Bali and Sailing the Komodo Islands

Enjoy two full days in Ubud, the cultural and spiritual heart of the island. There are plenty of activities on offer: take a trek through the terraced rice paddies and gain an understanding of rural life. Head to the sacred Monkey Forest where monkeys roam freely and have made their home at the Hindu temple. Or visit the markets where you can shop for locally produced craft from furniture to fashion. 

After breakfast, disembark on Komodo Island and begin the walk - taking around 2km - across the island to Banunggulung, a former feeding site and one of the best places to spot Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. It is estimated that there are around 2,000 dragons on the island, as well as a wide variety of other wildlife such as wild boar, deer and buffalo. The island is also excellent for bird watchers, with cockatoos and gosong birds. Return to your boat for lunch before arriving at Pantai Merah (Pink Beach), named because the red coral on the seabed breaks off with the tidal changes and mixes with the sand, causing it to turn a pale pink colour. Here, jump overboard and snorkel in the clear waters, where you can see an incredible array of parrot fish, clown fish and, if you are lucky other sea creatures, including turtles. There is plenty of time to swim and snorkel here and to relax on the beach before spending the night on the boat.

 Accommodation: MV KETI