Join This Unique 13 Day Journey Exploring Two Abundant Areas of Southern Indonesia
April 25 – May 7, 2027
We are thrilled to share with you this spectacular Alor and Komodo liveaboard snorkeling trip opportunity. These locations are both in southern Indonesia and the Coral Triangle, which is the epicenter of marine biodiversity in the world. We have snorkeled both of these destinations and found that they offer some of the finest snorkeling to be found anywhere! This itinerary is unique, only being offered once in 2027.
Your home for this trip will be the award-winning 158 foot Coralia liveaboard. It has all the luxuries and amenities of a comfortable resort, and will serve as a functional base for your breathtaking snorkeling sessions. We have taken a tour aboard the Coralia and can vouch for the high quality of the accommodation, food, and crew.
You are almost sure to see manta rays, turtles and reef sharks, and have the chance of seeing a mola mola. Rare critter life like frogfish can be spotted, along with endless fields of brightly colored corals and the schools of fish that surround them. You will explore a vast variety of underwater terrains and ecosystems, from anemone fields and fringing reefs, to coral encrusted walls that drop off into the blue deep.
The yacht is chartered exclusively for the use of your group of 15 snorkelers. This trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based in the U.K., they are experts in the Coral Triangle, run amazing excursions, and have a great appreciation for the underwater world.
Watch This Video for a Quick Preview of This Trip
Alor and Komodo Liveaboard Snorkeling Trip Itinerary and Map
Within the famous Coral Triangle, this tour will explore the Alor Archipelago and Komodo National Park in southern Indonesia.
After your international flight into Bali International Airport (DPS), you will check into a comfortable hotel to relax and recover from your long journey. There will be a group dinner to welcome and introduce everyone.
The next morning you will meet your group for breakfast, then check out and take your flight to Maumere on the island of Flores. At the Maumere airport, you will be met by staff from the Coralia liveaboard, and transferred by car to the port, where you will board the yacht.
You will have 11 nights aboard the yacht, from which you will explore the Alor Archipelago to the east and then Komodo National Park to the west of Maumere. At the end of your journey, you will disembark the yacht in Labuan Bajo. Then you will be transferred back to the airport for a group flight to Bali, where the tour ends.
What Will the Snorkeling Be Like on This Safari?
You will be exploring the Alor Archipelago, Lembata, and Komodo National Park. The beauty of a liveaboard is that the itinerary can change to experience the best weather and water conditions, and the best times for viewing marine life. So while there is a route on the map above, the order of things and specific spots will be based on current conditions.
You will board smaller tender boats, which will take you to the shallow snorkeling sites. There will be three snorkeling sessions offered per day, along with several night or sunset snorkels.
Snorkeling in Alor
Most of Alor’s great snorkeling spots are in the Pantar Strait, the waterway between the islands of Alor and Pantar. Some of the small islands in the strait offer wonderful snorkeling, like Ternate, Pura, and Treweng, but there are many great spots on Alor and Pantar as well. Spots of note are Bakalang Jetty, Great Wall (Pantar), Cathedral, and Beang Abang.
Alor is very remote, and very few tourists visit the area. That, combined with a lack of destructive fishing practices, means that the reefs are exceptional, unspoiled, and full of unique life. The other reason the reefs are so healthy and full of unique life is that Alor has strong currents, that flush the area with nutrients.
You will occasionally see traditional fish traps (see picture below) used that are both beautiful and seem to have a low impact on fish populations.
Alor is very special in our hearts for how untouched and diverse the reefs are. While you will see lots of fish, particularly a crazy abundance of smaller reef fish, and larger fish schools of spadefish, fusiliers and jacks, what really stands out for us about Alor is how incredibly diverse the fields and walls of coral life are, and how healthy they are. Every spot we visited seemed like a different ecosystem, with very different colorful corals, sponges and anemones, and the most marine biodiversity we’ve seen.
Also of note about Alor, and probably one of the big reasons the reef is so healthy, is because there is a large tidal range, and with that strong currents in the area. This flushes a lot of water through the reefs, full of nutrients. Because of this, Alor is a place to snorkel with a very experienced guide. Because of the currents our guide would often have us dropped off at one end of a reef, we would drift with the current, and we would be picked up at the other end of the reef by our boat.
Every spot you visit in Alor is very unique, from plateaus of colorful reefs, with clouds of small reef fish, to larger drop-offs, with larger species. Just some of the unique life you can see in Alor are clouds of anthias, frogfish, octopus, nudibranchs, and even seahorses. There are good chances of spotting the weird and very large mola mola! From the boat, you might spot pods of dolphins and melon-headed whales, and it’s even possible to spot blue whales.
On the way to and from the Alor Archipelago, you will snorkel a number of other spots on Lembata Island. On the north side of Lembata is Lewaling Bay. Beneath the scenery of a volcano, the bay offers numerous spots with walls and slopes, where you can see critters small and large and schooling fish.
Snorkeling in Komodo
The islands in Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin with striking rugged hillsides of dry savanna and green thorny vegetation surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches.
Below the surface you can expect truly world class snorkeling. Being in the Coral Triangle, it offers an abundance of marine bio-diversity. You have many opportunities to see larger species in Komodo. There are manta ray cleaning stations scattered throughout the park. It isn’t uncommon to have encounters with large numbers of these majestic creatures, as well as eagle rays. Schooling pelagics, reef sharks, and Giant Trevally also make frequent appearances. And you are very likely to see many large sea turtles tucked into corals for a break, or coming to the surface for air.
Komodo has big tidal ranges, with strong currents, which is one of the reasons the reefs are so healthy. So you will often be led by your guide in a drift snorkel along a reef, or even around a small island, and get picked up in a different spot by the boat.
The snorkeling around Gili Banta, and island in the northwest of Komodo, is also known for its currents, which move nutrients through the area. This creates vibrant coral reefs full of sea life, and attracts large schools of fish, like tuna and jacks, along with big pelagic creatures like sharks, manta rays, mobula rays, and eagle rays.
You will explore a variety of reefs, with expansive coral fields of many types, anemones, sponges, and reef fish galore. This makes the snorkeling suited to a variety of preferences.
Besides the nearly overwhelming number of small reef fish, you will also commonly see Napoleon Wrasse, and schools of jacks, fusiliers, spadefish, and trevally, and many more. Beautiful small nudibranchs are commonly sighted, as are colorful tunicates, and cephalapods like cuttlefish and octopus.
Topside, a tour to see the legendary Komodo Dragons lazing in the warm sunshine is also included.
There are two smaller fiberglass panga style boats that will be used to bring your snorkeling group to different sites, and they will always be watching your group and ready to assist. These smaller boats have ladders to help you get back on board. If you get tired during a snorkel one of those boats can quickly take you back to the mothership.
What Is the Coralia Yacht Like?
Coralia is a beautiful wooden boat built in the traditional way. It is a wonderful home from which you can safely explore the reefs of Indonesia. As you cruise between the islands you will view stunning seascapes and enjoy the company of your snorkeling group.
At 158 feet long, 30 feet wide, and displacing 361 tons, she is a good sized ship with loads of space for enjoying your leisure time and dining, both in and out of the sun. And with as many crew on board as guests you will be very well taken care of.
There is a sundeck on top, and there is an airy upper deck for dining and leisure, with plenty of loungers for taking in a sunrise or sunset with a drink in hand.
There are also air-conditioned lounge and restaurant areas on the main deck to cool down. When available there is free WiFi, but it is spotty, and only for a quick email check.
The Coralia has eight double cabins. Each cabin is air-conditioned, non-smoking, and has a spacious private bathroom with warm freshwater showers, towels, and hairdryer.
Environmentally friendly, natural soap and shower amenities are provided free of charge.
In the cabin itself guests will find cozy beds, a sofa, working desk, and closet. A safety box, regular, and USB charging stations provide further comfort.
There are four luxurious master cabins on the main and upper deck that additionally feature a private balcony, sun chair and outside sofa, where you can indulge in the tropical scenery and never miss a sunrise or sunset.
The deluxe lower cabins have either one double or two twin beds and porthole windows.
The yacht has a cozy air-conditioned restaurant where you will be served traditional Indonesian cuisine as well as international comfort foods and snacks between snorkels. They can accommodate most special diets such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and so on. But, it is a remote destination and specific food items may not be available.
And last but certainly not least, there is a spa on the top deck for massages should you like to relax even more.
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
This is a small group charter and we expect it to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Date:
April 25 – May 7, 2027 – Two double occupancy cabins, one female share space, and one share space available.
Trip Price:
Deluxe Cabin: $9750 US per person (Twin/Double Share)
Master Cabin: $10650 US per person (Twin/Double Share)
The initial deposit for this trip is $800 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $1000 US per person interim deposit, and at six months there is another $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Individual travelers – Ben will happily find someone of the same sex for you to share a room with. If he cannot find you someone, no single supplement surcharge will apply.
Inclusions:
- 1 night accommodation at a Bali hotel with dinner and breakfast
- Round trip domestic flights, transfers, and connections (Bali – Maumere, Labuan Bajo – Bali) with 20kg/44lbs checked baggage
- 11 nights accommodation and full board (all meals) on the Coralia Liveaboard
- 3-4 guided snorkel sessions per day on most days
- Marine park, port fees, and fuel surcharge
- A guide from Ben’s team
Exclusions:
- International flights and visas
- Alcoholic drinks, laundry and general sundries
- Snorkeling equipment rental
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Health insurance (compulsory)
- Spa services
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the organizers and leaders of this trip (more about them below). Galen and Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all signups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben’s team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our experience going on some of his snorkeling trips we found them very well organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides’ years of experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. These are premium trips including nearly everything you will need, accommodation, meals, transportation, and more.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips.