SILVER - Cruise 2 days and 1 night
Day 1: Labuan Bajo - Kelor - Menjerite / Rinca - Kalong
Kelor Island is a tiny not-to-miss destination in Komodo National Park, located in front of the picturesque hills of Flores. After a short 15 minute hike, the panoramic view from the top towards Flores, Rinca Island, and other smaller islands of Komodo Park, is simply breathtaking. One can often spot honeymooners and young couples eager for that Instagram-perfect shot atop of Kelor
Island.
Other highlights of Kelor Island include the two beautiful and tempting beaches, ideal for lazing around and snorkelling after the hike. Kelor Island also allows snorkelling directly from the beach. Local boats usually line along the east coast, and children can be seen playing and snorkelling joyfully in the water along the west side of Kelor Island. As everywhere in Komodo, Kelor’s underwater landscape is rich with marine life.
Menjerite Island, known for its crystal-clear waters and colour coral underwater. Blessed with a sublime view, the island is famous for its long wooden bridge over the waters overlooking a stunning view of the lush green trees of hills surrounding it.
Enjoy an afternoon coffee/tea while sailing to Kalong Island to watch the sunset and the stunning views of thousands of flying foxes
Kalong Island – or commonly known as Koaba Island by the locals, meaning big bats or flying foxes – is a beautiful island tucked away from the northern part of Rinca Island. The island is covered in mangrove plantations, hosting thousands of flying foxes that live in the trees during the daytime to protect them from the heat of Komodo’s sun. As the day passes, these creatures can be heard waking up and communicating at around six in the evening. And moments later, be ready to watch in awe as they take off, fanning out in an endless black line over the delicate sunsets of Komodo National Park.
This nightly occurrence as dusk approaches is where the bats take the skies to hunt on the nearby Flores Island, returning only in the early morning. Don’t expect a sudden burst of the bat. Instead, they appear in waves, making it possible to track these flying mammals individually across the orange-streaked sky. If you’re lucky, you also might glimpse dolphins frolicking in the waters while you’re waiting for the aerial show to start. Not surprisingly, Kalong Island became a popular tourist stop when going on a Rinca Island tour. It is common to anchor next to Kalong Island on the way back to Labuan Bajo. It makes for a spectacular sight to see bats flying above dense mangrove forests, in the backdrop of the sunlight
Day 2: Manta Point - Siaba Besar - Labuan Bajo
Stopping by at Manta Point where you might have a good chance to swim with the Manta Rays
This diving haven holds strong currents that attract mysterious manta rays in large numbers. Thousands flock to Taka Makassar’s surrounding reef year long to experience an intimate encounter with gentle manta rays. Thus, making Taka Makassar a real diving paradise for manta lovers. You do not have to go deep to take in the beauty of the underwater world here.
Ten meters is all it takes for you to reach the sandy bottom of Manta Point. At all times, be ready to meet the gentle creatures in their natural habitat. The base of Taka Makassar Manta Point is filled with plankton, attracting the manta rays to come for feeding and cleaning. Not surprisingly, the trip to Taka Makassar will not be complete until you encounter the only real star of the area – the manta rays. These gentle creatures are known to be harmless and pretty intelligent. Give them some time, and you will find that soon enough, many curious creatures will start to swim closer to you. It is a fascinating experience when you come across a group of 30 or more manta rays simultaneously. The more commonly sighted species in the waters of Taka Makassar is the Reef Manta.
Admire the underwater beauty of Siaba Island, our last destination of the day.
Siaba Islands is home to fascinating snorkelling spots spread among two main islands known as Siaba Besar and Siaba Kecil in the local language. Both Siaba Islands guarantee superlative snorkelling among sea turtles, which gave it a nickname – Turtle City. Besides vibrant marine life and coral reefs, the Siaba Islands duo is a pretty stop among dozens of nearby islands within Komodo National Park. You will admire idyllic, sheltered bays with calm waters along the coastal reefs. The reef around Siaba Island is 4-6 meters deep with healthy corals and sand patches around. Siaba is one of the best places to start diving in Komodo Park and will suit everyone. You’ll witness a ton of colourful fish schooling around corals, including the captivating sea turtles.
Siaba Besar is a snorkelling haven for beginner snorkelers. A great place to start is on the north-west side of Siaba Besar, where
snorkelers can experience the beauty of a magnificent lettuce coral garden. Residents include harmless whitetip sharks, eagle rays, and blue-spotted stingrays. Further down, another attraction known as the Turtle City emerges where a large population of green turtles can be found. Snorkelers will be left amused by the gentle creatures going about their daily lives in this spot. Away from the Turtle City, there is a vast sandy area, promising terrific muck dives. Some of the rarest creatures are residents, including the leafy scorpionfish, spiny devilfish, and the less-sighted flamboyant cuttlefish.
Siaba Kecil, on the contrary, is where currents can prove to be stronger, but its topography is sure to amaze with sloping reefs rich in corals and sponges make up the tiny island. The focal part of the exploration of Siaba Kecil is encountering small invertebrates and nudibranchs alongside bigger fish such as sharks and huge schools of trevallies and snappers. Sea turtles are in abundance there, too. The end of the drift full of beautiful coral gardens – both snorkelers and macro divers alike will be equally happy on Siaba Islands.