Bajau "Sea Nomads" & Banggai Islands_9D

DAY 1

Upon arrival at Kendari Airport, we will transfer to the harbor  where we embark on our vessel, the BUGIS. While sailing, our  cruise director will provide a briefing to familiarize you with  the vessel and our safety procedures. In the late afternoon  we will meet the local community of Saponda island.

DAY 2

In the morning, we'll set sail for Pulau Tiga, a cluster of three  islets home to Bajau communities. Once there, we'll go  ashore to visit the local school and village. Afterward, we'll  enjoy snorkeling around the beautiful reef. During lunch, our  journey will continue to Sambori Island, also known as "Little  Raja 4." We'll spend the afternoon exploring numerous bays  and coves using our Zodiac boat, followed by a refreshing  swim

DAY 3

This day, we'll make a stop at Bungintende, a small island  boasting white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Here,  we'll have the opportunity to meet the Bajau community,  known for their octopus-catching expertise. Following this,  we will snorkel around a nice reef. Later, we'll head to a  beautiful beach for a relaxing swim.

DAY 4

After getting back on board, we'll keep sailing to the next island,  where we'll meet the Bugis and Bajau communities on the island of  Nal and learn about how they connect with each other. We will also  have the chance to go snorkeling on a beautiful reef. In the  afternoon, we'll set sail for another island to enjoy a beautiful beach  and more snorkeling.

DAY 5

At day break, the highlight of the day will be some  snorkeling inside the lagoon where mangrove trees grow in  crystal clear waters with spectacular reefs growing within  the mangrove trees. This is called the “blue” mangrove,  where juvenile fish can be seen in all their kaleidoscopic  colors. In the afternoon, we explore rarely visited nearby  islands where we indulge in the spirit of adventure that  defines our slow cruises. Spend a night on anchor place.

DAY 6

In the morning, we'll reach a small island surrounded by  beautiful white-sand beaches and turquoise waters in the  Banggai Archipelago atoll. Our day will be filled with  snorkeling, swimming, and a barbecue on the lovely beach.  In the afternoon, we'll take a short sail to a tiny island to  meet a small community called Bajau who live there. We'll  enjoy a bonfire with them on the beach as the sun sets

DAY 7

This day promises exciting exploration with visits to "Bajo"  villages, where you'll likely be the center of attention as it's a  place rarely visited by foreigners. In the early morning,  weather permitting, we'll be on Toropot Island to explore two  picturesque Bajau villages. These communities primarily  sustain themselves through the octopus trade and seagrass.  The highlight of the day will be snorkeling near the  mangroves, offering a chance to spot the endemic "Banggai  cardinal fish." We'll also go ashore and visit a traditional  village in the interior, witnessing fishermen trading their daily  catch.

DAY 8

In the northeastern part of Banggai Island, we'll find the  most breathtaking beaches in the archipelago. Though we  might not get to explore all of them, we'll definitely make a  stop under the shade of a tree along the fine sandy  shoreline. Here, we can enjoy snorkeling around the superb  reef. Additionally, we'll embark on a Zodiac raid to meet the  local fishermen. As the sun sets, we'll raise the anchor and  head to our final destination, Luwuk.

DAY 9

We will arrive at the harbour of Luwuk early morning. After  breakfast we say farewell to the crew and we will be  transferred to the airport for the return flight to Bali.