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The Itinerary Day 1 - London to Singapore. Fly by scheduled flight. Day 2 - Singapore. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to your centrally located hotel for an overnight stay. Day 3 - Singapore. Enjoy a leisurely morning to either explore independently or relax at the hotel. In the early afternoon a tour of Singapore will include the National Orchid Garden, Chinatown and the Sultan Mosque before we transfer to the MS <strong>Caledonia</strong>n Sky for embarkation. Welcome drinks and dinner will be served as we sail the Malacca Strait, named after the Malacca Sultanate that ruled over the archipelago between 1414 and 1511. It is from here that early traders from Arabia, Africa and Persia would trade glassware, camphor, ivory, sandal wood and perfumes and today the Strait is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Day 4 - Malacca, Malaysia. With more than its fair share of colonisers from Malaysian princes, the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Japanese, Malacca has a fascinating history brought vividly to life in the excellent Ethnographical Museum. Other places we visit will include the 16th century Portuguese fortress, the former Dutch Governors house and the impressive Christ Church. We return to our vessel for lunch and continue up the Strait of Malacca to Belawan. Mentawai archipelago Day 5 - Belawan for Berastagi, Sumatra. After an early breakfast we will drive up into the Karo Highlands. Here, the volcanoes Gunung Sinabung and the smoking Gunung Sibayak rise dramatically from the lush, fruit growing countryside. On arrival in Berastagi we will explore the local markets humming with activity. In Dokan, a Batak tribal village with beautifully carved traditional houses, we can experience the daily life. After a local lunch we will return to the ship in the afternoon. Day 6 - Belawan for Bukit Lawang. Today will be a long but rewarding day as we depart at sunrise to drive inland to the eastern side of the Gunung Leuser National Park and visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Bukit Lawang, which is now one of the world’s most important conservation projects. Orphaned orangutans are brought here to learn how to live in the wild again. We can watch them at play and feeding and learn how the 6 month programme works. For the more active, there will also be the option to enjoy a jungle trek with local guides before returning to the ship in the late afternoon. Day 7 - At sea. A day to relax and perhaps enjoy a lecture by the onboard experts. Day 8 - Pulau Weh & Banda Aceh. This morning we are on Pulau Weh off the northern tip of Sumatra. We will use our Zodiacs to land on a local beach and have a chance For many the greatest draw to Sumatra is the island’s incomparable natural history and stunning mountain and jungle landscapes. Larger than life in all respects, it is one of the world’s last untouched frontiers. to snorkel in the clear waters which are considered the best in Indonesia. Sail over lunch to Aceh. Many will recall the destruction caused to this port on the northern tip of Sumatra by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Enormous effort has been made to rebuild since that fateful day. We will visit the Tsunami Museum and educational centre that document the impact. Day 9 - Simeulue Islands. After a morning at sea we arrive in the archipelago of the Simeulue islands at lunchtime. Located 100 miles from the Sumatran coast and with white sand beaches, vast coral reefs, and a pristine blue sea dotted with a multitude of seamounts, atolls, and small islets, Simeulue Island has rarely been visited or explored. We will use our Zodiacs to land on one of the local beaches for snorkelling and island walks. Day 10 - Nias Island. We continue south and land on the island of Nias some 70 miles from the west coast of Sumatra. Sumatra. Its very isolation has protected its cultural heritage. We We will will see some some wonderful examples of tribal art and unique unique architecture. architecture. After an island drive we will witness a stone jumping demonstration in a traditional village. Here, talented local villagers leap over over six foot tall stone megaliths in a rite of passage. The The higher they they jump, the better chance they have of acquiring a wife. However, the tradition originated to train them for warfare and defence. defence. This colourful culture developed +44 (0)20 7752 0000 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
separately to Sumatra and the island has a history of head hunting, warfare, slaves and gold. Day 11 - Siberut Island. Tonight we cross the Equator as we continue south to the Mentawai archipelago. Like Nias, these islands have a unique culture. Zodiacs take us upriver to a small village for a walking tour followed by a cultural performance. The island is rich in wildlife and along the river almost 140 bird species and rare monkeys can be found. Look out for the Kloss gibbon, pig-tailed langur and the Mentawi langur. Time permitting there will be the opportunity to snorkel over the island’s fringing coral reefs. Day 12 - Padang for Bukittinggi. From the port of Padang we will head inland to Bukittinggi, home to the Mingangkabau culture. The architecture in the area is also unique as the rooflines are shaped like a buffalos horns. We will have lunch in a local restaurant before an afternoon visit to Sianok Canyon, the Japanese Caves built in WWII, before returning to the ship. Day 13 - Bengkulu. We now reach the southern half of the island and the city of Bengkulu. The British East India Company established a garrison here in 1685 and stayed until 1824 when the Dutch took over. After a drive around the city whose original wealth was based on pepper we drive up into the hills above the city in search of the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. Day 14 - Pulau Krakatoa. This afternoon we sail into the Suna strait and the island of Krakatoa. We will use our Zodiacs to cruise around Anak Krakatau and if time permits will land on Rakata for snorkelling on the coral reef. Day 15 - Ujung Kulon National Park, Java. Just a few miles separates Sumatra from the island of Java. We will land at the far western tip of Java for a morning of exploration in the Ujung Kulon National Park which is a World Heritage Site. It is a stunningly beautiful area and contains the largest remaining area of lowland rain forest on the Java Plain. It is a wonderful area for bird watching. Day 16 – Jakarta. After breakfast, enjoy a full day exploring the rapidly growing exotic capital of Indonesia. Wander the narrow Borobudur, Semerang Malacca streets of the Old City, which resembles a typical Dutch town with colonial architecture and its own network of canals. Visit the National Museum of Indonesia, showcasing sixteen centuries of history, explore Masjid Istiqlal, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and venture to the Upper City to shop for treasures in one of the city’s great shopping malls. Sail this evening along the north Java coast. Day 17 - Cirebon. This morning we visit the Cirebon Palaces, the only 16th century Jawanese city kingdoms, complete with palaces Kanonam and Kasepuhan, and a royal family which has survived the times. We will see local dance performances before touring the palace museum with royal carriages, weaponry, masks and artwork and the Sunyaragi royal baths. Day 18 - Semarang. Sailing along the north coast of Java we reach Semarang, the nearest point for our day long excursion to the UNESCO site of Borobudur. This is one of the world’s truly great ancient monuments and the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on earth. The site consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with no less than 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues of various types. We will enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant before returning to the ship. Day 19 - At sea. Komodo Dragon Gunung Sinabung Volcano Day 20 - Probolinggo. Today we reach eastern Java and from Probolinggo visit Mount Bromo National park. We will leave the ship early to make our way towards the active volcano, Mt Bromo, driving through the awe inspiring surrounding landscapes. For the energetic there will be the opportunity to climb to the rim. We will enjoy a local lunch before returning to the ship and sailing in the late afternoon. Day 21 - Moyo. This afternoon finds us anchored off the lovely island of Moyo, a nature reserve with wild oxen deer, wild boars and a great variety of bird species. If conditions allow there will be the opportunity to snorkel and explore by Zodiac. Day 22 - Rinca Island, Komodo. This morning we arrive at the small Indonesian island of Rinca. The +44 (0)20 7752 0000 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
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