Join this 12 Day Tour of the Extraordinary Alor Archipelago on a Beautiful New Yacht
July 6-17, 2026
This extraordinary Hidden Gem Alor liveaboard snorkeling trip tours the incomparable Alor Archipelago in southern Indonesia. The infrequency of snorkelers and divers visiting this isolated region has kept its reefs in absolutely stunning condition. The reefs are vibrant, colorful, diverse and full of interesting sea life. This is one of our favorite snorkeling destinations in the world!
As you float over fields of pristine corals you are also likely to encounter a huge variety of fish, big and small, with endless opportunities to find some of the ocean’s most interesting critters like nudibranchs, octopus, and a variety of scorpionfish. Pods of dolphins riding the bow wave are almost guaranteed and the chances of spotting several different species of whale from the boat are very good.
Your home for this trip will be the brand new Naga Biru liveaboard, which is due to be completed in the first half of 2025. It will sport all the luxuries and amenities of a comfortable resort, and serve as a functional base for your exhilarating snorkeling sessions. There are seven cabins which hold a total of 12 guests plus your guide. Note that all of the images are computer rendered, as the boat is still under construction.
Although the liveaboard is brand new, the owners and managers of this liveaboard are well known to our trip partner who has organized this adventure. The owners are extremely experienced with the reefs around Alor, and in guiding fantastic trips for snorkeling groups.
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.
The Hidden Gem Alor Liveaboard Snorkeling Trip Itinerary and Map
Within the famous Coral Triangle, the Alor archipelago is in southern Indonesia.
This snorkeling trip begins when you arrive at the Jakarta Airport. You will check into a comfortable hotel and meet your tour leader and fellow snorkelers at a welcome dinner.
Later, you will check out and catch an early morning flight to Alor, via Kupang. Once you arrive you will be met by staff from the Naga Biru liveaboard, and transferred by car to the port in Kalabahi, where you will board the yacht.
You will have 10 nights aboard the yacht, where you will explore the islands of the Alor Archipelago, snorkeling at many places in these beautiful islands.
At the end of your journey, you will disembark the yacht in Kalabahi. Then you will be transferred back the the airport for your final flight back to Jakarta, where the tour ends.
What Will the Snorkeling Be Like on This Safari?
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.
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 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.
What Will the Naga Biru Liveaboard Be Like?
Naga Biru is a 35 meter wooden liveaboard purpose-built for snorkeling and diving. She has been exclusively chartered for this snorkeler-only adventure. She is a very comfortable and safe ship for exploring the remote regions of Indonesia.
She comfortably holds 13 guests in her seven elegantly designed cabins that can accommodate a variety of sleeping arrangements. With five distinct cabin types, Naga Biru Liveaboard ensures every guest finds their ideal space. Each cabin is equipped with essential comforts, including en suite bathrooms, USB charging ports, writing desks, and high-quality amenities.
There are two Grand Deluxe Cabins on the Upper Deck that have private terraces. These can be made up with two twin beds or one double. The small single cabin on the Upper Deck will be used by your guide from Ben’s team.
There are two Deluxe Cabins on the Main Deck; each has a private balcony. These rooms can have either two twin beds or one double.
On the Lower Deck there is one Superior Cabin which can be made up with two twin beds or one double.
Also on the Lower Deck there is an Economy Double Cabin, which has one double bed and can be booked by a single occupant.
The vessel is equipped with a central lounge area on the Main Deck, where you can relax on the wrap-around sofa and enjoy delicious meals around the large dining table. They can accommodate a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and certain allergies. Please give advance notice of your needs. The Naga Biru also offers plenty of outdoor space to take in all the sights from the comfortable lounging areas and bar.
For those traveling with cameras, the boat offers a dedicated camera room, also on the Main Deck, to organize and store your camera gear in between snorkels.
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:
July 6-17, 2026 – Available.
Trip Price:
Grand Deluxe Cabin (Upper Deck): $6950 US per person sharing
Deluxe Cabin (Main Deck): $6450 US per person sharing
Superior Cabin (Lower Deck): $5950 US per person sharing
Economy Double Cabin (Lower Deck): $5500 US per person sharing or Single occupant $7950 US – first come first served
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 Jakarta hotel with group dinner
- Round trip domestic flights, transfers, and connections (Jakarta – Alor – Jakarta) with 20kg/44lbs checked baggage
- 10 nights accommodation and full board (all meals) on the Naga Biru Liveaboard
- Drinking water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee
- 3-4 guided snorkel sessions per day
- A guide from Ben’s team
- Marine park and port fees
- Snorkeling equipment rental
Exclusions:
- International flights and visas
- Tips
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Health insurance (compulsory)
- Alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, laundry and general sundries
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.