Expedition in Sumba and Komodo National Park

Home Indonesia Expedition in Sumba and Komodo National Park

Nusa Tenggara Timur is a province made up of more than 500 unique islands. This region boasts high biodiversity, smoking volcanoes, and rich underwater landscapes. Encounter dragons at Komodo National Park, picturesque villages and deserted surf breaks.

When to go

March - October

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Kupang

Arrive at Kupang where your Pelorus guide and yacht captain will be waiting for you. Make your way to your waiting vessel and get acquainted with your crew and your yacht. Spend your afternoon on Semau island and wander the beaches, dipping into the glistening surf to cool off. Discover the island’s secrets, by exploring inlets and coves in your vessel’s tenders. Return to your vessel for dinner before starting your overnight journey.

Rote

Wake up in Rote and enjoy breakfast on deck. Rote is a haven for the avid surfer. This slender island boasts palm-fringed, white sand beaches, natural limestone bridges, and rolling, grass-covered hills. Depending on swell and wind you can have your pick of eight pristine breaks to suit every level of surf ability from absolute beginner to seasoned surfer.

The weather will be your guide for how long you spend in Rote or one of its surrounding islands. Whilst surfing here is a truly exceptional experience, Rote also boasts a wealth of other activities between catching breaks. Explore dense mangroves on kayaks and dive beneath the surface getting the chance to swim alongside majestic manta rays. Underwater you may also find shy dugongs, dolphins, and even whales that frequent the pristine waters of the Indonesian archipelago.

Head inland and meet local farmers who cultivate swaying palm trees. Spend a morning in the company of these local people learning about the challenges of living on this far-flung island. This rugged and undeveloped island is the perfect place to sink into Indonesian life as you set your own timetable based on the weather, your mood, and the tides. Enjoy dinners on deck, barefoot lunches on the beach, and cocktails as the sun sets over the turquoise water.

Island Hopping

Cruise away from Rote Island and anchor in a secluded bay. With left and right breaks on offer, this is yet another haven for the avid surfer. The waves here may be fickle, but when the break is right, there are few places that can rival it. You may be at the whims of Mother Nature, but if she is unwilling to cooperate, there is plenty of other exploring to be done. Explore the stunning island of Savu. Devoid of the pressure of modernity and tourism, this island is the perfect place to embrace the simplicity of island life.

Explore traditional villages brimming with unique culture, laze on palm-fringed beaches and learn about the region’s history from expert local guides. Discover an intriguing blend of Christian and animist traditions, where ritual dances are performed in the hopes of bringing rain and even to celebrate weddings and commemorate burials. Explore expansive seaweed plantations and salt farms, learning about their cultivation from the local farmers that make their living here. Learn about the complex art of ikat, a form of fabric dying employed in the villages of Indonesia. Try your hand at ikat under the expert guidance of locals who have been using this traditional technique their whole lives. Enjoy a castaway dinner on a deserted island beach. Lit by flickering candles, indulge in local delicacies under the cover of a gently swaying canopy.

Raijua & Mengkuda

Cruise to Raijua one of the remotest islands in the whole of the Indonesian archipelago. Known for its exposed reef break, head into the water here with your board and get your heart pumping as you catch a set of classic lefts. You may even get a really long, smoking fast, lower tide left that can barrel top-to-bottom for extended sections.

Try your hand at surfing the cliff-hugging wedge for a truly exhilarating experience. If you want a break from catching waves, make use of your onboard fishing equipment to reel in a fantastic catch. Here you can bring in Wahoo, Barracuda, and Tuna to name but a few. Bring your catch back to sure where your chef will be ready and waiting with a barbecue to expertly prepare whatever you bring to him. Sink into serene relaxation as you enjoy eating the freshest and most simply cooked fish, barefoot in the sand.

Cruise on to Mengkudu, an island south of Sumba. Here there are several incredibly consistent breaks. Here the Indian Ocean is at its rawest and most powerful. Below a picturesque lighthouse, the surf hammers the stunning reef and creates perfect waves for the more adventurous surfers. Head out with an expert Pelorus instructor who will ensure your safety as well as help you catch some of the best breaks of your life.

Explore nearby islands that are populated by fishing communities. Join fishermen on their traditional colourful fishing boats and explore the turquoise waters with them. As they know all the best spots, you can reel in some phenomenal catches in the company of these fishermen. Without phone signal, here you can truly embrace off-grid living in the company of these warm and welcoming people.

Tarimbank & Sindikari

Having cruised overnight, wake up to one of Sumba’s longest and finest breaks. The wave here is about 300m plus long on good days and depending on the weather, the tide, and the swell it can go from mellow to hollow and challenging. Surf these epic waves or take a break from your board and instead try your hand at some different watersports. Make use of your vessel’s toybox and take to the water on wakeboards, kayaks, or paddleboards as you explore the glistening ocean of the archipelago at your own pace. Kayak towards the island of Tarimbang and visit a traditional Sumba house. Here you can see the authentic culture and traditions of Sumba as you visit stone graves and head out on a hike to explore the rugged cliffs of the island. Head back to your vessel and enjoy sundowners on deck as you cruise to Sindikari Bay.

In Sindikari Bay spend the day at your leisure. Surf, snorkel or fish in the stunning water or take some time away from the ocean. Make your way inland with a local guide and trek across the island. Find an impressive, yet secluded waterfall at the end of your demanding journey. Cool off with a dip in the waterfall pool and enjoy a wild picnic lunch on the banks of the waterfall. Refreshed and restored, make your way to a district of the island where local people still live in traditional bamboo houses. This will allow you to gain an unrivalled insight into the almost untouched lives of the people on these remote islands, isolated from the modern world.

Return to your vessel for supper as you make your way to Marosi. Here you will find a shore blessed with a few right-handers that hold a lot of size. Here you can catch breaks that have recently been surfed by an ex-world champion in the sport. This will be your final surfing spot so make the most of the perfect waves.

South Komodo

Having cruised overnight, arrive at Pulao Muang, a remote corner of Komodo National Park. Very few boats ever visit here so you will likely have the island to yourself. This is the perfect place to indulge in adrenaline-inducing watersports. Fly across the surface of the water on wakeboards or explore the crystal-clear shallows in kayaks.

Exploring these waters is a truly exceptional experience. Currents keep the water here nutrient-rich and healthy, providing some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world. These healthy reefs attract a vast array of marine wildlife including seven species of shark, more than 1,000 species of fish, and marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. After a day exploring, gather on the deserted beach and enjoy sundowners and a barbecue on the sand as the sun sets the waters ablaze around you.

Awake the next day and go looking for dragons. With a local conservationist, head to the home of the enormous Komodo dragon and discover the stunning biodiversity of this National Park. As well as the eponymous dragons find notable species of birds such as the orange-footed scrub fowl as well as mammals ranging from Timor deer and endemic rats. Return to your vessel for lunch before taking a dive at Cannibal rock, or for something a little more adventurous, take a cold-water plunge at The End of the World in search of huge Manta Rays.

Padar & Batu Monco

Explore Padar Island, an iconic landscape that has three bays perfect for relaxing or watersports. Snorkel in the shallows of this remarkable island discovering some of the many species of fish that inhabit the waters of Komodo National Park. You dictate your day at Padar Island, whether you want to simply enjoy the beautiful simplicity of the stunning bays or explore the depths of the surrounding ocean. After a day at the water’s edge, trek inland and discover a hidden spot with views over the island in every direction. Enjoy sundowners in this spectacular viewpoint before hiking back down to your yacht for a well-earned dinner beneath the stars.

Wake up and explore a secluded bay that houses manta rays and an incredible array of dolphins. Dive some of Komodo’s most iconic and exhilarating sites including Crystal Rock and Castle rock at the foot of Gili Lawa. Enjoy lunch on deck before heading inland. Explore an island that has barren, desert savannah that changes from green to yellow depending on the weather and the season.

Embark on a challenging hike into the depths of the island. As the trail begins to climb, find yourself rising above the rest of the island with spectacular views in every direction. See the reef rising up in the turquoise water and witness the island change colour as the sun descends below the horizon. Make your way back to your vessel for your final dinner on board before you begin your cruise back to Labuan Bajo where you will begin your journey back home with a wealth of truly unforgettable memories.