Komodo National Park - Indonesia

This morning the imposing figure of Rinca Island looms large in front of us. Rinca is home to the legendary Komodo Dragons. We take an early morning walk on the island where we have an opportunity to come face to face with these giant lizards. The island’s interiors consist mostly of dry forests, where you can also encounter other animals such as water buffaloes, birds, pigs, and deer.

After visiting Rinca Island, we set off on our first swim of the day along its northern coastline, where visibility is excellent. In some places the reef hugs the shoreline and in other spots we are brought out to the middle of the bay. After a break for lunch, we take the boat across for a swim along the south coast of Pulau Serai Island followed by a short crossing back to Rinca. The swimming here is fantastic in this protected location, populated with a variety of wonderful marine life that exists in this area, with manta rays often spotted here. In the evening we head to Kalong Island for one of the most memorable non-swimming highlights of the trip as we bear witness to thousands of flying foxes ascending into the night sky to gather breakfast on surrounding islands.

Today we visit the smallest of the archipelago’s main islands, Padar. This small island features an unusual, natural pink beach which gets its colour from red coral fragments. We begin the day by swimming between 3 islets in southern Padar where the swimming is potentially challenging as we use the tide to cover greater distances across the bays of the islets.

After lunch on board our vessel, we travel by boat to southern Padar and carry out a stunning coastal swim along the island’s southern coastline. We end our swim at the bay where we’ll begin our walk up to one of the high points of Padar which affords superb views of the Komodo National Park. The view at sunset is one of the most iconic scenes across the Indonesian islands.

From Padar Island we head north to the Gili Lawa Islands, which lie northeast of Komodo island. Here we attempt a double crossing as we head out from Komodo and then hop to the two islands of Laut and Darat.

After lunch on board we head to Laut’s north coast and swim along the dive site of Crystal Bommie, which has colourful soft corals and schools of various fish; such varied sea life here make for superb swimming! Later in the afternoon, we walk up the hill at Gili Lawa Darat which offers stunning views of the day’s swims as well as the Komodo Strait. After arriving back on our boat, we’ll head in a westerly direction to the submerged volcano of Gili Banta.

Before breakfast you’ll have the chance to snorkel in the waters just off Gili Banta, which is an ancient, uninhabited and slightly submerged volcano. The first swim of the day is along the crater rim, which is home to a wide variety of sea life including devilfish, lionfish and turtles. The drop off below us is an impressive sight and is one of the undoubted highlights of the week.

Staying within the crater for our second swim, we head further west along the rim and use the local currents which form within this area to our benefit, allowing us to cover a greater distance around Gili Banta.

Today we swim between the five islands of Sebayur Besar, Sebayur Kecil, Suleman, Satonda and Mesa. The swim features a mix of reef, rocks and sand below us as we cross between Sebayur Besar, Sebayur Kecil, and Suleman. There is a diverse range of sea life in this area which makes for truly spectacular swimming within the coral gardens that surround these islands.

After lunch on our liveaboard, its back into the water to continue our island hopping. Our crossings will take us to Satonda and will finish in Mesa, where we have clear views across to the island of Flores. At the end of our two swims here, we weigh anchor and head closer to the Flores shore where we’ll spend a final night looking back on an incredible week of swims.

There is time for a short early morning swim before our last breakfast together and a debrief about the trip before we depart our vessel.

Komodo National Park

Located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, the Komodo National Park is in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago. The park was established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its natural habitat.

The park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977, expanding its protection to both the terrestrial and marine environment and an indicator of the park's diversity of reef-building corals, sponges and reef fish. The park is also home to dugongs, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles.

Padar

Padar Island is the third largest island of the Komodo National Park, after Komodo and Rinca. We visit this uninhabited island to trek its rugged volcanic peak; the summit of which can be reached in only 20 minutes, but is worth taking the time to enjoy the views this high point affords.

Sangeang

Sangeang, which lies between Komodo and Sumbawa islands, is an active volcano whose steep, conical slopes extend up to a nearly 2,000m peak and flows of lava are sometimes visible on its sides. Black volcanic sand lines its shores, a stark difference to many of the other islands we will swim around.

Equipment Checklist

In addition to your daily non-swimming clothes, we also recommend that you bring the following items:

*Try to bring one clear lens and one tinted lens for different light conditions.

**A towel will be provided on board, however, please feel free to bring your own along, if preferred.

***A scanned copy of the photo page of your passport will be required by local authorities

SwimTrek will supply swim hats, water and electrolyte drinks. The guides will no longer distribute shared drinks bottles, but rather will fill up each individual guest’s personal drink bottle. Please ensure these are clearly marked to help our guides identify yours. If you would like to use a wetsuit, rash vest, snorkel or fins during your swims, please ensure that you bring these with you. For more on our Updated Packing List check out our Covid-19 guidance.

Suncare

Please ensure you take the necessary steps to ensure you are well protected. High factor, waterproof sun cream, cover ups, long sleeved rash vests and leggings and a good sun hat are all strongly recommended.

Scuba Diving

During our time on board M/Y Oceanic, we have a qualified dive guide travelling with us at all times. For non-qualified divers wishing to dive during the trip, there is a charge of €20 per person per dive, plus equipment hire, and is payable locally in cash. Prices for dives and equipment hire for qualified divers are available on request. A medical form and liability waiver will need to be signed prior to diving.

We have given this trip a ‘Moderate’ grading. Most swimmers comfortable in the open water will be able to take part and enjoy one of these trips.

Swimming Distances

Swimming Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience but you need to be aware that marine life is abundant in the coral waters of the Indonesian archipelago. When swimming in the Coral Triangle, you should be aware that certain marine life such as stonefish, scorpionfish, rays, jellyfish, sharks, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In the areas that we swim, there is a long history of snorkelling/swimming, so sea life is used to human interaction. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however, if you suffer from anaphylaxis please consult the office prior to booking.

Temperatures

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only. Water temperature can get up to 28ºC but in some areas, such as south Komodo, the temperature can drop to as low as 22-24ºC.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. As a consequence, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible.

Group Size and Boat Support

This trip has a maximum group size of 12. The trip will be split into a maximum of two groups based on speed, each of which is accompanied by own safety support vessel/escort. Boat support on this trip includes two support boats piloted by your crew and SwimTrek guides. Please note that this boat support is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed.

Your liveaboard boat will sail from, and return to, the port in Labuan Bajo.

The easiest option is to fly into Denpasar International Airport and then catch a connecting flight to Labuan Bajo. There are also direct flights from Jakarta.

While we have outlined various travel options below, they are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. We suggest that you use Skyscanner to search for alternative flight options for this trip. Whichever route you choose to take, we recommend confirming your flights and other travel arrangements as early as possible in order to avoid price rises and availability issues.

Flights to Denpasar

To search for available flights into Denpasar International Airport on the Indonesian island of Bali, please visit Skyscanner. Please note that, due to long journey times to Denpasar and connecting flight schedules to Labuan Bajo, we recommend that guests book at least one night’s accommodation in Denpasar.

Flights from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo Airport

From Denpasar, there are a number of airlines which fly to and from Labuan Bajo Airport (LBJ), including Lion Air (also known as Wings Air) and Garuda Indonesia. Please note that luggage allowances on these airlines is often limited, so please ensure that you book an adequate amount for your trip.

To search for available flights from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, please visit Skyscanner.

Transfer from Airport/Hotel to M/Y Oceanic

Transfers from the airport or a local hotel to our liveaboard vessel on Day 1 of the trip are included in the trip price for all guests. For guests who arrive on Day 1 of the trip, you will be met in the arrival area by one of our local representatives and transferred directly to your home for the week on board the M/Y Oceanic. If you arrive prior to the trip start time of 12:00, you will be able to leave your bags on board the boat while you spend some time exploring the local area prior to meeting your guides and fellow guests.

For guests who arrive prior to Day 1, you will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to the liveaboard M/Y Oceanic on the first morning of your trip. The exact time of your transfer will be available from your hotel reception the day prior to pick-up.

IMPORTANT: All guests must provide the SwimTrek office with their arrival details, including flight number and arrival time, as well as any pre-trip accommodation plans, at least two weeks prior to the start of their trip, so that we can arrange the necessary transfers.

Return Transfers

Return transfers from M/Y Oceanic to the airport or local hotel are also included in the trip price. Please note that these transfers are available on the morning of Day 7 of your trip and will be arranged on location in order to group guests together, where applicable.

Accommodation

Our accommodation over the course of your trip is aboard the motoryacht Oceanic. This beautiful vessel features six guest cabins with en suite facilities and air conditioning, as well as ample deck space to relax between swims or enjoy the meals that are prepared by our very own on board chef. The crew on board also includes our captain and a qualified dive instructor at all times.

Due to the limited number of cabins on the boat, there is only one single supplement available on each departure, which may be booked very early. If the single supplement is still available for the departure that you are interested in booking, it will be available to select during the booking process. Please also note that bed preferences cannot be guaranteed and will be finalised upon arrival on the yacht at the start of your trip.

Meals

All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on your trip are included as part of your package and are prepared on the M/Y Oceanic by our very own onboard chef.

Mineral water, juice, tea and coffee are also included in the price of your holiday. Beer and soft drinks are available to be purchased on board and are charged locally at the end of your trip. All other alcoholic drinks, including wine and spirits, can be bought at Duty Free and brought on board at the start of your trip.

Extra Expenses

You should bring extra money with you to cover such items as meals, drinks, entertainment, souvenirs, etc. whilst ashore prior to and after your liveaboard SwimTrek. The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah, however, Euros and US dollars are also widely accepted. Please note that onboard extras can be paid in cash ONLY.

For optional tipping of crew members, we suggest that an additional €35-50 per guest is budgeted.

Passports and Visas

Non-residents of Indonesia require a full passport to enter the country, which should be valid for six months beyond the expected length of stay. They must also have proof (tickets) of onward travel or return passage.

Visitors from many countries, including the UK, all EU member states, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, are automatically granted a free tourist visa upon arrival in Indonesia which is valid for up to 30 days and cannot be extended or transferred into any other type of stay permit. For further information and a full list of countries which are eligible for visa-free travel to Indonesia, please visit the Indonesian Immigration website. Please note that all visa regulations are subject to change and we advise that you check your own visa requirements prior to travel.

Health Information and Recommended Vaccinations

For comprehensive health information for people travelling to Indonesia, including all recommended and required vaccinations, please visit Travel Health Pro. Please note that this information is subject to change and you should re-check this site regularly prior to your trip.

Travel Plugs and Electricity

Please note that electricity on board the M/Y Oceanic is 220v and all sockets and plugs are two round pins (i.e. EU standard). For a useful source of information on the different electrical outlets, electrical plugs, and electric sockets, please visit worldstandards.eu/.