a reduced single supplement. Traveling in late September and early October offers warm, sunny weather and fewer crowds, making it an ideal time for both discovery and leisure.

Event Itinerary

Days 1–3: Depart Home / Arrive in Bali

• Depart on an overnight flight to Bali, crossing the International Date Line
• Transfer to the beachfront Paradisus by Meliá Bali Hotel
• Welcome orientation and reception

Day 4: Bali

• Morning lecture, then journey through Bali's central mountains to the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
• Optional extension: guided tour of the Bali Botanical Garden, featuring rhododendrons, orchids, and medicinal plants

Day 5: Bali / Embark Heritage Adventurer

• Touring options include a guided visit to the Bali Museum, a private Gamelan orchestra performance, a visit to an orchid garden, and an exploration of Ubud Palace
• Board the Heritage Adventurer

Day 6: Probolinggo, East Java

• Morning walk through a coastal mangrove forest
• Explore the historic quarter of Probolinggo by becak (traditional pedicab)
• Visit Jabung Temple
• Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner

Day 7: Borobudur, Java

• Full-day journey from Semarang past rice fields and small towns to central Java
• Visit 8th-century Buddhist Borobudur Temple near Yogyakarta, a UNESCO World Heritage site adorned with intricate stone reliefs and thousands of Buddha statues

Day 8: At Sea

• Leisurely day at sea as the ship sails south toward Lombok
• Relax in the lounges, enjoy the heated saltwater pool, spa, sauna, and gym, or attend enriching lectures on board

Day 9: Camp Leakey, Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo

• Travel by traditional "klotok" river boats along the Kumai and Sekonyer rivers through dense jungle to Camp Leakey, a world-renowned orangutan rehabilitation and release site

Day 10: At Sea

• Relaxed day of cruising with continued lectures

Day 11: Sumbawa Besar & Satonda Island

• Morning visit to Pamulung Village to witness traditional rice harvesting, pounding, and intricate weaving techniques
• Afternoon snorkeling near Satonda Island, a secluded volcanic crater teeming with vibrant marine life

Day 12: Komodo National Park

• Full day in Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Afternoon snorkeling in crystal-clear waters off renowned Pink Beach

Day 13: Lombok

• Visit the historic 18th-century Pura Lingsar temple complex and explore the royal gardens of the Narmada Water Palace
• Optional guided bike ride available at an additional cost
• Captain's Farewell Reception and Dinner

Day 14: Disembark / Depart for Home

• After breakfast, disembark in Benoa, Bali, and transfer to the airport for return flights home