Adventure Travel Indonesia: Sailing Expedi­tion

Since this is an adventure and not a tourist cruise, people need to be flexible and tolerant. You must be 18 years old and have sufficient English skills to join this trip. You should be healthy and physically fit enough to hike in the tropical climate. Good swimming skills, an interest in nature conservation and the ability to travel in a group are required. Experience in scuba diving is not necessary. Reasonably fit travellers will be able to take part in most of these terrestrial activities.

You’ll live with a small, close-knit crew on a space-limited ship and should be comfortable with that. It's an upside if you already know that you won't get seasick so quickly. Note: 80% of travel will be done in calm waters.

Before booking, you must inform us of any medical problems and/or dietary restrictions. We can then advise you if the expedition is indeed suitable for you. For some activities, a doctor's approval is required.
You need travel health insurance. Specific medical needs, such as vaccinations and other precautions, must be discussed with your doctor in advance.

You need a passport to enter Indonesia. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your trip. You will also need proof confirming your onward travel to another country, such as a return ticket. You are responsible for checking the latest visa, entry and vaccination requirements for your trip to Indonesia. You can find out about visa requirements on the website of the Foreign Office.

Air, land and sea transport from Jakarta to West Papua and back, as well as local permits and fees, are included. The 13 days full board on board the ship (in twin-share cabins) and the three hotel nights in double rooms, including breakfast during the crossing and a celebratory dinner at the end of the cruise, are also part of the fee. Also covered is the birding guide's salary, pre-departure information material, risk coverage certificate, assistance with itinerary planning and 24/7 support during the programme period. International flights, tips to ship crew and local conservationists, possible visa fees and other personal expenses are not included in the price.

You must consult your doctor about any medical precautions you need before booking. It is important to inform your doctor that you will be on a sailing vessel in a very remote area. All travellers must ensure that they have received all recommended vaccinations. Take with you any medication that you take regularly or occasionally. We recommend taking diphenhydramine or another antihistamine with you in case of an allergic reaction.

A doctor's approval is required for some activities. The trip leader will also collect a sealed envelope with the medical history of each trip participant. This envelope will only be opened in case of emergency. Otherwise, it will remain closed and be handed back to the traveller at the end of the expedition.

Ask your doctor for information about seasickness and advice on seasickness medication. We also strongly recommend that you visit a dentist for a check-up (and fix-up) before departure.

The main concern, besides your personal health issues, is malaria. Sorong and Manokwari have infection rates of over 120% (i.e. each person has had malaria at least once!), while Jakarta is malaria-free. Malaria is endemic to West Papua, so prophylactics are highly recommended. We will keep our time in Sorong and Manokwari to a minimum, and once on the ship and in remote locations (e.g. Bird’s Head Peninsula beaches), there will be little- to no mosquitoes.

There is dengue fever in most Indonesian cities. Aedes aegypti, the dengue mosquito, is active in the morning and late afternoon. You need to be particularly vigilant with your application of repellent when in Jakarta, Sorong and Manokwari

Yes, you need travel insurance. We can help you find one.

Diving goggles, snorkels and swim flippers will be provided for all participants. We anyway recommend you bring your equipment - especially if you already have it! This way, you can make sure that the gear fits you. If you rely on using the ship's equipment, there is a risk that it will not fit you well. If you bring your equipment, you can avoid the risk of an ill-fitting mask when you will see the most breathtaking reefs of your life.

Scuba diving equipment, which can be rented, is also aboard. So, you don't have to bring that.

We recommend that you pack binoculars. It's not a must, but it will improve your wildlife sightings enormously. We recommend binoculars with 10x magnification for bird sightings

We recommend bringing cotton clothing. White is best for when you are in the sun. A hat, long-sleeved t-shirts and a pair of light, long pants will complete your protective sun wear. This outfit will also make it harder for insects to get to you. One mandatory inclusion is to bring a strong insect repellent. Make sure you pack a dry-bag and water shoes (not the dive boot type), which are ideal for walking in both elements. One green or dark-coloured outfit (long pants + shirt) to use during treks through the forest will make you less conspicuous. A raincoat is also essential. A cotton jumper will keep you warm while waiting for nesting turtles. On the ship, you can wear what you want. We recommend long, loose-fitting, conservative clothing for your time in Jakarta. A light scarf may be helpful to cover your arms if required out of respect for the local culture. Jakartans value modesty.

These are just examples. We’ll send you a detailed packing list before your departure.

You must organise your travel to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. We are happy to help you find a suitable flight, but we cannot make the final bookings for you. If you arrive before the official start date, you can continue your journey from the airport independently by taxi, for instance. We will organise a transfer for you if you land on the official start date.

When you arrive at the hotel, you’ll check in. You’ll share your room with one other person. The next day, you’ll meet the rest of the group at breakfast. The tour guide will give you an introduction and explain the procedures for the onward journey. Afterwards, there will be free time. You can use this time to explore Jakarta, run last-minute errands, or relax in your hotel room. You’ll check out the same evening to continue your journey. In the night, from the second to the third day, you’ll take a direct flight to Sorong. This flight takes about 4.5 hours. From the airport, you’ll take a taxi directly to the harbour. Once at the port, you’ll be taken by speedboat to the motor driven Phinisi Schooner. The sailing part of your expedition begins.

The maximum number of guests is limited to 11. The expedition leader and an additional birding guide are also passengers on the boat. The vessel has a crew of 8-9, including the captain, a cook, two cabin boys and a mechanic. In addition, there will be two boat drivers who also double as guides and dive-masters.

During your time in Indonesia, you will live and travel on a traditional Indonesian motor driven sailing-vessel - a Phinisi Schooner. The vessel has two masts and is 30 metres long. The boat is entirely made of ironwood.

You share one of the cabins with another participant. Each cabin has a double bed and a single bunk bed, and a bathroom with a shower. The cabins also have air conditioning and storage space for luggage. Whenever possible, the cabins are occupied by guests travelling together or by single travellers of the same gender. The main communal area is the front deck. This is also where meals are served. However, the main cabin upstairs also functions as a dining room for rainy days.

During the transit period, you share a hotel room with another traveller.

The trip includes three nights in hotels. These hotel nights include breakfast. On these days you are responsible for lunch and dinner.

There is a cook on board the vessel. The cook will provide you with a full board. The dishes are prepared from fresh seafood and local produce.

Vegetarians and vegans are welcome. Individual meals are prepared for those on special diets (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).

The travel group communicates in English.

There is as much free time as you desire. You don’t have to participate in any activities, but it may mean you’ll spend more time aboard the ship. In some locations, there is flexibility in what you do. For example, on the island of Piai, on the morning of day 6, you can hang out on the island while others snorkel. At Wayag, you can be dropped off on one of the secluded beaches while the rest of the group explores.

On the boat, you are with other participants, the scientist leading the trip and the staff. The leading scientist will be your local contact person on the trip.

In Indonesia, you pay with Indonesian Rupiah (Short: IDR).

The recommended spending money for this trip to Indonesia is around IDR 9 million, which should be sufficient for, the suggested extra night in a hotel on the return journey, shopping in Jakarta, tips to crew and local conservationists, and a separately organised dive and/or Wayag hill climb.

Get your IDRs from your local bank, exchange them at the Jakarta airport or (less recommended) from a Jakarta ATM. Unspent IDRs can be changed back into most major currencies before departure.

Due to the remoteness, there is no phone signal and no stable mobile data network. Consider whether you wish to take your phone or not. Suppose you do want to have a phone. In that case, you can minimise the expense of international roaming by purchasing an international SIM card (e.g., from Australia Post) or purchasing a SIM card in Indonesia (your phone needs to be “unlocked” for this). At any rate, you’ll be able to use it only at the beginning of the trip (Day 2) and at the very end (Day 19 and after). The ship has a satellite phone to be used only in an emergency. The expedition's leader will also bring a cellphone with an Indonesian SIM card, which will work in some limited areas.

The climatic differences throughout the year are minimal. There is no distinct dry or rainy season. It is warm to hot all year round. And yet, West Papua is one of the coldest regions in Indonesia, with an average daily maximum temperature of only 31 degrees. However, the perceived temperature can be much higher as the humidity is high. The water temperatures invite bathing at an average of 28 degrees.

You can take up to 2 litres of alcohol per person to Indonesia. Imported liquor carries a hefty sales tax. Alcohol is forbidden in some areas of Papua. The ship, though, will be stocked with Bintang beers.

Smoking is prohibited on the vessel.

Don’t bring illicit drugs, and ensure you know what is in your bag before you board flights.

Some prescription medications (including strong painkillers such as morphine and codeine, sleeping pills and medication for anxiety & depression) are considered illegal narcotics under Indonesian law. If you need to bring any such medicines with you, carry them in their original packaging, along with their original doctor’s prescription. It is advisable to have a letter from your doctor explaining what the medications are (using generic names, what they're for and dosage instructions).

There is no doctor on board. However, the expedition leader has basic first-aid training. The ship has basic medical equipment.

In an emergency, we’ll deviate the ship’s course to get the patient to the nearest airport (Sorong, Manokwari or Nabire). We will coordinate with the patient’s insurance company to see if the patient needs to be repatriated.

You must be aware that we cannot guarantee any activities. Likewise, we cannot promise that you will see any particular animal. Please think of the itinerary as a guideline that we’ll stick to as much as possible. But many things can get in the way. Weather, for example, is a significant, unpredictable factor that can throw off our schedule. Fruit-bearing trees, or lack thereof, can determine whether we'll see birds-of-paradise. Mechanical failure can be very frustrating, but it does happen. Phinisis are comfortable, seaworthy ships, but not 5-star luxury liners. The crew works around the clock to solve problems that might occur, but safety and navigation always come first. So, in such cases, you must be patient and understand that this is an adventure. The many unforeseen circumstances could also delay the expedition’s start, continuation or end.