Arrival at Denpasar airport. A transfer bus is waiting to take you to your hotel at a small coastal town. After a welcome cocktail, you have  time to recover from your long flight and to receive a suitable bicycle. In the evening, a communal dinner at the hotel pool awaits you. Overnight at the hotel.

This day is at your free disposal. After the long flight, you now have plenty of time to relax at the hotel pool or to swim in the Blue Lagoon, reached within a five-minute-walk, or go snorkeling to discover the wonderful underwater world. The adventurous, however, now have the possibility to go on a 4-hour-tour to the so-called Mother Temple Pura Besakih. The extensive complex consists of 23 temples, the largest and most impressive of which is the Pura Penatran Agung Temple built on a terraced slope on six different levels.

You leave Bali early in the morning by ferry heading for Lombok Island, whose Rinjani Range is impressive even from afar. After approximately 5 hours, you reach the harbour of Lembar. Here begins the first bike tour, during which you get to know traditional Lombak. Late in the afternoon, you reach Senggigi, where you spend the night in a hotel located directly on the beach and where you can watch a beautiful sunset with a view of Bali and the Agung Volcano.

After breakfast, today’s bicycle tour takes you along Lombok’s coastal cliffs with their gleaming white beaches and bays, coconut palm trees and traditional fishing villages. Already from afar, the three Gili Islands are visible in the glittering ocean. Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawagan are small sand islands washed by the Java Sea, they protrude only a few meters above sea level.  A small boat takes you to Gili Trawagan, a dream of a South Sea island that for the rest of the day lets you forget the rest of the world. Do whatever feels good- swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing.

Saying goodbye to the Gili Islands is not easy. You return by boat to Lombok, where a long bike tour is scheduled for today. The first stretch takes you on level paths through vibrant green rice fields and peanut plantations. Then you reach the mountainous surroundings of the almost 4.000 m-high Rinjani Volcano. At the foot of Indonesia’s second-highest vulcano the Rinjani National Park is located, where you spend the night in a camp. From there, you have a fantastic view of the surrounding rice terraces, and with a bit of luck you see a glorious sunset.

On today’s extensive hike, you discover the Rinjani National Park and the huge Tiu Kelep waterfall. You should not pass up a bath under this waterfall, because this is surely one of the highlights of the tour. The route back to the camps takes you through more terraced rice fields. In the afternoon, you can swim in the camp pool and in the evening end the exciting day with a relaxing barbeque.

In the morning, you bicycle at first for a stretch downhill through traditional villages, where you get a first hand glimps of local life. You continue by bus to the highlands of Sembalun, from where you cross once again by bike the impressive mountainous landscape. The 30-km-long descent takes you through lush rainforest, bamboo jungle, banana plantations and rice fields as far as the ocean. After a stopover at the colourful market of Pringgabaya, you reach the port of Labuhan Lombok, where the Moana, your floating home for the next six days, is already waiting for you. After moving into your cabins, a communal dinner is served on board. During the night, the ship sets sail.

In the morning, your ship reaches Lubuan Haji on Pulau Moyo, a small island off the coast of Sumbawas which, on account of its rich coral and fishing grounds, has largely been protected as a nature reserve for the last 30 years. You go on a short bike tour that takes you to the waterfall which, quite rightly, is considered the jewel of the island. Along the way, you come across a small stream that traverses the island. Aside from giant trees hung with lianas, you also see monkeys, water buffaloes, insects and reptiles. You have enough time afterwards to go snorkelling – the island’s amazing underwater world belongs to the finest that Indonesia has to offer. The Moana then takes you to the uninhabited island of Satonda.

The small island of Satonda is the tip of a submerged volcano and often visited by the locals because of its alleged magical power. The crater of the volcano is now covered by rain forest with a salt lake in the centre. The local visitors attach pieces of coral and stones to the trees near the crater lake, believing that if they fall into the water, their wishes will come true. A fabulous coral reef lies off shore, an invitation to go snorkelling prior to a beautiful cruise offering an amazing view of the Tambora Volcano on Sumbawa. Its eruption in 1815 became part of world history because it supposedly was one of the largest eruption mankind had experienced. The explosion could be heard even in Sumatra, 2000 km away.

Sumbawa Island belongs to the small Sunda Islands. Today, you explore the eastern part of the island. Cycling partially along a coastal panorama road and partially on dirt paths, you reach isolated villages built on stilts and meet their extremely friendly and curious inhabitants. Along the way, many beautiful beaches in remote bays invite you to have a refreshing dip in the sea. In the evening, your return to the ship anchored near Bima.

Once more, you explore Sumbawa by bike and on the way enjoy the view of the almost 2.000 m high cone of the Api volcano. In the distance the outline of Banta, the „turtle island“, is already visible. On this bike trip, the last of the tour, you have again many opportunities to go swimming. Early in the afternoon, you return to the boat which brings you after a lengthy crossing to Komodo, the „dragon-island“, where you anchor for the night in a bay.

Today, the whole morning is dedicated to the breathtaking underwater world of Komodo’s coast, which you can explore swimming or snorkelling. As an alternative, you can walk up a small hill on Lawadarat Island, which offers a fantastic view of the surrounding islands. After lunch, another fairly long crossing takes you to the Komodo National Park, where you anchor in Loh Buaya.

After breakfast, a ranger takes you on a 2-hour-walk through the National Park, the habitat of the famous Komodo-Lizards. With a length of up to 3 m and a weight of 100 kg, they are the largest lizards of the world. Watching these dragon-like animals is certainly one of the highlights of this tour. Back on board, the journey continues to the island of Flores. Now it is already time to say farewell to the Moana and its crew. A transfer bus picks you up at the port and takes you to Labuan Baja, where you spend the night at a hotel.

In the morning, you fly from Flores back to Bali, which takes about 90 minutes. A transfer bus is waiting to take you to the Bali Agung Hotel. You have the afternoon at your disposal, and after the eventful days of travelling, you now have time to catch your breath.

This day, too, is at your free disposal. You can relax at the hotel or go on a shopping spree. Alternatively, you can make a day-excursion to the artists’ town of Ubud. Ubud is the cultural centre of Bali, the main attractions are the Puri Saren Palace and the Sacred Woods of the Monkeys, where more than 200 monkeys live. But Ubud is also the artistic centre of Bali, where traditional crafts, such as wood carving, painting and textile arts, are being kept alive.

After a free morning, you are taken to Denpasar airport for your flight home. Alternatively, it is also possible, of course, to extend your vacation on Bali.

Alterations
On account of unpredictable wind and weather conditions as well as organisational necessities, we reserve the right to makes changes in the itinerary. Sometimes the tour will be accomplished in reversed order.

Fitness Requirements (Level 2)
The cycle tours require a certain degree of physical fitness, which occasional or ordinary bikers should acquire before the tour. The day-tours of 30 km on average run partially through level terrain but also through hilly and mountainous regions and are undertaken without time pressure.  Generally, the routes run on asphalt roads but good dirt paths are used as well. Helmets are obligatory on all bike routes.

Children
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and with previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.40 m (4.6 ft.)

Hotels/Camps
On Bali, Lombok, Gili Trawagan and Flores, you spend the night in very good hotels (at least 3 stars). On Lombok, you spend two nights at a bungalow-tent-camp.

Catering
Included in the tour price is breakfast and on some days one or two hot meals traditional of the country or region. The tour itinerary gives you the precise information on which meals are supplied: B = breakfast, L = lunch; D = dinner. If you wish, your tour guide can accompany you to eat out for those meals that are not included and will gladly help you in selecting dishes. While travelling on the Moana, you receive full-board.

Participants

• Maximum 10 participants