Rare Species, Remote Cultures & Remarkable Corals with Nicole, Coral Specialist

Visit Dodinga Village, a pivotal place in scientific history, where the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace first came up with the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.

Visit the Guraici Archipelago, a chain of islands with white sandy beaches and vibrant coral reefs, where we will spend time snorkelling, swimming, and also visit one of the villages to meet the local people. The islands are part of a government-controlled conservation area, designed to protect the reefs and the many beautiful marine species that live there.

It may also be possible to see manta rays here, and these protected waters also provide the perfect location for beginner or rusty snorkellers to become familiar with the water and to hone their skills for the many days of snorkelling that lie ahead.

Explore the deep forest and rivers of Bacan Island, where Wallace first saw what he called ‘the most beautiful butterfly in the world, the Golden Birdwing. During our trek, the other species that we might see here include cuscus, hornbills, and other birds, and maybe even an encounter with the black-crested macaque.

Snorkel on some spectacular coral reefs and visit a local hot spring where we encourage you take a warm dip.

Visit Belang Belang Island, which offers fantastic snorkelling both on the reefs and the mangroves, which act as a nursery to many marine species, including baby sharks and many kinds of school fish. We will explore the huge inland lagoon, which we can explore from the boat tender. The island is home to healthy populations of birds, including parrots, tree swifts, imperial pigeons, and many more.

Time for snorkelling, culture, and history as we find ourselves in the middle of the Banda Sea in the remote and breathtaking Sulu Archipelago, where the reefs are teeming with fish and other marine life. True to the desert island locales, we will also kayak, paddle, swim, explore, and relax on the white-sand beaches.

Visit a local village market and see the ruins of a 17th-century Dutch fort, which once protected the spice trade along these routes. We will be treated to a traditional dance known as the ‘cakalale’, by local warriors. We will also have a chance to explore the local village and meet the people of this remote region.

Enjoy a beach BBQ for us, and they will regale us with traditional Indonesian folk songs and sea shanties as we party by firelight late into the night.

The Bokan Islands are an area of unsurpassed beauty, and today will be a day of marine exploration and relaxation. We also have the rare privilege to swim in a small marine lake filled with stingless jellyfish, one of only 20 lakes of its kind in the world.

We will visit the bustling Indonesian island port town of Banggai, where we will visit the local market, the sultan’s palace, and the Maleo bird egg ‘museum’, and all from our fleet of brightly-coloured motor rickshaws, which will be on the dock awaiting our arrival.

We will pay a hands-on visit to LINI, an NGO doing great work with coral restoration on the surrounding reefs, in addition to working with local fishermen in finding sustainable solutions for supplying fish for overseas markets and the live aquarium fishing trade.

Today you will have the chance to see possibly one of the strangest and most unique flightless birds found in the world – the Maleo. We visit a conservation project on the mainland where scores of Maleo live and breed. Entering in twos, we can watch them at their sandy nesting sites from a camouflaged hide as they go about their business.

We visit the Togean Islands National Park for some island hopping and spectacular snorkelling, wildlife, and culture. – Today will be your first encounter with the Bajau sea gypsies of Southeast Asia and their famous patriarch ‘Jago’, a people with a unique way of living with the sea. About 2,500 people live in this small village, and we will be welcomed into their world to meet and talk with them about their lives.

Some great wildlife experiences await both in the water and the air, with birds, fish, Babirusa (Indonesia’s rare native pig), and invertebrates as the main features. We will enjoy a snorkel on the lush reefs near the island of Malenge, before taking our snorkels and masks for a rare second swim with stingless jellyfish.

We will visit a local village and meet the people, and enjoy a late afternoon walk in the forest before being witness to a most amazing show of nature as flocks of hornbills come flying in to roost in the trees – a once-in-a-lifetime sight only accessible with SeaTrek.

After an overnight crossing from Togean, we start the day with an early morning swim with whale sharks that congregate just off the coast at a small village in North Sulawesi. Swimming with these gentle giants is one of life’s highlights and is not to be missed.

Visit Tangkoko National Park for a trek through the forest, a haven for many rare and endemic wildlife species, including spectral tarsiers, black-crested macaque, cuscus, and a wide variety of birds. This is where Wallace did a lot of his collecting, and we will visit a statue that celebrates this great man.

After a final swim and snorkel on the beach and then a short sail into Bitung Harbour, we will say a fond farewell to our crew and tour leaders and head to Manado City for your onward flights.

Whether it’s swimming with whale sharks & mantas rays, or leisurely gliding along a stunning tropical reef surrounded by myriad fish and corals, snorkelling lies at the very heart of what we do at SeaTrek. We do it well and we do it often – usually twice a day for an hour or more at a time. No matter if you are a novice or a seasoned pro, our tour leaders will ensure that you have everything you need to have some of the best underwater experiences of your life.